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11-19-2018, 10:50 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,520
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Spray Lake thread
So everyone this season will be my second time fishing spray lakes. I did last year and hooked up about 8 times in 45' of water off a sunken island. I got out there and lost my medium action rod, so I was fishing with my backup UL rod... and lost every one I hooked because I didn't have the power. It seemed to be all lakers though...
Im going back when the ice freezes up over Christmas. How come people fish deep on this lake? For the veterans of spray lake, why do you go so deep? Do you look for structure? Ive watched the videos on youtube, and they say to "go deep" but no one has an explanation for why.
Obviously I dont want spots I'm just looking for some tips on what part of the lake to hit up next. I was thinking the far south end...
Thanks in advance!
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11-19-2018, 10:57 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South West Alberta and K-Country
Posts: 421
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Sounds like you have found a good spot, especially for spray, I’d stick with it... use smaller stronger hooks and you can land them on an UL no problem.
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11-19-2018, 10:59 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 7,544
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I'm not an expert by any means, but a few years ago I started to ice fish Spray, and after a few mostly unsuccessful trips, I bought a flasher. My fishing success went up as you might expect, but I've noticed that just about all the fish we mark come up from the bottom, and more often than not in 80' of water or deeper. Not always, but I'd say 80% or more come from deep water from my own personal and limited observations. Disclaimer - I'm talking about lakers, not whitefish.
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11-19-2018, 11:41 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South West Alberta and K-Country
Posts: 421
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott N
I'm not an expert by any means, but a few years ago I started to ice fish Spray, and after a few mostly unsuccessful trips, I bought a flasher. My fishing success went up as you might expect, but I've noticed that just about all the fish we mark come up from the bottom, and more often than not in 80' of water or deeper. Not always, but I'd say 80% or more come from deep water from my own personal and limited observations. Disclaimer - I'm talking about lakers, not whitefish.
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I was in a similar boat and have the same observations.
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11-19-2018, 04:51 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,520
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Thanks for the tips guys. I wonder why the lakers are generally deeper.. makes a guy wonder
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11-19-2018, 05:23 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Calgary SW
Posts: 332
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My father in law thinks it’s for the following reasons:
Eyes are on top of their head and they naturally look up, so easier to suspend below with little movement and look up.
Easier to swim up then down, and better ambush position. Just like sharks.
Baitfish agsinst the bright ice or sky are easier to see from below.
More oxygen and springs in the deep water. They prefer colder more oxygenated water.
That’s what he told me icefishing one time when I asked.
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11-19-2018, 05:58 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Cochrane
Posts: 739
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott N
I'm not an expert by any means, but a few years ago I started to ice fish Spray, and after a few mostly unsuccessful trips, I bought a flasher. My fishing success went up as you might expect, but I've noticed that just about all the fish we mark come up from the bottom, and more often than not in 80' of water or deeper. Not always, but I'd say 80% or more come from deep water from my own personal and limited observations. Disclaimer - I'm talking about lakers, not whitefish.
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Now that you have a flasher, do you find that the fish take the lure on the way down? Do you think a lot of guys without flashers miss strikes because the lure is so far down and it takes a while for the strike to translate from the line to the rod tip?
Been to spray a few times myself, and find it hard to find the lakers, probably because I don't have electronics, except a camera. I usually switch to whitefish around noon, however, I've caught a few small lakers in 6 FOW while fishing for whites.
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11-19-2018, 06:36 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 7,544
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JReed
Now that you have a flasher, do you find that the fish take the lure on the way down? Do you think a lot of guys without flashers miss strikes because the lure is so far down and it takes a while for the strike to translate from the line to the rod tip?
Been to spray a few times myself, and find it hard to find the lakers, probably because I don't have electronics, except a camera. I usually switch to whitefish around noon, however, I've caught a few small lakers in 6 FOW while fishing for whites.
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I've definitely had fish take the lure (usually a smelt tipped jig) on the way down, but I'm not sure if that's their usual take. I'm not sure how much of a real world difference it makes, but I use a braided line with a swivel and a fluorocarbon leader to avoid my line stretching to any degree. I'm usually not jigging very actively, so I can usually feel most nibbles. I'm using a light weight or ultra lightweight rod / reel with usually 6# braided line and a 4# leader.
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11-20-2018, 02:35 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South West Alberta and K-Country
Posts: 421
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JReed
Now that you have a flasher, do you find that the fish take the lure on the way down? Do you think a lot of guys without flashers miss strikes because the lure is so far down and it takes a while for the strike to translate from the line to the rod tip?
Been to spray a few times myself, and find it hard to find the lakers, probably because I don't have electronics, except a camera. I usually switch to whitefish around noon, however, I've caught a few small lakers in 6 FOW while fishing for whites.
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I’ve always caught lakers out deep always wanted to try for whitefish, do you catch them shallow in sandy areas? The ones I catch fly fishing (lakes and rivers) fall to wire worms more often than not, do you use similar lures when ice fishing them.
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11-20-2018, 04:42 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Cochrane
Posts: 739
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bitterrootfly
I’ve always caught lakers out deep always wanted to try for whitefish, do you catch them shallow in sandy areas? The ones I catch fly fishing (lakes and rivers) fall to wire worms more often than not, do you use similar lures when ice fishing them.
