Cold lake open water season 2024.

[-JR-]

I read a post some where that Sask Regs are out and the keeper size is 65-70cm.. for lakers at Cold lake If the Alberta regs are not out on opening day at cold lake AlbertaRelm should be emailing all Alberta licence holders that they can do the same. Don't you agree ?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by -JR-

I read a post some where that Sask Regs are out and the keeper size is 65-70cm.. for lakers at Cold lake If the Alberta regs are not out on opening day at cold lake AlbertaRelm should be emailing all Alberta licence holders that they can do the same. Don't you agree ?

I believe that until the new regs are out we are to follow the old regs until so.


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[-JR-]

I agree thats what we have to do .

[fish99]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I believe that until the new regs are out we are to follow the old regs until so.


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it does say the regs are the same as sask for cold lake . i would go with the latest regs , which in this case is the task regs. if its good for sask its good for Alberta on cold lake

[JohninAB]

I would follow the Sask regs. Why would you not?

[CBintheNorth]

Originally Posted by JohninAB

I would follow the Sask regs. Why would you not?

If you bought a Saskatchewan license, sure, the new slot applies.

If, however, you are purchasing an Alberta license, you must follow Alberta laws. Those currently state 1 over 75cm.
Stupid, yes, but not very confusing.

From what I'm hearing, the regulations won't be out until mid to late May. Hope they come out before that, but I wouldn't expect it.
Apparently the bios are not happy with what the province is telling them Albertans want to see.

[splake0]

as like in the old days Sask rules on the Sask side Alberta rules on the Alberta side

[58thecat]

Wow the lake is really low this year, back bays have shrunk so will be interesting to see how the spawn went for eyes and gators.

Might have to change up my strategies come may 15.


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[-JR-]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Wow the lake is really low this year, back bays have shrunk so will be interesting to see how the spawn went for eyes and gators.

Might have to change up my strategies come may 15.


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A few of the boat launches will be very hard to launch from also .
The marina and the main provincial will be ok .

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by -JR-

A few of the boat launches will be very hard to launch from .
The marina and the main provincial will be ok .

Yeah crazy low, ice fishing this year I sat on spots marked from other years and was 2-3 feet difference in depth lower.

English bay should be ok too to launch bigger boats.

Hoping for rain so we can enjoy campfires etc.

[-JR-]

Ice might be a week coming off this year with this cooler weather ,but that can all change in a week . There are many people with that old saying best fishing when ice comes off. Its kinda of true just to get you out of the house and on a lake just to try your gear ,thats about it . You might catch 2 or 3 fish, but for the fish to turn on so you start catching a lot of fish ,I find the water needs to get above 60 degree F
At that temp,the bugs hit the water ,minnows start moving around and the bigger fish start feeding more as they can digest their food better just like a snake needs to do before it feeds .
So when the season opens ,its best to fish very shallow bays in a lake or those small trout ponds . This is where I will be at .

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Ice might be a week coming off this year with this cooler weather ,but that can all change in a week . There are many people with that old saying best fishing when ice comes off. Its kinda of true just to get you out of the house and on a lake just to try your gear ,thats about it . You might catch 2 or 3 fish, but for the fish to turn on so you start catching a lot of fish ,I find the water needs to get above 60 degree F
At that temp,the bugs hit the water ,minnows start moving around and the bigger fish start feeding more as they can digest their food better just like a snake needs to do before it feeds .
So when the season opens ,its best to fish very shallow bays in a lake or those small trout ponds . This is where I will be at .

Spot on!
Back bays slay days are just around the corner
Kayaks are all kitted out ready to go.
Gonna be another great open water season.

[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.

[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 ?

[58thecat]

Science classes all over again!




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[mlee]

I like science lol....plus understanding the science usually means more fish in the boat.
On a lighter note...might be on the big lake tomorrow for some pre tournament scouting.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by mlee

I like science lol....plus understanding the science usually means more fish in the boat.
On a lighter note...might be on the big lake tomorrow for some pre tournament scouting.

Dam wind blew me and my kayak off the lake today.

Out tomorrow for another go.

Hopefully French bay tomorrow if you’re out that way stop by and say hi!

Hopefully the wind is better for a small yak!

Catch’em up and good luck!!!!


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