Waterbody · Alberta
Bow River Fishing Regulations 2026
Bow River fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are brown trout, rainbow trout, bull trout. 604 current rules across 17 species from Environment & Protected Areas.
Rules (604)
Environment & Protected Areas regulates 604 rules across 17 species at this water.
Trout
Battle River Mainstem From Downstream Of The Forestburg Reservoir And TributariesClosed
- Status
- Closed
Battle River Mainstem From Hwy. 771 Downstream To Hwy. 855Closed
- Status
- Closed
Battle River Mainstem From Hwy. 855 Downstream To The Forestburg ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Blindman River Mainstem Including All TributariesClosed
- Status
- Closed
Blue LakeClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- May 15
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 40 cm
- Gear
- Bait Allowed
Brazeau River Mainstem Downstream Of Brazeau Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Brazeau River Mainstem Downstream Of The Forestry Trunk Road (Bridge At 6-16-45-18-W5) To The Brazeau ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Brazeau River Mainstem Upstream Of Forestry Trunk Road (Bridge At 6-16-45-18-W5) And Tributaries (Except Cardinal River), Outside Of Jasper National Park
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Burnt Timber Creek Mainstem And Tributaries (Except Pinto Creek)
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Clearwater River Mainstem From Forestry Trunk Road (Bridge At 5-35-09-W5) Downstream To The North Saskatchewan RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Clearwater River Mainstem From The Banff National Park Boundary Downstream To Timber CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Clearwater River Mainstem From Timber Creek Downstream To The Forestry Trunk Road (Bridge At 5-35-09-W5) And Tributaries (Except Elk Creek)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Clearwater River Tributaries From The Banff National Park Boundary Downstream To And Including Timber CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Cline River Mainstem And Tributaries Downstream To The Highway 11 (Cline River) Bridge Except Tributaries To Coral Lake, Pinto Lake, All Water Within The White Goat Wilderness Area And The Outlet Of Pinto Lake For 1.5 Km Downstream.Closed
- Status
- Closed
County Sportplex PondClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 40 cm
Devil’s Fork (Unnamed) Creek 4-45-16-W5; Tributary To Brazeau RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Fall Creek Mainstem And Tribuatries; Upstream Of The Falls At 11-31-37-11-W5
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Fallentimber Creek Mainstem And Tributaries Downstream Of The Falls At 11-31-37-11-W5Closed
- Status
- Closed
Fish CreekCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
New catch-and-release regulations for trout on select Bow River spawning tributaries
Kakwa River Mainstem Including Tributaries Except Lynx CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Little Red Deer River Headwater Downstream To Twp. Rd. 352 (Cottonwood Road) And Tributaries Except Dogpound Creek. See PP2 For Little Red Deer River Downstream Of Twp. Rd. 352.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Little Red Deer River Mainstem From Cottonwood Road (Twp. Rd. 352) Downstream To Red Deer River; Includes All TributariesClosed
- Status
- Closed
Little Smoky River Mainstem; Downstream Of Hwy. 43Closed
- Status
- Closed
Lodgepole (Unnamed) PondClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 40 cm
Long LakeClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 5 trout
- Min size
- 35 cm
only 2 TGTR over 35 cm
Mainstem And Tributaries Downstream Of Crescent FallsClosed
- Status
- Closed
Mainstem And Tributaries Upstream Of Forestry Trunk Road (Bridge At 6-16-45-18-W5) And Tributaries (Except Cardinal River), Outside Of Jasper National ParkClosed
- Status
- Closed
Mainstem And Tributaries Upstream Of Mons Creek Including Mons Creek
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Mainstem Downstream Of Mons Creek And Tributaries (Except Rundell Creek)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Mainstem Downstream Of The Forestry Trunk Road (Bridge At 6-16-45-18-W5) To The Brazeau Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Mainstem From The Banff National Park Boundary Downstream To Timber CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Mainstem From Timber Creek Downstream To The Forestry TrClosed
- Status
- Closed
Medicine River Mainstem Including All TributariesClosed
- Status
- Closed
North Raven River Stauffer Creek; Mainstem And TributariesClosed
- Status
- Closed
North Saskatchewan River Mainstem And Tributaries From Banff National Park Boundary Downstream To Abraham Lake (2-18-36-17-W5) And Tributaries Including Tributaries To And Siffleur River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
North Saskatchewan River Mainstem Downstream Hwy. 22/39 (Drayton Valley) To The Alberta/ Saskatchewan BorderClosed
- Status
- Closed
