You may have noticed that Alberta takes mother nature very seriously.
Wildlife management and conservation is a high priority in this province.
For good reason, as there is plenty of life and beauty to maintain.
It is important to check specific regulations in your area before you proceed with hunting or fishing.
We can provide you with the latest information available at the time of writing this, but the government can change things at any time.
So what can we tell you about beaver pond ice fishing in Alberta?
Can you ice fish in Alberta beaver ponds?
The same regulations generally apply to beaver ponds as apply to the streams in which the ponds are found.
However, ice fishing is specifically restricted in management zones ES1 to ES4.
The actual wording from the Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations is as follows:
Source: Alberta Guide to Sport Fishing Regulations
- Ice fishing: Angling is not permitted through the ice; a) into beaver ponds or b) into flowing waters in ES1 to ES4 management zones (Eastern Slopes), except the portion of the Lobstick River lying in 53, 54-9, 10-W5.
Here is a screenshot from fishingmapsplus.com, showing the Alberta Fish management zones.
As you can see, the restricted areas of ES1 to ES4 are along the western side of Alberta, but East side of the Rocky Mountains. These are called the “Eastern Slopes”.
The regulations discuss beaver ponds and tributaries in the same section. For the purposes of the regulations, tributaries are considered to be both inflows and outflows.
What are Beaver Ponds and Tributaries?
Tributaries are smaller streams or rivers that flow into larger bodies of water, such as lakes or rivers.
Beaver ponds are small water bodies created by beavers when they construct dams across streams. These ponds are often formed behind the beaver dam and can vary in size.
In Summary
- It is legal to ice fish in some Alberta Beaver ponds, but not all.
- Management Zones ES1 to ES4 are restricted except for the portion of the Lobstick River lying in 53, 54-9, 10-W5.
- For all other zones, the same regulations generally apply to beaver ponds as apply to the streams in which the ponds are found.
- Further Reading: How to get a Fishing License in Alberta, Canada
