Alberta Ice Fishing Guide 2017/18

Alberta Ice Fishing

23 7

Winter 2017/18 1st Edition

LAKE MAPS

pp. 18-42

FISH SPECIES & TOP LURES

pp. 10-17

Alberta Ice Fishing at participating

LEARNING TO ICE FISH?

For days like today TM

For a primer on getting started, see pp. 6-9.

For days like today TM

CANADA’S STORE

CANADA’S ICE FISHING STORE For days like today TM

TM

LIVE YOUR OUTDOOR LIFE ICE FISHING Whether you’re after pan-sized or trophy-winning catches, we’ve got the ice fishing gear, including fishing rods, ice augers and more, that will set you up for success.

RAPALA ULTRA LIGHT RIPPIN’ RAP Rapala Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap features a tall and skinny textured scale body Produces hard vibrating action Vertical presentation Jigging Lipless design Available in a variety of colours

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ALBERTA ICE FISHING 2018 PARTICIPATING DEALERS ICE AUGERS & ACCESSORIES ICE FISHING ACCESSORIES ICE FISHING APPAREL & PFDS ICE FISHING LURES & TERMINAL TACKLE ICE FISHING RODS, REELS & COMBOS ICE SHELTERS TIP-UPS ALBERTA WIDE FORT MCMURRAY 1 Hospital Street 780-791-6400 WHITECOURT 4721 - 51st Street 780-778-6591 SLAVE LAKE 101 Cornerstone, 1500 Main Street SW 780-849-2915 SYLVAN LAKE 200 - 62 Thevenaz Industrial Trail 403-887-0581

WETASKIWIN 3851 - 56th Street 780-352-7175 RED DEER SOUTH 2510 - 50th Avenue 403-342-2222 RED DEER NORTH 300, 6380 - 50th Avenue 403-346-1497 BROOKS 404 Cassils Road West 403-362-4222 MEDICINE HAT 1971 Strachan Road SE 403-526-6644

CALGARY GROUP CALGARY SOUTHLAND AND MACLEOD 9940 Macleod Trail SE 403-278-4040 CALGARY BEACON HILLS NW 11940 Sarcee Trail NW 403-456-6428 CALGARY COUNTRY 388 Country Hills Blvd.

NE, Unit 200 403-226-9550 CALGARY DALHOUSIE NW 5404 Dalton Drive NW 403-288-1100

CALGARY DEERFOOT CITY NE 910 - 57th Avenue NE 403-295-2800

CALGARY SHAWNESSY SE 250 Shawville Way SE 403-201-2002

CALGARY PACIFIC PLACE 3516 - 8th Avenue NE 403-248-6400

EDMONTON GROUP

CALGARY WESTHILLS 5200 Richmond Road SW 403-246-1961 CALGARY MCKENZIE TOWNE SE 4155 - 126th Avenue SE 403-257-4729

SHERWOOD PARK 169 Ordze Avenue (780)-449-1577 EDMONTON SOUTH 2110 - 101st Street NW (780)-438-4921

EDMONTON EDMONTON DOWNTOWN MANNING 11839 Kingsway Avenue 3650 158th Avenue NW NW (780)-473-2394 (780)413-8473 SPRUCE GROVE 38 McLeod Avenue (780)-962-1444 EDMONTON NW 9603 - 162nd Avenue (780)-495-9696

EDMONTON MILLWOODS 2331 - 66th Street NW (780)-450-1800 EDMONTON WEST 9909 - 178th Street (780)-444-1816

EDMONTON WINDERMERE 6014 Currents Drive NW (780)-436-6774 EDMONTON ST.ALBERT 40 Bellerose Drive (780)-459-5545 EDMONTON CAPILANO 9847 - 50th Street NW (780)461-2220 LEDUC 5402 Discovery Way (780)-986-5229

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER!

Cover shot from Daniel McKinnon (danny_mck71) showing off his whopper of a pike caught ice fishing on Lac La Biche.

FEATURES

8 10 18

page

6

Learn to Ice Fish

For the basics to get you started on your Alberta ice fishing adventure, check out pages 6-9.

Top Lures

We asked, you answered; top lures chosen by our members for seven species of fish.

For more, see pages 10-17.

Lake Maps

Discover more about 23 of Alberta’s top ice fishing lakes on pages 18-42.

SAFETY FIRST

Learn about safe ice thickness and safety tools to prepare you for your winter adventure.

WELCOME ICE LOVERS!

W

ell, it’s Whether you’re icet h a t curious or have been using time an ice auger since you were of year where we a kid, the Angler’s Atlas park our boats for can help you catch more the last time, winfish, more often terize our trailers and campers, and put away the patio furniture. But just because you’ve hung up your waders and downriggers for the season doesn’t mean the fish have stopped biting. That’s right, ice fishing season has arrived! We know that there are a lot of you in the Angler’s Atlas community that make the switch from open water fishing to ice fishing quite naturally. But there are also those of you who have either never tried your luck at winter fishing, or just can’t understand why someone would want to sit outside in the depths of the winter, in the middle of a lake, on a bucket, waiting for a fish to swim by. Well this fishing magazine is for both of you. Whether you’re icecurious or have been using an ice auger since you were a kid, the Angler’s Atlas can help you catch more fish, more often.

This magazine is the first of many to come in our ice fishing program and we couldn’t think of a better place to start than Alberta. Alberta is home to some of the best ice fishing in Canada from glacier lakes in the Rockies to muskeg ponds in the prairies. We have put together a list of the top ice fishing lakes in Alberta with help from our community at AnglersAtlas.com. Whether you’re targeting monster pike or pan-fry perch, there are endless lakes to choose from. Luckily, we have a passionate group of master anglers over at the website that have helped us put together not only a list of the best lakes but a host of tips and tricks for ice fishing in Alberta that will help to get you where the action is.

The maps detailed in this magazine were chosen by looking at the most visited lakes and downloaded maps by our angler community in Alberta. By the looks of the posts on these lake pages, our users have

PUBLISHER Sean Simmons EDITOR Fraser Hayes MAPPING Jamie Svendsen PRODUCTION + SALES Kathy Buhler, Jane Gauthier, Jamie Svendsen, Alison Warner CONTRIBUTORS Dale Anderson, ‘bo_ sullivan’, Cam Clark, John Cryan, ‘gogogomez’, Greg Jones, Daryl Ostopowich, Rob Martin, Daniel McKinnon, Derrick Resler, Gerry Williscroft DIGITAL + DESIGN Joel Knudsen, Clayton Green, Eric Pinfold, Raja Gunasekaran Angler’s Atlas is part of Goldstream Publishing Inc. Suite 210-500 Victoria St. Prince George, BC V2L 2J9 (250) 596-6277 mail@anglersatlas.com LEARN MORE AT

pulled some nice dingers out of these waters and we look forward to seeing what kind of luck you have! Make sure to head over to anglersatlas.com to download your free maps and post photos of your best catches of the season. You never know, you might find yourself in the pages of this magazine next year! In the meantime, keep your lines tight and your tales tall.

See you on the hard water!

AnglersAtlas.com DOWNLOAD

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FREE!

LEARN TO ICE FISH

ICE FISHING IS AN ALBERTA TRADITION, LET US HELP YOU GET STARTED.

Member Derrick Resler (SLIVERS) releases a beautiful Bull Trout. Caught on Kananaskis Lake, Alberta.

