ZONE 1 Eastern Slopes - ES2
The Eastern Slopes consists of the mountains and foothills that form the “Eastern Slopes” along the Rocky Mountains from Montana to the Grande Prairie region. Throughout this zone, tributary creeks flow into larger streams and into major rivers. These watersheds support numerous trout and mountain whitefish populations, as well as Arctic grayling populations in the north.
The Eastern Slopes four Watershed Units are the Oldman and Bow rivers (ES1), the Red Deer and North Saskatchewan rivers (ES2), the Athabasca and Pembina rivers (ES3) and the Smoky River (ES4).
ES2 WATERSHED UNIT REGULATIONS
The Red Deer River watershed upstream of the Dickson Dam west of Innisfail and the North Saskatchewan River watershed upstream of Highway 22/39 near Drayton Valley.
BAIT FISHING
● Fishing with bait in ES2 streams is not allowed.
● Fishing with Bait is allowed at lakes without Bait Bans. Check the ES2 regulation tables for site specific regulations.
● Fishing with Bait Fish is NOT allowed in ES2 except at the following waterbodies: Burnstick Lake, Brazeau Canal, Cow Lake, Jackfish Lake and Glennifer (Reservoir) Lake.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife may announce short-term emergency stream closures in response to low stream flows and warmer water temperatures. Sportfishing would be suspended and fishing not allowed for the duration of the emergency period.
Ice fishing: Angling is not permitted through the ice; a) into beaver ponds or b) into flowing waters in ES2.
Mainstem of a river: includes the mainstem channel and any side channel, oxbows, riparian flow channels, and plunge pools below spillways.
ES2 LAKE AND STREAM LISTINGS
For waterbody specific regulations, click the links below.
ES2 - Lakes, Reservoirs and Ponds
ES2 - Rivers, Creeks and Streams
ES2 Default Sportfishing Regulations
● The names of most ES2 lakes and streams are listed alphabetically in the site specific regulation tables on the following pages.
● Smaller streams may not be listed, but may be included as tributaries to a listed larger stream.
● If a listed waterbody does not have a season listed, it is CLOSED to fishing during that period.
● If a ES2 lake, reservoir, river, stream or species is not listed, follow the default regulations below.
● General regulation stocked trout lakes are listed here.
DEFAULT REGULATIONS FOR LAKES
OPEN all year
● Bull Trout limit 0
● Arctic Grayling limit 0
● Trout limit 5
● Walleye limit 3 over 50 cm
● Northern Pike limit 3
● Perch limit 15
● Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm
● Burbot limit 10
● Bait except Bait Fish allowed
DEFAULT REGULATIONS FOR STREAMS
OPEN Apr. 1 to Aug. 31
● Bull Trout limit 0
● Arctic Grayling limit 0
● Trout limit 2
● Cutthroat over 35 cm
● Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm
● Walleye limit 3 over 50 cm
● Northern Pike limit 3
● Yellow Perch limit 15
● Burbot limit 10
● Bait ban
OPEN Sept. 1 to Oct. 31
● Bull Trout limit 0
● Arctic Grayling limit 0
● Trout and Mountain Whitefish limit 0
● Walleye limit 3 over 50 cm
● Northern Pike limit 3
● Yellow Perch limit 15
● Burbot limit 10
● Bait ban
CLOSED Nov. 1 to Mar. 31