Fly-Fishing Calgary, Alberta
The Bow River
Trophy brown and rainbow trout, floated from the edge of Calgary.
Wingshooting Patagonia, Arizona
Arizona Quail
Gambel's, scaled and Mearns quail over pointing dogs, November to mid-February.
The Lodge Southwest Alberta
Waterton River House
Four anglers, a chef's kitchen and five trout rivers within an hour of the porch.
Wingshooting Saskatchewan
Prairie Birds & Waterfowl
Huns, sharptails, geese and cranes on lightly hunted ground, every fall since 2000.
Dave Brown Outfitters has guided anglers and wingshooters across the Canadian and American West for more than thirty years. Drift boats on the Bow and the Missouri, native cutthroat on the Elk, and wild birds behind good dogs from the Saskatchewan prairie to the Arizona borderlands.
- 1992
- First season guiding Alberta's Bow River
- 5
- Regions across two countries
- 11mo.
- A year in the field, April trout to February quail
- 20+
- Fly-fishing and wingshooting guides on staff
Recognized by Orvis
April – October
Fly-Fishing
Float and walk-and-wade trips on the legendary trout water of Alberta, British Columbia and Montana.
All fly-fishing trips
September – February
Wingshooting
Wild birds over pointing dogs, from the northern prairie in early fall to the Arizona desert all winter.
All wingshooting tripsDestinations & Rates
Seven trips.
Two countries.
Every guided day includes your guide, transportation, lunch and drinks. Fly-fishing days add flies, tippet and spare rods.
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Full rate sheets
Fly-fishing rates Wingshooting rates Trip insuranceFly-fishing rates are per boat for up to two anglers. Wingshooting rates in USD. Licenses, lodging and gratuities are extra.
Alberta's newest fly-fishing lodge
Waterton
River House
An all-inclusive lodge for small groups, set among some of the finest trout water in the Rocky Mountains. Private bedrooms, chef-prepared meals in the main lodge, and a different river every day.
- Guests
- Four anglers per week
- Stay
- 4 nights, 3 guided days
- Rivers
- Waterton, Oldman, Crowsnest, Saint Mary, Castle
- Rate
- $4,460 per angler + 5% tax
The DBO Year
Eleven months
in the field.
The season follows the fish and the birds: Montana and Alberta trout from April, prairie birds in September, and wild quail through the Arizona winter. Select a season for dates and details.
- Season
- Quarry
- Base
Orvis-Endorsed Outfitter
Veteran-Owned
Featured in Sports Illustrated
Clackacraft Pro Staff
Trout Unlimited Canada
Quail Forever
From the client book
Dave has all the skill and enthusiasm you could ask for in a guide, and the Elk has the kind of fishing I can't resist: high mountains, beautiful water and wild native trout on the dry fly.
One of the finest guides on the planet is Dave Brown. I consider my annual trip to fish the Elk with Dave to be the highlight of my summer.
Two of us stuck at least 35 fish and boated 20 to 25 in the 16″ to 22″ range. I learned a lot, caught some great fish, and relaxed. What more can you ask for?
We have fished all over the world. For the last eight years, our annual trip to southwest Alberta and southeast British Columbia is the one we look forward to most.
We now fish over one hundred days a year and still look forward to fishing with Dave, for his guiding skill and his never-ending sense of humor.
The Outfitter
Dave Brown
Paratrooper, trout bum and lifelong bird-dog man.
Dave tied his first fly at thirteen. He served five years in the Canadian Airborne Regiment and three in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, then began guiding the Bow River in 1992. He now runs guide teams in two countries and spends each winter behind his own pointing dogs in Patagonia, Arizona.
- First season guiding on Alberta's Bow River
- Guide staff based at the Kootenay Fly Shop in Fernie, B.C.
- Licensed upland and waterfowl outfitter in Saskatchewan
- Orvis Endorsed Fly-Fishing Outfitter of the Year finalist
- Featured in Sports Illustrated
- Opens Waterton River House in southwest Alberta
Meet the guide teamWhen the going got tough, I wanted the toughest, brightest and most dependable close at hand.
Col. Ronald P. Bragdon (Ret.), Canadian Airborne Regiment
From the boat
& the field
@dave_brown_outfitters_
Field Notes
Reports from the river
Bow River & Southern Alberta Fly-Fishing Report
Tricos, PMDs and caddis are hatching, hopper fishing has picked up, and streamers have been outstanding on cloudy days heading into September.
Somewhere in Alberta
With drought across much of the West, good snowpack and summer rain made Alberta the bright spot of 2026.
Dave on the Yellow Dog Waypoints Podcast
Dave joins Jim Klug in Bozeman to talk Alberta fly-fishing and Waterton River House.
Now booking 2027
Book your
season.
Prime weeks on the Bow and at Waterton River House fill early. Reserve online, or call Dave directly to plan a custom trip.