Changes For The Better Are Underway Here

Article Date: June 1998

A mild winter combined with a quick, dry spring have brought good early fishing to Alberta, but the many Angling Report readers who visit the province each year have a lot of studying to do this season; either that or they should hire a guide who has hit the books.

The sheer mass of sportfishing regulation changes that went into effect in Alberta on April 1 may be unprecedented for one year in any North American jurisdiction, except for when Yellowstone Park went catch and release back in 1962. In fact, some observers feel we are creating a trout preserve in Alberta, much as was done back then in Yellowstone.

In Alberta we now have 39 rivers and streams or portions of rivers and streams that are catch and release, as opposed to perhaps half a dozen previously. There are now slot limits and slot seasons on many east slope streams where fishing is either closed or open to catch-and-release only, or open for a period when a provincial limit (now two trout) may be kept, but with a size restriction.

The new regulations are highly controversial among residents, but most of the Angling Report readers I have talked with over the years are doctrinaire catch and release fishermen, so they will not be at all concerned with whether or not they may kill fish. Some will be concerned about the possibility of keeping a trophy fish, given Alberta's reputation for producing big trout.

The new regulations heavily restrict the taking of a trophy "wall fish," but the legal possibility remains in one of the truly big trout waters in Alberta, the lower Bow River downstream of the Carseland Weir and through the Siksika Nation reservation waters. As usual, Eric Grinnell of Silvertip Outfitters (*) will be regularly taking clients on the Bow be........(continued)

CONTACT DETAILS FOR COMPANIES/INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE (if any)

Eric Grinnell, Silver Tip Outfitters, Ltd. 100 Douglas Ridge Close SE. Calgary, Alberta, T2Z 2M3, Canada. Tel. 403-256-5018

Ron Manz, Ram River Sports - Before the Hatch Anglers. Box 2304. Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, T0M 1T0, Canada. Tel. 403-845-4435, 403-845-4160. E-mail: rrsports@rttinc.com

Bob Eden, Stream Weaver Flies. 4026-50 Street. Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 1W4, Canada. Tel. 403-340-2010

Vic Bergman, Crowsnest Angler, The. Box 400. Bellevue, Alberta, T0K 0C0, Canada. Tel. 403-564-4333, 800-267-1778

William & Shirley Sara, Bedside Manor, The. Box 1088. Blairmore, ALBERTA, T0K 0E0, Canada. Tel. 403-628-3954. Fax 403-628-2437. E-mail: wsara@telusplanet.net

Rendez Vous, The. Tel. 403-564-0000

Alberta Dept. of Env. Protection, Fisheries & Wildlife Manag. Second Floor, Great West Life Building, 9920-108 Street. Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 2M4, Canada. Tel. 403-427-7588. Web: http://www.gov.ab.ca/~env