According to seasoned fishing guides, trout populations have collapsed in the Bow River, south of the Carseland Weir, and the decrease in fish is largely due to an increase in water temperature.

Eric Grinnell, a Bow River guide for more than 35 years, says cold water fish species have virtually disappeared from the region.

“Most of the trout down here died and whitefish down here died,” said Grinnell. “I have no observation of dead fish but there are no longer any fish.”

“They’re just gone.”

Grinnell blames the impact of the 2013 flooding of the Bow River for the temperature change and he’s not alone. Conservation groups and other fishing guides concur with Grinnell’s observations on the river.

Since the flood, the river is wider and shallower than before and the change has left the river susceptible to drastic increases in temperature.

“I expressed concern to the provincial fisheries people in Calgary last year and received no answer from them,” said Grinnell. “Not a response.”

Grinnell wants the province to conduct an official study of fish populations in the area to verify what he and his fellow guides have observed. .

“It’s an environmental issue and, of course, it’s bad for business.”

Alberta Environment and Parks has not responded to CTV Calgary’s requests for comment.

With files from CTV's Bill Macfarlane