Shallow Water Drift Co.

03/12/2025

Going to be a fantastic night 🔥🔥🔥

Our RE/MAX Canada 50/50 returns tonight with a couple of amazing early bird prizes: a fly fishing trip from Shallow Water Drift Co. and a Canadian Craft Charters brewery tour for 10!

Get your tickets now: https://cflam.es/3Y7b7LJ

03/07/2025

🇨🇦🇨🇦

It’s only the beginning 2025!!

It’s our name that stands proud. It’s our brand that screams ADVENTURE. spends every moment on season or off season working especially hard, making sure our clients are managed and cared for in the best way possible. We promised you there would be best quality of products and gear/equipment on the market ready for all our clients use. Well the final shipment has arrived and we our ready for the 2025 Fly Fishing season!!

Fly Fishing Reels and Fly Rods have always been our staple of gear provided for our clients. These two companies provide the best quality, precision and craftsmanship of gear throughout the industry hands down.

I always have to smile and laugh when my clients get settled in the drift boat and I pass them their equipment and they say. OMG, no way!! this is your boat gear! Holy crap never have I been on a guided trip and have had this quality of equipment handed over for us to use. Are you sure you want us to use this?

Well let me tell you. When you come to for a gun fight for big fish with bad attitudes, man you better have the best gear/equipment in your hands so at the end of the day your going to walk up that boat ramp, standing tall with a big smile on your face knowing you will have stories to tell about your Alberta Fly Fishing Adventure that will last a lifetime.

Shallow Water Drift Company: Putting success in the hands of the angler 😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7439
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

02/22/2025

🇨🇦🇨🇦

The Polar Vortex.

Now the Polar Vortex has successfully subsided here in Alberta and the temperature is starting to climb, who can’t stop thinking about what summer is going to bring on for you. Well you no longer have to sit in front of the screen checking out the picks of destination travel. Here at Shallow Water Drift Company our phone lines have been ringing and your emails have been binging. Fly Fishing Addict’s from (Australia, England, United States and Canada) have already been booking their 2025 trips with us and who can’t just feel the excitement!!

All the new gear is starting to come through the door. A whole new fleet, top of the line fly rods and reels from and are in the house just waiting in anticipation for our clients use!! When you fish for the biggest, baddest trout in the world. We here at Shallow Water Drift Company only put the best gear on the market in your hands.

Shallow Water Fly Fishing Tactics with Shallow Water Drift Company on the world renowned Bow River, Alberta, Canada. We’re going to blow your minds and burn memories that will last a lifetime!! Just ask our clients Vaughn and his son Kyle.

Your Alberta Fly Fishing Specialist!! Getting BUGGY with Shallow Water Drift Company😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

01/19/2025

🇨🇦🇨🇦

Alberta Fly Fishing Adventures.

When starting to plan your 2025 You must remember you are making an investment. Whether the vacation that you’re planning is for yourself, to include family and friends it’s an investment. You need a Fly Fishing Guide Company that’s 100% invested in you the angler, the clients.

It’s 2025 and Shallow Water Drift Company is locked and loaded. Our 2025 Alberta Fishing Guide Permit is in our hands and we’re so excited to get get this season rolling.

Shallow Water Drift Company is a premier Fly Fishing Guide Company that offers: Fly Fishing Trips on the renown Bow River. Walk and Wade Trips on the Oldman River and Livingstone River, located the in the majestic foothills of Rocky Mountains in Southern Alberta. And don’t forget about Basic Training one of best beginner Fly Fishing courses available which can be adapted to suit any level of angler from intermediate to advanced.

Our affiliates/partners offer the some of the best accommodation throughout the Alberta Tourism Industry and have their 2025 stay and fish packages now available for you to book.

Shallow Water Drift Company: An Alberta Fly Fishing Guide Company that’s 100% invested in you the angler, our clients😃

Shallow Water Drift Company: When you dial us up!! We dial you in😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

12/23/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦

Season Greetings!!

From all of us here Shallow Water Drift Co. We would like to wish all the anglers in our community, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We’re so looking forward to guiding you on your next ADVENTURE!!

Man let’s blow it up!! 2025. Experience an Adventure that’s going to smoke any reel and stress that rod to the brink. The produces big ass trout with big power that drive straight up, going airborne while wagging their tails!! Only to return back to the river with the biggest belly splash that makes any angler yell FISH/ON!! FISH/ON!! Holy crap did you see that😀

Shallow Water Drift Company. A Fly Fishing Guide Company that’s invested. Invested in you the angler, our clients.

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

12/08/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦

Heritage Park Christmas Market.