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 6

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

I

f you’ve ever been intimidated by the expansive racks of lures and gear that you see in Canadian Tire’s fishing section, you’re not alone. There are an endless numbers of ways to pull a fish out of the water and sometimes we tend to complicate things.

Luckily, ice fishing is one of the simplest ways to get into the sport and you don’t need much to get started.

In fact, you probably have the most important piece of equipment already: warm clothes! The Angler’s Atlas wants to help you jump right in, so here is a quick look at some things to think about before you step out on that slab of ice.

Safety Just like open-water fishing, the safety of yourself and those around you should always be front of mind when ice fishing. Stepping out on to the ice in the fall or spring comes with some inherent dangers related to air temperature but we cannot stress enough that there is no such thing as safe ice, even in the middle of winter. It is crucial to know, with confidence, how thick the ice under your feet actually is at any time of year. Here is a helpful chart that will give you some frame of reference:

Safe Ice Thickness Thickness

(Solid, clear, blue/black pond ice)

We suggest using a spud bar as a walking stick when venturing out on the ice, stabbing into the surface in front of you with every step.

Generally, the ice closer to the shore will be thinner so it is important to start checking the ice right away, but don’t take this for granted, underwater structure can make ice thickness variable no matter how far out you are. As a general rule, it should take you at least three to five aggressive blows to get through in order to be thick enough to support your weight. You can pick up this nice 2-piece Chisel by Woods for mere $49.99.

Ice Safety Picks We suggest keeping a pair of ice safety picks around your neck at all times while you’re out on the ice. If you break through, simply grab on to the handles and reach towards the solid ice. The safety sheaths will retract, and the ice picks will spike in, allowing you to self-rescue. This HT Polar model is only $11.99, again, a small price to pay for a tool that can make all the difference in a scary situation.

Permissible Load

4 inches ........................... Single person on foot 5 inches ................................ Group in single file 8 inches .................. Passenger car (2-ton gross) 9 inches .................... Light Truck (21/2-ton gross) 10 inches .............. Medium truck (31/2-ton gross) 12 inches ...................... Heavy truck (8-ton gross) All values are estimates and may not reflect real world conditions. Slush, windswept, and river ice load values vary enormously. Always use extreme caution.

No matter how careful and vigilant you are making sure you know the ice under your feet, you still need to be prepared for the worst. Whether it’s you that gets in trouble or a fellow angler, here are a couple tools that make sure you’re ready.

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Spud Bar or Ice Chisel

Page 7

Rescue Throw Bag This is another essential piece of gear that can be used in any season for any water sport. We suggest having at least 50’ of rope with you at all times when you’re on the ice. A throw bag is a great option as it will not tangle up on you and it is easy to pack around.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to perform a rescue from the ice, keep your distance as to not put yourself in danger, hold the knot at the bottom of the bag securely and throw the bag to the victim.

Now, it’s also important to remember that ice fishing is a very safe sport and the number of incidents are miniscule, unpreparedness and over-confidence are almost always the cause and we know that you are smarter than that!

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

LEARN TO ICE FISH

Regulations

T

he regulations for fishing your favorite lakes in Alberta in the warmer months all apply in the winter, as well. We strongly encourage you to study and know the regulations for the lake you’re going to before you head out. And you might as well keep the regbook and this magazine by your side when your waiting for a bite. After all, there is almost always downtime. There is only one ice specific regulation that applies across the province, and it’s in your favour: “It is unlawful to use more than two lines when angling into ice-covered water” That’s right! You can have two lines in the water when you’re ice fishing in Alberta, as opposed to one on the open water. If you want to double your chances, have two holes, each with one line, and make sure they are close enough together that you can set the hook as soon as you see some action but not so close that your lines get tangled up.

Getting Started So, you have your safety equipment and know the regs like the back of your hand. What next? Head on over to anglersatlas.com and download the map for the lake you have been eyeing. We provide what’s called ‘bathymetric’ maps for most if not all of the fishing lakes in your area.

“Early morning on the ice. My brother took this photo as the sun was rising over our ice shack this winter, The crew was outside drilling a couple holes for some tip-ups just before they bundled inside to keep warm.”

Photo and caption submitted by member Dale Anderson (andersdd).

“Protect your eyes! Those fancy polarized, 100% UV sunglasses you bought for summer fishing are just as important in the winter.

Snow and ice can reflect 80% of the Sun’s dangerous rays.”

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

A bathymetric map is essentially a topographic map for underwater. It will tell you where the points, shelves, dropoff ’s and general depth contours are located which can be enormously useful for both ice and open water fishing. As a general rule, structure is your friend when chasing fish.

Structure in a water column can provide fish with cover from predators, more suitable temperatures and oxygen levels during different times of day/year, and it is usually where they can find food, which is why you should be there, too! Now, this is nowhere near exhaustive or failsafe, and does not apply to all species at all times of year, but it’s a place to get started.

The next step will be figuring out a way to get a hole in the ice. Now you could just use your trusty Spud Bar but as we all know; Alberta winters are cold and the ice can get quite thick. So, unless you’re a glutton for punishment or are a part of some strange ice-fishing exercise club, we suggest getting an ice auger.

Page 8

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

LEARN TO ICE FISH Ice Auger A manual ice auger is a good place to start, now we know that some tourism information centers will have ice auger rental programs (call your local center for info), but you can get a quality manual ice augers starting at around $80. Like anything else these days, the sky is the limit on what you can pay for an ice auger, some gas and propane powered augers run upwards of $1,000. No matter what you decide on, be prepared to make more than one hole in the ice.

Tip Up

“Drill several holes at varying water depths and structure types. Don’t get stuck sitting at a hole that you’ve had no action at for more than 15 or 20 minutes. And even if you’ve had luck in a spot, don’t expect that hole to pay off all day.

The more willing you are to move around, the more fish you’ll catch and the more you’ll learn about these, sometimes, elusive creatures.”

Once you have a hole in the ice, it’ll be important to get all the snow and ice chunks out of the hole. In colder temperatures, the hole can freeze back over surprisingly fast and the more debris you have in the hole the faster this will happen.

Ice Skimmer We suggest picking up a scoop or “skimmer” to help maintain your hole. Nothing fancy needed, $15 will get you a durable skimmer that you’ll only have to buy once. Whatever you do, don’t be scooping ice out of the hole with your bare hands.

“Staying warm will be a crucial factor in having a fun filled day out on the ice. Make sure to wear several layers and stay dry. We don’t need to tell you how to stay warm in the winter but remember that standing in one place for any length of time will bring on the shivers so, dress appropriately!”

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably starting to wonder: what about a fishing rod?! Well, you may be surprised to learn that how you get the fish out of the water isn’t really that important. We’ve seen some pretty impressive fish pulled out of an ice hole using an end cut 2x2 with fishing line wrapped around it sporting a plain hook with a leach on it. Yes, it can be that simple. Of course, you can purchase ice-fishing specific spinning rod and reel combos with all the bells and whistles. Just keep in mind that you’ll also have to purchase a rod holder if you want to have more than one line in the water, and some kind of strike indicator. We, however, suggest what’s called a ‘tip up’.

A tip up is a device you can purchase for under $20 that includes a spool and a strike indicator and it sits over top of the hole so you do not need any kind of holder for it.

It comes equipped with a flag that will pop-up when you have a fish on your line so you can run over and pull it up.

