“Fishing has been a favourite pastime of many Albertans for years and is part of our cultural fabric. From catching a shorthead redhorse in the North Saskatchewan River to fishing for a rainbow trout for dinner in a stocked pond, there are plenty of fishing opportunities throughout the province for Albertans of all ages and abilities.

“National Fishing Week starts July 3, and one of its highlights is Alberta’s Family Fishing Weekend, happening July 3-4. If it’s been a while since your last catch or if you’ve never tried fishing, there’s no better time than this weekend to discover the lure of fishing.  

“After such a challenging year, I encourage you to celebrate Alberta being open for summer by spending some time outdoors with family and friends. All weekend long, you can go fishing in Alberta’s waters without purchasing a fishing licence. Remember, although you don’t need a licence, all sportfishing regulations still apply.

“When planning your fishing trip, start with MyWildAlberta.ca. Click on the fishing tab and find helpful resources, including Alberta’s 2021 sportfishing regulations, fish handling tips and a list of stocked waterbodies. You will also find information about the walleye stocking program, which resumed this year to provide future angling opportunities. In addition to 2.5 million fry that were stocked into 10 waterbodies earlier this year, fingerlings will be stocked into Sylvan Lake and Milk River Ridge throughout National Fishing Week.

“I’m also pleased to share that we are working on a new Alberta sportfishing information web application to make it even easier to access the sportfishing regulations. New map-based functions will help you discover your next fishing hole or look up regulations at your location. This application will provide another way to access the sportfishing regulations and other information related to fisheries management in Alberta.

“We all deserve to have the best summer ever. Let’s start with a good fishing trip with our friends and family. Good luck, everyone.”