BOW RIVER TROUT FOUNDATION

The 2019 Blue Ribbon Bow Dinner – Keynote Speaker Russell Thornberry

Bow River Trout Foundation is pleased to announce Russell Thornberry as the Keynote Speaker for the Blue Ribbon Bow Dinner on Wednesday February 20, 2019.

Russell Thornberry wears many different hats in a variety of roles that combine for a most unique and interesting life. He is a renowned author and master storyteller, a gifted songwriter and singer, a seasoned television personality, a professional outdoorsman, an ordained minister and pastor.

Russell is a native of the Lone Star state where he was raised until his late teens. His love of the outdoors eventually led Russell to move to Alberta and build overlapping careers. In addition to his musical efforts, he operated the Bow River Company, the first fly fishing outfitter in Alberta. Russell also pioneered the trophy whitetail hunting industry in western Canada.

While Russell’s career in the outdoors has been largely recognized as hunting- related, his passion for fly-fishing has not gone unnoticed. Always seeking a challenge, Russell decided to pursue the Holy Grail of saltwater fly-fishing, the Atlantic permit, found primarily on the shallow flats of the Caribbean Ocean.

Russell appeared regularly on several national hunting television shows aired on the Outdoor Channel. Russell is in constant demand as a public speaker and entertainer. He travels all over North America to address sportsmen and, in many cases, to entertain with his original music, which has majored of late in humorous, self-penned songs about the hilarious side of the human condition.

When: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Location: The Calgary Petroleum Club, 319 – 5 Avenue SW, Calgary.
Time: Cash Bar at 5:00 PM and Dinner 6:30 PM.

Tickets can be purchased on the Bow River Trout website for $150.00.

“Click” for more information

Bow River Trout Foundation –

“The Leading Voice for the Bow River Fishery”

The 2019 Blue Ribbon Bow Dinner

When: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Location: The Calgary Petroleum Club, 319 – 5 Avenue SW, Calgary.
Time: Cash Bar at 5:00 PM and Dinner 6:30 PM.

Tickets can be purchased on the Bow River Trout website for $150.00.

The dinner’s theme:

“Click” for more information

Bow River Trout Foundation –

“The Leading Voice for the Bow River Fishery”

The Government of Alberta Moves to Add Dams on the Bow River

The Government of Alberta has started the ball rolling to add new dams on the Bow River to aid in flood protection for the City of Calgary and drought protection for water users further downstream.

The project Bow Basin Water Management Options is a Conceptual Assessment for a new dam at either the Glenbow Ranch or Morley Indian Reserve or the option to expand Ghost Reservoir.

Bow River Trout Foundation has expressed our concerns to the Government of Alberta with new dam construction on the Bow River Bow River Water Management Plan.

It is hoped that the concerns for the Bow River Fishery will be recognized.

glenbow-ranch-provincial (1) — The Glenbow Ranch

Harvie Passage- A Challenge For Drift Boat Use.

Harvie Passage Low Water Channel (LWC) was developed as a safe passage through the Western Irrigation District (WID) weir in the heart of the City of Calgary, adjacent to Pearce Estate Park. The original development was completed in 2012, but unfortunately the 2013 flood destroyed most of the infrastructure. There was weakness in the original development, whereby safe passage through the weir was problematic. The redevelopment of the site addressed these concerns with a clear directive to make the Low Water Channel safer for all river recreational use. Although the objective was safe through passage, there was a secondary objective to develop the site into a Whitewater Park. The Government of Alberta (GOA) was comfortable that both objectives could be met.

It was unfortunate that the interests of the fishing community and specifically the use of drift boats were not considered in the early stakeholder consultation process. Bow River Trout Foundation (BRT) engagement with the consulting engineers on the Harvie Passage Project did not take place until 2016, therefore there was little time to make concessions to the design of the LWC to meet the specific needs for drift boat passage.

BRT concerns are centered on the width of each drop chute throughout the LWC. A drift boat with oars extended is 6.50 meters in width and would have difficulty navigating each LWC drop. Although changes could not be built into the design to meet additional width, it was felt that navigation through the LWC would be possible provided there was a straight run at each drop and no rocks to avoid on entry and exit from each LWC chute. This concept was tested in July 2017 where a low-profile drift boat skiff navigated the LWC with little difficulty.

Access to Harvie Passage was limited to hand launch activities until August 29, 2018 when a temporary public boat ramp was opened at Shouldice Park that made trailered-boat use of the upper city reach of the Bow River possible. This new access gives an additional 22 Km of river to float and fish from a drift boat, including the traverse of Harvie Passage by access to the LWC. Unfortunately, several enhancements to the design of the LWC following the 2017 test days have created potential hazards. The following photos of LWC Drop 4 illustrate modifications that changed the stream flow to the left of the channel.

