ES2: North Saskatchewan River - Alberta Fishing
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.