McLeod River

The McLeod rises just east of Jasper National Park, runs past Cadomin and through the coal country of the Foothills, swings north to the Gregg River mouth at the Robb Road bridge, then runs east to the Embarras and on past Edson to the Athabasca at Whitecourt. It is a long foothills river, and it holds native fish that Alberta now protects. Athabasca rainbow trout, the province's native rainbow, are listed as Endangered and live in the upper river and its creeks. Bull trout are few, and most of those surveys find are in the Mackenzie Creek drainage, where fishing is closed. Arctic grayling still live in the bigger water of the middle and lower river, though far fewer than the river once held. Every rainbow, bull trout and grayling goes back. Brook trout, introduced long ago and now wild, are the trout you may keep, and mountain whitefish are common through the whole river.

Read the gauge above the Embarras River, at the Highway 47 bridge. The mainstem opens April 1, low and clear. Snowmelt from the mountains usually brings it up in May and June, often to 30 m³/s (1,060 cfs) or more, and a wet June can push it much higher. It drops and clears through July, and August to October is the best of the season, when the river is low enough to wade and cross. The upper river is small, quick and cold, with riffles and pocket water for rainbows and brook trout. Below the Embarras the river is bigger and slower, with long runs where whitefish and grayling take small dry flies and nymphs. A small nymph or a dry fly on a light rod suits both. Above Highway 47 you may keep 2 brook trout only until August 31, and none from September 1.

Plan for the country. This is Foothills forest and industrial land, with open-pit coal mines in the upper McLeod, Gregg and Embarras valleys, gravel haul roads and few services. Highway 40 crosses the upper river near Cadomin and Mercoal, the Robb Road bridge sits at the Gregg River mouth, and Highway 47 crosses at the Embarras. Between the Robb Road and Highway 47 no road crosses the river for about 90 km. Several upper creeks are closed all year to protect native trout, among them Mackenzie, Luscar, Wampus, Deerlick and Eunice creeks. Learn to tell an Athabasca rainbow from a brook trout and a bull trout from a brook trout before you keep a fish, and carry bear spray.