2020/2021 Cold Lake Ice and Fishing Reports
 

That time of year again!!!

Let's hear some reports on the ice at the big lake!!

Stay safe and hope to see some PB's on here this winter.

Personal best will be anything. Skunked last two years. Think try to get a guide first day out this year and hoping to get out earlier than last few to make a difference.

no ice to speak of lots open water guys out with boat a week or so ago

Still out in boats?! Ha that’s crazy. Hopefully it starts forming along the edges soon enough.

Waaaaay toooooo early to even think about it.....we are in the whitey rut.....you should be banned to toss this into the mix....dam you:)

No kidding now is the time to be hunting not thinking about fishing yet

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Haha. I cant win. My buddy just gave me hell because I hadn't started a Cold Lake thread yet. Says "I'm slipping".

But yes, the rut is much higher priority at the moment. Never the less, Lakers are always on my mind!!!

Anyone looked at French bay?

Can I talk Lake Trout now???

You sir can proceed....dam nice buck...congrats.:sHa_shakeshout:

Will take a look soon...more to follow....

French bay
 

So just got back and it seems frozen across from the launch with a few wet areas still....if I was to fish for poke or perch I would drill every 5 yards or so to check for thickness...the same goes for the back as too.

Plus 5 today so that ain't going to help either and warm temps this week too.

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Sorry for pic being sideways...some just do that:sign0176:

Warm weather all week stay off the ice

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Thanks for the update!! Definitely need some cold weather to come in and create a solid foundation.

Any chance you know the conditions at the cold lake provincial? Heard today the main lake is all water, with this war, weather I’m thinking pretty hard about doing a day out there in the boat mid to late next week if the weather holds.

Ice is starting to form around the shore lines but with this warmth you should be ok.....now watch you come out and we freeze up more....I know at French bay towards the more open water there was about 10 feet of shoreline ice not sure how thick though...trailer on the boats might be able to move it....maybe....or just wait a bit and bring a sled/quad and enjoy some ice fishing:)

Tell ya what let me know when you are going to head out and I will head down to the launch and give you a accurate update.

We’ll likely come Thursday morning for 2 days. I think the best launch would be cold lake provincial as the sun hits it all day long.

I have a side by side and ice fish up there a bunch but would always rather be in my boat.

Thanks for the update offer

Ok will give all a update Wednesday ...

Little bits of floating ice on Center bay at provincial park last Wednesday. But the warm weather the past few day took care of that.

Earliest it’s froze past few years was Dec 15 last year. Generally it has froze by Christmas Day. Plus temps forecast the week of the 10th. I think we will be lucky if we are on it before New Years.

As feared. Thanks for the update.

Calm night -11 but wind up now. Small skim of ice in front of Marina now broke up and floating around. She’s trying.

Just put the boat batteries on charge. Very much looking forward to this update on the boat launch! Thanks in advance

Will check tomorrow but if you need an update I can check today if your going to be here sooner....+2 right now so ya might be lucky.

Friday would be the day for us. Tomorrow or even Thursday would be great. Thanks so much for the intel.

The Marina launch is froze over but may break with the plus temps. It was super windy last night any ice should be broke up.

still frozen over....

so the provincial boat launch is good to go...open water but there is a slight ridge right at the water line that you might have to chip away at a bit...it is about a foot in height.

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sorry for the side way pics...cant figure out why but you get the jest...

lots of open water in the big body parts...back bays are covered over with ice and a layer of snow too...


I know this doesn't pertain to Cold Lake but Little Bear had a few trucks on it and Ethel has people walking only to date...seen sled marks though near shore.

good luck and let us know how the trip went...ohhh dead calm and saw no other boats out there...the lake is all yours:sHa_shakeshout:

Well this is very exciting !!

Looking forward to more details !

This is amazing information. Thanks for the detailed update. Anybody have any idea where open water lake trout hang out in December?

in the lake....:sHa_sarcasticlol:

the usual haunts will produce....find the shelves were bait fish are and the lakers will be there picking them off....garnet, over by the island, in between the two points in front of the ski hill etc heck just launch head off hsore a hundred yards, drop lines and troll towards garnet area...depth will depend on what your fish finder is indicating where the bait is....good luck.