Fishing in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is world famous for its fishing! Fishing in Saskatchewan is a popular recreational activity for locals and visitors alike. Some of the most popular lakes for fishing include Lake Diefenbaker, Lake Athabasca, and Last Mountain Lake. These lakes are home to many fish species, such as walleye, northern pike, lake trout, and yellow perch. Whether you are looking for a relaxing day on the water, a challenging trophy hunt, or a family-friendly adventure, fishing in Saskatchewan has something for everyone.
Table of Contents
Angler's Map of Saskatchewan
Fishing Zones
Saskatchewan is divided into three fishing zones (Southern,Central and Northern) with different fishing seasons. General fishing limits are the same across all zones, but individual lakes/waters may have additional restrictions/limits. These zones are managed by the provincial government.
The Prince Albert National Park is managed separately by the federal government. Limits, season dates, and regulations are different from the other zones in the province. Some lakes are closed to fishing and some have additional restrictions.
Important dates
Fishing Season start/end
| Zone | Opens | Closes |
| Southern | May 5, 2024 | March 31, 2025 |
| Central | May 15, 2024 | March 31, 2025 |
| Northern | May 25, 2024 | April 15, 2025 |
Free fishing weekends in Saskatchewan
Twice a year Saskatchewan residents and visitors are able to fish for free without a Saskatchewan fishing license.
The first Free Fishing Weekend took place in the summer of 1989, a winter Free Fishing Weekend was added in 2015. This is a great opportunity to introduce new people to the sport and the amazing fishing options in the province.
Please note the following:
- All regular limits, restrictions, and regulations still apply
- The free fishing weekend does not apply in National Parks!
- If you want to transport fish out of the province a license is still required
Free Fishing Weekend Dates
- Second Weekend in July: July 13-14, 2024
- Family Day Weekend: February 15-17, 2025
Fish Species in Saskatchewan
While fishing in Saskatchewan, you could encounter a wide range of species. The most popular include Lake Trout, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Arctic Grayling.
General Limits
| Species | Limit | Additional Restrictions |
| Arctic grayling | 2 | only one may exceed 35 cm |
| Burbot | 8 | |
| Bigmouth buffalo | 0 | |
| Channel catfish | 1 | which cannot exceed 60 cm |
| Goldeye / Mooneye | 8 | |
| Lake trout | 3 | only one may exceed 65 cm |
| Largemouth bass | 2 | |
| Northern pike | 5 | only one may exceed 75 cm |
| Perch | 25 | |
| Rock bass | 6 | |
| Stocked trout (brook, brown, rainbow, splake, and tiger trout) | 5 | all species combined |
| Smallmouth bass | 0 | |
| Sturgeon | 0 | |
| Walleye / sauger / saugeye | 4 | only one may exceed 55 cm |
| Whitefish ( Lake Whitefish , Round Whitefish ) | 8 |
Catch and Release (CR) Limits
| Zone | Species | Limit | Additional Restrictions |
| CR1 | Arctic grayling | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 2 | Only one may exceed 65 cm | |
| Northern Pike | 3 | Only one may exceed 75 cm | |
| Walleye/sauger/saugeye | 2 | Only one may exceed 55 cm | |
| CR2 | Arctic grayling | 1 | Which cannot exceed 35 cm |
| Lake Trout | 2 | None may exceed 65 cm | |
| Northern Pike | 3 | None may exceed 75 cm | |
| Walleye/sauger/saugeye | 2 | None may exceed 55 cm | |
| CR3 | Arctic grayling | 1 | Which cannot exceed 35 cm |
| Lake Trout | 1 | Which cannot exceed 65 cm | |
| Northern Pike | 1 | Which cannot exceed 75 cm | |
| Walleye/sauger/saugeye | 1 | Which cannot exceed 55 cm |
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is an increasingly popular activity on thousands of lakes across Saskatchewan every winter. It's a great way to keep enjoying our beautiful lakes and scenery during our long, cold Saskatchewan winters. There is a large and very vibrant ice-fishing community in the province with large clusters of ice-fishing shacks and tents forming on many lakes every winter. Learn more about ice fishing in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Fishing License
A Saskatchewan fishing license is required to fish on provincial waters in almost all cases.
A Saskatchewan fishing license is not valid in National Parks, if you plan to fish in the Prince Albert National Park you'll need a National Park fishing license is required.
How to buy a Saskatchewan fishing license
There are a few different ways to buy your fishing license:
- Online at: saskatchewanlicences.active.com.
- In person at any Saskatchewan angling licence issuer (many insurance offices in small towns, resorts, etc).
- At a Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment field office.
- At some provincial park offices.
- By phone: 1-855-848-4773 (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.). (Up to 10 days for delivery by mail)
The quickest and easiest is to buy your license online. You can even opt in to having your license renew every year if you are buying an annual license. You can then print it out or save it to your phone. I'd recommend having a printed copy in a plastic bag in your tackle box, just in case!
If you buy your license online you will require a Hunting, Angling and Trapping Licence (HAL) system account. This is a free account and is used by the government to link you to your hunting/fishing license.
Different types of fishing license
You can buy a license that is valid for a single day, three days, or the entire season. You can buy an annual license at any point during the year, but it expires at the end of the current fishing season. So if you plan on fishing at any point during the year, you might as well buy your license early.
Who doesn't need a fishing license
There are a few situations where an individual would be allowed to fish and wouldn't need to have a license.
- Saskatchewan residents 65 years and older do not need a fishing license. Bring along proof of age and residency.
- Children under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license. It would be a good idea to bring along some sort of identification to prove their age.
- First Nations and Metis individuals may not require a license to fish.
Canadian veterans honourably discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces. Do require a license but are eligible for a free annual angling license.
License Fees
| License | Cost |
| Saskatchewan Resident - Annual | $42 |
| Saskatchewan Resident - One Day | $15 |
| Saskatchewan Resident - Three Day | $21 |
| Canadian Resident - Annual | $86 |
| Canadian Resident - One Day | $23 |
| Canadian Resident - Three Day | $46 |
| Non-resident - Annual | $115 |
| Non-resident - One Day | $28 |
| Non-resident - Three Day | $57 |
| Prince Albert National Park - Three Day | $12.75 |
| Prince Albert National Park - Annual | $44.25 |
Fishing in National Parks within Saskatchewan
There are different rules/license requirements and open seasons for fishing in Prince Albert National Park.