Red Deer River Fishing (Goldeye, Walleye, Brown Trout and more)
I have a great spot when Red Deer River fishing where I go on days I have been skunked elsewhere. Nearby is Severn dam supposedly there are trout in there, although I have never caught one.Three times i have been to the dam, three times I have been skunked. Afterwards I take a run out to my old standby spot on the red deer river and boom! No more skunk. Most of the time I catch goldeye there and they hit like mad.
Red Deer River Species : Pike, Walleye, Goldeye, Burbot and Brown Trout
Goldeye
Goldeye congregate in large schools so chances are once you find one it will be very fast paced fishing. A few summers ago I was fishing by Tolman bridge floating a bobber down the river. The goldeye hit the bait as it landed, very voracious feeders. Fly fishing with dry flies is also an option for goldeye but, that is not a technique I use.
Bleriot ferry where North dinosaur trail crosses the river is my goto spot for goldeye. I usually end up there around noonish and fish most of the afternoon. Goldeye don’t seem to care what time of day it is from what I have seen. I primarily use bottom fishing technique with worm or minnow set on a pickerel rig either bait seems to work. I’ve also used a bobber with suspended bait with the same success.
Brown Trout
The sweet spot for brown trout is at red deer city upstream to the dam. Fly fishing is of course the old stand by. Most of my browns I catch with olive or brown wooly buggers. I also spin for browns, tube jigs or ratlin rapalas work for me. Chub and Suckers are also fairly common when bottom fishing, although not a targeted species.
Red Deer River Walleye Fishing
For walleye look for deeper pools on outside River bends places where the current has worn down the bottom over time. These steep drop-offs are excellent spots for larger fish as they make good Ambush spots for the smaller fish coming down the river. Another good way to identify these areas of course is the surface water. Faster moving water will have a lot of surface disturbance. Your deep pools will be a lot smoother.
Walleye are perfectly happy taking minnows or smelt. Where there is a bait ban along the river try small spoons such as mepp’s or five of diamonds. Another option is a soft bait grub (white, yellow, green). For fly fishing a wet fly such as clousers minnow should be effective.
Pike
When fishing for pike on the river, pools again are your best bet. Every time i’ve been the water is still pretty fast running and silty. Using lures that create extra vibration or rattle is probably a good idea if bait is not an option.
Plenty of Boat launches
You have lots of options for launching boats along the Red Deer River. This is just a short sample to get you pointed in the right direction. You should check specific sites before heading out for parking and hours of operation.
Upstream from Red Deer
-A-Soo-Wuh-Um day use area (HWY 592 west of penhold at the river).
-Joffre bridge day use area
-Gleniffer Reservoir
The city of Red Deer
-Riverbend recreation area
-Kiwanis park
Downstream towards Drumheller
-Tolman bridge east and west side of river
Campsites along Red Deer River
There are a number of RV and campsites along the shore of the red deer river. These are both provincial park campsites and privately run sites. Lots of options to camp and fish along the river valley!
Red Deer River Fishing Regulations
In the Alberta fishing Regulations the Red Deer River is broken into several different areas. Always make sure you are up to date on all the current regulations where you are fishing. These rules can change as fish management needs change.
These areas comprise of ES2 rivers, creeks and streams as well as PP2 zones.
Fishing Regulations ES2 Zone 1 Eastern Slopes
From Banff National Park downstream to the forestry trunk road ,0 retention for trout, mountain whitefish and burbot. There is also a bait ban in effect (pg. 39 Alberta guide to sportfishing regulations default regulations for ES2) Open season along this stretch is April 1st until October 31.
From the forestry trunk Road Downstream to Gleniffer reservoir which is just above the Dickson dam default bait ban for ES2. retention changes in this section of the river. 3 Northern pike, 3 mountain whitefish over 30 cm and 2 trout. This part of the river is also only open from the 1st of April until October 31.
Gleniffer reservoir is open all year round and has no bait ban. You can keep 1 walleye over 50 cm, 1 northern pike, 3 mountain whitefish 30+cm and, 2 trout. Fishing seems sporadic here but, decent walleye have been reported. Also note the water level in this reservoir can fluctuate a lot.
Fishing Regulations PP2 Zone 2 Parkland-Prairie
Default no burbot from February 1 until March 31
Dickson dam downstream to Tolman bridge partial bait ban, only maggots are allowed. 0 Walleye, 3 sauger, 3 pike over 63 cm, 2 burbot and 10 goldeye.
Fishing regulation update 2021/2022 :
From Dickson Dam downstream to Tolman bridge there is now a retention limit for mountain whitefish of three over 30 cm.
Tolman bridge all the way to the Saskatchewan / Alberta border bait is allowed. Open May 15 until March 31. 3 walleye and/or sauger over 50cm, 3 northern pike 63+ cm ,2 burbot and, 10 goldeye.