Catch and possession limits
Kootenay National Park
All waterbodies are closed
To prevent the spread of whirling disease, all waterbodies in Yoho and Kootenay national parks are closed to watercraft and angling until March 31, 2025.
This closure is necessary to protect vulnerable fish populations and sensitive ecosystems from aquatic invasive species. There is no treatment for whirling disease. Once established, it is very difficult to eradicate. Protect park waters. Respect all closures.
Mountain National Parks in Alberta and British Columbia
Possession limits for Banff National Park reduced to zero except for Lake Minnewanka lake trout.
There are zero possession limits for many native species. You must correctly identify your catch. If you are not sure, release it immediately.
Legend
- BNP: Banff National Park
- JNP: Jasper National Park
- KNP: Kootenay National Park
- YNP: Yoho National Park
- WLNP: Waterton Lakes National Park
- MRGNP: Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Park
| Species | Limit |
|---|---|
| All species not mentioned below | 0 |
| Lake Trout from Lake Minnewanka reservoir | 2 |
| All other species, including bull trout: BNP, YNP, WLNP | 0 |
| Arctic grayling, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, northern pike, mountain whitefish, lake whitefish: JNP, MRGNP, WLNP | 2 |
| Lake and mountain whitefish from Lac Beauvert, JNP | 0 |
| Cutthroat trout: JNP, *WLNP - Akamina Lake, Bertha Lake, Cameron Lake, Alderson Lake, Carthew Lakes, Crypt Lake, Lineham Lakes, Lone Lake, Twin Lakes | 2 |
| *WLNP - All other waters | 0 |
| All species not mentioned above | 0 |
| Maximum daily catch and possession limit | 2 |
Note: If a fish has been filleted, two fillets will be considered one fish.
It is unlawful to:
- continue fishing on any day after having caught and retained the maximum daily catch and possession limit.
- possess more than 2 game fish at one time.
Help released fish survive
Whirling disease
A microscopic parasite is devastating trout and salmon populations in Montana, Utah and Colorado. Infectious spores can exist in mud for up to 30 years.
If you fish United States waters, you are a special risk. Spores spread from one stream to another by sticking to fishing gear.
Wash your waders, boat bottoms and other equipment thoroughly before fishing in a new watershed.
Give a released fish the best chance for survival by following these suggestions:
- Use a single hook to release fish more easily. The use of barbless hooks is recommended to make release easier. You can make your hook barbless by flattening the barb with needle nosed pliers.
- Minimize the time 'spent' when handling a fish. A fish handled too long may not survive even if released. When handling and releasing, ensure to keep the fish in the water.
- When releasing the fish, hold it in the water, gently moving it back and forth. This moves water past the gills and will help revive it. For flowing waters, face the fish upstream. When the fish begins to struggle, let it go.
Barbless hooks are safer for fish. Hooks with barbs do more flesh damage than barbless hooks upon both entry and exit.
Fish consumption advisory (Mercury)
Mercury is a toxin that can affect human health. It can come from natural sources (e.g. soils and sediments) or be transported to the parks (e.g., through the atmosphere) and can then concentrate in top predators. Fish tested in some park waters have elevated mercury levels. Parks Canada, in consultation with Health Canada, has established consumption guidelines and precautionary consumption advice (where no mercury data exist) for women of reproductive age and children (Table 1).
Table 1: Consumption guidelines
| Lake | Species | Women of reproductive age # of 113 g (4 oz.) servings** |
Children (under 15 yrs) # of 70 g (2.5 oz.) servings** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Lake (Jasper) and Sassenach (Waterton Lakes) | Lake trout | 4 / month | 3 / month |
| Waterton Lakes | Lake whitefish | 4 / month | 3 / month |
| Precautionary consumption advice for all other Park Waters | Game fish - general | 4 / month | 3 / month |
** A 100g serving is approximately the size of a deck of standard playing cards.
For further information contact:
Banff National Park: 403-762-1550
banffinfo@pc.gc.ca
Yoho, Kootenay National Parks: 250-343-6108
llyk.aquatics@pc.gc.ca
Jasper National Park: 780-852-6176
jasperinfo@pc.gc.ca
Waterton Lakes National Park: 403-859-2224
waterton.info@pc.gc.ca
Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks: 250-837-7500
mrg.information@pc.gc.ca
Related links
- Date modified :