The upper Elbow is accessible foothills dry-fly water out of Kananaskis, clear and cold past Elbow Falls and Bragg Creek, holding native cutthroat and bull trout with rainbows and browns toward the city. Close to Calgary and popular, it's native-trout water above — spawning closure, C&R, bait bans — and fishes nicely once open from mid-June into October.
Above the city the Elbow is a clear foothills freestone running out of Kananaskis past Elbow Falls and Bragg Creek — riffles, pockets and pools holding native westslope cutthroat and bull trout with rainbows and browns lower down toward Calgary. Popular and close to the city, the upper river is native-trout water with a spawning closure and C&R rules; it makes fine accessible dry-fly fishing once open.
Wading: Swift cold water, flashy after storms, popular/crowded
- Limestone
- Confined
- Pool riffle
- Pocket water
