Lake Athabasca Ice Fishing Trip

RavYak · #1 02-08-2016, 09:57 PM

Fishing buddy and I are seriously pondering a trip to Lake Athabasca this winter. Even contemplating doing it as soon as next week. So far it is only the 2 of us though and on a trip of that scale it would be nice to have another couple guys if possible in case something goes wrong.

If there is another group of guys thinking of doing this trip or wanting to join send me a message and we can talk.

huntingaddict · #2 02-09-2016, 08:47 AM

Fished it a few times even put a truck in it when I worked in Mac took ice roads up 5 to 6 hr drive watch big trucks they have right of way if.i were you I'd get a plane from fort Mac and use a local guide fort chip cost about 1200 when I did it a few years.ago sask side better fishing for.me anyways

Safety D · #3 02-09-2016, 01:01 PM

Old Fort Bay for massive hens !!!!!!!

madman · #4 02-09-2016, 03:27 PM

Watch out for flood water. Its a long walk back if it swallows your sled up. Hold on tight! They hammer hard!

Mad

RavYak · #5 02-20-2016, 11:18 AM

We couldn't find anyone else to go but decided to go anyways.

First of all this trip is definitely not for the average joe. She is a very big tough lake and it seemed to always be windy with nowhere to hide making everything a struggle. We had -30 windchills pretty much every day and Thursday was a whiteout. With the long snowmobile rides and snowy rough conditions we had multiple equipment failures but worked our way through them. We wanted to go for pike as well but 4 days ended up not being enough time to do so in these conditions.

The fishing was slow at times but in the end we ended up getting a few nice lakers to make the trip worthwhile!

35 whelen · #6 02-20-2016, 11:54 AM

WOW lots of work but very nice lakers great job .

FlyTheory · #7 02-20-2016, 12:02 PM

Nice mutants! Sounds like one hell of and adventure, which in my opinion make the best trips

pikehunter1989 · #8 02-20-2016, 12:11 PM

That's be an awesome trip! How long does it take to get there from Edmonton?

RavYak · #9 02-20-2016, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikehunter1989

That's be an awesome trip! How long does it take to get there from Edmonton?

It took us just over 9 hrs but roads were in pretty good shape so I could see it taking longer on other years with more snow etc.

Pinhead · #10 02-20-2016, 01:59 PM

How far did you drive? To the gate or all the way to Chip? Could it be done in a side by side? I've been up 100k north of the firebag, beautiful country.

Dan

Ps how big we're those lakers? Did you camp on the ice?

Safety D · #11 02-20-2016, 02:11 PM

Any monster northerns? Sounds like to much for a guy like myself. prefer the jeboat ride in !!!!!

Safety D · #12 02-20-2016, 02:19 PM

Oh and how many miles up the coast did you make it?

FisherPotch · #13 02-20-2016, 04:57 PM

Awesome!!! Well done guys!

Lund rebel · #14 02-20-2016, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinhead

How far did you drive? To the gate or all the way to Chip? Could it be done in a side by side? I've been up 100k north of the firebag, beautiful country.

Dan

Ps how big we're those lakers? Did you camp on the ice?

Camped on the ice for 4 nights was cold cold. We do it every weekend so are used to it and have excellent gear but still was a struggle.

Lakers were over 40 inches and 43 inches

More around 35-36 inch mark

And a few around 30 average size would be over 32 inches
Ice road is 159 kms in about 193 kms north of ft hill plant

Not able in side by side we found spots with a few feet of snow.

Hard going with sleds on the parts of the lake

Lund rebel · #15 02-20-2016, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safety D

Oh and how many miles up the coast did you make it?

We stayed on the north shore, ended up about 60 kms from shore or so

Lund rebel · #16 02-20-2016, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safety D

Any monster northerns? Sounds like to much for a guy like myself. prefer the jeboat ride in !!!!!

Nope we fished in 3 fow and only lakers

RavYak · #17 02-20-2016, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safety D

Any monster northerns? Sounds like to much for a guy like myself. prefer the jeboat ride in !!!!!

As mentioned no northerns. We didn't see or catch anything other then trout even though we ended up fishing a lot of shallow water trying to hide from the wind. We were going to go try old fort bay area but with the poor weather and conditions we didn't have enough time.

Safety D · #18 02-21-2016, 06:41 AM

Awesome guys you have nerves of steel doing that trip. I used to guide on Athabasca. Thanks for the great pics and post !!!!

And for all you folk out there Lake Athabasca is NOT DEAD !!!!! LOL

Supergrit · #19 02-21-2016, 10:34 AM

Nice fish looks like a great trip what tent did you sleep in.

TrophyAngler · #20 02-21-2016, 11:56 AM

trip looks awesome. If i had the gear I would have definitely went with you guys!

neilsledder · #21 02-21-2016, 06:10 PM

I got buddies that do it every year. They go in bye sled and camp in a cabin they made with a native guy so it won't get torn down. They catch huge northern pike! But they always seem to forget to ask me to come lol? Looks like you had fun!

Safety D · #22 02-21-2016, 08:22 PM

Bet that's at old fort bay !!!!!! Biggest pike around !!!!

RavYak · #23 02-21-2016, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supergrit

Nice fish looks like a great trip what tent did you sleep in.

We use a 6120i, it is a good tent for overnights.

fishunter77 · #24 02-22-2016, 06:40 AM

Great job guys. Some huge lakers. Quite the adventure.

ken.gee · #25 02-22-2016, 08:02 AM

My fishing partner and I are headed there for a one night (Feb29-Mar1), camp-out fish! We've been there before, and caught a lot of pike at Old Fort Bay, but no Lakers.

If anybody wants to join or share Laker tips or locations, feel free to reply or PM me.

Here are a couple of the monsters we caught.

CK Angler · #26 02-22-2016, 11:40 AM

I've done the trip twice now and have only fished old fort bay for pikes. Camped out over night once, my buddy has gone 3 times, another buddy 4. Only ever managed one surprise lake trout in that area. We're thinking about doing it again this year late March.

Any chance you can Pm some areas worth checking out for lakers?

Safety D · #27 02-22-2016, 01:35 PM

Just north of egg island. Little island looks like an egg just north of the 2 big islands. Lots of massive lakers there. I wonder how many and how big a pike guys get on an average day at old fort bay ?

Bigwoodsman · #28 02-22-2016, 02:08 PM

Great trip. Thanks for sharing.

BW

Pinhead · #29 02-22-2016, 04:52 PM

Can you drive all the to Fort Chip on the winter road. I've only been up to Long lake. Are there fish in Richardson? How would the ice be crossing the Athabasca?

I'm very interested in going.

Dan

RavYak · #30 02-22-2016, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinhead

Can you drive all the to Fort Chip on the winter road. I've only been up to Long lake. Are there fish in Richardson? How would the ice be crossing the Athabasca?

I'm very interested in going.

Dan

Yes you can drive all the way to fort chip. It is a winter road that sees lots of heavy truck traffic, there is a phone number you can call to check conditions as well(find it online). No idea about Richardson.