Official Lake Sundance Calgary Perch fishing bonking club

Sundancefisher · #1 01-20-2018, 11:00 AM

I keep fielding posts and questions on Lake Sundance. There are also other members on the forum from the community.

Lake Facts:

There are 9 man made lake communities with sport fishing options. Bonavista, Bonaventure, Arbour, Chaparral, Sundance, Midnapore, McKenzie, Auburn, Heritage.
Lake Sundance was constructed in 1980 and consists of a 33 acre (13.2 hectare) man made lake and a 22 acre (8.9 hectare) park.
As the lake is manmade there is no inlet or outlet stream with no chance of emigration or immigration of fishes.
The lake has become more eutrophic over the years with an increase in nutrients coming from both man made fertilizers from lawn run off and a
lso birds such as Canada Geese.
There is open water fishing for about 7-8 months (April –November) of the year and ice fishing for approximately 2 months (January –Feb) of the year.
Ice came off the lake on April 30, 2009 and April 7, 2010, April 23, 2013, April 24, 2014, March 31, 2015, March 28, 2016, April 20, 2017.
Lake froze over November 19, 2010, November 16, 2011, November 15, 2012, November 14, 2014, and November 26, 2016
Lake Sundance has an average depth of about 22 feet or 6.7 meters and has no natural inflow or outflow or natural springs.
Water levels are controlled and topped off yearly if required using a water well drilled in 2011 or city water. Prior to that, water was only purchased from the City of Calgary.
Summer activities on the lake include boating, swimming and fishing. Winter activities include skating, fishing and cross country skiing.
Off lake activities include skating and tobogganing in the winter and beach activities, playground activities, tennis, basketball, road hockey and picnics in the summer.
The volume of water in this lake would be approximately 800,000 m3 to 830,000 m3 depending upon the water level and time of year.
Currently we have rainbow trout as well as brown trout, brook trout and grass carp which are all currently catch and release.
There are illegally introduced yellow perch in the lake which have stunted due to over population. As these perch out compete our stocked trout for natural food we strongly encourage everyone to catch as many as possible. All caught perch must be killed. Brown trout and brook trout will eat small perch whereas rainbow trout will not. Grass carp feed on the aquatic plants
in the lake.
Community Facts:
Lake Sundance falls within the Sundance Lake Community boundary sandwiched on the west by MacLeod Trail and the east by Fish Creek Provincial Park. The north boundary is Midnapore community and the south is highway 22 X.
Lake Sundance sits at an elevation of 3411 ft above sea level and the coordinates at the center of the lake is approximately 50o 54 ‘ 05.74” N by 114o 02’ 2.30” W (Google Earth, 2007).

Residents can bring up to guests in to fish at a time. I and others have brought in many guests over the years. Fun times sitting on the ice bonking perch and casting in the summer for trout. Many times I personally just head out to fish...way better than watching fishing on TV. If interested...PM a local resident.

I and others will post fishing updates here as to what is happen fish wise. What is biting. What they are biting on. Hopefully other residents will also chime in with their updates.

Cheers

Sun

The Spank · #2 01-20-2018, 11:19 AM

I can recall fishing rainbows in one of the community man made lakes in the summer of ‘81 as a guest of a friend. I just can’t recall which?

Sundancefisher · #3 01-20-2018, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spank

I can recall fishing rainbows in one of the community man made lakes in the summer of ‘81 as a guest of a friend. I just can’t recall which?

bonavista was the first. Likely there. Was there houses all around the lake? 1994 was when the last lake home state in Sundance were built.

The Spank · #4 01-20-2018, 12:12 PM

Yes there was and if I recall some kind of a community centre or complex? It was a long time ago. I was 17, memory is a bit dim. Working that summer in Calgary is a bit of a blurr from cramming so much into such a short span of time. Lol

Sundancefisher · #5 01-20-2018, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spank

Yes there was and if I recall some kind of a community centre or complex? It was a long time ago. I was 17, memory is a bit dim. Working that summer in Calgary is a bit of a blurr from cramming so much into such a short span of time. Lol

Must of been Bonavista then. Maybe Midnapore.

The Spank · #6 01-20-2018, 02:28 PM

I googled both and checked out the locations and images. Definitely Midnapore. I was able to recognize a few buildings and an area of the lake from online images. It was pretty new when I was there and reading up on it the development time (1977) being as new as it was would coincide with my time there (1981).
Thanks for that!!

Sundancefisher · #7 02-02-2018, 10:11 PM

Going to be a cold snowy weekend on the lake.

Habfan · #8 02-03-2018, 05:38 AM

Sundance, you should try pickled fish ! If you fillet the meat off, then follow a pickled fish recipe off of the internet, the vinegar dissolves the bones. Perch is very tasty pickled.

Sundancefisher · #9 02-03-2018, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habfan

Sundance, you should try pickled fish ! If you fillet the meat off, then follow a pickled fish recipe off of the internet, the vinegar dissolves the bones. Perch is very tasty pickled.

How about you come out..catch a hundred...take a few hundred more...take them home and pickle then pop out to get hundreds more ...we eat some...and repeat?

