PRO KITS | With RIO Ambassador Paula Shearer

RIO: Do you have any pre-season rituals? How are you prepping for spring?

PAULA: As a guide, I know the busy season’s coming quickly. And spring’s all about getting things in order: checking lines, going through fly boxes and making sure I’ve tied enough over the winter to start the season strong,” she says. “I also make it a priority to hit the local waters as much as possible. It’s a good way to stay sharp. So, I take advantage of it. Getting a few days in early helps me head into the season ready to go, with the energy to dive into the work ahead.”

RIO: Tell us about your tactical approach this time of year, from headhunting with small drys to throwing streamers to lobbing bobbers to everything in between.

PAULA: Our early season in Calgary usually means cold water, with snowmelt from the mountains keeping temperatures low. During this time, most of the success comes from fishing deep into wintering holes with heavier nymph rigs or slowly swinging flies through slower water.

As spring progresses and the water starts to warm, fish become more active and begin moving around. This opens the door for fishing streamers with more movement and covering more water. Eventually, real spring arrives – and with it, the first hatches. This is when things get more dynamic, and a range of techniques start to come into play. One of my favorite hatches is the Blue Winged Olive. It marks the beginning of dry-fly season, when we can start headhunting and get a little more selective about which fish we want to target.

RIO: Day in and day out – what performance attributes are you looking for in your go-to gear?

PAULA: Gearing up for consistent success is really all about having the right tools – and every situation can call for something different. The most important thing is having gear that keeps up and lasts a full season on the water. I’m tough on equipment, everything in my boat sees a lot of use in all kinds of conditions.

Accuracy and precision also matter. Sometimes you only get one shot at that fish. And everything needs to work together to make that cast count.

RIO: When it comes to hitting the mark across a wide range of unruly conditions, what line are you leaning toward?

PAULA: For me, Gold MAX is a solid early to mid-season line on the Bow. It handles heavier nymph rigs while being able to make the transition to hopper-dropper setups feel seamless as the season progresses.

When you’re focused on being efficient and working through holes, this line really shines. It roll-casts with ease and gets back out there quickly, which is exactly what I want when I’m covering water or guiding through technical spots. If you're looking for a fly line that balances power and control for the heavier setups we use early in the season, Gold MAX gets the job done.

RIO: What’s it about the Bow that gets you stoked and keeps you smiling?

PAULA: The Bow’s always been my place of comfort. I’ve been lucky to grow up near such an incredible fishery, one that’s allowed me to constantly build on my skills and learn something new every time I’m out there.

Not a lot of anglers can say they have a world-class river with some big trout just minutes from their doorstep. It’s easy to forget how rare that is until you step back and think about it. Having that kind of access has shaped how I fish, how I guide and how I connect with the water. The Bow has taught me a lot. Some days are about dialing in technique, reading water, improving casts. Other days are about the people you’re with.

I’ve made some of my best memories fishing alongside friends, sharing stories between casts, laughing at missed chances and celebrating the ones that stick. Those moments, just as much as the fish, are what stay with you.