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ES2: North Saskatchewan River - Alberta Fishing

StreamSubarea: ES253.33847, -113.92037
Overview

North Saskatchewan River in west‑central Alberta near Abraham Lake/Nordegg; regulations vary by reach — upper mainstem and many tributaries (Banff National Park boundary to Abraham Lake) are open Apr 1–Aug 31 and Sept 1–Oct 31 with a bait ban, the reach from Bighorn Dam downstream to Hwy 22/39 is open Apr 1–Oct 31 with a bait ban, and downstream of Hwy 22/39 to the Alberta–Saskatchewan border is open year‑round with bait allowed (some tributaries below Hwy 22/39 have different seasons). Species-specific limits include: mountain whitefish generally 5 with a 30 cm minimum in most open seasons (some Sept. openings upstream have a 0 whitefish limit); rainbow trout typically kept only over 30 cm and cutthroat trout over 35 cm in portions of the mid reach; walleye commonly 3 over 50 cm in the Bighorn Dam–Hwy 22/39 reach (walleye/sauger restrictions or closures apply in other stretches); northern pike generally 3 in mid reaches but 1 over 63 cm downstream; burbot 10 and goldeye 10, with sauger often closed (0) in several areas. These are reach‑ and season‑specific rules for subarea ES2 — check the exact ES2 regulations for the reach you plan to fish.

Regulations

Mainstem downstream Hwy. 22/39 (Drayton Valley) to the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border — OPEN ALL YEARTap to expand
Detail
Mainstem downstream Hwy. 22/39 (Drayton Valley) to the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border
Season
OPEN ALL YEAR
Bait allowed
Bait allowed
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Northern pike
1 over 63 cm
Walleye sauger
0 WALL or SAUG
Burbot
10 fish
Goldeye
10 fish
Last update
Sep 16, 2025
Tributaries (excluding the Sturgeon River; See Redwater River in NB1); from Hwy. 22/39 downstream to the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border — OPEN MAY 15 TO MAR. 31Tap to expand
Detail
Tributaries (excluding the Sturgeon River; See Redwater River in NB1); from Hwy. 22/39 downstream to the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border
Season
OPEN MAY 15 TO MAR. 31
Bait allowed
Bait allowed
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Northern pike
1 over 63 cm
Walleye sauger
0 within 500 m of mainstem
Burbot
10 fish
Goldeye
10 fish
Last update
Sep 16, 2025
Mainstem and tributaries from Banff National Park boundary downstream to Abraham Lake (2-18-36-17-W5) and tributaries including tributaries to Abraham Lake, except Cline River and Siffleur River — OPEN APR. 1 TO AUG. 31Tap to expand
Detail
Mainstem and tributaries from Banff National Park boundary downstream to Abraham Lake (2-18-36-17-W5) and tributaries including tributaries to Abraham Lake, except Cline River and Siffleur River
Season
OPEN APR. 1 TO AUG. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Last update
Sep 16, 2025
Rainbow trout
Over 30 cm
Cutthroat trout
Over 30 cm
Mainstem and tributaries from Banff National Park boundary downstream to Abraham Lake (2-18-36-17-W5) and tributaries including tributaries to Abraham Lake, except Cline River and Siffleur River — OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31Tap to expand
Detail
Mainstem and tributaries from Banff National Park boundary downstream to Abraham Lake (2-18-36-17-W5) and tributaries including tributaries to Abraham Lake, except Cline River and Siffleur River
Season
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Mountain whitefish
0 fish
Last update
Sep 16, 2025
Mainstem from Bighorn Dam downstream to Hwy 22/39 — APR. 1 TO OCT. 31Tap to expand
Detail
Mainstem from Bighorn Dam downstream to Hwy 22/39
Season
APR. 1 TO OCT. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Northern pike
3 fish
Walleye
3 over 50 cm
Burbot
10 fish
Goldeye
10 fish
Last update
Sep 16, 2025
Cutthroat trout
Over 35 cm
Sauger
0 fish
Tributaries from Bighorn Dam downstream to Hwy 22/39 (except Baptiste River, Bighorn River, Brazeau River, Clearwater River, Ram River, Wolf Creek and Washout Creek) — OPEN APR. 1 TO AUG. 31Tap to expand
Detail
Tributaries from Bighorn Dam downstream to Hwy 22/39 (except Baptiste River, Bighorn River, Brazeau River, Clearwater River, Ram River, Wolf Creek and Washout Creek)
Season
OPEN APR. 1 TO AUG. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Northern pike
3 fish
Walleye
3 over 50 cm
Burbot
10 fish
Goldeye
10 fish
Last update
Sep 16, 2025
Cutthroat trout
Over 35 cm
Sauger
0 fish
Tributaries from Bighorn Dam downstream to Hwy 22/39 (except Baptiste River, Bighorn River, Brazeau River, Clearwater River, Ram River, Wolf Creek and Washout Creek) — OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31Tap to expand
Detail
Tributaries from Bighorn Dam downstream to Hwy 22/39 (except Baptiste River, Bighorn River, Brazeau River, Clearwater River, Ram River, Wolf Creek and Washout Creek)
Season
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Mountain whitefish
0 fish
Northern pike
3 fish
Walleye
3 over 50 cm
Burbot
10 fish
Goldeye
10 fish
Last update
Sep 16, 2025
Sauger
0 fish

Stocking history

No stocking events returned.

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