Habfan · #10 02-03-2018, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

How about you come out..catch a hundred...take a few hundred more...take them home and pickle then pop out to get hundreds more ...we eat some...and repeat?

Ok ! I’m in McKenzie Lake. I can return the invite, but for Rainbows instead. I’ll pm you when it warms up.

Sundancefisher · #11 02-03-2018, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habfan

Ok ! I’m in McKenzie Lake. I can return the invite, but for Rainbows instead. I’ll pm you when it warms up.

Sounds like a plan

vcmm · #12 01-09-2020, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

How about you come out..catch a hundred...take a few hundred more...take them home and pickle then pop out to get hundreds more ...we eat some...and repeat?

Heck my wife and I would love to catch them. She would be the best fisher person of us two. My health slows me down.

Sundancefisher · #13 01-09-2020, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcmm

Heck my wife and I would love to catch them. She would be the best fisher person of us two. My health slows me down.

Happily take folks out. Problem is we would need a tent until I feel better or the weather warms

Dewey Cox · #14 03-17-2018, 01:55 PM

What’s a marmish rod?

millsboy79 · #15 03-17-2018, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

What’s a marmish rod?

Questions like that are best answered by Google or YouTube

Coiloil37 · #16 03-17-2018, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

What’s a marmish rod?

HowSwedeItIs · #17 03-17-2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

What’s a marmish rod?

A brand of palm/hand rod from out of Edmonton, it has a spring bobber that is adjustable based on the weight of the lure. You can fish tiny presentations on them, they sell a whole range of small jigs under the marmish name. Bought a couple of them a few years ago, never really used them as I fish deeper water than they are really handy for but I like the idea

Dewey Cox · #18 03-17-2018, 02:12 PM

Yeah, a fishing forum is a really stupid place to ask about stuff like that.

millsboy79 · #19 03-17-2018, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Yeah, a fishing forum is a really stupid place to ask about stuff like that.

Didn't say it was a stupid place ... just said there were better.

Dewey Cox · #20 03-17-2018, 05:06 PM

Thanks for the info guys.

Sundancefisher · #21 03-17-2018, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Thanks for the info guys.

Can't beat the palm rod for perch.

Sundancefisher · #22 12-31-2018, 09:39 AM

Sweet. Ice fishing is now open. Thinking of a perch bonking frenzy tomorrow Jan 1. PM me if interested in coming out.

Let me know if you want to keep all the perch you can, selectively take the biggest or take none. I have a buddy who will take any he can to feed to his dogs frozen whole.

Cheers

Sun

Moosetalker · #23 12-31-2018, 03:20 PM

Could probably let them freeze and run em through a big grinder like a bear outfitter friend did with whole beaver refrozen would make awesome fish meal.

Sundancefisher · #24 12-31-2018, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moosetalker

Could probably let them freeze and run em through a big grinder like a bear outfitter friend did with whole beaver refrozen would make awesome fish meal.

They do taste good. Just at 6, 7, 8 inch they are a bit to clean.

Can't use whole perch as bear bait unfortunately. Against regs.

Caught a number today however they were very fickle. Needed a very small jig fished still 2 inches from bottom.

Hopefully with the warm weather tomorrow they will be more aggressive.

potatogun · #25 12-31-2018, 06:04 PM

Chaparral is also infested with perch now. We have been killing hundreds dauly

1Heavyhitr · #26 12-31-2018, 10:18 PM

Wish somebody would start illegally dumping perch into lakes around Edmonton! Anybody want to bring me a cooler or 2 full from Calgary lol I'd pay a few bucks for it! Heck, I'd even drive an hr south to meet you!

Just4hugh · #27 01-21-2020, 02:43 PM

Hi,

I'd be interested in helping out in the derby. If anyone is willing to take me on.

Thanks!

Sundancefisher · #28 01-22-2020, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just4hugh

Hi,

I'd be interested in helping out in the derby. If anyone is willing to take me on.

Thanks!

Will get you out some time soon. My guest spots are full for the derby with kids friends.

Today’s fishing was more challenging. Needed to drill a bunch of holes to find some willing perch. Still finished the day off with 6 perch of which 4 were 8 inch and 2 were 9 inch.

I say they look like monsters compare to the past 5 inches days.

Just4hugh · #29 01-22-2020, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

Will get you out some time soon. My guest spots are full for the derby with kids friends.

Today’s fishing was more challenging. Needed to drill a bunch of holes to find some willing perch. Still finished the day off with 6 perch of which 4 were 8 inch and 2 were 9 inch.

I say they look like monsters compare to the past 5 inches days.

Looking forward to it.

goku88 · #30 01-22-2020, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

Will get you out some time soon. My guest spots are full for the derby with kids friends.

Today’s fishing was more challenging. Needed to drill a bunch of holes to find some willing perch. Still finished the day off with 6 perch of which 4 were 8 inch and 2 were 9 inch.

I say they look like monsters compare to the past 5 inches days.

Sundance I think it has to do with nice weather no fish or not as eager bites. but if we just had that cold snap a warm trend coming they bite at anything. happy to hear your doing so much fishing. I thought I'm the only guy smiling alot when fishing