The Dirty Dozen

from Crowsnest Pass Herald - June 14

A “Magnificent Seven” Day

If The Magnificent Seven is not your style for a 1960s movie reference, how about The Dirty Dozen. In addition to the Magnificent Seven (trout), within an hour or so of my home I can also catch mountain whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, arctic grayling and kokanee (land-locked sockeye salmon) making for a full dozen targets for a spectacular fishing frenzy.

Mountain Whitefish: Waterton River, Waterton Lake, Oldman Reservoir, Oldman River, Crowsnest River and tributaries, Crowsnest Lake, plus Elk River and tributaries in BC.

Largemouth Bass: Baynes Lake and Surveyors Lake in BC.

Northern Pike: Cochrane Lake (near Hillspring), Waterton River, Lower Waterton Lake, and Lee Creek (near Police Outpost Lake).

Arctic grayling: Bear Pond and Big Iron Lake (near Chain Lakes).

Kokanee: Lake Koocanusa and Grave Lake in BC.

Joey Ambrosi has lived in the Crowsnest Pass for 30 years and still loves to fish and hike. He has written three fishing books, the most recent being Fishing the Canadian Rockies, 2nd Edition, which hit store bookshelves earlier this year. He has also written three hiking books on the region, including the Southern Rockies Trail Guide.