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.

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, 2023 March 31, 2024
Central May 15, 2023 March 31, 2024
Northern May 25, 2023 March 31, 2024

Free fishing weekends in Saskatchewan

Twice a year Saskatchewan residents and visitors are able to fish for free without a Saskatchewan fishing license.

  • Second Weekend in July: July 8-9, 2023
  • Family Day Weekend: February 17-19, 2024

General Limits

Species Limit Additional Restrictions
Arctic grayling 2 only one may exceed 35 cm
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 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

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.

References