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Yep, shallow(2-4 FOW) with sandy/rocky bottom and a few weeds or structure around. Use sz.14 nymphs (Prince or copper brassies are best) tied in-line with a weight on the bottom. Tipping the nymphs with a pink maggot, or just using a bare sz.14 hook with pink maggot works good too. Rest the weight on the bottom so the line is tight. Gently banging the weight on the bottom every now and then will strike their curiosity. Rockies are a lot dumber than lake whites
Ton of fun if you find a school and you have a shack, you can see all your takes. No shack, just rest the weight on the bottom so the line is tight and clip a bell to your rod.
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11-22-2018, 12:31 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JReed
Yep, shallow(2-4 FOW) with sandy/rocky bottom and a few weeds or structure around. Use sz.14 nymphs (Prince or copper brassies are best) tied in-line with a weight on the bottom. Tipping the nymphs with a pink maggot, or just using a bare sz.14 hook with pink maggot works good too. Rest the weight on the bottom so the line is tight. Gently banging the weight on the bottom every now and then will strike their curiosity. Rockies are a lot dumber than lake whites
Ton of fun if you find a school and you have a shack, you can see all your takes. No shack, just rest the weight on the bottom so the line is tight and clip a bell to your rod.
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sounds like a great technique
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11-20-2018, 11:14 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 19,285
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyTheory
So everyone this season will be my second time fishing spray lakes. I did last year and hooked up about 8 times in 45' of water off a sunken island. I got out there and lost my medium action rod, so I was fishing with my backup UL rod... and lost every one I hooked because I didn't have the power. It seemed to be all lakers though...
Im going back when the ice freezes up over Christmas. How come people fish deep on this lake? For the veterans of spray lake, why do you go so deep? Do you look for structure? Ive watched the videos on youtube, and they say to "go deep" but no one has an explanation for why.
Obviously I dont want spots I'm just looking for some tips on what part of the lake to hit up next. I was thinking the far south end...
Thanks in advance!
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Reservoir with little side structure except for contours and depth changes. I find my best success in the past for lakers at Spray has been 60-80 feet of water off a point.
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12-27-2018, 10:33 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 19,285
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I want to hit Spray on Friday or Saturday.
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12-27-2018, 06:09 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: calgary
Posts: 696
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I am going back out tomorrow. I feel defeated from yesterday. Tomorrow I will be going ultra light running and gunning and trying to hunt down some new locations with the fat bike and trailer.
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12-27-2018, 07:23 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Rocky View County
Posts: 633
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I went out today. Late start, didn’t have a line in the water til 9am which didn’t help the cause. Started in 98ft with nothing, then moved to 75 ft. Fishing in general was very slow. I managed to land 4 before leaving at 1pm, only one of which was worth keeping. First time I’ve ever been at Spray (winter or summer) that there wasn’t a stitch of wind. -17C when I left the truck though. Ice was booming big time, about 14 inches.
Good luck to those heading out this weekend.
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12-27-2018, 07:34 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 19,285
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fwee6
I went out today. Late start, didn’t have a line in the water til 9am which didn’t help the cause. Started in 98ft with nothing, then moved to 75 ft. Fishing in general was very slow. I managed to land 4 before leaving at 1pm, only one of which was worth keeping. First time I’ve ever been at Spray (winter or summer) that there wasn’t a stitch of wind. -17C when I left the truck though. Ice was booming big time, about 14 inches.
Good luck to those heading out this weekend.
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What was working?
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12-27-2018, 08:32 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Rocky View County
Posts: 633
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancefisher
What was working?
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Every bite I had was a result of the flasher -- without it I suspect I would have been skunked. White tube tipped with smelt, otherwise a smaller Swedish Pimple tipped with smelt.
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12-29-2018, 10:43 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Strathmore/Calgary
Posts: 1,017
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Do people drive on ever? I’d imagine the ice doesn’t get any better than there.
Can you access the ranger station? I’m itching to go.
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Theres a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
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12-29-2018, 10:58 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 7,544
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayDoh
Do people drive on ever? I’d imagine the ice doesn’t get any better than there.
Can you access the ranger station? I’m itching to go.
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You definitely are not allowed to drive on the ice there.
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12-29-2018, 11:04 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Strathmore/Calgary
Posts: 1,017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott N
You definitely are not allowed to drive on the ice there.
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10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.
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Theres a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
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12-29-2018, 11:09 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 7,544
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayDoh
10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.
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Yes, you are correct about no motorized vehicles on Spray, although I've had a license check done by someone on a sled before. Motorboats are ok on Spray though.
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12-31-2018, 05:31 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Cochrane
Posts: 739
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayDoh
10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.
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Can’t ice fish National Park waters, Minnewanka is NP.
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12-31-2018, 06:12 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 19,285
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JReed
Can’t ice fish National Park waters, Minnewanka is NP.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayDoh
10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.
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National parks are different.
For Spray Lakes...
Can’t find anything that says you can’t drive on it. However Spray Lake water level can fall and create dangerous cracks as well as difficult icy egress slopes. I personally would never drive on a reservoir used for hydro electric purposes. https://www.transalta.com/facilities...eration/spray/
Didn’t see any cars on it however did see quads. While the lake is long, the road parallels it. Is also narrow so easy to walk across.
Motor boats are allowed on the lake.
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