Waterbody recordES1

ES1: Waterton River - Alberta Fishing

Waterton River is in southwest Alberta, flowing through the Waterton Lakes area near the hamlet of Waterton (near Cardston). Seasons and limits vary by reach, and a bait ban applies throughout: June 16–Aug 31 most reaches are open with a 2-trout limit—on the mainstem and downstream tributaries you may keep up to two trout including up to two rainbow trout (>35 cm) and up to two cutthroat trout (>35 cm) (brook and brown are not retained there), while upstream reaches and tributaries allow two trout composed of brook and/or brown trout (1–2 each) but no rainbow or cutthroat; mountain whitefish are 5 over 30 cm in June–August in those reaches. Sept 1–Oct 31 trout retention is closed (0 trout) on all reaches; mountain whitefish are permitted (5 over 30 cm) on downstream reaches in September–October but are closed (0) on upstream reaches and tributaries.

StreamSubarea ES149.43379, -113.48153
Overview

Waterton River is in southwest Alberta, flowing through the Waterton Lakes area near the hamlet of Waterton (near Cardston). Seasons and limits vary by reach, and a bait ban applies throughout: June 16–Aug 31 most reaches are open with a 2-trout limit—on the mainstem and downstream tributaries you may keep up to two trout including up to two rainbow trout (>35 cm) and up to two cutthroat trout (>35 cm) (brook and brown are not retained there), while upstream reaches and tributaries allow two trout composed of brook and/or brown trout (1–2 each) but no rainbow or cutthroat; mountain whitefish are 5 over 30 cm in June–August in those reaches. Sept 1–Oct 31 trout retention is closed (0 trout) on all reaches; mountain whitefish are permitted (5 over 30 cm) on downstream reaches in September–October but are closed (0) on upstream reaches and tributaries.

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02.Regulations

The regulations that apply here.

Waterbody-specific regulations are shown first. If none are listed, the default subarea regulations appear below.

Waterbody-specific regulationTributaries upstream of Waterton Reservoir including Drywood Creek
OPEN JUNE 16 TO AUG. 31Trout 2 troutView details
Season
OPEN JUNE 16 TO AUG. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Total trout
2 trout
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Rainbow trout
0 fish
Cutthroat trout
0 fish
Brook trout
1 or 2 fish
Brown trout
1 or 2 fish
Last updated: Apr 08, 2026
Waterbody-specific regulationTributaries upstream of Waterton Reservoir including Drywood Creek
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31Trout 0 troutView details
Season
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Total trout
0 trout
Mountain whitefish
0 fish
Last updated: Apr 08, 2026
Waterbody-specific regulationMainstem - upstream of Waterton Reservoir
OPEN JUNE 16 TO AUG. 31Trout 2 troutView details
Season
OPEN JUNE 16 TO AUG. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Total trout
2 trout
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Rainbow trout
0 fish
Cutthroat trout
0 fish
Brook trout
1 or 2 fish
Brown trout
1 or 2 fish
Last updated: Apr 08, 2026
Waterbody-specific regulationMainstem - upstream of Waterton Reservoir
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31Trout 0 troutView details
Season
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Total trout
0 trout
Mountain whitefish
0 fish
Last updated: Apr 08, 2026
Waterbody-specific regulationMainstem and tributaries - downstream of Waterton Reservoir
OPEN JUNE 16 TO AUG. 31Trout 2 troutView details
Season
OPEN JUNE 16 TO AUG. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Total trout
2 trout
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Rainbow trout
1 or 2, over 35 cm
Cutthroat trout
1 or 2, over 35 cm
Brook trout
0 fish
Brown trout
0 fish
Last updated: Apr 08, 2026
Waterbody-specific regulationMainstem and tributaries - downstream of Waterton Reservoir
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31Trout 0 troutView details
Season
OPEN SEPT. 1 TO OCT. 31
Bait allowed
Bait ban
Total trout
0 trout
Mountain whitefish
5 over 30 cm
Last updated: Apr 08, 2026
03.Stocking history

Recorded stocking history for this waterbody.

Every returned stocking row is still available, with dates, species, counts, and related details.

No stocking events returned.

ES1: Waterton River - Alberta Fishing