Fly Fishing in Fernie

The fish & how to fish for them!

Westslope Cutthroat Trout

The Elk River is renowned for its abundant supply of Westslope Cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi). Arguably, cutthroat are one of the most beautiful trout species and their willingness to rise freely to a well presented dry fly makes them even more enjoyable to catch.

Conservation minded regulations on the Elk River watershed, including bait bans, single barbless hooks, spawning closures, and catch and release, have given these native cutts a chance to grow and flourish. Catch rates and average fish size have increased markedly in the last ten years.

It is not uncommon to land a cutthroat over twenty inches! Average size varies from fourteen to sixteen with a good number of fish in the eighteen inch range. Most cutthroat are caught using dry flies or attractor patterns. Our guides know the Elk River and its entomology, so they will ensure you are using the right flies and fishing the most productive waters.

Bull Trout

The other primary species is the Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus). Bull trout are not actually trout, but a member of the char family. Often mistakenly identified as Dolly Varden, Bull Trout go for nymphs or streamers and occasionally dry flies. They are very aggressive and often will dart out of the darkness of a deep pool and attack a cutthroat that you have hooked up. This flurry of heart pounding excitement usually results in the bully getting your cutthroat, but it leaves the fisherman with a great fish story! This explains how they are able to obtain such large sizes. 26” to 30” bullies are not uncommon and some areas host pigs up to 40”.

The Strategy

To Drift, or to Wade?

On most of our waters, we primarily fish from the drift boat. This proves to be a productive way to present dry flies along cut banks and runs into pools. We also use our drift boats to access parts of the river that cannot be reached wading. There are plenty of runs, log jams, and structure that warrant getting out of the boat and working sections of water by foot.

The tributaries feeding our primary rivers are fished by wading. Access to many of these smaller waters is difficult and good wading boots and a fair level of fitness is required. However, you will surely be rewarded with some exceptional fishing opportunities in some spectacular scenery. All fish caught are released even on keep zones! We feel very strongly about protecting this native fishery and the only thing taken is pictures. We also use fish friendly nets and keep the handling of the fish to a minimum. “A wild trout is too precious to be enjoyed only once”. The opportunities in the area are endless and there is no better way to maximize your success on the water than on a guided trip with us! Check out all the waters we have featured in our Rivers Section here.