If you’re new to fishing in Alberta, one of the toughest questions you may ask is where can I go fishing? With over 600 fish-bearing lakes—and countless rivers, streams, and creeks—how do you know which have fish, what kinds of fish can be caught, and is the waterbody even open to fishing? Using some of these online tools before you go can optimize your time on the water doing what really matters: Fishing!
Plenty of Information at Your Fingertips
The first thing an angler should do before going fishing is check the regulations. Knowing when a lake, river, or stream is open should always be step one. You can also find useful information on fish species, catch limits, and bait bans, as well as great articles about angling in the province. The Alberta fishing regulations can look a bit daunting, but there are a few tools that make it easier to interpret. Recently, the Government of Alberta put together a map with all the regulations in the province. It's easy to click on various rivers and lakes to see their regulations. geospatial.alberta.ca/apps/afr
Having a paper copy or download of the regulations handy is also a good idea, in case you find somewhere new while out exploring. The regulations are in effect from April 1 through March 31, of each year. Never assume that the regulations are the same as the prior year, so be sure to check for changes. albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs
Stocked trout lakes can be a great place for beginners to try fishing. They are typically close to, or within, major cities, and stocked annually with rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and/or tiger trout. Stocked ponds typically are small, have amenities, and are easy to fish from shore—making them great for new anglers. These ponds fish very well in late spring and early winter. For a map of all the stocked ponds in Alberta, visit Alberta Conservation Association's (ACA) interactive fish stocking map at ab-conservation.com/programs/fish/aca-stocked-lakes
If you're after a more detailed stocking report with information on when, how many, what size, and what species were stocked, check out the Government of Alberta's fish stocking reports. You'll find years of stocking reports going back over a decade to help you decide on where to go. open.alberta.ca/publications/fish-stocking-list
Once you've graduated from fishing at stocked ponds, maybe you'd like to try fishing a stream or river. ACA has an app to find great fishing along the Raven and North Raven Rivers in central Alberta. Try your hand at catching one of the elusive brown trout that call these waters home. Remember to always use respect when accessing these properties by staying within these fenced riparian corridors, packing out what you pack in, and obeying all signage. Many of these access points are privately owned, however most do not require permission for access. Make sure to check individual access points for permission requirements. www.ab-conservation.com/ravenangling
Legendary Alberta angler Barry Mitchell is the namesake of the annual Barry Mitchell's Alberta Fishing Guide. Packed with detailed locations, fish species, size expectations, and articles about the tactics to catch them, the guide can be found at Canadian Tire stores and gas stations across the province. You're sure to find new areas to explore, new species to catch, and new strategies to try. abfishingguide.ca
Google Earth is also a fantastic tool for your desktop research. Find access points, bridge crossings, boat launches, nice stretches of habitat including deep pools on rivers, and even see weed beds and drop offs on lakes. Save pins and add notes on the maps you've been, or on new areas to check out. You can also use it to find "sneaky" spots, such as beaver dams, oxbows, and backwaters along major rivers. These places usually hold very few fish, but they are typically larger than what you'll find in the main rivers. earth.google.com
Due to the size of lakes, it can be daunting to know where to start. Bathymetric maps can help you find drop offs, shallow flats, or deep holes that will allow you make an educated guess on where fish you're targeting might be concentrated. Highlight a few areas to try before heading out, and you'll be on fish in no time. ags.aer.ca/interactive-data-and-tools/lake-bathymetry-data
The Angler's Atlas has lots of depth maps for Alberta lakes and is free to use after you sign up for an account. The Government of Alberta also has an interactive map to easily find the lake you're interested in. anglersatlas.com
In early winter or late spring, you may be wondering whether a lake is frozen up or if it has thawed. Rather than driving hours only to be disappointed, try using this amazing satellite imagery tool: Copernicus. Every few days a new satellite image is released that can help answer these questions. If it's not cloudy, you'll be able to see if the lake has iced over or if it has open water ready for boating. Be the first out on the ice in the winter or boating in open water in the spring with help from an eye in the sky. Sign up for a free account to use this service. copernicus.eu
Photo credit (top): Andrew Clough.