Day one completed at the Heritage Park Christmas Market, Wow what a total success the crew had today. With the numbers of people that came through our booth today, couldn’t have been handled , managed and spoken to without all your help. Believe me, all your hard work, dedication was definitely appreciated!!

To all the Fly Fisher’s in Alberta, tomorrow is the last day to get the (Show Stopper Price) on a Lower Bow River Fly Fishing Trip for 2025. You must attend this event in person to be eligible to purchase the (Show Stopper)!! Come down tomorrow and see us. Together we’ll Build An EPIC Fly Fishing Adventure just for you.

Shallow Water Drift Company: A company that invested in you the angler, our clients😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

12/02/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦

Glazier’s on the Bow.

I was set up at an this is when one of my long time friends Brian came out to see me. He mentioned that he was very interested in booking a Lower Bow River Fly Fishing Trip and it would be fantastic if he could manage to get Jeff an old Glazier buddy of ours to join in on the trip. It’s so amazing to see how taking up a career in the Glazing Industry, has provided us all with a straight path to success. All three of us started out as labourers, became Apprentices, students, Journey-persons. Then our careers moved us on to new positions throughout our trade. Brian became an Estimator/Project Manager. Jeff worked his way through and is now a Company Owner and for myself working throughout the trade, becoming a Glazier Instructor to a Company Owner.

This day when we were all reunited was so amazing. Old friendships with old stories to be told and of course all the new stories that were spoken. From the starting of new families to stories of how our kids have grown and career choices they have now taking. There is definitely one thing all three of us have most in common and deeply agreed on, was our choice we all took with picking a career in the trades.

Looking for a new way to converse with potential new clients. Promote new business ideas to subjected new prospects or holding a team building event for your company. The World Class, Bow River is where it all happens!! Let’s start that conversation. Let’s start planning a path to build your success. A company that’s invested in the Alberta’s Travel and Tourism Industry. A company that’s vested in our clients.

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

11/19/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦

Season Greeting’s

our season never ends. We may not be out on the water but were definitely in the office answering all the calls and emails, helping clients planning their next 2025 Alberta Fly Fishing Expedition!! With lots of great things coming up throughout the year, we wanted to tell you about our first upcoming event we will be attending.

Once Upon A Christmas. Dec 7th & 8th. Located at Heritage Park, You will find our booth set up and we will be offering special discounts on our Lower Bow River Float Trips!! We will also have our Mountain Walk and Wade Trips, Our 2- day Camp and Fish Trips and don’t forget about our Basic Training Fly Fishing Lesson available to purchase at the event.

If your looking for the perfect gift for that special Fly Fisher or a fantastic gift for someone looking to get involved into the world of Fly Fishing, then Once Upon A Christmas at Heritage Park is the place to be. Come out and see us!! and together will wrap up that special gift for your special love one.

Alberta, Canada. A World Renown Trout Fishery. A World Class Fly Fishing Destination and when you combined that with a Premier Fly Fishing Guiding Company, that says it all. Shallow Water Drift Company. A company thats invested in you the anglers, our clients.

Ho Ho Ho!!

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

10/22/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦


Love My Alberta.

When it comes to tourism in Alberta, the best thing I, couldn’t be more deeply invested in, is your vacation!! Over all the years I’ve been in operation, I always put my heart and soul into every client/customer needs and personal attention. There is no other company that’s so deeply involved with other industry partners and professionals throughout the All of my industry partners will go above and beyond to make sure your vacation, accommodation and activities are booked free of any stress and are personally designed for all our clients needs, so when you arrive you have a stress free vacation!!

When these cool kids from neighbours found out that Tracy and Jim were planning an Alberta vacation, the first thing that was mentioned was. You’ve got to get in touch with Shallow Water Drift Company and book a day Fly Fishing on the Bow River. Well after a good conversation I found out these two avid anglers chuck lures and soft plastic baits for Bass and other lake species found around the Texas area and never had Fly Fished in their lives.

Sometimes you just meet people in life who are just fishy! And these two kids are just dam fishy!! I taught these two how to Nymph Fish, how to Dry Fly Fish and man our Bow River Rainbows knocked it right out of the park. From a run upstream, to a direct charge back at home plate, a quick run around the boat, then a big dive under the boat up right into the net. Tracy and Jim said they had caught and fought a lot of fish but holy crap what an unbelievable day!!

Shallow Water Drift Company: Build Your Epic Adventure!

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

10/09/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦

Outdoor Enthusiasts.

Over the last couple years, I’ve been helping out my good friends over at If you live or are traveling to You definitely need to drop into the shop for all your Fly Fishing needs. Josh, his staff and crew of guides are most definitely some of the biggest outdoor enthusiasts in the Fly Fishing game you could ever meet. If you want to talk gear, fish or tying supplies, this is the place that will enhance your adventures.