And that’s it folks, that is all you’ll need to get out on the ice this winter. Now you could go out and buy a shelter with a propane heater, a fish finder and a gas power auger, a snowmobile with a custom ice-fishing trailer and an underwater HD camera, but you don’t need any of this stuff. There are an endless number of accessories that you can purchase for ice fishing but what we listed here is all you really need to get started. And that’s what matters most to us, we want you to get out this winter and enjoy wild Alberta. During a season where most people move from a heated house, to a remote started heated truck, to a heated underground garage; we want you to get out and brave the cold, and the excitement of seeing a fish come up through a hole in the ice for the first time will be all you need to keep coming back for more.

All of the gear listed in this article can be purchased at your local Canadian Tire. For more pro-tips and gear guides, visit anglersatlas.com.

Page 9

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

TOP SPECIES Percent of Alberta members surveyed who target these species:

N.Pike

66%

Walleye

62% Perch

58% R.Trout

53%

Whitefish

35% Burbot

24% L.Trout

24%

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

“Behemoth bully, pulled through the ice by my lovely wife while fishing in Kananaskis.”

Photo and caption submitted by Angler’s Atlas member Derrick Resler (SLIVERS).

OUR TOP LURES FOR ICE FISHING

W

e have a pretty great team over at the Angler’s Atlas. Our staff is a group of energetic, passionate folks who are constantly trying to figure out how we can get you out on the water more often, with better results and a story to tell at the end of the day.

But what really makes our job awesome is getting to interact with the Angler’s Atlas community. We have over 70,000 active users that post photos, stories, tips, and questions everyday. So when we reached out to the community to get some information about their favorite lakes, species, and lures to help give those new to ice fishing a starting point, we received an overwhelming response. This data was the result of a detailed survey conducted over at AnglersAtlas.com. Now if you’ve ever ice fished before, the theme of the results will not be surprising to you; jigs, jigs, and more jigs. Specifically, jigs tipped with live or dead bait. Of course, you can tip a plain hook with bait, but why not tip a jighead that will give more visibility to your bait and be more likely to catch the eye of a passing lunker.

Another takeaway from this data set is that there are very few anglers specifically targeting burbot Page 10

and whitefish. We expected to see less anglers targeting rainbows and lakers, simply because they are less abundant, but why aren’t anglers targeting burbot and whitefish? In lakes where pike and walleye are present, you can almost always expect to find burbot and whitefish.

Burbot fishing tends to pick up after the walleye have lost interest for the day, after dusk. For most anglers, they have already been out on the water since the crack of dawn so by this time, they are usually ready to head home. So here’s some professional advice: bring some smokies, have a shore supper, and head back out there for an evening fish! They may not be pretty, but burbot are fun to catch and happen to be delicious.

From the data we collected, it seems if you have a flasher jig, five of diamonds, wireworm, lipless crankbait, and a pack of frozen minnows in your tackle box, and you should be able to catch most sportfish in Alberta on most lakes in the winter.

The real determining factor will be location; the more you learn about the tendencies of your target species, the faster you’ll get on top of them.

We can help you with that over at AnglersAtlas. com. See you on the hardwater!

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

NorthernPike

TOP LURES

HOT TIPS!

Drill your first hole close to the weed edge and move to deeper water if needed. Pike can be found mid-water closer to shore and just off the bottom in deeper water.

TOP LURES FOR NORTHERN PIKE

TOP LURES!

Jig

Jig

33%

38% 21% 20%

Spoon

Spoon Live Bait

10%

Other Dead Bait

9% Jigging Rap/Shad Rap

Live Bait

7%

TOP LURE COLOURS FOR NORTHERN PIKE

YELLOW:

TOP BRANDS!

WHITE/RED: WHITE: ORANGE: SILVER: CHARTREUSE: OTHERS:

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 11

18% 7% 7% 7% 6% 6% 48% FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Walleye

TOP LURES HOT TIPS!

Look for points, breaks, rocks, and drop-offs when ice fishing for Walleye in the fall and spring; deeper but still structured water in the colder months. Close to sunrise and sunset is when you’ll see the most action.

TOP LURES FOR WALLEYE*

TOP LURES! Jig

Live Bait

Dead Bait Spoon

70%

Jig

10% 7% 6%

Other

4%

Jigging Rap/Shad Rap

4%

Live Bait

Dead Bait TOP LURE COLOURS FOR WALLEYE* YELLOW: GREEN: WHITE: CHARTREUSE: BLACK: PINK: OTHERS:

21% 16% 9% 7% 7% 4% 35%

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

TOP BRANDS!

Page 12

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Perch

TOP LURES

HOT TIPS!

Drop your lure to the bottom then reel in one or two feet of line. Lift and drop your line then wait 5-10 seconds. If you’re on the hunt for perch, you don’t want a big ol’ pike taking your bait for a ride. Use small tackle in hopes that the pike will pass it by…no promises, though.

TOP LURES FOR PERCH*

TOP LURES!

Jig

Jig

48%

38% Live Bait

32%

Spoon

9%

Live Bait

Fly

6% Dead Bait Jigging Rap/Shad Rap

3% 2%

Spoon TOP LURE COLOURS FOR PERCH* YELLOW:

TOP BRANDS!

WHITE: ORANGE: GREEN: GOLD: SILVER: OTHER:

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 13

18% 14% 9% 9% 7% 5% 38% FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Rainbow T rout

TOP LURES HOT TIPS!

When targeting rainbows, start in shallow weedy coves and inlets, in these areas they will be just off the bottom. If you’re not having luck in the shallows, try deeper waters but fish the entire water column until you start to see some action.

TOP LURES FOR RAINBOW TROUT Live Bait

31%

Jig

31%

Spoon Fly

Live Bait

18%

Jig

9%

Other Jigging Rap/ Shad Rap

TOP LURES!

8% 4%

Spoon TOP LURE COLOURS FOR RAINBOW TROUT PINK: RED: GREEN: WHITE: ORANGE: YELLOW: OTHERS:

16% 11% 11% 9% 9% 7% 37%

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

TOP BRANDS!

Page 14

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Whitefish

TOP LURES

HOT TIPS!

Sunrise is the best time to target Whitefish. Like perch, whitefish tend to school so where there is one, there are likely many. Being bottom feeders, you should be fishing no higher than a foot off the bottom.

TOP LURES FOR WHITEFISH

TOP LURES!

Wireworm

Wireworm

43%

38% Jig

25% Live Bait

Jig

11%

Spoon Other Jigging Rap/Shad Rap

Live Bait

8% 7% 6%

TOP LURE COLOURS FOR WHITEFISH YELLOW:

TOP BRANDS!

RED: COPPER: BRASS: WHITE: RED/WHITE: OTHERS:

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 15

19% 19% 9% 9% 8% 5% 31% FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Burbot

TOP LURES HOT TIPS!

When the walleye stop biting, try your luck at targeting burbot, later in the day. Look for them in deep, rocky holes in early and midwinter, and shallow rocky areas in the early spring.

TOP LURES FOR BURBOT

TOP LURES! Jig

Dead Bait Live Bait

41% 26%

13%

Spoon

7

Other

7%

Dead Bait

%

4%

Jig

Jigging Rap/ Shad Rap

Live Bait

TOP LURE COLOURS FOR BURBOT WHITE: NATURAL: BLACK: YELLOW: GREEN: GLOW: OTHERS:

21% 16% 13% 8% 8% 8% 26%

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

TOP BRANDS!