North Saskatchewan River Tributaries (Excluding The Sturgeon River; See Redwater River In NB1); From Hwy. 22/39 Downstream To The Alberta/ Saskatchewan BorderClosed
- Status
- Closed
Parlby Creek 23-40-22-W4; Portion Between Bufalo And Alix LakesClosed
- Status
- Closed
Pinto Creek Mainstem From Bighorn Dam Downstream To Hwy 22/39
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Prairie Creek 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)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Provincial Regulations For Put And Take Stocked LakesOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
all year of any size
Ram River 35-29-10-W5; Tributary To North Burnt Timber Creek; Mainstem And Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Raven Brood Trout Station Mainstem Upstream Of The North Fork Road And All Tributaries (Except Swan Creek And Tributaries Between Vetch And Swan Creek)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Raven River The Portion Of The Mainstem And Tributaries Between Vetch And Swan CreeksClosed
- Status
- Closed
Red Deer River Mainstem And Tributaries From Tolman Bridge (Sec. Hwy. 585) Downstream To The Alberta/ Saskatchewan BorderClosed
- Status
- Closed
Red Deer River Mainstem From Dickson Dam Downstream To The Tolman Bridge (Hwy. 585) Including All Named And Unnamed Tributaries (Excluding Medicine River) (Sec. Hwy. 585 [14-33-22-W4])Closed
- Status
- Closed
Red Deer River The Remainder Of The Mainstem Downstream Of The North Fork Road (Except The Portion Between Vetch And Swan Creeks)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Rundell Creek Also Known As South Ram River; Mainstem And Tributaries (Except Fall Creek)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Sheep RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
New catch-and-release regulations for trout on select Bow River spawning tributaries
Siffleur Wilderness Area Mainstem And Tributaries Except North Raven River (Stauffer Creek)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Simonette River Mainstem Including Tributaries Except Deep Valley CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Smoky River Headwater Downstream To Hwy. 43 And Tributaries Except Kakwa, Muskeg, Simonette RiversClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Possession
- 2 fish
Specific Streams
- Gear
- Maggots
only maggots may be used as bait during certain times of the year to allow anglers to fish for mountain whitefish with less impact on trout populations
Sphinx (Unnamed) LakeClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 40 cm
Sturgeon River From Big Lake Downstream To Sec. Hwy. 825Closed
- Status
- Closed
Sturgeon River From Headwater Downstream To Big LakeClosed
- Status
- Closed
Sturgeon River From Sec. Hwy. 825 Downstream To North Saskatchewan RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Swan Creek Mainstem And Tributaries From Banff National Park Boundary Downstream To The Forestry Trunk Road (13-31-10-W5)
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Sylvan Creek Ne-11-38-28-W4; Includes Cygnet LakeClosed
- Status
- Closed
Tay River Mainstem From Forestry Trunk Road Downstream To Gleniffer (Reservoir) Lake And Tributaries (Except Fallentimber Creek, Raven River, North Raven River And Pinto Creek)
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Threepoint CreekCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
New catch-and-release regulations for trout on select Bow River spawning tributaries
Tributaries From The Banff National Park Boundary Downstream To And Including Timber Creek
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Ware CreekCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
New catch-and-release regulations for trout on select Bow River spawning tributaries
Alberta statewideClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Possession
- 5 fish
Spears or bows cannot be used to harvest trout combined
Rainbow Trout
Elbow River Mainstem, Hwy. 22 Downstream To Glenmore Reservoir And Tributaries
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Kananaskis River Headwater Downstream To Hwy. 1 Including Tributaries Except Smith-Dorrien CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Athabasca River Upstream Of Sec. Rd. 658 (Near Whitecourt) To Jasper National Park Boundary Mainstem River Only (Including Brule Lake)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Belly River Mainstem And Tributaries; Downstream Of Sec. Rd. 800
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Berland River Mainstem Only - Downstream Of Hwy 40Closed
- Status
- Closed
Castle River Mainstem From Hwy. 3 To West Castle River And Includes Tributaries Except Mill, Beaver Mines, And Screwdriver Creeks And Carbondale River
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Chain (Lower) LakeOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Gear
- Bait Allowed
any size
Crowsnest River All Tributaries Of Crowsnest River Except Gold CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
McLeod River Mainstem Only; Headwater Downstream To Hwy 47Closed
- Status
- Closed