I had an opportunity to guide these two gentlemen from the that where booked through the shop. There is never a day on the big, bad that’s not full of excitement, big laughs and reel screaming . No matter if you’re a big mountain snow rider, biker, scrambler, wave rider, wind flyer, hunter, fly fisher our whole community of outdoor enthusiasts rocks. We’re a whole group of enthusiasts that love to share our knowledge, help each other build our abilities for all to achieve success.

I love to teach, guide and mentor people into and in the world of Fly Fishing. To watch the anglers I guide evolve from taking the information, knowledge and skillset that passed to them, for them only to develop what’s taught into a way that suits their needs is totally worth every Rod Bending, Reel Screaming Moment!!

Shallow Water Drift Company: Taking your Bow River Fly Fishing Adventure to the next level😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

09/25/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦


Shallow Water Tactics with Shallow Water Drift Company.

Here we go!! There is is nothing better than running the in with dirty stained water. Man you want to see big trout move into shallow water, just wait till the river becomes dirty and stained. Most Fly Fisher’s would turn a cheek and want to get back in their vehicle and hit the road home. But here at Shallow Water Drift Company, the drift boat rolls off the trailer and we row directly over and into the flats.

Want to talk depth!! You totally have to have the drifter skipping stones. That’s right skipping stones!! Keep the bank to your back, casting out into the river. A really cool set up is running 9 ft leader to a black or olive Zonker, followed by a nymph 18 inches back. Add two weights, first on 6 inches up above the Zonker and the second weight 6 inches above that one and don’t forget to add an indicator right at the top of your leader

Cast your lines 6 - 8 feet from the boat. Once those BUGS hit the water MEND!! Get them down now, then instantly high s tick the rod, keeping only a foot of fly line max in the water trying to maintain a rig depth throughout 4 - 8 feet of water, by moving the drifter in and out from the bank. Keep those bugs slow rolling with direct bottom contact and with any movement in the indicator SET that BUG!! And yell FISH/ON!!!

Just ask Gerald and his daughter Elisha. After our 8th year fishing with Geneo, believe us and believe Geneo. You don’t need clear water to catch wicked TROUT. 😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

09/12/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦


Alberta Tourism Explodes 2024.

Tourism just explodes with travellers coming to visit throughout the summer of 2024. The three main travel destinations: Banff National Park, the Calgary Stampede and of course the World Renown, Bow River have never seen numbers of people traveling here in years. Hotels were and still are booked up and Fly Fisher’s from around the globe are ranked in the category of the top three of travellers coming to visit Alberta for an opportunity to take part in our great trout fishery.

Sheldon had called me early pre-season, wanting to book a guided trip on the Lower Bow River for when his father came to visit from this summer. The one thing this guy forgot to mention was his father was an Atlantic Salmon Guide back home. Well holy crap could his father Nelson ever fish. To watch this gentleman throw a fly Rod was spectacular and talk about fishy!! Man the Bow River Trout attacked his Flies like bees on honey.

The best part of the day happened at lunch when Nelson turned to me and said, Geneo I can’t believe I’m here. I had know idea I was was going to fish the Bow today!! It’s been my life long dream that one day I would get to fish here. I turned and said. You didn’t know? Nelson said, I thought my son was taking me out for a drive and when we pulled along side you, I said look at this guys boat and rig. He must guide I said to my son. Then Sheldon turned and laughed and said he’s here for us dad. We’re going to fish the BOW!! Today. Well the three of us broke out laughing as I said really, your dad had no idea! My dream came true Geneo, you made my dream came true.

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

08/06/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦


Extra, Extra. Langdon’s Residents Light It Up.

These two Langdon residents received a wicked Christmas gift. A full day guided Fly Fishing trip with on the

Nathan and Sean big day came and man what a big day it was. This father and son team lite it up with Bow River style. These two fellows had never fly fished in their lives. Well I can’t express enough how impressed I was with these guys. It took a couple of kilometres to tune in the skills that are required to have a successful day on the Bow, but man once they got it they got it.

But this piticular day, young Nathan really picked it up. This kid was so focused, listening to all the calls that I gave him. From casting to his line control and when I said set, this kid set and put that BUG right in the gums!!

There isn’t any angler that has fished the Bow that wouldn’t agree it’s the best. Nathan and Sean, every angler would agree the Bow River has the biggest, hardest fighting Trout species in the world and man you guys put the right in the NET!! Big day guys. Big Bow River Day!!

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

07/23/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦


Our Youth of the Bow River.