Page 16

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Lake T rout

TOP LURES

HOT TIPS! Lake Trout can be found almost anywhere in the water column, be mobile and be aggressive when targeting. Try several depths and structures. When jigging, don’t be shy. Quickly pull and drop you lure getting the most action possible from the motion.

TOP LURES FOR LAKE TROUT

TOP LURES!

Jig

Jig

53%

38%

Spoon

13%

Spoon

13%

Jigging Rap/ Shad Rap Live Bait

10% 7% Tube Jig

Other

3%

Jigging Rap/Shad Rap Rap TOP LURE COLOURS FOR LAKE TROUT

WHITE:

TOP BRANDS!

RED: SILVER: BLUE: YELLOW/WHITE: RED/WHITE: OTHERS:

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 17

38% 15% 8% 8% 3% 3% 26% FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Buck Lake 2,540 Hectares (6,276 Acres)

12 metres (40 feet)

882 metres (2,894 feet)

August 1977

Feet

B

uck Lake, a quiet lake surrounded by the rolling hills of Wetaskawin near Drayton Valley, is known among anglers for its abundant walleye, northern pike, good-sized perch and lake whitefish.

Buck is a good spot for families, offering kid-friendly fishing. Buck Lake is generally quieter than it’s neighbouring lakes, Pigeon and Gull. Locals report that pike and walleye fishing is good in the winter months.

The lake can undergo algae blooms in middle to late summer which can effect the quality of winter fishing.

LAKE ACCESS

B

uck Lake is located southwest of Edmonton. Follow Hwy. 2 south to Hwy. 13. Turn right and follow this road for about 62 km to where the southeast shore of the lake meets the highway. The best vehicle access to the lake in the water is from the Buck Lake townsite on the south side.

There are two recreation areas on this lake: Buck Lake Recreation Area along the southeastern shore and Calhoun Bay Recreation Area along the northwest shore. Buck Lake is the best equipped, providing a boat launch, a fish-cleaning station, camping, firepits, firewood and water.

Northern Pike TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Jig

Spoon Page 18

Live Bait

recommended

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Calling Lake 14,282 Hectares (35,290 Acres)

16 metres (52 feet)

594 metres (1,949 feet)

Unknown

Feet

C

alling Lake is a large, attractive recreational lake noted for its sandy shoreline. The main sport fish are northern pike, yellow perch and walleye.

Drill your first hole in shallower water, anywhere from 6-10 ft., close to the Provincial boat launch and move out to deeper water if you’re not having luck in this range. Locals report excellent walleye fishing in Calling Lake, pulling high numbers of large walleye through the ice. There are also reports that the ice can get very thick here, some sections of the lake requiring an auger extension.

Check out the Angler’s Atlas page for Calling Lake, there are several markers for hot spots posted on the map there!

Please be mindful of Alberta provincial regulations for fish quotas, Calling Lake is Catch & Release Only for Northern Pike.

LAKE ACCESS

C

alling Lake is located about 200 km north of Edmonton. The town of Athabasca, 55 km to the south, is the closest centre. The hamlet of Calling Lake is located on the lake’s eastern shore.

From Edmonton, take Hwy. 2 north to Athabasca, then Secondary Road 813 north to the hamlet and provincial park.

Walleye TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Calling Lake Provincial Park is a 741-hectare area the southern shore.

Vehicle access to the lake can be variable in the winter.

Graders do not necessarily maintain access points so be prepared.

HOT TIP!

Jigging is the best method for catching Walleye through the ice. Drop your jig to the bottom then reel in 2 feet of line. Lift and drop your line then wait 5-10 seconds.

recommended

Jig

Live Bait Page 19

Dead Bait FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Chain Lakes Reservoir (North) 321 Hectares (793 Acres)

10 metres (34 feet)

1,301 metres (4,270 feet)

L

ocated within Chain Lakes Provincial Park, this reservoir provides fabulous fishing opportunities for numerous species of trout: rainbow, brook, bull, and cutthroat.

While the Chain Lakes are heavily stocked — some of the heaviest in the province with around 100,000 rainbow trout released in 2016— the popularity of these lakes means that most of the fish are in the smaller range of about 12 inches.

What the fish lack in size, however, is made up for by their abundance. These trout are eager to bite. Brook trout are also caught in the lakes, migrating through Willow Creek.

Combined, the brook and rainbow stock make for reasonable assurance of success. Remember, though, at-risk bull trout must be released in good condition.

Unknown

Feet

Spoons , glow hooks and mealworms are good hardware choices for consistent catches in the winter. Use of bait fish is not permitted in any water in the drainage basin, and no bait of any sort is allowed in streams.

All streams in the basin are closed to fishing from November through May. That said, Anglers frequent the Chain Lakes in large numbers during the winter to make the most of the lake’s ice fishing opportunities.

In streams, no rainbow or cutthroat trout under 25 cm may be kept.

The reservoir was named for the three chain lakes that nearly filled the area. The park lies within Canada’s last large expanse of mostly undisturbed montane landscape between the Rocky Mountains and Porcupine Hills.

Rainbow T rout TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

recommended

Live Bait

Jig Page 20

Spoon FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Chain Lakes Reservoir(South) 321 Hectares (793 Acres)

10 metres (34 feet)

1,301 metres (4,270 feet)

Unknown

There are a wide variety of birds in the montane landscape, as well as scenic views of the Livingsone Mountain Range.

runs along the eastern boundary of Chain Lakes Provincial Park at the south end of the lake.

Angler’s Atlas members coffie and techcd have posted several map markers on the Chain Lakes map page. They note that the north end can be weedy, and that there’s great fishing at the south end. As well, reports and photos all suggest that there is a great deal of good shore access on the south end.

There are 124 campsites with picnic tables, firepits, and a day-use area. Only communal firepits are provided due to the dry conditions of the area.

Regulations are different for Chain Lakes North and Chain Lakes South, so be sure to check before heading out.

Feet

The boat launch is located just west of Loop A, visit the Alberta Parks website at www.albertaparks.ca for more information or for maps.

LAKE ACCESS

T

he reservoir is about a 90-minute drive from Calgary along Hwy. 22, otherwise known as the historic Cowboy Trail.

Drive approximately 75 km south of the city, and Hwy. 22

Lake T rout TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

HOT TIP!

When jigging, don’t be shy. Quickly pull and drop you lure getting the most action possible from the motion.

recommended

Jig

Spoon Page 21

Jigging/Shad Rap FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Chip Lake 7300 Hectares (18039 Acres)

3.6 metres (10.8 feet)

792 metres (2.376 feet)

Unknown

Feet

P

ike and burbot are the big draws to Chip Lake. Concentrate on the river inlet and outlet.

Pike love the shallows if there is an easy meal, work on the weed beds in the early winter. Pike will hang out there, waiting to ambush their prey.

Make sure the line is tough enough for these sharptoothed strikers.

For burbot, small fish and aquatic insects are the order of the day. Winter ice fishing is ideal for burbot. Locals report that Chip Lake is ideal for winter fishing.

Shallow and weedy conditions make it less desirable Several members have LAKE ACCESS in the warmer months. posted markers that show hip Lake Park is Regulations for Chip Lake the location of hot spots, located about halfallow dead fish for bait. as well as some awesome way between Edmonton Minnows are a good choice fishing tips! and Edson near the comfor pike and burbot. munity of Wildwood.

Check out the Angler’s Turn north off of Hwy. Atlas page for Chip Lake.

16 on Green Court Road

C

Burbot TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

(Range Road 92) to Township Road 544 and then 8 km west until reaching Chip Lake Park.

