St. Mary River fishing regulations
St. Mary River is a river or stream in Region 4 (Kootenay), management unit 4-20. Here is what the 2025–2027 synopsis says about it, and the regional rules that apply on top.
Rules for St. Mary River
- Trout/char catch and release
- Trout/char daily quota = 1 (none under 30 cm) on all tributaries, June 15-Oct 31, see tables for exceptions
- Bait ban *
- Class II water when open, including tributaries (except Joseph Creek)
Region 4 quotas
Unless the rules above set a different quota for St. Mary River:
- Trout/char release: in streams from Nov 1-Mar 31 (see tables for additional dates or exceptions).
- Region 4 daily quotas: Trout/char: 5, but not more than 1 rainbow trout or cutthroat trout over 50 cm, 2 from streams, 1 bull trout (Dolly Varden) of any size.
- Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 15 (none from streams), no more than 5 over 30 cm. Northern pike, walleye, yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions). White sturgeon: closed to fishing (no exceptions). Whitefish: 15 (all species combined).
Other Region 4 rules for streams
- No Fishing: in any stream in Region 4 from Apr 1-June 14 (see tables for additional closed times or exceptions).
- Single barbless hook: must be used in all streams of Region 4, all year.
Know your fish
The rules here name these fish. Not sure what you caught?
More waters in the Kootenay
Kootenay Lake · Kootenay River · Columbia River · Upper Arrow Lake · Lower Arrow Lake · Elk River · St. Mary Lake · Moyie Lake