Advisories, Corrections and Closures

Angling Advisories

Low flow volumes and high air temperatures – July 27, 2020

Area affected: Southern Alberta.

Declining river flow volumes and high air temperatures can result in warmer water temperatures that can cause stress to fish such as trout and mountain whitefish. Anglers are encouraged to follow proper angling practices that reduce impacts to fish:

• fish in the early morning when temperatures are cooler
• minimize handling time
• fish in stocked ponds and lakes
• use single point, single hook lures or flies (example: no treble hooks or multiple hooks on a single lure or fly)

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

• Fish Handling Techniques

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	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 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. 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

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.

Updated: Jul 27, 2020