Eastslope Adventures
Travel & Tackle Guide

Welcome to your Fly Water Travel trip guide. We’re excited to help you prepare for your upcoming adventure! Inside, you’ll find everything you need: your to-do list, travel logistics, destination notes, and a curated tackle guide tailored to your trip.

Getting Ready

We’ve created a quick checklist of essential tasks to make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. If questions come up or you need anything at all, just give us a call, we’re here to help every step of the way.

To-Do List:

✓  Arrange flights to/from Kalispell, MT or Calgary, Alberta

✓  Arrange rental vehicle

✓ Purchase fishing license

✓ Complete personal online guest registration form

Eastslope Adventures
Travel Guide

From how to get there and what documents you’ll need to tipping guidelines and destination details, this section covers the practical information to ensure smooth travels

Getting to the Lodge:
To get to the Eastslope Adventures lodge, guests need to arrange travel either to Kalispell, Montana or Calgary, Alberta, then rent a vehicle and drive themselves to the lodge. The drive to the lodge from Kalispell is approximately 3 ½ hours. From Calgary, it is approximately 3 hours.

Eastslope Adventures Coordinates: 49.260950141152165, -113.67584047608861

From Cardston, Alberta

  • Start out driving west from Cardston on HWY 5 for approximately 17 miles.
  • Turn RIGHT (North) on Secondary HWY 800 and drive for approximately 9 miles, crossing the Belly River Bridge.
  • Turn LEFT on Township Road 40 (this is the second left after crossing the Belly River Bridge).
  • Continue on Township Road 40 for 4 miles until you come to the Waterton River Bridge.
  • Turn RIGHT about 30 yards before you cross the Waterton River Bridge. Follow this small road about ¼ mile to the lodge.

Arrival Day:
Guests are asked to arrive at the lodge anytime after 4:00 PM.

Departure Day:
Guests are asked to depart the lodge after breakfast.

Documentation Requirements:
To enter Canada, all guests are required to have the following:

  • Passport: Valid for the duration of your trip
  • Criminal History Clearance: Anyone with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or alcohol-related driving offenses) may not be able to enter Canada without first obtaining an approval for rehabilitation well in advance of any planned travel. To determine whether you may be inadmissible and how to overcome this finding, please visit the Citizen and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.

Travel Cash:
We recommend each guest travel with enough cash for staff and guide gratuities

Credit Cards:
The lodge does not accept credit cards

Gratuities:
The following are guidelines. Gratuities are up to the discretion of the individual guest.

  • Guides: $80-$120 (USD) per guide per day, given directly to the guide at the end of each day.
  • Lodge Staff: $15-$20 (USD) per person per day. This can be left with the lodge manager the morning of departure for distribution to the entire house and kitchen staff.

Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included and will need to be purchased in advance.
Before guests can purchase their sport fishing license, they will need to get a WIN # first. For assistance in obtaining a WIN #, reach out to the AlbertaRELM Help Desk at 888-944-5494 or online HERE. Once a WIN # has been received, sport fishing licenses can be purchased HERE.

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:

  • Cell Coverage: There is spotty cell coverage at the lodge
  • Wi-Fi: The lodge has Wi-Fi available throughout the property
  • Emergency Phone: The lodge has a landline phone for emergency use

Power:
The lodge has 24-hour power

Laundry:
Laundry machines are available upon request

Water:
Drinking tap water at the lodge is safe but we recommend using the water coolers. Bottled water is also available.

Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge is located in a dry county and does not provide alcohol. Guests are welcome to bring their own, however alcohol will need to be purchased in Kalispell or Calgary before driving to the lodge.

Emergency Medical Assistance:
The nearest medical center is located in Pincher Creek.

Recommended Medical Evacuation Carrier and Insurance Provider:
Global Rescue

Eastslope Adventures
Tackle Guide

Here you’ll find everything you need to be ready on the water. You’ll find our preferred setups, favorite flies, recommended packing list, and notes on tackle available at the lodge.

Eastslope Adventures Fishing Tackle Overview

For your time at Eastslope Adventures, a 9-foot 5-weight rod is the primary workhorse for Alberta's freestone and tailwater rivers, while a 9-foot 6-weight rod is excellent for handling wind and throwing larger patterns.

Breathable waders paired with studded rubber-soled boots are required. On warm summer days, wet wading with neoprene socks and those same studded rubber boots is a great option.

