Identifying Alberta Fish

Anglers can catch many of the 62 different kinds of fish in Alberta. About 19 species are referred to as sport fish, but anglers seldom catch four or five of the less common of these. On the other hand, suckers are not called sport fish, but anglers often catch them. Various types of minnows are also known to take flies, lures and baited hooks. Anglers should not limit their imagination in what they attempt to catch. Anglers can enjoy a range of recreational opportunities by enticing a variety of sport fish, suckers and minnows to "take-the-hook."

Nowadays the conservation of our fish resource is critical and more complex sportfishing regulations in Alberta have become necessary. Anglers are required to identify the species of sport fish they catch, as well as the size, to determine if the fish must be immediately released. A good rule-of-thumb is: "If you don't know, let it go!" Proper fish handling techniques are important. Fish must be handled quickly and carefully to ensure survival after release.

Anglers are encouraged to take pride in their ability to identify fish, and there is always the chance of catching the unpredictable — the rare, the unknown. An excellent book for detailed fish identification is the The Fishes of Alberta (1992, Nelson and Paetz, University of Alberta Press). The fish identification on this site uses simple methods to help anglers and non-anglers to identify the most common species of Alberta sport fish with emphasis on members of the salmon family, Salmonidae, or in short, the "Salmonids" — trout, char, grayling and whitefish.

At first, identifying fish is not easy; however, with the salmonid identification material developed by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Trout Unlimited Canada, even the novice can become comfortable with the task. Department staff and anglers in many areas tested the material by taking a picture quiz. Almost without exception, everyone taking the quiz scored higher by using the special keys, which show how to identify salmonids. Inexperienced anglers, who initially had difficulty recognizing different species, scored high marks after receiving a small amount of training. The salmonid or trout identification training available on this site is the result of all their hard work.