McLeod River Mainstem Only; Hwy 47 Downstream To The Athabasca RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Oldman Reservoir Dam Downstream To Sec. Rd. 509
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Oldman River Mainstem - Hwy. 22 Downstream To Sec. Rd. 510
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Waterton River Mainstem - Upstream Of Waterton ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Waterton River Mainstem And Tributaries - Downstream Of Waterton Reservoir
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Waterton River Tributaries Upstream Of Waterton Reservoir Including Drywood CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Willow Creek Mainstem Only Downstream Of Pine Coulee Reservoir Diversion HeadpondClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30 cm
Willow Creek Mainstream And Tributaries Upstream Of Pine Coulee Reservoir Diversion Headpond.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Alberta statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 5 fish
combined with Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Trout
Brook Trout
Kananaskis River Mainstem From Hwy. 1 Downstream To Bow River
- Possession
- 2 fish
Highwood River Headwater Originating At Storm Ck And Mist Ck Confuence Downstream To Kananaskis Country Boundary; Includes Tributaries Except Storm Creek
- Possession
- 2 fish
Elbow River Headwater Downstream To Elbow Falls And Tributaries Except Quirk Creek
- Possession
- 2 fish
Kananaskis River Headwater Downstream To Hwy. 1 Including Tributaries Except Smith-Dorrien Creek
- Possession
- 2 fish
Athabasca River Upstream Of Sec. Rd. 658 (Near Whitecourt) To Jasper National Park Boundary Mainstem River Only (Including Brule Lake)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Crowsnest River All Tributaries Of Crowsnest River Except Gold Creek
- Possession
- 1 fish
McLeod River Mainstem Only; Headwater Downstream To Hwy 47Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
McLeod River Mainstem Only; Hwy 47 Downstream To The Athabasca River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Mill Creek Includes Tributaries Including Gladstone And Whitney Creeks
- Possession
- 2 fish
Oldman Reservoir Dam Downstream To Sec. Rd. 509
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 40 cm
Waterton River Mainstem - Upstream Of Waterton Reservoir
- Possession
- 1 fish
Waterton River Mainstem And Tributaries - Downstream Of Waterton ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Waterton River Tributaries Upstream Of Waterton Reservoir Including Drywood Creek
- Possession
- 1 fish
Willow Creek Mainstream And Tributaries Upstream Of Pine Coulee Reservoir Diversion Headpond.
- Possession
- 2 fish
Alberta statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 5 fish
combined with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Trout
All Species
Elbow RiverIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Gear
- Bait Ban
Highwood RiverIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Gear
- Bait Ban
Kananaskis RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Gear
- Bait Ban
Carseland-Bow River Headwater CanalIn season
- Season opens
- May 8
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Gear
- Bait Allowed
Little Bow RiverIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Gear
- Bait Allowed
Elbow River Mainstem, Elbow Falls Downstream To Canyon CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Elbow River Mainstem, Hwy. 22 Downstream To Glenmore Reservoir And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Possession
- 2 trout
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Elbow River Mainstem, Canyon Creek Downstream To Hwy. 22Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Bow River Banff National Park Downstream To Bassano Dam Including ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Elbow River Headwater Downstream To Elbow Falls And Tributaries Except Quirk CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Other trout
Kananaskis River Headwater Downstream To Hwy. 1 Including Tributaries Except Smith-Dorrien CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Possession
- 2 trout
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Other trout
Elbow River Mainstem, From Glenmore Reservoir Downstream To Bow RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Highwood River Mainstem From K-Country Boundary Downstream To 500m Above The Mouth & Tributaries Except Sheep RClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Kananaskis River Mainstem From Hwy. 1 Downstream To Bow RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Other trout
Highwood River Headwater Originating At Storm Ck And Mist Ck Confuence Downstream To Kananaskis Country Boundary; Includes Tributaries Except Storm CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Other trout
Sheep River Mainstem And Tributaries (Except Threepoint Creek) - Gorge Creek Downstream To Highwood RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Highwood River Mainstem Within 500m Of Bow RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Cutthroat Trout
