Cold lake open water season 2024.

[-JR-]

I wish the provincial camp grounds would build a boat launch area just for smaller roof top boats in that bay .It would be so safe for them getting off the water if the wind picks up in the main lake . I was caught in there once in my big boat when it got windy . When the waves hit that sand bar ,you could see the sand sticking out between the waves . It took along time to get out of there as the 2 ft waves were pushing us back in because we could not have the engine leg down lower than the haul. If we don't get any run off or rain this year that sand bar will be above the water level and it will just become a slew and fish will not be able to go in or out .

[58thecat]

Back bays are open but super low.
This is MD campground at French bay.
Basically a place to launch kayaks, canoes and small tin boats this year unless we get a lot of rain.


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[CBintheNorth]

Oh good, maybe now they can yank out that old concrete launch that served no purpose except to remove the skeg from your boat motor.

That is crazy low. Haven't seen it that low in the last 20 years.

[rasbok]

This would make to much sense.

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

Oh good, maybe now they can yank out that old concrete launch that served no purpose except to remove the skeg from your boat motor.

That is crazy low. Haven't seen it that low in the last 20 years.

[-JR-]

Would make sense to pull them out and move them into the water ,or better yet just add more into the water after they dig it it out .

What does not make sense is all these little towns and cities around the lakes in Alberta, would want people to come to there lakes to fish because its good for their economy . You would would think they would make all the boat launches safe and user friendly.

[CBintheNorth]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Would make sense to pull them out and move them into the water ,or better yet just add more into the water after they dig it it out .

What does not make sense is all these little towns and cities around the lakes in Alberta, would want people to come to there lakes to fish because its good for their economy . You would would think they would make all the boat launches safe and user friendly.

What makes even less sense is that Cold Lake is now supplying Bonnyville, Ardmore, Fory Kent, St Paul, and others via a 24" pipeline, and then the water treatment plant that services those places dumps into the Beaver River; a totally different water shed.
They should have mandated a 2nd 'return line' be put in at the same time.

[Bob A]

With the rain, the measuring stick at the marina indicates the water has come up about 2”. Still a foot and a bit below last year.

[CBintheNorth]

Originally Posted by Bob A

With the rain, the measuring stick at the marina indicates the water has come up about 2”. Still a foot and a bit below last year.

And over 30" below the average.
Only usable launches will be the PP and the marina.
The beaches will be great though.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

And over 30" below the average.
Only usable launches will be the PP and the marina.
The beaches will be great though.

English bay provincial park launch too will be ok.


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[-JR-]

Cold lake Marina cam shows ice is off of Cold lake this morning . May 11

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Cold lake Marina cam shows ice is off of Cold lake this morning . May 11

Just getting pushed around by the wind is all.


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[58thecat]

Got out yesterday on the last bit of ice.


Don’t put your feet in the water the lakers are hungry!


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[-JR-]

Well ! Did you catch anything ?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Well ! Did you catch anything ?

You bet, landed 10, lost a bunch farting around in the kayak getting use to the new boat but that’s fishing!


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[-JR-]

10 pike or 10 walleye ?

[58thecat]

First outing was for lakers!




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[58thecat]

Wow another great day on the water, well sort of, on the water 0930hrs and by 0945hrs had my first laker.
Very calm out, cool temps which was good for continually peddling as I was trolling.
Fish were aggressive 80-130fow picking them off so left French bay to go out to garnet area then the wind picked up 29 km gusting to 40 km from the north.
Well it was go time, secured everything and had a very interesting ride back to the boat launch in French bay.
3 footers were the norm and well the kayak handled them but wouldn’t recommend the ride!

Another 6hrs well 5hrs of fun catching then the 1hr of holy crap.
Kept the kayak at around 4mph and occasionally would get on top of a wave that was breaking and peddle fast to get a boost of speed and stay on top which was fun bumping the speed up to 5km.
Sleep came easily last night!



New decals came in so added some bling!

A small change in colour made a huge difference as I was marking them but no takers so this little gem was the ticket!

Was going to go for pike with this beauty but my pliers went bloop, bloop, bloop. Yup the only item not secured to the kayak.

Always an adventure on the big lake!


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[slabm7]

My son and I are looking at coming to Cold Lake for 5 days in mid June to do some camping and fishing. Just doing some reading and research and I think I’d prefer to stay at English Bay based on what I read about vandalism at the Cold Lake PP boat launch. How is the English Bay boat launch with the lower water levels? Looking for a quiet campground with a boat launch. I’ll be launching and loading solo as my son is still too young to drive. Looking just to have some fires, catch a couple fish and enjoy some quiet time.

