Red Deer River — Dickson TailwatersFishing Report — May 2026
Zone PP2Special WatersRed Deer River at Dickson Dam tunnel outlet. Cold tailwater below Gleniffer — rainbows and browns year-round.
Current Conditions — Is Red Deer River clear to fish today?
Low flows — fish carefully
Flows are lower than usual for this time of year. This water stays more reliable than freestone rivers, but low clear conditions make fish wary.
Low, clear water — fish can be spooky. Approach quietly with light tackle and small presentations.
Discharge
16.8
m³/s
Level
1.33
metres
Station
DICKSON DAM TUNNEL OUTLET
Gauge reading · 1h ago
Hatch Charts — May 2026
Local Weather
Red Deer River — Dickson Tailwaters
Mainly Clear
Low near 12°C, high near 26°C. Wind 10 km/h NW (gusts ~27) morning → 11 km/h N (gusts ~32) afternoon → 7 km/h SE (gusts ~22) evening. Precipitation ~1.3 mm for the day.
Feels like
25°C
6 AM
12°
9 km/h NW
12 PM
22°
13 km/h NW
6 PM
26°
6 km/h NNE
9 PM
21°
11 km/h SE
Wind (now)
10 km/h NNE · gusts 30
Humidity
40%
UV Index
6
Sportfishing Regulations
Zone boundaries and Special Waters designations from Alberta Fish & Wildlife GIS (updated 2026-05-20). Bag limits, seasons, and gear rules are only on the official guide — verify before you fish.
Watershed unit (sportfishing zone)
Central parkland including Edmonton-area rivers and pothole lakes.
Open PP2 regulations on albertaregulations.caFish management zone (FMZ)
Parkland-Prairie Zone
Broad provincial zone — detailed limits are set per watershed unit above.
Alberta Special Waters (RL-PAAS)
This waterbody appears in the provincial Special Waters inventory. Extra rules (bait bans, size limits, seasonal closures, etc.) may apply — read the official zone guide and any waterbody-specific schedules.
- RED DEER RIVER · Rocky Mountain House district
Fisheries survey species: BRST, Black Bullhead, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Burbot (+35 more) (inventory data — not a limit table)
Catch-and-release sections — check dam release schedules before wading.
Current guide season: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027.
Notes
Dam-controlled — sudden flow changes possible.