Where are the best locations to fish in Western Canada

Background

Fishing is an incredibly popular pastime enjoyed by individuals who have distinct preferences as to the style, species, and overall experience. Being a preference-based hobby, it is incredibly difficult to generate an answer for the top fishery based solely on statistics. We have sought out a way to solve this problem, incorporating both sentiments from people around Western Canada and the optimal conditions according to metrics such as water level and flow. Fish are very distinct creatures who all enjoy different eating patterns, depending on the time of year, the availability of insects and other aquatic species, and the fish type in general.

Western Canada is home to some of the top fisheries in the world. In these rivers is a distinct makeup of species, ranging from cutthroat trout in Southern Alberta to Coho Salmon on the West Coast of BC. The overall abundance of fisheries in Western Canada posed a significant challenge to our analysis as we saw over 800 stations tracking the flow and level of each body of water. On top of this, fish data is incredibly niche, especially for many of the lesser-known rivers. Locating information on specific biological and quantitative data was incredibly difficult. We know the experiences of locals tell the story of a great river, past what a population assessment might say. Think of a river like the Crowsnest River near Pincher Creek, which has struggled with whirling disease. Population declines have not scared away the sentiment of locals as the river is home to some of the largest rainbow trout in all of Western Canada. The popularity of rivers is an important factor as we know both professional and hobby fishermen often flock to rivers that are known for their abundant fish populations.

As a team, we wanted to provide an answer to our local fishing community on the best river in Western Canada based on their preference, the overall data and sentiment surrounding that body of water, and its accessibility to the current user.