One of the greatest enjoyments associated with the sport of fly fishing has to be the act of tying or buying flies. There are an endless amount of patterns neatly displayed throughout fly shops covering every shape, size and stage of insect available. The tying sections are filled with myriad dubbing colours, various hook sizes, countless feathers and miles of thread. What we end up with is an ongoing search for the best patterns for the best hatches on the best streams. Our job as guides is to narrow down those selections and create patterns that just simply out produce other flies and ultimately, a guides success on the river will be determined by what he takes off his vice and attaches to the end of a clients tippet.

As guides on the Elk River we are given an assortment of hatches to work with which demands an assortment of flies to match the insect diversity of the the Elk River watershed. As the season opens, spring runoff has left the water a greenish hue providing the trout with a little less visibility. Nature works with the fish, however; providing the Westlope Cutthroat trout of the Elk River with an abundance of large, highly visible stoneflies which become easy prey on the waters surface. Chernobyl Ants are a popular pattern at this time as they are virtually unsinkable in the faster water, are highly visible and provide the fish with a profile similar to that of the Golden Stoneflies. Triple Deckers with orange bellies are also common choices and more natural replications like the Rio Grande Stone and Stimulators get a lot of attention from Elk River Westslopes. Sizes 6-10 handle most situations and bigger is often better. Larger heavily weighted stone nymphs are needed in order to get down in the faster current and Spirit River's Double Beaded Golden Stone Nymph is a lethal choice for dredging up some beasts from the depths of the river.

The Green Drake Hatch on the Elk River begins towards the end of the Golden Stone Hatch and provides some amazing surface action as well. This hatch occurs earlier in the lower elevations and then gets chased up the watershed into the various tributaries such as Michel Creek and the Wigwam River. The Drakes are plump and heavily dubbed bodies such as that of the Colorado Drake replicate Elk River green drakes quite well. Fishing the various stages of this hatch will result in greater productivity and the Green Drake Biot Emerger is a stellar choice and can be found in Guideflies website www.guideflies.ca  As the hatch subsides turning to a spent dun pattern will bring up some of the more selective fish and often a sunken pattern will out produce one stuck in the surface film.

P.M.D.'s are a must in any Elk River fly fishing guides box which is why the parachute adams is such a staple on our streams. Sulphur dun patterns and Light Cahills work well in sizes 10-16 and soft hackle patterns swung properly will get some excellent reviews from fish. Spinner falls are a spectacle in the evening light and fish will often turn on to the a rust colored flat winged spinner with long fib-tails. If you need to go under, a tungsten bead hare's ear nymph in the 12-16 range will consistently hook fish.

Terrestrials such as black ants, hoppers and beetles comprise a large part of the fishes diet and there are times when they are all that's available on top during the heat of summer. Anyone who has had the pleasure of fishing a good ant hatch realizes that when ants are on, nothing else matters. Fish will key in on these insects and feed on them throughout the day and there are periods when a hi-vis para ant will be the only pattern a guide need own. The Kootenay River has an early spring flying ant hatch that drops thousands of large black ants onto the waters surface and the river comes alive with hungry Cutthroats.

Hopper banks are present throughout the Elk River and its tribs and Chernobyl Ants become an important part of the guides arsenal again. Dave's Hopper is a more realistic replica that is also very effective. The King Kong Hopper is a highly visible and extremely buoyant pattern that produces some amazing results when accompanied with a dropper on our Alberta streams such has the Oldman River, the Crowsnest River and the Bow River.

Blue Winged Olives hatch in such great numbers that it sometimes seems like your bringing a sandwich to a banquet. Because of this guides will often carry many different types of patterns for this one hatch. Breck's Emergers, Parachute Olives, and upright winged imitations will cover the hatch as long as you carry them in enough sizes (generally smaller 14-18) and different shades of green will sometimes make the difference on a fussy fish.

With so much focus on the massive mayfly hatches on the Elk River, caddis flies are sometimes overlooked but seem to always be in abundance towards the days end when they return to the stream side to mate and drop eggs into the water. The Elk Hair Caddis is the obvious choice and colour variations are numerous for this popular pattern. Humpy's are an effective pattern for caddis imitation and clean up on the waters of the St. Mary's River as well the smaller Skookumchuck River. Shane Stalcup's Ice Caddis Emerger which features a deer hair wing and a d-rib body tied on a curve shanked hook is an excellent choice when the tent wings are out. The brute of the species is the  October Caddis and when they are  hatching a more prolific pattern is needed to match the massive body and wing of this amazing bug. Large Stimulators are effective as well as orange Double Humpy's and an orange bodied  PMX has produced very well for this fall time fly. Lafontaine's Sparkle Pupae and  an ostrich hackled pattern called a Fuzzball take care of the pupal stage.   Larger San Juan Worms  will take fish feeding on the larvae.

Although the bugs will stay the same, the quest for the perfect fly is an endless search as tying materials become improved and introduced. This will keep the keen fly angler exploring fly bins in fly shops everywhere,  trying the latest in pattern innovation and tying thousands of miles of thread around wire hooks in the hope of coming up with the next best thing for a trout to eat. Nothing is more satisfying to the fly angler than hooking trout on innovation and adding a little more magic to an ever-filling flybox.

A SMALL LIST OF FLIES COMMONLY USED IN THE KOOTENAY RIVER WATERSHED

Royal Wulff --10-16

H & L Variant--10-18

Parachute Adams--10-18

CDC Caddis--10-14

CDC Biot Drake 8--12

PMX 8--14

Klinkammer 12--18

Stimulator 8--16

Turk's Turantula 8--12

Elk Hair Caddis 10--16

Triple Decker 6--10

HI-Vis Para Ants 12--20

Copper Johns 12--16

Lightning Bugs 12--16

Disco Midge 16--22

Arizona Prince Nymphs 12--16

Ice Midge 16--22

Bunny Clouser 6--8

Yellow Yummies 6--10

 

 
 

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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.

 

                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. 


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