I had a wonderful day with Bill. I was just competent enough to follow his instructions as he put me onto some great fish and rowed me all over the river, all day! He even laughed at some of my jokes and turned the camera off when I swore too much. What did I like? Bill's easy authorative manner. His knowledge, good humour and company. The great river. The boat (ace). And of course the fishing - it wasn't particlulary easy fishing but they were there if you were good enough (Bill was) and I am still bragging about the 24inch pig (and not forgetting the hot lunch - nice touch). What did I not like? Not much. I had a great day. If and when I can get back to Alberta, you will be on my calling list. Very best wishes. Ned Pankhurst (June 24, 2008)

After our final fishing trip for Steelhead near Nippigon (Jack Pine, Ciprus,....) we are back in Austria. We immediatly checked your homepage and were very impressed by the nice pictures and journal stories. Thank you once more Tom, for the good and uncomplicated organization and Bill, for the two gorgeous days on the Bow. It was just perfect inspite of the cold weather conditions on the first day! If I have the chance to be once more in the area I will contact you - to join you again for a float trip or fishing in the rocky mountain area. Thanks again. Fred & Fred Sr. (May 7, 2008)

Sharon and I both enjoyed our experience on the Bow with Bill. We found him to be very knowledgable about the river. He led us to wonderful Browns the first day and Rainbows the next when we had heavy rain and wind. The warm meals were appreciated. He changed flies when the action slowed and patiently worked with us when we needed help. You and Bill run a professional operation. We will be back with friends. Bill and Sharon Gould (August 10, 2007) Well I'm back home now but my head is still buzzing from our trip down the mighty Bow!! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the effort you put in to make our day as incredible as it was. I can't imagine how it could have been any better than it was, considering the early season and all. But then you had to go and spoil it by telling me that the Bow is even better later in the season, so now that's all I'm thinking about!! I will most definitely be coming back as soon as I can, and your number will be the only call I'll make when I do! All the very best and have a great season! Morey Benton (May 5, 2007)

Thanks for showing me such a good day yesterday. I really had a blast and had no idea fishing on the Bow could be so good. Hope to get out with you again this year if possible. I am out of the country a lot in August and September, so might have to wait. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that your guiding is tops - your expertise, equipment, food, and 12 hours of fishing is an incredible package for the money. Most guides I have been with are like clock work - 3pm and they are off the water. It seems you really like to do this and have a passion for it. Obviously, you must really enjoy it or it would be difficult to continually offer that much effort. Clay Roark (August 5, 2007) Thanks again for everything. We had an excellent trip this past week. I can't say enough about Bill and how great of a job he did for us. I knew we were with the right guide service when we saw other groups go past and catch nothing and we would follow behind and pull in 20 plus inch rainbows. We would like to come back next spring to catch some browns. I would love to come during prime time for the browns. I was thinking about a long weekend trip. Getting to Calgary on a Thursday night and fishing on a Friday and Saturday and coming home on Sunday. Could we float two different rivers or two different segments of the Bow? Thanks again for everything. Dierick Sparks (July 17, 2007)

[Excerpts from an article in the Sonoma (California) Tribune on Friday August 18, 2006]
I have a confession to make. I spent part of my recent vacation with the "Bow River Hooker". And now that I have your attention, I will add that the name refers to fly fishing, an old profession, but not the oldest.

"Bow River Hookers" is the name that owner, operator Tom Windsor has given his company, which offers guided fly fishing trips in southern Alberta, Canada. As the name implies, Tom and his associates concentrate most of their efforts on the Bow River, and, after spending a couple of days with him, I understand why.

The city of Calgary is interesting, clean, safe and entertaining in its own right, so I felt less guilty leaving Dottie to explore, while my friend Mike Brown and I took off with Tom for some truly serious fly fishing on the Bow. When I say serious, I mean an all day trip that finds you still fishing at 9:30 at night (it stays daylight longer up there).

The land around Calgary is similar to that in California's Central Valley. It is more or less flat, and most of it dedicated to agriculture. The Bow zigzags through the region in a canyon that looks to be about a half-mile wide and several hundred feet deep. Once you're down in it, you think you are in the mountains again.