Cam’s team provides all necessary flies, but if you bring your own, focus on patterns tailored to the tailwater and alpine sections of the Waterton, St. Mary, Castle, Crowsnest, and Oldman river systems. Carry #14-20 dries including Tricos, PMDs, BWOs, and caddis, along with mid-summer terrestrials. If tying, use heavy wire hooks. For nymphs, stock #14-18 Pheasant Tails, Dirty Birds, and sparkle pupae—often those with non-gold or no beads perform best. Keep weighted streamers ready for any large or trophy trout holding in deep pools.

Eastslope Adventures Primary Setup

A 9-foot 5-weight rod is the best overall tool for southwest Alberta's tailwater and freestone systems. It provides the power to punch through afternoon winds on the Oldman and the delicacy required for technical dry fly presentations on the Crowsnest. This configuration is the premier all-around choice for the region, offering enough backbone for weighted nymphs while remaining responsive when a wild westslope cutthroat rises to a size 18 parachute.

1 5

Eastslope Adventures Secondary Setup

A 9- or 10-foot 6-weight rod is a specialized favorite for the tailwaters of the Waterton, St. Mary, and Oldman river systems. The extra power and length provide the necessary backbone to punch through wind and the reach required for mending through complex, heavy currents. It is a fantastic choice for those who prioritize handling larger patterns and controlling big, hard-fighting fish in the tailwaters.

1 4

Eastslope Adventures Five Favorite Dry Flies

While Cam and his guide team are fully stocked with the right patterns, those who prefer to bring their own should focus on a selection of tried-and-true tailwater staples and reliable patterns for mountain cutthroat streams. Your dry fly box should feature everything from tiny baetis and PMD emergers to attractors and terrestrials designed to handle both the flows of the main rivers and the clear, wild waters of the high country.

1 5

Eastslope Adventures Five Favorite Nymphs

Your box should prioritize unweighted or dark-beaded patterns like Pheasant Tails and Dirty Birds for a more natural profile. Beyond these staples, include tan and green sparkle pupae for emerging caddis and #16-20 Zebra Midges. Larger stonefly patterns like Pat’s Rubber Legs are also useful.

1 5

Eastslope Adventures Five Favorite Streamers

Your box should prioritize patterns with high-movement materials like rabbit strip and marabou, which provide a lifelike silhouette in the clear waters of the Oldman and Castle systems. These flies are essential for prospecting the deeper canyon pools and bouldery runs where large and trophy trout often hold.

1 5

Suggested Packing List

We understand packing for an adventure is not easy. On a trip like this it is very important to have everything you need and nothing you do not. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodges/camps is neat but casual.

Documents:
Passport, plane tickets, itinerary, credit card, cash, business cards

Socks:
Four pairs of wool or synthetic socks to wear under your waders. Two pairs of town socks.

Base layers:
One to two pairs of synthetic or merino wool long underwear (tops and bottoms) to wear beneath your waders. One mid-weight and one heavyweight. These can be worn alone or together depending on conditions.

Shirts:
Two or three long sleeve fishing shirts. One or two lodge shirts.

Pants:
One to two pairs of long pants

Shorts:
One pair of quick-dry shorts

Warm Layers:
One or two warm insulating layers. Down, synthetic or fleece mid layers are good options. Avoid cotton.

Warm Jacket:
One warm jacket

Rain Jacket:
One high quality rain jacket

Gloves:
One pair of sun gloves and one pair of warm fishing gloves

Waders/Boots:
Breathable waders with rubber soled boots. Also consider neoprene socks and zip-off pants for wet wading on warm days. Depending on your preferences, rubber soles with cleats and felt soles with studs are also appropriate.

Hats:
Two fishing/baseball hats. One warm cap.

Shoes:
One pair of sturdy walking shoes

Buff:
One “Buff” facial sun protector (good for bugs too)

Sunglasses:
One pair of polarized sunglasses. It is great to have a lens cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth as well.

Sunscreen:
One bottle SPF 30+

Lip Balm:
One tube of SPF 30+ lip balm

Backpack:
One waterproof backpack or boat bag for day gear

Headlamp:
One small LED headlamp with batteries

Camera:
Camera with extra batteries

Toiletries Kit:
Toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, razor, lotion, mini shampoo bottle, anti-inflammatory, sleep aid, earplugs, band aids, anti-bacterial ointment, antihistamines

Contact: Max Salzburg - Western Trout Destinations Manager

Max is Fly Water Travel's Destination Manager for Europe, New Zealand, and the trout fisheries of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. The joke within Max's family is that he has always been a tour guide at heart who loves nothing more than traveling to new places and being a stranger in a strange land.

Contact Us