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  #1  
Old 11-15-2023, 11:51 AM
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Default Cold Lake 2023/24 Hard Water Season.



Not yet but soon enough and I can’t wait!!!!
Back bays are iced over but this warm weather got me thinking if we don’t get a good drop in temperature I might get the kayak out!

Ice fishing gear is all ready just need good safe ice.
Be safe out there this season folks no fish is worth a life.
Will keep updating on what I see.



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Old 11-16-2023, 10:56 AM
AlbertanGP AlbertanGP is offline
 
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Best thread of the hardwater season every year. Let's Goooooo....
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  #3  
Old 11-17-2023, 08:44 AM
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Dam back bays were slowly freezing but warmer temps kicked in

Got a freezer full of venison pepperoni just waiting to be consumed while ice fishing just need hard water.

Or I might need to venture north....way north
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Old 11-17-2023, 08:51 AM
Curtsyneil Curtsyneil is offline
 
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Well don’t wait till hard ice to snack on some of that pepperoni!!!
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Old 11-17-2023, 09:34 AM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Wooot! I like what I'm seeing for long term forecast. Change is coming for Wednesday. Looks to be near -20s overnight. The ice will be back soon
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  #6  
Old 11-19-2023, 07:15 PM
Egymcara Egymcara is offline
 
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Made it out on the boat today for a few hours in front of the marina. I forgot how much fun lake trout fishing was! Action was pretty constant and it was enough to satisfy the "itch" until we get some ice ! Looking forward to this thread for the 2024 season.

Cheers
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  #7  
Old 11-20-2023, 08:27 AM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Originally Posted by SNAPFisher View Post
Wooot! I like what I'm seeing for long term forecast. Change is coming for Wednesday. Looks to be near -20s overnight. The ice will be back soon
And it flip flopped again . It looks to be colder but still above normal. It will be a slow start this year on the major lakes.
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  #8  
Old 11-23-2023, 02:45 PM
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Can hardly wait!!!


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  #9  
Old 11-23-2023, 09:16 PM
FearNoFish FearNoFish is offline
 
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Default Boat launch still open

Hey Guys
Fished pigeon last Saturday and the launch was wide open and the walleye were hungry. Before I burn four hours of gas and hit cold this weekend, just want to check that the provincial launch is still ice free and open.
Thanks
Brandon
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  #10  
Old 11-24-2023, 08:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FearNoFish View Post
Hey Guys
Fished pigeon last Saturday and the launch was wide open and the walleye were hungry. Before I burn four hours of gas and hit cold this weekend, just want to check that the provincial launch is still ice free and open.
Thanks
Brandon
Your good to go....catch'em up!!!!
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  #11  
Old 11-30-2023, 03:34 PM
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Well went out to the big lake, lots of geese no ice

So went around and found good ice on smaller lakes so gonna scratch the itch tomorrow.

Gotta do something


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Old 11-30-2023, 04:27 PM
Elchinodiablo Elchinodiablo is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 58thecat View Post
Well went out to the big lake, lots of geese no ice

So went around and found good ice on smaller lakes so gonna scratch the itch tomorrow.

Gotta do something


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Thats not the post I wanted to hear from you!!

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  #13  
Old 12-05-2023, 09:34 PM
Wapiti340 Wapiti340 is offline
 
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Well…. How’s the shorelines looking? It’s funny once you get into laker fishing your praying for cold weather… I’d love a nice 2 week cold snap of -30. Are people still launching boats?
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  #14  
Old 12-06-2023, 01:11 AM
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Well…. How’s the shorelines looking? It’s funny once you get into laker fishing your praying for cold weather… I’d love a nice 2 week cold snap of -30. Are people still launching boats?
Back bays are ice covered, main body of water open, boats are still going out, seen a few kayakers too....crazy warm still.

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Old 12-08-2023, 06:48 AM
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Tic....toc...tic...toc....




-10 ain’t gonna cut it....come on -30....
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Old 12-05-2023, 09:51 PM
Frank_NK28 Frank_NK28 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 58thecat View Post
Well went out to the big lake, lots of geese no ice

So went around and found good ice on smaller lakes so gonna scratch the itch tomorrow.

