Author Topic: 2020-2021 Season Ice Report Thread (Read 5304 times)

Walks on Water · « **on:** Nov 05, 2020, 08:38 AM »

In an attempt to get some activity going around here, has anyone seen any ice yet?

It seems like winter has been coming later along the Trunk Road the last few years. November 1 used to be a fairly reliable day to be standing on the early ice around the edge of Peppers and watching the brookies under your feet in 20 inches of water. The last few times I drove out in November though, there was zero ice. I've taken it off my list of potential early ice spots.

After a few weeks of subzero temps, it warmed right up it the central region recently. I was fishing the NSR on Monday and there were even flying insects around. Some of the lakes north of Edmonton, past Athabasca, should be getting close to walkable though.

After a very weird softwater season I'm looking forward to sitting in the tent, relaxing, and watching FishTV either down the hole or on the ol' Aqua-Vu.

SNAPFisher · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 07, 2020, 04:43 PM »

Same. Looking forwards to some cam time and some from above visuals for whites and burbs. Always a different and welcome change

Freakin blizzard out there today. About 10 cm so far or more. Winter is here. Ice will be everywhere soon.

Jackfish44429 · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 09, 2020, 05:11 PM »

-15 last night in Edson area. Hope it starts some decent ice before we get a big dump of insulation......

Tee · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 10, 2020, 10:10 AM »

I had heard that the Hinton locals have been fishing Peppers already. Friend of a friend kinda rumor though. I haven't been before there but wanted to give it a try this year. Maybe tomorrow?

Walks on Water, are you Okatokian?

Walks on Water · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 10, 2020, 08:39 PM »

Quote from: Tee on Nov 10, 2020, 10:10 AM

I had heard that the Hinton locals have been fishing Peppers already. Friend of a friend kinda rumor though. I haven't been before there but wanted to give it a try this year. Maybe tomorrow?

Walks on Water, are you Okatokian?

I am not. But I think I recognize your handle. I may have fished the river out by Fort Sask with you and your dog a bunch of years ago.

Tee · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 11, 2020, 09:00 PM »

Quote from: Walks on Water on Nov 10, 2020, 08:39 PM

I am not. But I think I recognize your handle. I may have fished the river out by Fort Sask with you and your dog a bunch of years ago.

Wow that was YEARS ago but I think we also hit Sylvan hard water one day too. Was it Mike? Or Chris? I don’t recall your name but I recall your camera and you were working a black tailed jig. It was a forum meet. Funny the things you recall.

Cut holes today on Hermitage today. 3” thick good n solid. Some yahoo yelled “that’s not safe” and then drove off.

Here’s some pics because we all love pics.

Walks on Water · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 12, 2020, 09:55 AM »

Quote from: Tee on Nov 11, 2020, 09:00 PM

Wow that was YEARS ago but I think we also hit Sylvan hard water one day too. Was it Mike? Or Chris? I don’t recall your name but I recall your camera and you were working a black tailed jig. It was a forum meet. Funny the things you recall.

Cut holes today on Hermitage today. 3” thick good n solid. Some yahoo yelled “that’s not safe” and then drove off.

Here’s some pics because we all love pics.

Yup, I think you came to our first ever gathering of my tiny little forum, which must have been 12 years or more ago. We ice fished and hit the river a few other times too, iirc. I won't say my name on here for privacy concerns, but Wildman probably calls me something different anyway.

SNAPfisher, who posted on this thread, was also there. It is indeed a small world. I hope you are happy and healthy and still slaying.

Did you have any luck in Hermitage?

Tee · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 12, 2020, 01:10 PM »

No action, just took the daughter out and she mostly wanted to get dragged around on the ice. I really wanted to know if the ice was thick enough and it is. I may try to fish it more this year since they're going to winter kill anyways. Get a few tax trout for the pan.

Zip-in-Z · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 12, 2020, 08:52 PM »

Sylvan - Nov 12th .... first ice looks like a skating rink, some open water out by Sunbreaker, still got a ways to grow for our season opener at 12:01 am on Dec. 11th ....

Cheers

David

Click on the pic to enlarge ... see the Bald Eagles in the last pic ?

Edit: Took these on Nov 25th - 200 paces out, 6.5" to top of the hole, looking good but it needs to grow. Always check the ice before you wonder out & make sure it's safe.

Note to W on W .... with the border closed to non-essential travel my vehicle is staying close to home, plan to spend more time on Sylvan & Gull this winter chasing Mr. White. Wish you all the success this season, Cheers D.

Walks on Water · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 15, 2020, 06:48 AM »

Thanks David.

You doing your snowbird thing this winter, or are you staying north of the Medicine Line and ice fishing?

swampy45 · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 16, 2020, 08:56 AM »

Few small lakes north of Barrhead are all around 6-7” of solid ice. Was surprised to find that much, good workout with the new hand auger!

