Fishing The North Ram River

This river means one thing to me - I can breathe again. Perhaps its because of the physical distance separating me from my home water. The river is 367 km SW of Edmonton, making it too far for a day trip. Perhaps it is the whole North Ram River experience itself that will cause me to rush madly about; sacrificing regular jobs and marital relations for the chance to head back down and fish it again. All I know is that once I have turned the ignition off on the truck; and am staring at the river through the windshield, I let out a deep breath and say to myself "I made it home".

I first fished the North Ram River on the 2nd of July 1988. Up to this point in my fly fishing career, I fished mostly lakes and some foothill trout streams such as Prairie and Shunda Creeks. The limit of my big water experiences was drifting the Lower Bow River. Although I like the Lower Bow; I am a walk and wade kind of guy, and I yearned for a freestone river in the mountains that was free of driftboats.

I had heard rumors about the quality of the river's Cutthroat Trout fishery during meetings of the Edmonton Trout Fishing Club, where small groups would huddle together in the back shadows of the classroom and talk in quick hushed whispers. As the stories continued, the participants would get a glazed look in their eyes, indicating that the current "hot spot" had been discovered.

I happened upon one of these conversations while sitting with a group of my friends; collectively known as "the predators" due to their fly fishing prowness. They told me that they were going to the North Ram River to fish on the July long weekend, and asked if I wanted to come along. I wasn't able to join them for the whole weekend; but agreed to meet them in Nordegg on Saturday morning for a days fishing.

I departed from Rimbey on the morning of the second of July, and drove to Nordegg to meet the predators. After exchanging pleasantries, and pausing for a stretch; we drove south on the Forestry Trunk Road to the river. The drive down was exciting enough, as I got to play chase car to the lead predator driving his Landcruiser at top speed. In spite of the blur of the passing landscape, I was quite taken by the combination of a high grade gravel road winding through the forested front ranges.

We arrived at our access spot, geared up and then proceeded to hike one and one-half hours downstream and fished our way back to where we started. Looking back on that first trip, I could have avoided the grueling pace that lead predator kept up on the hike if I'd known that some of the best fishing spots are accessible right from the side of the road.

When I started fishing the river after resting up from the hike, I was a little intimidated by the speed of the current. It appeared that no sooner had I cast my fly, it was dragging in the current directly downstream of me. It took a while for me to get used to the drifts and the wading, but by the end of the day, I didn't even notice it anymore.

One word described the water as I fished the river - textbook. It was as if someone had taken the pages out of book on reading the water, and laid them out in front of me. There were many combinations of pools, riffles, and runs. In fact there was too much good water for the neophyte fly fisher, and I know that my sloppy approach and presentation put down plenty of fish that I wouldn't miss today.

After all was said and done, I only caught two Cutthroat Trout. The first one was a fourteen incher that was coming out from underneath the branch of a submerged tree periodically to sip in a Mayfly. How I cast my yellow Humpy up tight enough to the branch without snagging the fly; I don't know, but it worked and I hooked him. It appeared to me that the rise was in slow motion and the fish had a golden sheen to it. In fact this wasn't just the view of a incurable romanticist, but a phenomena that occurs when the fish rises from the depths and the water is clear.

Number two was taken when I was nymphing a beautiful pool. I bounced a Bitch Creek nymph down the steps that formed the head of the pool, and felt my arm jar as a sixteen inch 'Cut soundly took my imitation, and made off for the tail end. After a good fight I admired him briefly before releasing him. I was quite taken by the beauty of these Westlope Cutthroat; and have never been able to take a picture that adequately depicts their wonderful colors as displayed in the water. Up to this point, my favorite Trout was the Brookie, but in one day's fishing it had been displaced to number two.

One thing you notice about the North Ram, is how out in the open you are. We were about three-quarters of the way back to the vehicles, when I saw thunderheads off in the distance to the west. I said my good-byes to the predators, and gumbooted it back to the car. The thunderstorms hit half way back to Nordegg, and I was quite fortunate in my timing as the driving rain was starting to wash out the sides of the road on the North side of the North Saskatchewan valley.

I relaxed a bit once I reached Nordegg, and stopped for some gas and a quick phone call to my wife. I grossly underestimated my arrival time back in Rimbey, but the trip passed quickly for me as I replayed the events of the first day on my newly discovered North Ram River and planned for my return visit "home."

History

The North Ram River is the story of a fishery that never was. A preliminary Biological Survey of the river in 1952 turned up only Longnose Dace (Miller/Paetz). The survey recommended the introduction of Cutthroat Trout and Rocky Mountain Whitefish. Westlope Cutthroat Trout from Southeastern B.C. were first stocked in the river in 1955. This was followed up by repeat stockings in 1961 and 1970.

After the river was first stocked, fishing was allowed on odd numbered years. However, angling pressure was intensive during open years, contributing to stock depletion. As a result, catch and release regulations were placed on the river and its tributaries in 1982. The Cutthroat Trout have been thriving under these regulations, with catch rates as high as 4 to 6 fish per hour. The opportunity to catch a 50 cm Cutthroat Trout is very real on this river.

River Characteristics

The North Ram River originates in the Ram mountains of western Alberta. It flows east for 50 km where it joins the Ram River. It is a freestone river with many pools spaced far enough apart that one has time to enjoy a few wild strawberries while walking between them. The river opens to angling in the middle of June, and the best fishing is from the July to the September long weekends. There is a runoff from the snowpack in the spring, but it is usually finished by open season. The river is susceptible to heavy rains in the last two weeks in June, but generally it takes a day for the water to clear up after the rain has ceased.

The main tributaries are Joyce and Cripple Creeks. On average, the Cutthroats in the tributaries are smaller but more forgiving than the main river. Joyce Creek in particular is extremely accessible, offering some wonderful angling for the young or inexperienced due to its smaller size.

There are many well worn trails winding through the Spruce and Lodgepole Pine that dominate the area, making for a easy walk and a break from the heat of the sun in Summer. Part of the reason for the trails, are the ever present cattle that meander through the bush, as the area downstream of the trunk road is a grazing lease.

The whole corridor is rich in other wildlife, as one has the opportunity to see Moose, Wolf, Elk, Mule Deer, Ruffed and Spruce Grouse. Of course one can expect to see Squirrels, Chipmunks and Gray Jays around the campsite.

Access and Accommodation

The North Ram river can be accessed from the west by taking Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) until it intersects Highway 11 (David Thompson). Drive east on hwy 11 until you reach Secondary Road 940 (Forestry Trunk Road). Head south for 32 km and you will come to the forestry campsite on the banks of the North Ram River. To access the river form the east, take Highway 2 until it intersects Highway 11. Drive west on hwy 11 until you reach Secondary Road 940. Head south for 32 km. Be prepared to make it a weekend trip when fishing this river, as the distance from Edmonton is 367 km, making it too far for a day trip.

Motel accommodation is available in Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House and near the Saskatchewan Crossing in the Icefields Parkway. Several good forestry campgrounds are scattered through the Nordegg area on Highway 11, as well as on the Forestry Trunk Road. There also is a gas station and general store located in Nordegg.

North Ram River Hatch Chart