Or I’d take any other recommendations for different lakes. I also debated touchwood but my son is hell bent on catching spring Lakers.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by slabm7

My son and I are looking at coming to Cold Lake for 5 days in mid June to do some camping and fishing. Just doing some reading and research and I think I’d prefer to stay at English Bay based on what I read about vandalism at the Cold Lake PP boat launch. How is the English Bay boat launch with the lower water levels? Looking for a quiet campground with a boat launch. I’ll be launching and loading solo as my son is still too young to drive. Looking just to have some fires, catch a couple fish and enjoy some quiet time.

Or I’d take any other recommendations for different lakes. I also debated touchwood but my son is hell bent on catching spring Lakers.

English bay launch is good, as for quite well it depends as it’s a rather large campground, from there you can hit up Marie or Ethel lake too.
Great Lake for a kid to catch lots of pike, perch, eyes and burbot too.


You could also stay at the MD campground at Ethel lake and is only a ten minute drive to English bay if lakers is your quest.

Good luck


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[slabm7]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

English bay launch is good, as for quite well it depends as it’s a rather large campground, from there you can hit up Marie or Ethel lake too.
Great Lake for a kid to catch lots of pike, perch, eyes and burbot too.


You could also stay at the MD campground at Ethel lake and is only a ten minute drive to English bay if lakers is your quest.

Good luck


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Thanks for the tips! I didn’t even think about smaller lakes in the area.

I would like a power site. That would be my biggest draw to the PP. Solely for the reason the charge trolling motor batteries. I don’t want to disturb people with a generator.

[-JR-]

Any one know the water temperature off your sonar when your in 100 feet of water or deeper ?

[mlee]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Any one know the water temperature off your sonar when your in 100 feet of water or deeper ?

There will be no thermocline yet. I wouldn't expect more than about 50-55* surface temps

[wildalberta]

I have not seen english bay launch yet but i can say last year it was not good for my 20 foot boat. Very shallow and took some effort to avoid swamping my truck while getting the boat off the trailer. If levels are lower this year already then i will not even be attempting it. A smaller boat on a roller trailer should be fine.

[-JR-]

It was shallow around 2 ft at the end of the dock .but i thing the year before it was only 1.5 ft at the end of the dock if not shallower

[-JR-]

Originally Posted by mlee

There will be no thermocline yet. I wouldn't expect more than about 50-55* surface temps

Not to sure about that .. i would think the water on top is colder because of the ice . Normally mid june it will sink and warm water will come up or should we say it just mixes for awhile .

Wish i had a way of measuring the temp way down there .

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by wildalberta

I have not seen english bay launch yet but i can say last year it was not good for my 20 foot boat. Very shallow and took some effort to avoid swamping my truck while getting the boat off the trailer. If levels are lower this year already then i will not even be attempting it. A smaller boat on a roller trailer should be fine.

At the launch right now and yup it is shallow, only a few feet for a long distance so bigger boats will more than likely have issues getting off/on the trailer without backing way out and then your into a soft bottom.

Water level has increased but I don’t think this season the level will go up too much unless we get a lot of rain and I mean a lot.


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[mlee]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Not to sure about that .. i would think the water on top is colder because of the ice . Normally mid june it will sink and warm water will come up or should we say it just mixes for awhile .

Wish i had a way of measuring the temp way down there .

Your thinking backwards. Surface temp will always be the warmest water....doesn't matter what time of year. That's high school science.

[BigPapaBear]

High school science says water is its densest at 4 degrees C, and therefore sinks to the bottom. In the winter under the ice your warmest water will be at the bottom.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by BigPapaBear

High school science says water is its densest at 4 degrees C, and therefore sinks to the bottom. In the winter under the ice your warmest water will be at the bottom.

Mostly correct....after freeze up the entire water column is 4C in the winter except directly below the ice which will actually be slightly warmer due to the energy release of the ice forming at the surface. Again....high school science.

[-JR-]

Originally Posted by mlee

Mostly correct....after freeze up the entire water column is 4C in the winter except directly below the ice which will actually be slightly warmer due to the energy release of the ice forming at the surface. Again....high school science.

If I take a large glass of water and place 4 cubes of ice on top .
Where is it the coldest ?