Fishing In jasper National Park and Western Canada

[MuskieBait]

(06-02-2012 03:16 PM)OldTimer Wrote:  

(06-02-2012 02:06 PM)Magikarp Wrote:  I'm thinking once i got up to northern BC thats where ill probably go try for some fish seeing as its a small town not much enforcement around so i might be able to slip by for a day or two without have to pay 10 bucks or what ever the price is just to do a little catch and release.

Not cool.

Yeah, not cool at all. The law is there to be respected to protect natural resources. Think how you would feel if someone from another province or country visit Toronto and fish without a license.

I have fished in BC a little bit...but now I have no intention in sharing since you mentioned fishing without a license. Not cool at all. I fished in several states and both in BC and Alberta. Even if I'm just fishing for a day, I ALWAYS respect the local regulations and always obtain a license, regardless of cost, if I intend to fish...even if it was just for an hour.

Last time I was in Alberta, I only had one day to try to catch a Goldeye. I went to Canadian Tire to get a license but they messed up on my driver's license entry when the clerk typed it in. I had to get it corrected at their natural resource office the next morning and waited for the office to open at 10am. We lost half a day of fishing time...and it costed me more than $10 for a non-residence one day license (there was a card similar to an Outdoors Card that I need as well). Long story short, it doesn't matter the amount of hassle, the cost, or the time needed to get a license...to respect the local anglers and local government, and MOST IMPORTANTLY to respect the local natural resources, ALWAYS obtain a license and fish legally!

You better watch out if you think a little town does not get the attention of large rivers or popular lakes. I was in BC fishing a small creek in the middle of nowhere and I was checked TWICE by two separate conservation officers. There are also complicated regulations in BC where most areas are barbless, artificial bait only, and there are rivers that are classified as Class I or Class II waters. Class II waters require a separate tag to fish in such waters and I think the price was $20/day for non-residents at the time. Class II waters are tightly regulated and checked. This tag is separate from the fishing license. There are also separate licenses for freshwater vs. tidal waters.