2020/2021 Cold Lake Ice and Fishing Reports

[lromanchuk]

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.

[Binati]

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.

[coldlaketackleshack]

Originally Posted by lromanchuk

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.

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

[lromanchuk]

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

[58thecat]

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

[lromanchuk]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

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

Can I talk Lake Trout now???

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by lromanchuk

Can I talk Lake Trout now???

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

[35 whelen]

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

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[lromanchuk]

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!!!

[Cold lake guy]

Anyone looked at French bay?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Cold lake guy

Anyone looked at French bay?

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

[58thecat]

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.

image.jpg

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

[lromanchuk]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

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.

Attachment 169066

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

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

[Willowtrail]

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.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Willowtrail

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.

[Willowtrail]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

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

[35 whelen]

Warm weather all week stay off the ice

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[SamSteele]

I’ll post a few up for Willowtrail from today.







SS


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[lromanchuk]

Originally Posted by SamSteele

I’ll post a few up for Willowtrail from today.







SS


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Nice work!!

[58thecat]

Hmmmm your fishing right where I want to drill future holes....leave some for me

[35 whelen]

Do we need an extension yet

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[Jims83cj5]

Were they deep?

[Willowtrail]

Originally Posted by Jims83cj5

Were they deep?

Both days I found them at around 65-70’ so I hit the anchor button and started there. Thursday I only moved once and only about 50’ to get to 78’ deep and 2 of us landed 42 and lost and missed at least that many.

Friday we picked up a mate on shore and went to the same spot. I didn’t even hit the bottom and bam, fish on, followed by the other 2 hooking up as well, triple header 30 seconds into the day.

I wasn’t able to charge my bow mount batteries Thursday night and sadly they died around 130. We started trolling and got some more fish but smaller size.

Day 2 was in the 50’s for fish landed. Some of us kept forgetting to hit the clicker and therefore were guessing but there were 48 on the clickers and likely 10 more.

Overall, close to 100 lakers in 2 days and under 5 hours fishing each day. Was an epic couple of days.

Boat launch is perfect now and the concrete ribs are even melting in the daytime sun now that we got some sand from the tires and water running on them. Pulling the boat up and out was no issue and the ice around the rocks at the launch help to get the truck driver into the boat with no docks.

[-JR-]

You know I have to ask ....any thing Big ?

[Captainkip]

Sounds like a good trip. Pretty standard for a few days on this lake. Usual catch is about 15 -20 per hour.

This lake needs some variety. I’d like to see Kokanee and Small Mouth in this lake. My chat with the fisheries biologist has confirmed this will never happen though. Who else would be interested in such opportunities in this lake?

[Jims83cj5]

Originally Posted by Willowtrail

Both days I found them at around 65-70’ so I hit the anchor button and started there. Thursday I only moved once and only about 50’ to get to 78’ deep and 2 of us landed 42 and lost and missed at least that many.

Friday we picked up a mate on shore and went to the same spot. I didn’t even hit the bottom and bam, fish on, followed by the other 2 hooking up as well, triple header 30 seconds into the day.

I wasn’t able to charge my bow mount batteries Thursday night and sadly they died around 130. We started trolling and got some more fish but smaller size.

Day 2 was in the 50’s for fish landed. Some of us kept forgetting to hit the clicker and therefore were guessing but there were 48 on the clickers and likely 10 more.

Overall, close to 100 lakers in 2 days and under 5 hours fishing each day. Was an epic couple of days.

Boat launch is perfect now and the concrete ribs are even melting in the daytime sun now that we got some sand from the tires and water running on them. Pulling the boat up and out was no issue and the ice around the rocks at the launch help to get the truck driver into the boat with no docks.

Thx for the detailed response, so glad you guys had a great trip

[58thecat]

What type of jigs were you using?

[35 whelen]

Lead

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[Duramaximos]

Any ice thickness reports for Travers, Badger, McGreggor?

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[Captainkip]

She tried hard to freeze last night but still a lot of open water out deep. The wind in the next few days will take its toll on any new ice from the past 24 hours. It’s already breaking the new ice in front of the Marina.