| The
Elk River originates from the melting ice off of the glaciers in Elk Lakes
Provincial Park. As it makes its way down the mountains it flows into the Elk
Lakes and down the Elk Valley, where it is joined by many tributaries that
produce some amazing trout as well. With over 90 miles of fishable water the Elk
River is quite possibly the best dry fly fishing river in North America. Largely
undiscovered and still only a three hour drive from Calgary and a two hour drive
from Kalispell, the Elk River flows through one of the most picturesque valleys
in British Columbia. Whether
you’re a novice or expert, a trip to Fernie is something you'll never forget.
Casting to rising native Westslope cutthroat from our fully-appointed McKenzie
style drift boats is one of the best ways to see the Elk but we also can arrange
walk & wade trips to some of the smaller streams which are all located just
a short distance from Fernie. The
small town of Fernie is surrounded by mountains on all sides and is often
thought of as an alpine village which is famous for the skiing and the legendary
powder. Fernie offers plenty in the way of restaurants, hotels and shops.
The St.Mary River is located only an
hour’s drive from Fernie and this beautiful stream is a perfect combination of
spectacular scenery and great fishing. We offer the St.Mary as part of our
regular package and have access to six different floats on the river, which is
more than any other outfitter around. The fishing on the St.Mary is generally
best in August and September with dry flies working for most of the day.
Westslope Cutthroat are native to the river along with Bull Trout but over the
past few years more and more rainbows have been finding their way into the
system. Since access is limited on the river, only a few outfitters have access
to the water and very few private boats will be found floating. The solitude of
this river combined with excellent dry fly fishing makes it a favorite for many
of our returning clients and friends.
The Kootenay River was once thought of
as nothing more than a mystery. Since all the major streams in the Kootenay
Valley empty into the Kootenay River the summer is not the time to fish here.
This river is fished best in April and May before runoff when we experience one
of the best Mothers Day Caddis hatches found anywhere. It is common to float
down this stream and see the banks “popping” with rising cutthroat. Even
with all of the exciting dry fly action the Kootenay offers it is the Bull Trout
which most of our clients are really after. Since the water level is low and
clear many of these huge trout are caught on small streamers and nymphs. Once
you spend a couple days on the Kootenay River you will surely be hooked into
returning every spring to this unique fishery.
Homewaters Guide Service was born of
one anglers dream to share the beauty and tranquility of his local streams with
flyfishermen from around the world. Born
and raised in the East Kootenay’s, Jeff Mironuck spent his youth stalking the
freestone streams of the East Kootenay and Southern Alberta with a flyrod in
hand, and from this has put together an extensive list of guidable waters in the
area.
The guiding
area features an array of angling opportunities and fly anglers can find
themselves fishing delicately presented dry flies
with 2 wt. rods on small intimate streams
or swinging large bulky streamers for huge browns and bull trout from
MacKenzie Style drift boats on the regions mid-sized rivers.
Our extensive portfolio of waters will please the palate of any
discerning flyfisherman.
The hatches here are diverse and
prolific. As our season begins and
the water remains slightly cloudy, Salmonflies begin to pop off in large numbers
along the rocky banks of the river. As
they return or fall to the water, the native cutthroats begin hammering these
bulky insects with reckless abandon. Plump
Green Drakes also begin their ascent to the surface early in the season and
pools will boil and “pop” as rising trout aggressively feed on these large
mayflies. More intense than the
Salmonfly, the golden stones begin making their appearance usually 2 weeks after
the Salmonfly emergence. These
awkward flyers leave their nymphal forms along the dry rocks of the riverbank
and literally paint the rocks with their dry mottled shucks.
The early season is not to be missed if large flies and crushing takes is
your preference.
As we move further into summer, ever
present caddis swarm in thickets close to the bank and smaller stones
(yellow/lime sallies) begin their mid-day flights.
This is also the time for the Elk’s famous P.M.D. hatch.
You can pretty much set your watch to these hatches and the spinner falls
are a spectacle in the evening light. More
delicate approaches are the rule here and sunken spinner presentations or
soft-hackling will prolong the productivity of this hatch
Terrestrials become important as the
summer sun warms the river and the winds blow hoppers from grassy, overhanging
banks. This presentation requires
strong heart over skill as often fish explode on hopper imitations which are
skittering atop the surface. Terrestrials
remain solid into the early autumn and one may find themselves hooking fish on a no. 8 foam hopper at the start of the day and then
casting a no. 20 Baetis emerger to an aquarium of rising fish as the day
progresses. Autumn also sees a
number of Flavs (lesser green drakes) and October Caddis emerging from the
gin-clear waters.
We are truly blessed some with
excellent hatches and as guides we are able to really jump around the boxes to
suit the different hatches that can occur within one day.
It is not uncommon to fish a hatch in which one fish will be selectively
rising to a carpet of Baetis while a foot away another sips exclusively on Flavs.
Due to the varying elevations of our streams, you can fish the same hatch
that spent itself two weeks earlier in a lower drainage on a high mountain
stream and in essence follow the hatch.
As a flyfishing outfitter, Homewaters maintains a hard core work ethic
and our level of professionalism remains unsurpassed .
Our guides will go the distance to ensure the best angling opportunities
are provided to the clients throughout the day. This is immediately reflected in the quality of the gear
which we use and the dedication to the vise which provides our clients with an
extensive and contemporary fly selection. Novice
or accomplished fly angler we have the tools to provide the best guiding
experience on your trip to the beautiful Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and
Southern Alberta.