Let’s celebrate our youth of the What cool 13th birthday present. Stephen’s parents booked a Bow River Fly Fishing Trip for the day of his birthday and it couldn’t have gone any better. Since Stephen move to Calgary from the USA, he accomplished snowboarding on the biggest ski hills in the Rocky Mountains. Now this guy his been working really hard on his skating, going through hockey camps learning how to handle a stick, shooting the puck and is now ready to join his team for his first ever hockey season.

But today is all about his 13th Bow River birthday. Stephen’s dad Carl thought it would be so cool for the both of them to learn how to Fly Fish. This would give them the opportunity explore and hike to some of our best Alpine Lakes throughout in Kananaskis. Well we set off on our day, the the world famous Bow River and and what a day it was. We had the drift boat skidding into big comers, hovering over some crazy buckets and popping and dropping some big bugs right into them. But it was right along this piticular stretch with this lush beautiful bank it all happened. Stephen made this cast that any fly angler would have been proud to of casted. Right tight and I mean right tight on the bank and when the big Bow River Bu**er slapped the grass this big toothy brown came right out from the undercut and chowed it like a AAA steak. Well after a quick pic we pulled anchor and no kidding we get 20 yeards down stream and this fella plants another outstanding cast tight, tight on the bank and WACKO Stephen’s second Bow River, Brown Trout just inhales his Bow River Bu**er.

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

07/03/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦


Women Building Big Careers.

Such a cool Bow River Day. Here are two ladies driving forward with big dedication, passion and strength. These two women have their hearts set on two separate careers paths and are taking on all the challenges that can be thrown at them one step at a time.

Stephanie Merkus is a home grown country singer and if you are in town during the you must take a front row seat as Stephanie will be up and front on centre stage singing in some of Calgary best venues over the next ten days.

Brittney is working in the trades and is focused on becoming a crane operator. This lady is driving forward through her Appernticeship, completing her class one and working on her Red Seal Certification.

Before these two best friends split ways they decided to challenge themselves and spend a day with learning to Fly Fish on the Bow River. Although on this day the Bow River kick our butts, these ladies took to this new experience head on. By the end of the day these two ladies were casting those BUGS with perfection. They dialed in their ability to hit all the spots I gave to them and learned to mend their lines as if they were a pair of old school Fly Fisher’s.

I real hope you two ladies put a Fly Rod and a box of bugs behind the back seats so when the day comes and you reunite, it’s spent on a river or stream full of laughter telling the stories of your success with your careers and catching big fish together forever.

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

06/18/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦

Sheraton Suites, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Alberta Tourism Companies joining forces to only provide travellers and guest from around the world, the ultimate experience in luxury and Adventure.
Talk about an exciting day here at . As of this morning we were added as an exclusive Adventure Company to the new event board located next to guest services in the main lobby. We’re making it so easy for all the travellers staying in the downtown core of to directly book their next Fly Fishing Trip on the World Renown Bow River.

Working together with leaders in the Alberta Tourism Industry, providing everyone with an experience of a lifetime is what we’re all about here at Shallow Water Drift Company. When booking any one of our trips, we will work with you making sure we can meet any time commitments you may have or do our best to reserve you a day where no commitment is required. We will drive the extra distance making sure you are fishing the bottom end of the Lower Blue Ribbon Bow River with no extra cost involved. Because that’s what we do here at Shallow Water Drift Company!! We go the extra distance for all our clients!! Visiting old and new.

See you in front of the lobby front doors. The Shallow Water Drift Company fishing rig and will be waiting for you, 8:00AM. LETS GET BUGGY!!

Shallow Water Drift Company: When you dial us up. We dial you in!!😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co

06/11/2024

🇨🇦🇨🇦


The Bow River Cottonwoods. The Untold Story.

There’s a pitcular time of years on the that is kept a big secret. It’s a time of year when high water explodes. It a time of year that only the most advanced drift boat oarsmen is out sharing the river with the jet boats. This is the time of year when the cottonwood tress start to share their seeds throughout the Bow River Valley.

This is a time of year I definitely don’t include clients for the only one reason is safety. Runoff on the Bow can be big, strong and sometimes the flows aren’t for the faint. During this pitcular time of season the Bow River produces some of the biggest, ugliest black bugs one has ever seen, as a matter of fact we’ve nicknamed them the aliens of the Bow. Big black egg sucking leaches and big, man I mean big black ugly streamers ripped through the current can produce some most spectacular trout on the river.

This is this is this is the big bad ass Lower Bow River!! The flows have settled and the our big trout are out, taking big swipes at big bugs eating everything in their path and feeling meaner than ever. If you’re looking at becoming the next generation hard core Fly Angler, then is the name and we’re definitely here to advance your game.

Shallow Water Drift Company: When you dial us up!! We dial you in😎✌️

Gene Aquilini
Shallow Water Drift Company
403-988-7539
[email protected]
https://shallowwaterdrift.co