When ice is safe, Range Road 110 on the south west side is a good place for vehicle access.

HOT TIP!

Use a heavy lure and hammer it into the lake bottom. The sound and cloud of debris should incise a hungry burbot, if they are close by.

recommended

Jig

Dead Bait Page 22

Live Bait FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Cold Lake 37,300 Hectares (92,167 Acres)

99 metres (325 feet)

535 metres (1,605 feet)

Unknown

Feet

C

old Lake has the distinction of being one of the best fishing lakes in two provinces. Cold Lake can accommodate every skill and experience level. Whether you enjoy icefishing, fly-fishing, or trolling from a boat, Cold Lake needs to be on your list of places to visit!

Cold Lake is packed full of a variety of fish species including walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, and burbot. However, what makes Cold Lake special, is its thriving lake trout population. Of the lakes in the area, Cold Lake is the only waterbody in which anglers can target these trout. In the winter, use a 1/2 ounce white jig tipped with a minnow. Since you’ll be in over 100 feet of water, we suggest using a non-stretch, braided line so you don’t miss a strike!

Northern pike are the best fish to target if you are a beginner angler, or looking to teach a child how to fish.

They can be found all over the shoreline in 10-30 feet of water.

If looking for a challenge Cam Clark, owner of O-Fishial Business, jokes that walleye are “the houdinis of the lake.” They are very hard to locate as they are constantly on the move.

He recommends looking for natural, underwater structures like rock piles or islands that provide a lot of cover.

LAKE ACCESS

C

old Lake is located north-east, and falls along the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border. Just 170 km north of Lloydminster and 300 km

Lake T rout TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

northeast of Edmonton the most popular routes follow Hwys 28 or 55.

Both routes will lead right into the city, just minutes from the beach, marina, or downtown amenities.

There are many access points into the lake including Cold Lake Provincial Park and Cold Lake Marina.

HOT TIP!

When jigging, don’t be shy. Quickly pull and drop you lure getting the most action possible from the motion.

recommended

Jig

Spoon Page 23

Jigging/Shad Rap FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Crawling Valley Reservoir 2510 Hectares (6202 Acres)

15 metres (50 feet)

778 metres (2552 feet)

Unknown

Metres

C

rawling Valley Reservoir, sometimes referred to as Barkenhouse Lake, is an offstream irrigation storage reservoir about 150km east of Calgary.

A productive pike and walleye lake, locals also report decent whitefish and burbot fishing mid-winter.

In the late 1980’s Crawling was an excellent trout lake after years of building stocks and creating spawning areas.

Anglers consistently caught trout over 15lbs! Today, it is a much different fishery with pike as the main predator in these waters. Locals suggest using a flasher jig tipped with a minnow.

LAKE ACCESS

B

est access is from the recreation area on the west shore at the south end, near the main dam.

If you’re travelling from Calgary, take Highway 1 east until you are just north of the town of Bassano, then turn off Highway 1 and continue travelling east for 5 km, then north for 3 km following signage.

GEAR

For the best choice and price, we have the essential fishing gear.

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 24

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Eagle Lake 1189 Hectares (2938 Acres)

4.8 metres (16 feet)

923 metres (3028 feet)

1970

Feet

A

lthough not quite five metres deep, Eagle Lake near Strathmore supports a reliable fishery for pike and walleye of decent size — 5 lbs. or more.

As well, Eagle Lake was stocked with 7,500 cutthroat trout fry in 2014.

Eagle Lake is rich in nutrients and undergoes dense blooms of blue-green algae through the summer months. Partly because of this and the shallow lake level, Eagle is preferred for its ice fishing rather than as a summer destination. Locals suggest orange jigs with glow in the dark heads for pike fishing. Some anglers report pulling up 20-40 pike per day in the winter months. Fishing pressure, however, can be intense. Please be considerate of other anglers on the ice. Drive slowly and give space to those setup on a hole.

LAKE ACCESS Latitude: 50.9905 Longtitude: -113.3480

F

ollow Hwy. 1 east about 60 km from Calgary centre to Range Rd. 243 on the right side of the highway. The lake is 7 km from Strathmore.

There is a recreation area, including lake access, located roughly seven km from the turnoff on the right side of the road.

Northern Pike TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Jig

Spoon Page 25

Live Bait

recommended

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Ghost Reservoir 1160 Hectares (2866 Acres)

34 metres (112 feet)

1188 metres (3898zzz feet)

Unknown

Metres

G

host is notoriously challenging to fish. There are stories of 15 to 20 pound lakers coming out of the hardwater but these reports are usually coming from anglers who have put in a lot of time on this waterbody. Rainbow, cutthroat, and lake trout are the primary sportfish on this Bow River impoundment.

The reservoir can get quite windy so prepare to brave the elements. The Ghost River inflow can be a productive area for some. Just north of the recreation area, the hills provide some cover from the strong westerly winds.

Those who have success on Ghost tell us to be drilling holes before the sun comes up, use a small jig with a minnow or the smallest white tube jig you can buy, and fish in 40 feet of water just off the bottom. Make sure to jig aggressively and pause to give these lakers a chance to attack it. Make sure the fish has taken your bait before you set the hook because it might be the only chance you get!

Historical reports tell us that there were nine different species found in the Reservoir: lake trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish, lake whitefish, longnose sucker, white sucker, burbot, brook stickleback and longnose dace. Only you can tell us what’s in there

today, go exploring then head over to anglersatlas.com to tell some ghost stories!

LAKE ACCESS

T

he Ghost Reservoir is located 19 km west of Cochrane or about 45 min-

utes west of Calgary. The Ghost Lake Recreation Area will be on the southside of the highway just after the bridge, 2 km west of the highway 40 intersection. Boat launch area is available in the winter but can be windswept and inaccessible by vehicle.

Rainbow T rout TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

recommended

Live Bait

Jig Page 26

Spoon FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Gregoire Lake 2,580 Hectares (6,375 Acres)

7.2 metres (24 feet)

480 metres (1,570 feet)

Unknown

Feet

G

regoire (Willow) Lake is a productive pike and walleye lake located only 30 minutes south of Fort McMurray.

Locals report never being skunked although pike tend to be smaller on average.

Walleye and Perch fishing can be excellent here with reports of 60+ landed walleye in a few hours.

Gregoire is a great place to fish if you’re just looking for the fight and to be out on the water. There is a zero limit on pike and walleye, but you can take 15 perch with you, and expect to leave all your minnows behind. Rob Martin, General Manager over at Canadian Tire in Fort McMurray tells us that this is a popular lake for locals with good road access.

This store is closer to an outfitters than a traditional Canadian Tire with a 100 foot fishing wall, and whole sections devoted to firearms and archery. Martin tells us the Outdoor Store really is

a one stop shop for, not only all your ice fishing gear, but they got you covered for camping, hunting, and boating as well. Stop in and they’ll get you geared up.

LAKE ACCESS

F

rom Fort McMurray, head south on Hwy

63, then east on Hwy. 881 until you see Gregoire Lake Provincial Park on you left, you can also continue to the southeast side of the lake where you’ll find the Anzac day use area. According to Alberta Parks, Gregoire Lake Campground is closed for

construction, with reopening expected in spring 2018.

Anzac day use area and the southshore boat launch (approximately 1 km south of Anzac Day Use Area) are accessible.

GEAR

For the best choice and price, we have the essential fishing gear.

