Waterton Park Fishing Information

Fishing

Incredible Fishing Experiences are easily fulfilled in Waterton Park. A variety of fish flourish here, including Rainbow, Cutthroat, Bull, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Lake and Mountain Whitefish, as well as rare species of Deepwater Sculpin and Pygmy Whitefish.

The largest fish ever caught was a Lake Trout weighing in at over 24kg!! (51 lbs.) The fish was played, gaffed and landed in a boat by a local woman, Mrs. Cal Hunter.

Fishes of Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton National Park boasts 24 species of fish!

Native Species

Lake Whitefish

Mountain Whitefish

Lake Trout

Bull Trout (protected)

Cutthroat Trout

Northern Pike

Ling (Burbot)

White Sucker

Longnose Sucker

Lake Chub

Flathead Chub

Spottail Shiner

Flathead Minnow

Longnose Dace

Spoonhead Sculpin

Deepwater Sculpin

Pygmy Whitefish

Introduced Species

Rainbow Trout

Arctic Grayling

Lake Trout

Brown Trout

Eastern Brook Trout

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout

British Columbia Cutthroat Trout

Fishing Permits

Parks Canada fishing permits are available at Park headquarters, visitor centre, campground kiosks and from tackle shops.

If you are under 16 years of age you can purchase your own permit for a full catch limit of your own or share with another permit holder and include your catch in their limit.

Waterton Lakes National Park is one of a number of agencies involved in the recovery efforts for bull trout, a large, aggressive native char. It is for this reason bait bans and some closures are in effect for part of or all of the year.

Open Seasons

The Dardanelles, Knights (Lower Waterton) Lake, Waterton River and Maskinonge Lake are open year round. Upper and Middle Waterton Lakes, Crandell Lake, Cameron Lake and Creek and Akamina Lake are open May 18 to September 2. Blakiston (Pass) Creek and it's tributaries are open June 29 to September 2. All other waters are open June 29 to October 31 except the North Fork of the Belly River which is closed year round.

Update on the Parks Canada "Get The Lead Out" Initiative

The 1997 national parks fishing regulations will include a ban on the use of lead weights less than 50 grams in size (i.e.. about 1 3/4 ounces). This restriction is designed to remove small lead wts. from park water bodies, where they pose a serious lead poisoning problem to waterfowl.