As is tradition, here’s my summary of the Alberta Fishing Regulation changes for 2021! In 2020, trout stocking continued despite the challenges COVID-19 presented, however, walleye stocking was postponed. This season, walleye spawning camps were set up on Lac St Anne and eggs and milt were collected for stocking in other lakes very soon. It will be a few years until we see the benefits but I’m excited for the increased harvest opportunities to come.
Outlined below are the changes compared to the previous year for each lake with a summary at the end:
ES1:
Bear Pond – now allowed 1 trout over 30cm, limit was 2 in 2020
Big Iron Lake – now allowed 1 trout over 30cm, limit was 2 in 2020
Quarry Lake – now allowed 1 trout over 50cm, limit was 2 in 2020
Wedge Pond – now allowed 1 trout over 50cm, limit was 2 in 2020
ES2:
Burnstick Lake – now 0 walleye allowed, was 1 over 50cm in 2020
Cow Lake – now 0 pike, 5 rainbow trout and 0 brown trout, was 1 pike over 100cm in 2020
Tay River – added to regulations for 2021
PP1:
Cowoki Irrigation Canal – Season dates change. Now open Dec 15 – Mar 15; was Dec 1 – Mar 15 in 2020
PP2:
Chain Lakes (Upper and Lower) – now 1 pike of any size, was 3 pike over 63cm in 2020
Isle Lake – now 1 walleye any size and 10 perch, was 1 walleye slot sized and 0 perch in 2020
Wabamun Lake – now walleye SHL, 5 lake whitefish, 2 burbot; was 0 retention in 2020
Battle River – Burbot seasonal closure removed; was closed Feb 1 – Mar 31 in 2020
Blindman River – now all bait allowed, was only maggots in 2020
Little Red Deer River – Season date changes. Now open May 15 – Mar 1, was May 5 – Mar 1 in 2020
Medicine River – Burbot season changed. Now closed Feb 1 to Mar 1, was closed Feb 1 – Mar 31 in 2020
Red Deer River – Burbot season changed. Now closed Feb 1 to Mar 1, was closed Feb 1 – Mar 31 in 2020
NB1:
Moose Lake – now walleye are SHL and 0 pike, was 1 walleye slot limit and 1 pike over 63 cm in 2020
North Buck Lake – now 1 pike over 63 cm, was 0 pike in 2020
Pinehurst Lake – now 0 walleye, was walleye slot limit in 2020
NB2:
Winagami Lake – now 0 pike, was 2 over 63 cm in 2020
NB3:
Nipisi Lake – now 1 pike over 75 cm, was 0 pike 2020
North Wabasca Lake – now 1 walleye over 50 cm and 1 pike over 75 cm, was 0 for both in 2020
South Wabasca Lake – now 1 walleye over 50 cm, was 0 walleye in 2020
Twin Lakes – added to regulations. Now 2 tiger trout over 35 cm, 5 trout total
Loon River – now 1 walleye over 50 and 2 pike over 63 cm, was 3 walleye over 43 cm and 3 pike over 63 cm in 2020
Muskwa River – now 1 walleye over 50 cm and 2 pike over 63 cm, was 3 over 50 cm and 3 pike over 63 cm in 2020
Nipisi River – now 1 walleye over 50 cm and 2 pike over 63 cm, was 3 over 50 cm and 3 pike over 63 cm in 2020
Wabasca River – now 1 walleye over 50 cm. In portion downstream of Sandy Lake, 1 pike over 75. In other portion, 2 pike over 63 cm. Was 3 pike over 75 cm in other portion in 2020.
NB4:
Big Island Lake – now 0 pike, was 1 pike over 63 cm in 2020
Birch Creek – River portion change. Now 3 pike over 63 cm, was 0 pike in 2020
Christina Lake Outflow and Tributaries – added to regulations for 2021
Jackfish River – River portion change. Now 3 pike over 63 cm, was 0 pike in 2020
Monday Creek – now 3 pike over 63 cm, was 0 pike in 2020
Sunday Creek – now 3 pike over 63 cm, was 0 pike in 2020
Winifred Lake and Tributaries – now 1 walleye slot sized, was 0 in 2020
IN SUMMARY:
WALLEYE:
6 lakes either open or increased for walleye retention
5 lakes closed or reduced for walleye retention
NORTHERN PIKE:
7 lakes either opened or increased pike retention
10 lakes closed or reduced for pike retention
TROUT:
This year, more stocked ponds have had regulation changes over to quality stocked lakes. This means the standard 5 trout of any size limit has been changed to typically 1 or 2 trout of above average size in addition to a bit ban. For the trophy trout angler, this is good news. Large trout put up a great fight! I’ll have more information on quality stocked trout lakes to come in a future post. Stay tuned!