SNAPFisher · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 18, 2020, 09:17 PM »

Quote from: swampy45 on Nov 16, 2020, 08:56 AM

Few small lakes north of Barrhead are all around 6-7” of solid ice. Was surprised to find that much, good workout with the new hand auger!

Nice! Yeah, decided to make the first plunge...bad choice of words.. this Sunday. Heading North. Maybe some big brookies first trip!

VelocitySk · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 22, 2020, 03:23 PM »

Drove by Barrier and Sibbald Meadows today (took last rip up Hwy 66 for the year), both frozen but only Sibbald had a few guys on it fishing. Barrier was frozen but didn't see a soul fishing out on the hard water. Hoping to head up to the spray lakes next weekend, anyone been up there this year?

Db

SNAPFisher · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 24, 2020, 08:38 PM »

Quote from: VelocitySk on Nov 22, 2020, 03:23 PM

Drove by Barrier and Sibbald Meadows today (took last rip up Hwy 66 for the year), both frozen but only Sibbald had a few guys on it fishing. Barrier was frozen but didn't see a soul fishing out on the hard water. Hoping to head up to the spray lakes next weekend, anyone been up there this year?

Db

I'm not sure about that but someone on Alberta Outdoorsman posted a satellite view of a frozen Spray.

Remps17 · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 04, 2020, 02:45 PM »

reports on Newell or Crawling?

rcales · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 07, 2020, 10:38 AM »

solid 8" on Crawling. It was pretty consistent

VelocitySk · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 07, 2020, 08:16 PM »

Fished Margaret lake on Friday, ice was about 6-8” and had at least 45 trout out of the holes. Even managed to grab a few 14” plus. All n all a great day

Db

Shotgun · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 11, 2020, 03:00 PM »

Spray is never totally frozen and safe till after Christmas. Condering how far you walk out onto the ice pls do not take any risks.

It is the last lake to have safe ice but on the upside it is also the last lake you can still fish up to mid April without any issues.

SHOTGUN

nocatchmcgee · « **Reply #18 on:** Dec 11, 2020, 06:21 PM »

Thanks for the update shotgun I was planning on going nextweek sometime $:-\$

VelocitySk · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 15, 2020, 08:50 AM »

Was thinking about heading out to upper/lower K lakes on Sunday, never been out there. Any thoughts/recommendations etc? Ice report good enough?

or If you have another fun lake suggestion within 1.5 hours of Cochrane, let me know (newly moved back to Alberta, never ice fished before i left 15yrs ago).

Db

Red_YYC · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 16, 2020, 08:16 AM »

Quote from: VelocitySk on Dec 15, 2020, 08:50 AM

Was thinking about heading out to upper/lower K lakes on Sunday, never been out there. Any thoughts/recommendations etc? Ice report good enough?

or If you have another fun lake suggestion within 1.5 hours of Cochrane, let me know (newly moved back to Alberta, never ice fished before i left 15yrs ago).

Db

I was at both Upper and Lower lakes 3 weeks ago, both were open water still except for the Lower k- lake penisula right by Smith Dorien (HWY742). That had 8 inches of ice. With the warm weather we had recently I'd assume that there is no ice on at the top. Spray Lake was also not frozen.

Red_YYC · « **Reply #21 on:** Dec 16, 2020, 08:28 AM »

Badger Lake has 8 inches of ice on the boat launch side, but there is still lots of open water at the middle and the "dam" side.
McGregor had a lot of people fishing by the north end/campground, but none by HWY531. Lots of open water there, but I dont think that part under the bridge ever really freezes over.

VelocitySk · « **Reply #22 on:** Dec 17, 2020, 06:18 PM »

Quote from: Red_YYC on Dec 16, 2020, 08:16 AM

I was at both Upper and Lower lakes 3 weeks ago, both were open water still except for the Lower k- lake penisula right by Smith Dorien (HWY742). That had 8 inches of ice. With the warm weather we had recently I'd assume that there is no ice on at the top. Spray Lake was also not frozen.

Roger that, thanks bud. Ill find somewhere else to go Sunday

Db

gooner · « **Reply #23 on:** Dec 30, 2020, 10:55 PM »

Sylvan lake has 13" every where I have been on the lake

sureshot242 · « **Reply #24 on:** Dec 30, 2020, 11:17 PM »

Devils lake 14”. Lac Ste Anne 14-16”

Ice in my drink · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 01, 2021, 10:18 PM »

Gull lake 12-14” good ice

hard water wolf pack · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 04, 2021, 12:20 PM »

6" clear ice at pine coulee

SNAPFisher · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 04, 2021, 05:24 PM »

18 inches to as little as 9-10 at Pigeon. This is out in the middle. Ice is a bit less hard than previous years. Some are driving out in trucks and vehicles but not me yet.

VelocitySk · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 26, 2021, 06:37 PM »

Ghost has lots of ice, drive wherever (be safe and check for yourself obviously). Did a 24hr fishing frenzy for Burbs and caught a bunch but mostly small ones.

Db

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Author Topic: 2020-2021 Season Ice Report Thread (Read 5304 times)