| In the middle of winter here in Alberta where the | | | | Christmases than southern Alberta. So what does |
| temperatures have been anywhere from ten to | | | | all this mean to a die hard fisherman like me, well |
| fifteen below zero, we welcome something called | | | | quite simply I get to go out and do some open |
| a Chinook. What the heck is a Chinook you might | | | | water fishing for a few hours during the Chinook |
| ask? Another name for the Chinook is "snow | | | | temperatures of plus seven degrees. Last week I |
| eater" since the warm and dry air quickly melts | | | | did just that, with excellent success fishing for |
| and evaporates snow away that is on the ground. | | | | massive Browns. |
| A popular myth is that Chinook means "snow | | | | The ice from the river clears at 12:30 in the |
| eater", as a strong Chinook can make snow one | | | | afternoon and the fish have only been feeding on |
| foot deep almost vanish in one day. The snow | | | | insect larva, needless to say these trout are |
| partly melts and partly evaporates in the dry | | | | hungry and extremely aggressive. When a large |
| wind. Chinook winds have been observed to raise | | | | Brown Trout spots a medium sized bait fish |
| winter temperature, often from below -20°C | | | | moving slowly through his area, he smashes it |
| (-4°F) to as high as 10°C to 20°C | | | | hard and quickly. The question is where do you |
| (50°F to 68°F) for a few hours or days, | | | | find large Browns in the winter months, well I will |
| then temperatures will return to their normal | | | | look for these fish in slow deep holes five to ten |
| levels. | | | | feet deep. |
| Chinook winds are named because they come | | | | I also look to find Brown Trout hanging off of |
| from the country of the Chinook Native | | | | seems where the water becomes slower and |
| Americans: the lower Columbia River, west of the | | | | food slows down and moves toward the fish. |
| Rocky Mountains. The term originated in the local | | | | One must remember the water temperatures |
| argot of the fur trade. Chinooks are most | | | | are very cold in winter, fish will move quite slower |
| prevalent over southern Alberta in Canada, | | | | than they move when the water temperatures |
| especially in a belt from Pincher Creek and | | | | are warmer. Slower retrieve speeds and longer |
| Crowsnest Pass through Lethbridge, which get 30 | | | | pauses between revolutions of your reel will |
| to 35 Chinook days per year on average. | | | | greatly increase your odds of hooking those big |
| Chinooks become less frequent further south in | | | | Browns. |
| the United States, and are not as common north | | | | Fishing pressure makes a difference in the winter, |
| of Red Deer, Alberta. | | | | I am often the only one out on the river and this |
| In southern Alberta, most of the winter can be | | | | factor works in my favor. A Chinook is a warm |
| spent with little or no snow on the ground. In | | | | welcome here and whenever one blows in, you |
| Calgary, there is snow about 59% of the time on | | | | will find me at the side of the river casting colorful |
| Christmas, compared to 88% for Edmonton. In | | | | minnow imitations and hooking large Brown Trout. |
| Canada, only the West Coast of British Columbia | | | | Bundle up and do not forget your boots, toque, |
| and southern Ontario have fewer white | | | | gloves and that old thermos of hot coffee. |