Alberta Fishing Week runs Feb.15-22 and showcases Alberta’s lakes, rivers and fisheries.
The biggest lure of Fishing Week is Family Fishing Weekend. From Feb. 15-17, Albertans can get outdoors and experience the fun of fishing without needing a licence. People of all ages can drop a line in any public water body that has an open fishing season.
Never fished before, or not sure what equipment you need? Visit one of the many events happening this weekend to try your hand at different fishing techniques while learning about the many types of fish found in Alberta.
Regulations still apply during both Family Fishing Weekend and Alberta Fishing Week. Any fishing inside a national park will still require a licence.
“Let’s celebrate that we live in one of the most majestic places on the planet with a diverse landscape and a wealth of natural resources – including lakes, rivers and streams. Family Fishing Weekend and Alberta Fishing Week are great opportunities for families to get out and connect with each other and with our province’s natural beauty.”
Events taking place across the province include:
FISHtival - Bow Habitat Station
Kick off Family Day weekend at Bow Habitat Station’s FISHtival! Celebrate Family Fishing Weekend in Alberta with free outdoor family fun and reduced admission inside the Discovery Centre. ($5+ tax per person, children three and under are free)
Renovations are complete in the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery. Included with admission is a chance to feed thousands of rainbow trout.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 15
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last admission at 3:30 p.m.
Location: Bow Habitat Station, 1440 – 17A Street SE, Calgary
Kids Can Catch - Alberta Conservation Association
Each year, the Alberta Conservation Association teams up with community and corporate partners to host multiple Kids Can Catch events across the province. Volunteers are on-hand to help teach new anglers the proper ways to bait a hook, where to drop a line, and what to do once a fish has been caught.
Upcoming Kids Can Catch events:
- Feb. 15 at Wabamun Lake (online registration)
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Wabamun Lake, at the end of 50th Street in the Village of Wabamun
- Feb. 15 at Lesser Slave Watershed Council Family Ice Fishing (drop-in event)
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Hamlet of Joussard
- Feb. 17 at Camp Wohelo (drop-in event)
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Camp Wohelo, northwest shore of Pigeon Lake
Angling Equipment Retailers – Fish Tales Fly Shop
Feb. 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Environment and Parks Fisheries staff will be available on site at Fish Tales Fly Shop in Calgary to answer questions related to fisheries management.
Alberta Parks
Alberta provincial parks and protected areas are the gateway to endless winter fun for the whole family. Check out the following events or visit AlbertaParks.ca/events to find a complete list of outdoor fun.
- Feb. 15 and 16 at William A. Switzer Provincial Park - Hinton
Join us for the annual Hinton Chili Loppet, a family-friendly cross-country ski race, at the Hinton Nordic Centre on Feb. 15. Drop by the Visitor Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day to rent snowshoes or borrow toboggans, enjoy hot drinks or partake in a free guided hike or snowshoe through the snow-dappled forest.
- Feb. 15 at Crimson Lake Provincial Park - Rocky Mountain House
Join us for Winterfest! Snowshoe demonstrations, a local vendor market at Pioneer Camp Ranch and Freezin’ for a Reason are just a few of the activities planned.
Want to spend the entire weekend in nature? Bring the trailer and camp in a first-come, first-served site at a reduced rate of $20 per night. Visit our camping page for more information.
- Feb. 15 at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park - Slave Lake
Meet at the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation for a presentation on astronomy, constellations and night sky navigation. Take an evening snowshoe to the lake – dress warm and keep your fingers crossed for clear skies! Finish with a marshmallow roast and stories around the campfire. Registration is required for this free event. Call 780-849-8240 or email [email protected].
- Feb. 16, noon to 4 p.m., at Moonshine Lake Provincial Park - Grande Prairie Region
Join us for a free family funday event, with snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing and many other winter activities. Moonshine Lake is a stocked trout fishery, and Alberta Environment and Parks fish biologists will have an information tent set up, along with an underwater camera to show what is happening under the ice!
- Feb. 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Beaver Lake Provincial Recreation Area - Lac la Biche
Join us for the 10th annual Fun in the Snow event! We’ll have free horse-drawn sleigh rides, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, ice fishing and a hot dog roast. Spend Family Day in the great outdoors, enjoying a fun-filled day of activities for the whole family.
Quick facts
- Family Fishing Weekends happen twice annually – on Family Day weekend in February and on the second weekend in July. No fishing licence is required. Fishing regulations still apply.
- For the remainder of Alberta Fishing Week – Feb. 18-22 – Albertans will require a valid licence. Fishing regulations still apply.
- National parks are excluded from Alberta’s special fishing events.