Reddit mentions of Trout Streams Of Alberta: A Guide to the Best Fly Fishing

Start here: 49.637572, -114.492626

This is the start of highway 40 - the Forestry Trunk Road. Locally, it is called the 'Trout Highway'. For almost the entire stretch, it is Crown land (which is essentially public access, but God Save the Queen and all that noise), except for the times when you are in practically pristine provincial or national parks.

https://www.amazon.ca/Albertas-Trout-Highway-Fishing-Forestry/dp/0968860303

At the start, it is probably one of the busier sections in Alberta, but gullible cutthroat trout are worth being around a few extra people.

As you go north of the Trans Canada highway, you enter the area of Alberta's wildly underrated brown trout streams. The scenery is just as good, but brown trout are not as easy to catch. But with the practice acquired on the first leg of the trip, you will be prepped.

And as you get close to Highway 16 (also a trans-Canada highway, but not THE Trans Canada highway), the quarry changes from browns to fully native rainbows (often called athabows) and grayling. And bull trout.

Local fly fishing legend wrote this book: https://www.amazon.ca/Trout-Streams-Alberta-Guide-Fishing/dp/0921835175/ref=pd_sim_14_1/130-1085907-3153402?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=APRVCGD6QTPB5RDTC3PG

It breaks down the fishing based on the river basins, which is why the species change.

This drive is filled with breathtaking scenery. Once you are as far north as you would like. On your drive home, you can hit all the big rivers. The Bow River being the best spot to hit in Alberta. Or take Hwy 16/Trans Canada back to Vermont. It is pretty dry between Alberta and Ontario in terms of trout streams, but once you hit Ontario, there are hundreds of angling options, even without a boat.

But you have to be aware that Canada is not as cheap as US, even considering the difference in our dollar. Anything that is a 'vice' has a pretty big tax on it, like booze. You will find food to be about the same price.

My biggest warning is that you might not ever want to leave. :)