Bow River Fishing Regulations - 2011

BOW RIVER 2011 REGULATIONS

•   from Banff National Park downstream to Hwy 1 Bridge near
Canmore & tributaries except Canmore and Policeman creeks – Open
all year.

•   Apr. 1 to Mar. 31 – Brook Trout limit 2; Other trout limit 0;
Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Maggots are the only bait
allowed and only in the river from Aug. 16 to Oct. 31.
from Hwy 1 Bridge downstream to Pigeon Creek, & tributaries
•   Apr. 1 to Sept. 30 – Brook Trout limit 2; Other trout limit 0;
Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Maggots are the only bait
allowed and only in the river from Aug. 16 to Sept. 30.
•   Oct. 1 to Mar. 31 – CLOSED

•   from Pigeon Creek downstream to the first dam below Hwy 1X
Bridge (near Seebe) including reservoir, & tributaries except the
Kananaskis River – Open all year.

•   Apr. 1 to Mar. 31 – Brook Trout limit 2; Other trout limit 0;
Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Maggots are the only bait
allowed and only in the river from Aug. 16 to Oct. 31.

•   from first dam below Hwy 1X downstream to Ghost Reservoir (not
including the reservoir), & tributaries except Ghost River

•   Apr. 1 to June 15 – Trout limit 0; Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over
30 cm; Bait Ban

•   June 16 to Oct. 31 – Trout limit 1 under 35 cm; Mountain
Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Maggots are the only bait allowed and
only in the river from Aug. 16 to Oct. 31.

•   Nov. 1 to Mar. 31 – CLOSED

•   from (Ghost Dam) downstream to Bearspaw Reservoir (not
including the reservoir), & tributaries except Jumpingpound Creek

•   Apr. 1 to June 15 – Trout limit 0; Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over
30 cm; Bait Ban

•   June 16 to Oct. 31 – Trout limit 1 under 35 cm; Mountain Whitefish
limit 5 over 30 cm; Maggots are the only bait allowed and only in the
river from Aug. 16 to Oct. 31.

•   Nov. 1 to Mar. 31 – CLOSED

•   from Bearspaw Dam downstream to Western Headworks
Diversion (W.H.D.) Weir (including the Elbow River below Glenmore
Reservoir).

•   CLOSED Apr. 1 to May 31 and Oct. 1 to Nov. 30
•   June 1 to Sept. 30 and Dec. 1 to Mar. 31 – Trout limit 1 under 35 cm;
All Trout over 35 cm must be released; Mountain Whitefish limit 5
over 30 cm; Maggots are the only bait allowed and only in the river
from Aug. 16 to Sept. 30.

•   from the Western Headworks Diversion (W.H.D.) Weir
downstream to the Carseland Weir (includes 500 m of the Highwood
River) but excluding all waters in the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (see
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary) – Open all year.

•   Apr. 1 to Mar. 31 – Trout limit 1 under 35 cm; All Trout over 35 cm
must be released; Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Bait Ban.

•   from Carseland Weir downstream to the Hwy 24 Bridge
(downstream side)

•   CLOSED Apr. 1 to May 31 and Oct. 1 to Nov. 30

•   June 1 to Sept. 30 and Dec. 1 to Mar. 31 – Trout limit 1 under 35 cm;
All trout over 35 cm must be released; Mountain Whitefish limit 5
over 30 cm; Pike limit 3 (no size limit); Bait Ban.

•   from Hwy 24 Bridge downstream to Bassano Dam, including
Bassano Reservoir (Fish Management Zone 2, Watershed Unit PP1)
– Open all year.

•   Apr. 1 to Mar. 31 – Trout limit 1 under 35 cm; All Trout over 35 cm
must be released; Mountain Whitefish limit 5 over 30 cm; Pike limit
3 over 63 cm; Bait Ban.

BOW RIVER LICENSING & FEES

Automated Fishing Licensing System

Recreational fishing licences in Alberta are sold either online through AlbertaRelm, or through private licence issuers (e.g, sporting goods stores, convenience stores and gas stations) in communities throughout the province.

Licence issuers provide the following services:

•   Confirm licence eligibility online
•   Print all licences and tags at the point of sale

This automated system integrates all recreational licensing services, providing improved service to anglers, hunters and licence vendors, while also providing the Alberta Fish and Wildlife division of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development with important, up-to-date information about the anglers and hunters in the province.

Sportfishing Licences: Fees for Sportfishing Licences in Alberta

The following table lists the fees for sportfishing licences in Alberta. Fees are in Canadian dollars and do not include the five percent federal Goods and Services Tax.

Before purchasing any licence, a person must hold a valid Wildlife Identification Number (WIN). You can apply for your number at the same time you purchase your licence.

License Holder Sportfishing License Cost
Alberta Resident, 16-64 years of age $25.66
Alberta Resident, 65 years or older No License Required
Alberta Resident, Youths (less than 16 years) No License Required
Canadian Resident, 16 and Older $25.66
Canadian Resident, Youths (less than 16 years) No License Required
Non-resident from outside Canada - Annual $70.90
Non-resident from outside Canada - 5 Day $47.63
Non-resident from outside Canada - 1 Day $26.63
Non-resident from outside Canada - Youth (less than 16 years) No License Required


Lost/destroyed licences
Licences purchased at a licence issuer can be reprinted at any licence issuer for a $2.00 fee. Licences purchased online can be reprinted online at no charge.
Lost/destroyed tags
Tags issued by a licence issuer can be reprinted at any licence issuer for a $4.00 fee. A replacement tag(s) for a licence purchased online can be replaced at no charge. You are required to bring your licence to a district office. In both cases you must complete a statutory declaration to authorize the replacement.
All persons sportfishing in Alberta are required to hold an Alberta Sportfishing Licence, except:

•   Youths under 16 years of age
•   Alberta residents aged 65 and older
•   Native Indian people

Purchasing a Licence

Recreational fishing licences are available for purchase at licence issuers or online at: AlbertaRELM

To buy a special walleye licence online that requires a tag(s), you must have a prenumbered 10 digit Government of Alberta paper tag & wire before you begin your purchase. Tags are available free of charge at Fish and Wildlife District Offices.

For more information on where to purchase a licence or Wildlife Identification (WIN) card in Alberta, see:

•   Private License Issuers

For more information about fishing in Alberta, visit:

•   Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations

In case of a discrepancy between the information presented in this on-line version and the official printed (hardcopy) version of the Alberta Sportfishing Regulations, the official printed version shall have precedence.

To Contact Clearwater Adventures Phone Toll Free: 1-877-607-4427; In Calgary Area: 403-607-4427