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Advisories, Corrections and Closures

COVID-19 response: temporary closures

The Government of Alberta has temporarily closed front counters at all Fish and Wildlife offices across the province.

  • You can contact Fish and Wildlife offices using the phone numbers listed on the Fish and Wildlife - Contacts page.
  • For recreational sportfishing or hunting information, please visit AlbertaRELM or call the AlbertaRELM Help Desk at 1-888-944-5494.
  • Vehicle access is now permitted at parking lots and staging areas in provincial parks and public land. Facilities like playgrounds and washrooms remain temporarily closed. For more information, visit the Alberta Parks advisories page.

For more information about Alberta’s COVID-19 response, visit COVID-19 info for Albertans.

Angling Advisories

Safe and minimal catch-and-release handling should be followed at all times, to reduce fish stress and mortality. See:

Watershed Unit Water Item
PP1 Bullshead Reservoir
  • Bullshead Reservoir had a fish kill due to low oxygen and poor water quality.
  • Environment and Parks is determining the exact issue and determining actions.
  • In the interim, the 2020 sportfishing regulations apply however the reservoir is not being stocked.

Fishing Guide Corrections

Watershed Unit Water Current Item Updated Item Effective Date
PP1 Canal connecting Travers and McGregor reservoirs Regulations for canal not listed Included the canal in the description of Travers Reservoir; therefore, regulations are open May 8-Mar.15, bait is allowed, 0 limit on walleye and pike, 15 perch, 15 lake whitefish, 15 burbot allowed. April 1, 2020
General Sportfishing Restrictions on Page 20 All It is unlawful to: Possess and use a gaff or gaff hook It is unlawful to: Possess or use a gaff or gaff hook April 1, 2020
ES1-ES4, PP1-PP2 and NB1-NB4 Beaver ponds and flowing waters Angling through ice is not permitted into beaver ponds or into flowing waters Angling through ice is not permitted into beaver ponds or flowing waters in ES1 to ES4 management zones except the portion of the Lobstick River lying in 53, 54-9, 10-W5 April 1, 2020
ES1-4, PP1-2, NB1-4 Default Sportfishing Regulations table Clarify the Default Sportfishing Regulations
  1. Removed the wording ‘Default regulations for rivers, streams and tributaries not included in ES1-4, PP1-2, NB1-4 regulation tables’ from under LAKES and STREAMS
  2. Removed the word ‘season’ from ES1-4, PP1-2, NB1-4 Default Sportfishing Regulations text ‘lake, reservoir, river, stream, season or species is not listed, follow the default regulations below.
  3. Included the text, ‘If a listed waterbody does not have a season listed, it is CLOSED to fishing during that period’ into header of ES1-4, PP1-2, NB1-4 Default Sportfishing Regulations tables
 April 1, 2020
ES1 Sheep and Belly rivers June 16 to Aug. 31 default season and catch limits Included June 16 to Aug. 31 default season and catch limits in site specific regulations April 1, 2020
ES1 Castle River, Beaver, Carbondale, Ghost, Oldman (Mainstem-Headwater downstream to Racehorse Ck.), South Castle rivers and Pincher Creek. Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 default season and catch limits Included Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 default season and catch limits in site specific regulations April 1, 2020
ES1 Oldman River / Mainstem - Hwy. 22 downstream to Sec. Rd. 510 June 16 to Aug. 31 default season and catch limits Included June 16 to Aug. 31 default season and catch limits in site specific regulations April 1, 2020
ES1 Smuts lakes (24-21-11-W5; includes tributaries and outlet Included in Put and Take Stocking Program listing on page 16 and in ES1 site-specific regulations ES1 site-specific regulations are correct. Lakes removed from Put and Take Stocking Program on page 16. April 1, 2020
ES3 Mcleod River / Mainstem only; Hwy 47 downstream to the Athabasca River OPEN APR. 1 to AUG. 31 OPEN APR. 1 to OCT. 31 April 1, 2020
NB1 Wolf Lake Complex and Tributaries Season Open June 1 to Oct. 31 Season Open June 1 to Mar. 31 April 1, 2020
NB2 Lily Lake Listed as Put and Take stocked trout lake on page 17 Removed from page 17 as Lily Lake has site specific regulations on page 80 in NB2 April 1, 2020
NB3 Grist, Sand and Winefred rivers

Listed in wrong Watershed Unit (NB3 River, Creeks and Streams)

Moved to correct Watershed Unit (NB4 Rivers, Creeks and Streams)

 April 1, 2020
NB3 NB3 River, Creeks and Streams

Bait • = Bait allowed

Bait • = Bait ban

 April 1, 2020
NB3 Mink Lake #1 (17-82-11-W5)

Misspelled (Mike Lake #1)

Mink Lake #1

 April 1, 2020

Read the Sportfishing Regulations

Alberta guide to sportfishing regulations - PDF  Alberta guide to sportfishing regulations – Online 

Waterbody Closures

No emergency waterbody closures at this time

Contact

Please contact your local Fish and Wildlife Office for more information regarding fisheries advisories, corrections to fishing regulations or waterbody closures.

Fish and Wildlife Area Contacts 


Updated: May 27, 2020