Fishing Regulations

Canyon Creek downstream to Hwy 22

ES1 Regulation Zone

1. Fishing Regulations for This Section of the Elbow River (Canyon Creek downstream to Hwy 22)

There are important rules in place to protect native trout and mountain whitefish. These apply to all anglers of any age when fishing this stretch of the river.

• Fishing Season: June 16 – October 31

• Catch & Release Only:

  • 0 Mountain Whitefish

  • 0 Trout of any species
    (Other game fish are unlikely to occur in this stretch.)

• No bait fishing is allowed.

• Maximum of 3 hooks per line, whether three single hooks or one lure with a treble hook.

• Barbless hooks are not required, but strongly encouraged.

• Possible Time-of-Day Restrictions:
  Alberta may implement closures from 2:00 PM–midnight (14:00–24:00) during low flows or high water temperatures.

• Regulations differ upstream and downstream of this section.

• Licensing Requirements:

  • Anyone 16 years or older (residents and non-residents) needs an Alberta sportfishing license.

  • Exempt: individuals under 16, Alberta residents 65+, and First Nations persons defined under the federal Indian Act.

• Full Alberta sportfishing regulations: albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs

2. Proper Fish Handling for Successful Catch & Release

Handling fish gently and intentionally is essential for their survival.

Best Practices

• Use barbless hooks to minimize injury.

• Reel in quickly to reduce stress and harmful lactic acid buildup.

• Release fish immediately and with care.

Nets and Handling

• Use a rubber or plastic net, ideally one that holds a bit of water.

  • Avoid coarse or wide-mesh nets, which damage fins, gills, and protective slime.

• Keep fish wet at all times.

  • Fish kept fully underwater ≈ 90% survival.

  • Less than 30 seconds out of water ≈ 60% survival.

• Wet your hands before touching the fish.

• Hold fish gently:

  • Support behind the gills with a wet hand, and cradle from below.

  • Avoid squeezing, holding by the tail, touching gills, or putting pressure near the eyes.

Photos

• Take photos with the fish in the water, or just above the surface so it can safely fall back if it slips.

Hook Removal

• Use pliers to remove hooks carefully.

• If a hook is deeply swallowed:

  • Do not remove it.

  • Cut the line as close as possible.

  • The fish’s digestive system will break it down over time.

Releasing the Fish

• Place the fish back into the water gently, never dropping it.

• If it appears stunned, face it into the current so water flows through the mouth and over the gills to oxygenate it.

Line/Tippet Choice

• Use an appropriate strength of line for the species you are targeting.

  • Example: Do not target bull trout with 7x tippet — prolonged fights can cause fatal exhaustion.