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 27

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Gull Lake 8,060 Hectares (19,916 Acres)

8 metres (26 feet)

899 metres (2,949 feet)

August 1961

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G

ull Lake is part of Aspen Beach Provincial Park, weekends can be busy due to its proximity to Red Deer and Edmonton. This is true both in the summer and winter months with reports of over 150 people on the lake in December. Gull Lake is popular for its lake whitefish ice fishing. Locals report limiting out in under an hour when you get on top of them.

Large and shallow, the lake has been stocked with walleye in recent years. The west side of the lake is known for its good fishing.

In the wintertime, whitefish, pike, and burbot are plentiful, good-sized, and usually easy to catch while ice fishing. Use a slow retrieve with a small worm or beadhead nymph. Bait, including dead bait fish, is permitted in this lake. The diversion canal that drains into the lake is closed to angling year-round.

Members of The Angler’s Atlas have posted several map markers for Gull Lake.

LAKE ACCESS

G

ull Lake is a short drive northwest of Red Deer.

Follow Hwy. 2 north to Hwy. 12 and turn left.

The lake is roughly 10 km from the turnoff and is located on the north side of the road.

The park, one of the oldest in Alberta, is located on the southwest shore. Best parking in the winter is at Brownlows Landing just northwest of the park, and Wilson’s Beach just north on the east shore.

Lake T rout TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

HOT TIP!

When jigging, don’t be shy. Quickly pull and drop you lure getting the most action possible from the motion.

recommended

Jig

Spoon Page 28

Jigging/Shad Rap FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Keho Lake 1,502 Hectares (3,712 Acres)

3 metres (10 feet)

964 metres (2,395 feet)

September 1963

Feet

K

eho Lake, in northwest Lethbridge County, is a large, shallow pike pond.

Keho has a reputation for producing trophy-sized pike with fairly consistent fishing year-round. The pike average 8-10 lbs.

In addition, this lake can be a productive one for burbot, whitefish and, to a lesser degree, walleye.

While the walleye fishery is closed for most of the year, there is a limited opening from December to February.

Spoons are recommended for pike and walleye.

The lake is fairly uniform with little structure so time and weather can be information before headmore important than loca- ing out. Driving is not recommended on Keho tion.

Lake as there can be open Please consult the provinwater in the winter due to cial regulations for more wind.

LAKE ACCESS

K

eho Park Golf Club is located on Range Road 224 just north of Township Road 114.

Drive 6 km north from

Secondary Hwy. 519 on Range Road 224 to access, or north on Range Road 225 to the boat launch area.

Northern Pike TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Jig

Spoon Page 29

Live Bait

recommended

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Lac La Biche 23,400 Hectares (58,000 Acres)

25 metres (82 feet)

544 metres (1,632 feet)

Unknown

Feet

L

ac La Biche is a picturesque lake most popular for its walleye and northern pike fishing. Perch are also caught in the lake. Because of its popularity and abundance of fish, the angling pressure can be intense.

Lac La Biche has been stocked with nearly 25,000 walleye, part of efforts to rehabilitate the lake.

Lac La Biche is part of Ewashthe Special Walleye Licence ko also reports system, similar to hunting that a small Rattling Rap draws where tags are issued. did the trick for him when While the perch can be he was targeting pike. more plentiful at times, Lac La Biche is relatively pike fishing brings with it shallow in many parts so the excitement of landing use the map to find deeper the big one. water and lake structure.

Angler’s Atlas member gogogomez reports he “can’t LAKE ACCESS keep the pike off the hook,” ocated in the town of using a Five of Diamonds.

Lac La Biche, the lake is

L

Walleye TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

roughly 225 km northeast of EdChurchill Provincial Park monton along Hwys. 28 located on the large peninand 36. sula on the southeast side of There are several access the lake, there is plenty of points on Lac La Biche. We parking available. suggest using Sir Winston

HOT TIP!

Jigging is the best method for catching Walleye through the ice. Drop your jig to the bottom then reel in 2 feet of line. Lift and drop your line then wait 5-10 seconds.

recommended

Jig

Live Bait Page 30

Dead Bait FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Lac Ste. Anne 5,473 Hectares (13,524 Acres)

9.1 metres (30 feet)

J

723 metres (2,372 feet)

ust west of Edmonton Anglers can find productive lies the well-known gem pike fishing near the West that is Lac Ste. Anne.

Cove boat launch. Many Among anglers, the lake iFish Alberta anglers also is primarily known for its recommend the narrows, productive walleye and especially on windy days as pike fishing, although the it offers some shelter. Lots lake also contains burbot of structure in this lake, and yellow perch. Ice fish- shop around until you get ing is quite popular on Lac on top of something.

June, 1965

Feet

for Lac Ste. Anne with tips, photos and map markers.

Check it out and add your own! See anglersatlas.com/ place/101948/lac-ste-anne for more information.

Hwy. 33 at the town of Gunn. There are several access points around the lake with the village of Alberta Beach being a focal point for many activities. Note that parking is not allowed LAKE ACCESS at the Alberta Beach boat ollow Hwy. 16 west launch. to Hwy. 43 and turn right.

Continue along this Ste. Anne so expect com- Angler’s Atlas members pany. have loaded up the page road for nearly 25 km to

Perch TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

F

HOT TIP!

Perch tend to school in the winter so being mobile is important when targeting them. If you’re not seeing any action at your location within 20 minutes, move on, try different structures and depths.

recommended

Jig

Live Bait Page 31

Spoon FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Lesser Slave Lake 118,659Hectares (293,212Acres)

21 metres (69 feet)

578 metres (1,734 feet)

August 1970

Feet

K

nown as “the fishing hub of the north,” Lesser Slave Lake - Alberta’s largest accessible waterbody - is Alberta’s walleye capital!

Walleye are the most popular fish in Lesser Slave Lake, though whitefish, burbot, yellow perch and pike also provide ample opportunity for a catch.

John Cryan, owner at Canadian Tire Slave Lake, tells us “Walleye are the most sought after and a minnow tipped jig or jigging spoon are most common in targeting this species. This works equally well for pike. A still presentation of maggots or even night crawler works well for

whitefish and burbot but they can be very fickle. At times a minnow tipped jig or spoon will catch all of these species.” Cryan says the ideal time for walleye is during the first two weeks of freeze over and just as the ice is coming off the lake.

Cryan also gave a piece of advice to first timers, “Lesser Slave Lake is a big lake and can sometimes have strong winds. The ice is usually very thick so good equipment is essential.

Don’t be surprised if it takes the entire length of you auger to get through the ice.”

GEAR

For the best choice and price, we have the essential fishing gear.

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 32

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Lesser Slave Lake 118,659Hectares (293,212Acres)

21 metres (69 feet)

578 metres (1,734 feet)

August 1970

Feet

is one of the most popular.”

From Edmonton, drive north on Hwy 2 for about 56 km. Turn left at Hwy 18. At Westlock, turn right onto Hwy 44 (104th street). Continue on Hwy 44 for about 104 km, and then for approximately 100 km after Hwy 44 merges again with Hwy 2. Follow the signs for various access points along the lake.

Make sure to visit any of the knowledgeable staff at Canadian Tire Slake Lake. Cryan notes, “If it is in your budget I would recommend buying an underwater camera system. These systems retail for around $400 but add a great deal of excitement and fun

Walleye TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

From Slave Lake, drive west along Hwy 2 for 100 km and then turn north onto Hwy 750 for approximately 30 km until reaching Hilliard’s Bay. The campground has 164 sites, a day use area, and a boat launch.

to the outing as well as provide a unique learning experience.”

