MEDICINE HAT, AB – Echo Dale Regional Park is a little oasis just outside the city.
And there are many activities for locals and visitors to enjoy, including fishing.
The Alberta Conservation Association stocked the boat lake this week.
It’s a partnership the city has had over the last number of years.
Anglers David and Gordon wanted to take advantage of an afternoon with each other’s company on Friday.
“Just freedom and getting away out of Medicine Hat, enjoying the day, and life. Taking care of yourself is number one priority,” David explained.
And the two friends were lucky, they caught one of the 1800 rainbow trout in the Echo Dale boat lake.
The trout were released this week for locals and visitors to enjoy this season.
Smoky Trout Farm near Sylvan Lake delivers the fish for Alberta Conservation.
Their fish end up in ponds and lakes across the province.
Andrew Foulston with Smoky Trout says Echo Dale is one of the nicest parks with a great location down in the river valley.
The lake also has great water quality for the trout and was at 21 degrees this week.
“The temperature on our truck was two degrees difference from the pond water and the PH was perfect 6.5 and the dissolved oxygen was good it was 10.3,” Foulston said.
The fish are about 20 cm in length, he says they will continue to grow by living off shrimp in the lake.
“It’s a really nice pond so I think they’re going to do really good in there and get nice and big,” Foulston added.
And that makes for some happy fishers like David and Gordon.
“It’s just relaxing, get out away from home, get to see different people, and just living life,” Gordon said.
The city says Echo Dale is a great spot for people to fish and trout to be stocked.
All Alberta fishing regulations apply.
“We’ve seen people catch fish which is great, and then there are times that people don’t believe us that’s there are fish in the lake,” Scott Richter with Parks & Rec said.
Richter says Echo Dale is a little oasis you can enjoy a swim, BBQ, and trails then head over to the boat lake to kayak or fish off the dock.
“The cool thing about Echo Dale is there are tons to do and that’s what we’re trying to do is keep people here and involved.”
For more information on sport fishing regulations, visit the Alberta website.