Home Waters Guide Service was born of
one anglers dream to share the beauty and tranquility of his local streams with
fly fishermen from around the world. Born
and raised in the East Kootenay’s, Jeff Mironuck spent his youth stalking the
freestone streams of the East Kootenay and Southern Alberta with a flyrod in
hand, and from this has put together an extensive list of guidable waters in the
area.
The guiding area features an array of
angling opportunities and fly anglers can find themselves fishing delicately
presented dry flies with 2 wt. rods
on small intimate streams or swinging large bulky streamers for huge browns and
bull trout from MacKenzie Style drift boats on the regions mid-sized rivers. Our extensive portfolio of waters will please the palate of
any discerning angler.The
Elk River originates from the melting ice off of the glaciers in Elk Lakes
Provincial Park. As it makes its way down the mountains it flows into the Elk
Lakes and down the Elk Valley, where it is joined by many tributaries that
produce some amazing trout as well. With over 90 miles of fishable water the Elk
River is quite possibly the best dry fly fishing river in North America. Largely
undiscovered and still only a three hour drive from Calgary and a two hour drive
from Kalispell, the Elk River flows
through one of the most picturesque valleys in British Columbia. Weather
you’re a novice or expert, a trip to Fernie is something you'll never forget.
Casting to rising native Westslope cutthroat from our fully-appointed McKenzie
style drift boats is one of the best ways to see the Elk but we also can arrange
walk & wade trips to some of the smaller streams which are all located just
a short distance from Fernie. The
small town of Fernie is surrounded by mountains on all sides and is often
thought of as an alpine village which is famous for the skiing and the legendary
powder. Fernie offers plenty in the way of restaurants, hotels and shops.
The St.Mary River is located only an
hours drive from Fernie and this beautiful stream is a perfect combination of
spectacular scenery and great fishing. We offer the St.Mary as part of our
regular package and have access to six different floats on the river which is
more than any other outfitter around. The fishing on the St.Mary is generally
best in August and September with dry flies working for most of the day.
Westslope Cutthroat are native to the river along with Bull Trout but over the
past few years more and more rainbows have been finding their way into the
system. Since access is limited on the river, only a few outfitters have access
to the water and very few private boats will be found floating. The solitude of
this river combinded with excellent dry fly fishing makes it a favourite for
many of our returning clients and friends.
The Kootenay River was once thought of
as nothing more than a mystery. Since all the major streams in the Kootenay
Valley empty into the Kootenay River the summer is not the time to fish here.
This river is fished best in April and May before runoff when we experience one
of the best Mothers Day Caddis hatches found anywhere. It is common to float
down this stream and see the banks “popping” with rising cutthroat. Even
with all of the exciting dry fly action the Kootenay offers it is the Bull Trout
which most of our clients are really after. Since the water level is low and
clear many of these huge trout are caught on small streamers and nymphs. Once
you spend a couple days on the Kootenay River you will surely be hooked into
returning every spring to this unique fishery.
Homewaters Guide Service was born of
one anglers dream to share the beauty and tranquility of his local streams with
flyfishermen from around the world. Born
and raised in the East Kootenay’s, Jeff Mironuck spent his youth stalking the
freestone streams of the East Kootenay and Southern Alberta with a flyrod in
hand, and from this has put together an extensive list of guidable waters in the
area.
The guiding
area features an array of angling opportunities and fly anglers
can find themselves fishing delicately presented dry flies
with 2 wt. rods on small intimate streams
or swinging large bulky streamers for huge browns and bull trout from
MacKenzie Style drift boats on the regions mid-sized rivers.
Our extensive portfolio of waters will please the palate of any
discerning flyfisherman.
The hatches here are diverse and
prolific. As our season begins and
the water remains slightly cloudy, Salmonflies begin to pop off in large numbers
along the rocky banks of the river. As
they return or fall to the water, the native cutthroats begin hammering these
bulky insects with reckless abandon. Plump
Green Drakes also begin their ascent to the surface early in the season and
pools will boil and “pop” as rising trout aggressively feed on these large
mayflies. More intense than the
Salmonfly, the golden stones begin making their appearance usually 2 weeks after
the Salmonfly emergence. These
awkward flyers leave their nymphal forms along the dry rocks of the riverbank
and literally paint the rocks with their dry mottled shucks.
The early season is not to be missed if large flies and crushing takes is
your preference.
As we move further into summer, ever
present caddis swarm in thickets close to the bank and smaller stones
(yellow/lime sallies) begin their mid-day flights.
This is also the time for the Elk’s famous P.M.D. hatch.
You can pretty much set your watch to these hatches and the spinner falls
are a spectacle in the evening light. More
delicate approaches are the rule here and sunken spinner presentations or
soft-hackling will prolong the productivity of this hatch
Terrestrials become important as the
summer sun warms the river and the winds blow hoppers from grassy, overhanging
banks. This presentation requires
strong heart over skill as often fish explode on hopper imitations which are
skittering atop the surface. Terrestrials
remain solid into the early autumn and one may find themselves hooking fish on a no. 8 foam hopper at the start of the day and then
casting a no. 20 Baetis emerger to an aquarium of rising fish as the day
progresses. Autumn also sees a
number of Flavs (lesser green drakes) and October Caddis emerging from the
gin-clear waters.
We are truly blessed some with
excellent hatches and as guides we are able to really jump around the boxes to
suit the different hatches that can occur within one day.
It is not uncommon to fish a hatch in which one fish will be selectively
rising to a carpet of Baetis while a foot away another sips exclusively on Flavs.
Due to the varying elevations of our streams, you can fish the same hatch
that spent itself two weeks earlier in a lower drainage on a high mountain
stream and in essence follow the hatch.
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