The communities of Widewater, Joussard, Faust, and Kinuso all make good locations for outfitting, hiring a guide, and finding accommodations.

LAKE ACCESS

C

ryan tells us, “There are several places to access the lake in winter including most marina sites. The Widewater access and HOT TIP!

Jigging is the best method for catching Walleye through the ice. Drop your jig to the bottom then reel in 2 feet of line. Lift and drop your line then wait 5-10 seconds.

recommended

Jig

Live Bait Page 33

Dead Bait FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

McLeod Lake 373 Hectares (922 Acres)

11 metres (35 feet)

853 metres (2,799 feet)

Unknown

Feet

M

cLeod Lake, in Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, is a popular and consistent fishing lake. Also known as Carson Lake, if you are trying to give your kids the fishing bug, this is the place to go.

Greg Jones from Canadian Tire Whitecourt tells us, “Rainbow trout is the species sought after at McLeod lake. It is stocked annually and the most common method for targeting them is bait fishing using worms, shrimp, maggots, marshmallows, and power bait.” Make sure to visit Canadian Tire Whitecourt to stock up on bait and tackle before you hit the ice. Jones wants to remind anglers, “dress appropriately for the weather, clean up after yourself and check ice thickness before venturing out on it.”

Although stocking is necessary due to a lack of suitable spawning grounds, growth rate of rainbow in this lake is among the fastest in the area. If you’re new LAKE ACCESS to the lake, try your luck 100 feet cLeod Lake is located out from the beach and use a slip north of Whitecourt. sinker rig. Head over to angler- Follow Hwy. 43 west to Hwy. satlas.ca to see photos and map 32 and turn right. The turnoff to markers of productive areas.

M

Carson Pegasus Provincial Park is ~12 km down the highway on the right side, follow the signs to access point. According to Jones, “access to the lake is via the boat ramp, vehicles can be driven on

the lake but warning to users to be diligent on knowing if the ice thickness is safe to do so.” For more information or for a park map, visit the Alberta Parks website at www.albertaparks.ca.

GEAR

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Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

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Pigeon Lake 9,591 Hectares (23,700 Acres)

9.1 metres (30 feet)

P

igeon Lake resembles many other lakes in Alberta with its large area and relatively shallow depth. These conditions provide great habitat for walleye, northern pike, and lake whitefish, with walleye particularly abundant in these waters.

Interestingly, commercial licenses were issued for Pigeon Lake in the 1920’s with a market for its fish in New York and Chicago. After only a few years, licenses were no longer issued as stocks became heavily depleted. Stocks replenished returning Pigeon Lake to the healthy fishery we know today.

852 metres (2,795 feet)

LAKE ACCESS

P

igeon Lake is about 100 km southwest of Edmonton. Follow Hwy. 2 south to Hwy. 13. Turn right and continue along this road for about 25 km to the south end of Pigeon Lake. Ma-Meo Beach Provincial Park is located here.

August 1961

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Alternatively, anglers can continue along Hwy. 13 to Secondary Hwy. 771 and turn right (north) leading to Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, 10 km from the turnoff. This park has a boat launch.

Please ensure you are familiar with the provincial fishing regulations before heading out as sections of the lake are closed year round and at present, a tag system is in place for walleye.

The fine folks over at Canadian Tire in Wetaskiwin suggest putting a jighead with a minnow on your line for starters.

“This may be all you need to see a lot of action. Just remember to bring your cleats, there are often variable ice conditions on Pigeon so be cautious travelling around out there. Canadian Tire in Wetaskiwin stocks everything you need to have a great day ice fishing on Pigeon Lake.”

LURES

JIGGING RAP Product #078-8175-2

For the best choice and price, we have the essential fishing gear.

JIGGING RAP Product #077-7891-4 SHAD RAP Product #078-8064-6

Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Page 35

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Pine Lake 401 Hectares (991 Acres)

13 metres (43 feet)

890 metres (2,920 feet)

June 1992

Metres

P

ine Lake is a popular angling destination for pike and walleye, partly due to its location halfway between Edmonton and Red Deer. The lake is home to residents and cottage owners year-round.

Set in a picturesque forested valley, it used to be known for its perch as well, but it seems stocks have depleated in recent years. Some locals report that their numbers are beginning to climb again.

The Dimestore Fishermen have produced a YouTube video for Pine Lake. Volunteer Kevin Wingert notes that changing fishing regulations to limit catches of pike and walleye allowed these two species to rebound. As a result, the perch were controlled. iFish Alberta user recommends fishing with a jig and a minnow 7 metres deep.

The Pine Lake Restoration Society actively monitors the lake water quality and works to conserve the lake’s beauty and recreational values.

LAKE ACCESS

T

o access Pine Lake from Red Deer, take Hwy. 2 south for 8 km, then turn east on Hwy. 42 and drive for about 25 km to the north end of the lake.

A boat launch is located at Green Acres Campground, on the west side of the lake.

Northern Pike TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

Jig

Spoon Page 36

Live Bait

recommended

FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Pinehurst Lake 4,089 Hectares (10,104 Acres)

P

inehurst is known for producing some hefty northern pike, along with walleye, yellow perch, lake whitefish and burbot.

23.5 metres (40 feet)

599 metres (1,965 feet)

August 1972

Feet

port some great fishing among from northwest to southeast. cated 245 km northeast of the the bays on the eastern side.

The prevailing winds are from city of Edmonton. The town of Lac La Biche, which is the “Pinehurst Lake is a large the northwest.” lake,” writes freThese tips and more can be nearest large population cendalex. “It is found on the Angler’s Atlas tre, is 60 km to the northwest.

Angler’s Atlas members ob- o r i e n t e d tech, andersdd and jleskow in a line all report great fishing at Pinehurst Lake, and their walleye photos show good catches.

website at anglersatlas.com/ To reach the lake from Edplace/102022/pinehurst- monton, take Hwy. 28 north and east to the village of Villake.

A portion of the lake na, then Hwy. 36 north to the around Snug Cove Hwy. 55 intersection.

As well, rbrady and bo_ sullivan re-

Follow Hwy. 55 for 5 km, then turn north onto a gravelled road, Range Road 132B that runs north for 2.5 km and then intersects with Township Road LAKE ACCESS 652. Turn east and drive for inehurst around 25km.

Lake is l o - Turn north on Range Road 113. Follow this road for 5 km until it reaches the lake.

was closed to fishing in 2014. Check the 2017 provincial regulations for updates.

P

Pinehurst Lake campground, part of Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area, has 63 unservices sites, a boat launch, a day use area, and a fish cleaning station.

Lake T rout TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

HOT TIP!

When jigging, don’t be shy. Quickly pull and drop you lure getting the most action possible from the motion.

recommended

Jig

Spoon Page 37

Jigging/Shad Rap FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Snipe Lake 4,451 Hectares (10,998 Acres)

6.1 metres (20 feet)

738 metres (2,421 feet)

September 1962

Feet

S

nipe Lake is a popular spot for ice fishing, and the action continues consistently all year.

Gerry Williscroft, local angler, says that pike and perch are the big draws. Both species are plentiful and “you can almost get them as soon as you drop your line.”

For perch, Williscroft suggests using small lures during the evening. Try bright colours in low light. Head straight out from the boat launch about 100 metres.

A Five of Diamonds or a Red Devil are good choices for pike, although Williscroft remembers how he caught a 13-lb. using a Five of Diamonds.