The river is similar in size to the Sacramento River as it flows through Redding. It is cold, clear and teeming with big trout. Shortly after launching the drift boat, Mike hooked what I thought was a very nice rainbow, which appeared to be between 12 and 14 inches long. As he brought it toward the boat Tom said, "It's just a little one."

On the upper Sac, where I usually fling my fly, that would be the fish of the day. It took us a while (the fishing got better later in the afternoon) but it turned out that Tom wasn't exaggerating. The trout kept getting bigger and bigger. We stopped for supper around 6:30, and while Tom was cooking our stew, I tried a riffle nearby. With my second cast I was into an electrically charged Bow trout that spent more time in the air than I did getting to Calgary.

After about 10 minutes I brought a 21-inch beauty to shore. It qualified as a nice fish, but nowhere close to the monsters that are often brought in by Tom's clients (check out his Web site www.bowriverhookers.com).

Mike and I lost count of the number of fish we caught and released, but all were well over a foot long, and many approached 20 inches, and they were all prone to great leaps and long, fast, reel screaming runs. As the sun set and the shadows hit the water the bugs came out and the fishing got even more exciting.

Contact Tom ahead of time, book at least two trips, count on being out all day and not back to your hotel until late, if for no other reason than you won't want to leave the water.

You can reach Tom at (403) 874-8522 or (866) 974-8522.
Bill Lynch, California

I want to thank you so much for all the arrangements you made for us. We had an amazing time. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We caught a good number of trout, a lot of big ones, and succeeded in getting a trout of every species. We had never caught cutthroat or bull trout before. The west slope cutthroat are incredibly beautiful fish as you know. The Bow River trout are incredibly strong hard fighting trout. I will send pictures as soon as I download them from my camera. Included will be the picture of the brook trout which was a complete shock to Jamie. I also want to thank you for setting us up with such a great guide!!! You said he was your number one guide and I believe it. He worked tirelessly to get us into the best positions and to coach us as to how we could catch more fish. His experience as a photographer also was a great bonus as he pointed out and took many great shots with my camera. Jamie really connected with my Dad. It greatly enhanced the trip. Jamie’s enthusiasm was infectious. Several of my friends take fishing trips and I will definitely recommend they contact you. I hope to return one day and would like to have Jamie as my guide again. Best of luck to you and thank you again! I cannot begin to describe how much we enjoyed the trip! Andrew K, Pennsylvania I was the guy who said hi at McKinnon Flats yesterday and asked your advice on where to go if wading. Your tip paid off by consecutively bringing me a pile of missed strikes and the 4 biggest rainbows I have ever caught. They were 22, 24, 25, and 30! The 30 incher was absolutely beautiful and around 10 lbs. Thx again. I'll be looking you guys up this fall or next spring for a tour. I need the expert help and want to see the river from a drift boat. Oh, I'll spread the word of your knowledge and kindness to my friends who are also in the angling community. Thx again. Kevin G Thanks again to you Jason and Lyle for the two memorable days on the Bow - stubborn trout notwithstanding. I can still taste your stream side moose burgers. Sherman, Texas

As the subject says "thanks" for all your hard work, good humor, and sharing your hard earned game meals. Your crew is special in ways other than just guiding. Joe, Midland Park, NJ Mike and I had a great time with you fishing the area last spring. The fish we caught were nice size and in good shape, the weather was great and the scenery spectacular. Larry, Washington I enjoyed our day together and we are already talking about returning next July. I will be in touch regarding that trip. Please tell Marty thanks; his knowledge of the pike and walleye was amazing keeping us in the fish all day long. Jay, Texas Thanks for everything, the lunches, fishing and especially your hospitality were terrific "eh". Give Lyle special thanks from me. We'll be back again next year and wanting more boats. Steve, California It was great meeting you; I passed on several recommendations for your guiding service. Thanks for putting up with my Dad; I look forward to coming up again. Mike S., Arizona