Elbow River Mainstem, Hwy. 22 Downstream To Glenmore Reservoir And Tributaries
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Kananaskis River Headwater Downstream To Hwy. 1 Including Tributaries Except Smith-Dorrien CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Belly River Mainstem And Tributaries; Downstream Of Sec. Rd. 800
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Castle River Mainstem From Hwy. 3 To West Castle River And Includes Tributaries Except Mill, Beaver Mines, And Screwdriver Creeks And Carbondale River
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Crowsnest River All Tributaries Of Crowsnest River Except Gold CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Oldman Reservoir Dam Downstream To Sec. Rd. 509
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Oldman River Mainstem - Hwy. 22 Downstream To Sec. Rd. 510
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Waterton River Mainstem - Upstream Of Waterton ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Waterton River Mainstem And Tributaries - Downstream Of Waterton Reservoir
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
Waterton River Tributaries Upstream Of Waterton Reservoir Including Drywood CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Willow Creek Mainstem Only Downstream Of Pine Coulee Reservoir Diversion HeadpondClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30 cm
Willow Creek Mainstream And Tributaries Upstream Of Pine Coulee Reservoir Diversion Headpond.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Alberta statewideCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 5 fish
All Cutthroat Trout caught must be immediately released
Mountain Whitefish
Carseland-Bow River Headwater Canal
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 30 cm
5 over 30 cm
Bow River Banff National Park Downstream To Bassano Dam Including ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Elbow River Headwater Downstream To Elbow Falls And Tributaries Except Quirk CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
Elbow River Mainstem, Canyon Creek Downstream To Hwy. 22Closed
- Status
- Closed
Highwood River Mainstem From K-Country Boundary Downstream To 500m Above The Mouth & Tributaries Except Sheep R
- Min size
- 30 cm
Highwood River Headwater Originating At Storm Ck And Mist Ck Confuence Downstream To Kananaskis Country Boundary; Includes Tributaries Except Storm CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Min size
- 30 cm
Elbow River Mainstem, From Glenmore Reservoir Downstream To Bow RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Elbow River Mainstem, Hwy. 22 Downstream To Glenmore Reservoir And Tributaries
- Min size
- 30 cm
Kananaskis River Headwater Downstream To Hwy. 1 Including Tributaries Except Smith-Dorrien CreekClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Min size
- 30 cm
Kananaskis River Mainstem From Hwy. 1 Downstream To Bow River
- Min size
- 30 cm
Sheep River Mainstem And Tributaries (Except Threepoint Creek) - Gorge Creek Downstream To Highwood River
- Min size
- 30 cm
Tiger Trout
Twin Lakes 29-97-22-W5
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 35 cm
only 2 TGTR over 35 cm
Brown Trout
Crowsnest River All Tributaries Of Crowsnest River Except Gold Creek
- Possession
- 1 fish
Waterton River Mainstem - Upstream Of Waterton Reservoir
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 40 cm
Waterton River Mainstem And Tributaries - Downstream Of Waterton ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Waterton River Tributaries Upstream Of Waterton Reservoir Including Drywood Creek
- Possession
- 1 fish
Alberta statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 5 fish
combined with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Trout
Walleye
Bow River Banff National Park Downstream To Bassano Dam Including ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Carseland-Bow River Headwater Canal
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 50 cm
- Slot max
- 55 cm
Elbow River Mainstem, From Glenmore Reservoir Downstream To Bow RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Bull Trout
Across The ProvinceClosed
- Status
- Closed
IF YOU CATCH THIS FISH YOU MUST RELEASE IT.
Alberta statewideCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All Bull Trout caught must be immediately released
Verified
Northern Pike
Bow River Banff National Park Downstream To Bassano Dam Including ReservoirClosed
- Status
- Closed
Elbow River Mainstem, From Glenmore Reservoir Downstream To Bow RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Trout Total
Plus 5 more species. See the Alberta pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Bow River?
Environment & Protected Areas regulates fishing on Bow River.
What species can I target on Bow River?
Bow River is best known for brown trout, rainbow trout, bull trout. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize Environment & Protected Areas's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.