It is now difficult for a drift boat with oars extended to navigate Drop 4 and change direction between the two rock deflections on the left side of the channel. There have been incidents where drift boats have hit these rocks, that suggest changes in the design may be needed. Alberta Environment & Parks is aware of these concerns and will monitor the situation next year.

In the meantime it is advisable to scout out the Low Water Channel before taking a trip.

Other Considerations:

A float through Harvie Passage Low Water Channel is only possible when the Western Irrigation District water sluice-gates are closed from April to early October. It is hoped that this can be extended until the end of October.

Drift boat use of the HP Portage Channel above the weir is difficult under low flow conditions. It’s too shallow, not wide enough and has very little flow. It needs to be dredged.

Harvie Passage has been a very popular destination water park this year with unexpected use by body and tube floaters. This will only increase next summer constituting even more caution by paddlers and drift boats.

A Cold Day on the River

PG One Fly 2

Twenty drift boats ventured out on the Bow River Saturday, September 29, 2018 on a cold snowy day to participate in Bow River Trout Foundation’s 2018 One Fly Tournament. The morning meet and evening reception were held at the Toad & Turtle on 130 Avenue SE, Calgary.

Awards were presented for: Most fish caught – Sean Britt (11 fish) ,Brown Trout – Anne Jurgens ( 22″), Rainbow Trout – John Roggensack – (22″)

We would like to recognize our sponsors and the Angling Outfitters and Guide Association of Alberta for their support

Patricia Hughes Appointed Executive Director

Bow River Trout Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Patricia Hughes to the position of Executive Director. Patricia brings to the foundation a wealth of experience in project management and engagement. Most recently Patricia worked for Teck Resources as Senior Advisor, Community Relations, and previously for Devon Energy in a similar capacity.

Patricia Hughes

Patricia received a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA and an MA, in Latin American Studies, from the University of New Mexico.

In the position of Executive Director, Patricia will lead the advancement of the Bow River Trout Foundation in its commitment to the Blue Ribbon Bow River Fishery.

Bow River Trout Foundation was established in 2016 with an objective to “Advocate and Support the Bow River Fishery”. With a broad base of membership and local fishing community support, Bow River Trout Foundation has engaged with government agencies to recognize the importance of the Bow River fishery as a world class trout fishery and as a local recreation venue. Our recent initiative to revitalize the Policeman’s Flats river access site downstream of the City of Calgary was completed this year.

President, Peter Crowe-Swords comments: “The addition of Patricia Hughes to the position of Executive Director is an important step to meet our commitments to the Bow River fishery. Bow River Trout Foundation has accomplished a considerable amount in a relatively short period of time and now we have the opportunity to reach out to enhance a very valuable resource for future generations”.

Contact Information:

Peter Crowe-Swords

Bow River Trout Foundation

403-680-8320

BRT 2018 One Fly Tournament – Saturday, September 29, 2018

After the success of the inaugural tournament in 2017 we would like to invite Mike Mumby you to participate again this year. The 2018 One Fly Tournament will take place on Saturday, September 29, 2018. Anglers are invited to actively participate in the event, or enjoy a day on the river that will also support Bow River Trout Foundation’s initiatives to “Advocate and Support the Bow River Fishery”.

This year’s event will offer the following registrations:

Guided Trip – $600.00 will buy a fully guided boat for the day (up to 2 anglers). Registration closes September 23, 2018

Self-Guided Trip – $300.00 will allow participation with a self-provided boat (up to 3 anglers) Registration closes September 26, 2018

The Event Format:

Kausche A morning meet up to distribute lunches and facilitate final registration will be held at the Toad and Turtle parking lot off 130^th Avenue SE between 7:30 and 8:30 AM. A reception for participants and the angling community at large will be held at the Toad and Turtle afterwards, beginning at 5:00 PM.

For anglers competing in the tournament, awards will be presented at 7:30 PM. In order to qualify for awards participants must submit pictures and catch charts either in person or by email/text photo of the charts prior to 6:30 PM. Only participants present at the time of the awards presentation are eligible for prizes.

One Fly Tournament Rules OneFly rules – 2018

Please join us for what should be a great day on the water and a fun evening with friends both old and new.

For additional information please contact us at bowfish4653@gmail.com

Bow River Trout Foundation is planning to raise an estimated amount of $100,000