There are several different places on the lake that are especially productive. The southeast corner just out from the spawning area is a good choice. On the east edge, around the corner from the campground, anglers have good luck just out from the community water plant.

The Snipe Lake page on the Angler’s Atlas website has lots of pictures, map markers and fishing tips.

Check it out at anglersatlas.com/place/102048/snipelake.

LAKE ACCESS

F

rom Edmonton, There are a couple of different ways to get to Snipe Lake. Travel west on Hwy. 16 and turn onto Hwy. 43 to Valleyview. Pass through the town to TWP Road 710 and Range Road 191.

If leaving Edmonton by Hwy. 2, pass through the town of High Prairie and turn left on Hwy. 747. Stay on Hwy. 747 until TWP Road 710 and Range Road 191.

Perch TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

HOT TIP!

Perch tend to school in the winter so being mobile is important when targeting them. If you’re not seeing any action at your location within 20 minutes, move on, try different structures and depths.

recommended

Jig

Live Bait Page 38

Spoon FREE MAPS AT AnglersAtlas.com

Sylvan Lake 4,208 Hectares (10,397 Acres)

18.3 metres (60 feet)

Unknown

S

ylvan Lake residents can boast that the lake has some of some of the best fishing in Alberta. There are lake whitefish, walleye, perch, burbot and pike — multiple Angler’s Atlas users report trophy pike of 20 lbs. or more. Whitefish are plentiful, however, note that walleye must be released.

Ed, the sports manager at Canadian Tire in Sylvan Lake tells us, ““Last year we didn’t get good ice until January, but when it does freeze over, it looks like

August 1961

Feet

a town, everybody puts their hut out there”. Ed stresses that anglers check ice conditions before they head.

Ice fishing is especially popular on Sylvan Lake.

Numerous iFish Alberta users report catching whitefish during the winter months. User slew suggests “using a very small five of diamonds, smallest they make, tipped with a maggot....

That is all I use for whites at Sylvan.” Ed from Canadian Tire echos this saying that maggots are the bait of choice for most anglers for both whitefish and perch. “The perch go crazy for maggots!”

Ed reminds us that the local Canadian Tire is very well stocked for the winter fish, make sure to stop in and say hi before you head out on the ice, he’ll set you up.

The Angler’s Atlas page for Sylvan Lake is loaded with photos and map markers. Add your own info, or follow the lake to be notified when new content is added.

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his lake is a short drive west of Red Deer. Follow Hwy. 11A west about 15 km to the southeast tip of the lake.

There is a day-use recreation area along the southeast shore, but no boat launch. Instead, try the marina or Sun Haven on the north side of the lake.

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Travers Reservoir 23,070 Hectares (57,000 Acres)

40 metres (130 feet)

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alleye, pike, perch and burbot are all caught in Travers Reservoir, fed by the Little Bow River and Lake McGregor.

The walleye fishing can be fantastic here with fish weighing up to 10 lbs. Some of the best fishing can be out from the spillway.

Ice fishing on Travers Reservoir is very productive. Worms and maggots work well for bait.

The Angler’s Atlas lake page for Travers Reservoir is at anglersatlas.com/ place/102072/travers-reservoir. Add your fishing tips and photos, and sign up to catch all the latest information.

Burbot TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS Ice Fishing Alberta 2017/18

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Please make sure you are familiar with the Alberta Fishing Regulations before heading out. The retention limits for walleye and pike are zero. The regulations indicate, “Fishing is not allowed within 25 yards (22.86 m) of the Canal inlet structure.” As well, there are different limits and regulations depending on where you’re fishing.

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ravers Reservoir is located north of Lethbridge. From Hwy. 3 turn right onto Hwy. 23 and continue for roughly 50 km to secondary Hwy. 529. Turn right onto the road that wraps around the shore of the reservoir.

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Travers Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area is on the eastern shore.

The campground at Little Bow Provincial Park is located on the prairies facing the north shore of the reservoir, approximately 20 km south of Lomond and 9 km west of Hwy. 845. Amenities include a boat launch and firepits.

HOT TIP!

Use a heavy lure and hammer it into the lake bottom. The sound and cloud of debris should incise a hungry burbot, if they are close by.

recommended

Jig

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Wabamun Lake 7,777 Hectares (19,216 Acres)

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abamun Lake, west of Edmonton, is a popular year-round destination for anglers lured by its pike and walleye. Locals tell us that they have little reason to fish anywhere else. The lake is heavily stocked with walleye and they seem to be always biting!

“Fishing is good to very good all along the north side between the Hamlet of Fallis and Seba Beach,” says Daryl Ostopowich, field volunteer for the Angler’s Atlas. Popu-

11.5 metres (38 feet)

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lar lures were Blue Fox spoons, Red Devils, Five of Diamonds, and perch-looking lures. In the morning and late evening, he suggests using darker colours on the spoons.

“Between the two of us, in about 1.5 hours, we caught approxi“Sometimes we use jigs,” mately 37 lbs. of says Ostopowich. “A black northern pike (seven fish)! grub/twister with a yellow LAKE ACCESS jighead does well in the morning and evening, and abamun Lake is west the opposite colours work of Edmonton along during the day.”

Highway 16. From Edmon-

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Walleye TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS

727 metres (2,385 feet)

ton, head west along Hwy. 16 for about 62 km and follow the exit ramp to the village of Wabamun Lake. Lake access is right in the townsite.

HOT TIP!

Jigging is the best method for catching Walleye through the ice. Drop your jig to the bottom then reel in 2 feet of line. Lift and drop your line then wait 5-10 seconds.

recommended

Jig

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Wizard Lake 247 Hectares (610 Acres)

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nly 50 km from Edmonton, serpentine Wizard Lake can be fished yearround for northern pike and yellow perch. Wizard is supposed to have walleye, but there are no reported catches.

Burbot are also caught. These deep-water lurkers will take many different offerings, and, like pike, are considered opportunistic feeders.

Ice fishing for pike is especially popular, but watch for springs that can thin the ice.

While the fish are mostly on the small side, the lake is sur-

11 metres (36 feet)

prisingly productive overall.

Spring fishing is reported to be good for small and medium pike up to 5 lbs. The lake is open from May 15 to March 31st of each year.

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tures.” The creek draining of Edmonton. Take Hwy. 2 the lake is still called Conjur- south to Leduc and turn right ing Creek. onto Hwy. 39.

Please note the catch and keep limits for pike and perch, and remember that The narrows are often all walleye are catch-andmore productive than wider release only. stretches. Just past the boat LAKE ACCESS launch, at a depth of 10-15 izard straddles two feet, is another hot spot. counties. The northUntil the late 1960s, the ern shore of the lake is in common name for the lake Leduc County and the southwas Conjuring Lake. First ern shore is in the County of Nations’ legends suggest Wetaskiwin. strange noises in the lake came from “conjuring crea- The lake is located southwest

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Perch TOP LURES CHOSEN BY MEMBERS

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Follow this road for about 15 km to Secondary Highway 795 at the town of Calmar.

Turn left and continue for another 15 km to the lake turnoff, leading to the east end of the lake.

Wizard Lake Jubilee Park is operated by Leduc County and offers a day-use area, paid parking and a boat launch.

HOT TIP!

Perch tend to school in the winter so being mobile is important when targeting them. If you’re not seeing any action at your location within 20 minutes, move on, try different structures and depths.

recommended

Jig

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