Gotta do something


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Push those geese this way will you. I could go for another goose shoot before ice fishing starts!
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  #17  
Old 12-12-2023, 01:45 PM
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Pictures taken from French bay MD campground boat launch looking out into French bay.
Ice is slowly making its way out to the big water.
Generally speaking French bay freezes over and has good safe ice quicker than the rest of the lake.
-17 last night but warmer temps are forecasted so it looks like a long wait for the lake to freeze over.

Kinda like waiting for a Xmas that won’t happen.


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Old 12-12-2023, 02:08 PM
AlbertanGP AlbertanGP is offline
 
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Still trying to figure out if I'm going to be able to fish Cold Lake on my way back from northern Saskatchewan around January 10th. Might just have to slum it at Peerless or Bistcho instead.
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  #19  
Old 12-12-2023, 04:28 PM
hamster hamster is offline
 
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Same here I'm usually at Cold lake first weekend of Jan concerned that's not going to happen this year 😕
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  #20  
Old 12-13-2023, 06:35 AM
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Also can’t believe how low the lake is too....we need a deep freeze to make good safe ice and then a good dump of snow over and over plus a wet spring.

These little lakes are fun but pulling up lakers is the bestest....
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  #21  
Old 12-14-2023, 08:27 AM
RDFisher RDFisher is offline
 
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Definitely not your imagination on the low water levels. From Water Survey of Canada:



There are some large water license users that draw from Cold Lake. My bet is that they've had to turn off their pumps or will be having to very soon.

Would love to get up to Cold Lake and do some lake trout fishing. Haven't been, but as an Albertan, it's on my bucket list!
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  #22  
Old 02-02-2024, 11:16 AM
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Hey guys, Im looking to get into cold lake tonight around 9.
Id like to drive out from the PP launch, and set up the tent tonight.

Couple questions- Any heaves that way that I wont see in the dark?
Is there a good trail on the ice from the launch that i could follow?

Thanks for any input!
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  #23  
Old 12-19-2023, 09:47 PM
FearNoFish FearNoFish is offline
 
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Default Any ice fishing yet?

Anybody have the latest ? Are we ice fishing over the holidays?
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  #24  
Old 12-20-2023, 06:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FearNoFish View Post
Anybody have the latest ? Are we ice fishing over the holidays?
Nope, unless you bring a boat or cast from shore, could be wrong if the weather dips to -20 or colder for a few weeks but that’s not in the forecast.....I am thinking mid January ish.....maybe
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Old 12-20-2023, 08:01 AM
AlbertanGP AlbertanGP is offline
 
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I have around 20 locations in western Canada saved in my Weather Network app I check every morning, and the only place consistently cold in all of Alberta is High Level. Even Peerless Lake hasn't been that cold yet.

At least the shallower lakes are still making ice with the lack of snow. Sucks for the deep ones though.
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  #26  
Old 12-20-2023, 09:10 AM
ragweed ragweed is offline
 
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Thanks for the continual updates folks. It makes a huge difference for us who have to plan ahead.


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  #27  
Old 12-20-2023, 08:44 PM
FearNoFish FearNoFish is offline
 
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Agreed. It’s hours of driving and liters of gas. You guys rock.
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  #28  
Old 12-21-2023, 06:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FearNoFish View Post
Agreed. It’s hours of driving and liters of gas. You guys rock.
I feel for people wanting to go out on an adventure, make plans, book days off, meals, gas and travel all adds up real quick so I figure a little help along the way especially from a local can make the trip that much more enjoyable.

Last year I fished from Manitoba all the way to Vancouver island. Zig zagging the provinces and I sure did appreciate members on this forum for all the great assistance along the way

Gonna take a drive today and check on the big lake maybe toss a few spoons from shore.
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  #29  
Old 12-20-2023, 12:56 PM
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Sitting on 16 inches of ice catching trout, not lakers and that’s not the island on Cold Lake.

But it scratches the ice hole itch.



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  #30  
Old 12-20-2023, 05:08 PM
Egymcara Egymcara is offline
 
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Looking back on photos from last year... I had my tent set up on French Bay Dec.10 catching lakers. What a difference from year to year.
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