Lake Diefenbaker 2023-2024

[Dlzfish]

Anyone know ice conditions at elbow? Im assuming lots of people driving to the mouth?

Also snow coverage decent on the main lake? Might bring a couple sleds to explore further out.

[Burbot Master]

People are fishing outside of the Harbour and there are tracks heading right across the lake.

[Dlzfish]

Thanks!

Probably wont be trying to drive across myself. But means spreading out shouldnt be tough. I expect it to be pretty busy with free fishing weekend.

[ToonFisher]

Ice is still 15 inch. A few inch of loose snow on top. Found a bunch of walleyes.

[Hatandboots]

So it is March and that means fat burbs. Anyone seen any moving in and having their orgies yet?

[BigJumb]

I tried for burbs outside tuffs near a 100' drop off,,, we fiahed in 35' of water. Burbs were slow ended up catching more on jaw jackers in 22' of water. I think because that's the largest sand flat area. Still slower then other years it seems.

[small-town-fisher]

Has any one been out to coteau bay this week curious how the access is?

[Hatandboots]

I'm wondering too, hoping to go out camping next weekend if the snow isn't too bad on the lake. Is driving on with AWD possible still?

[Rustynutz]

Was wondering if guys are driving onto the main lake from the Danielson boat launch..

[speckspotter]

Terrific day on the west end of the lake yesterday. The first drop was hammered by an aggressive keeper walleye and we never had to leave where we parked to get marks and bites. We iced 30 sauger and walleye, with our friendly competition ending at 15 apiece. Our neighbours on the ice; and grandad and his grandson, kept pace as well. Mooneye, burbot, and a jumbo perch showed up to add variety. With the light winds, gorgeous temperatures plus a tailgate barbecue dinner, it was pretty much a perfect outing.

[Gkomo]

Great to hear u we're on them and u had a wonderful day there spec and your fellow anglers .

[dirtyduck]

Anyone know the ice conditions at elbow? Hoping to drive to the mouth of the marina and do some ice camping if it sounds like the ice is still save enough to go check

[Burbot Master]

I would check for yourself, but I know a couple of shacks were taken off today and they crossed the mouth of the marina had used the launch.

[dirtyduck]

Thanks for the info.  Any idea what the ice thickness was like there recently? I always check for myself when I get there but if it sounds less than I'd like it would save me a few hours drive before I try

[ToonFisher]

Snow has melted. Driving on is easy at Danielson park.  Ice is thicker than in February. Found plenty of whitefish in shallow water.

[Hatandboots]

Same report. Ice was 2'+ all over, but some places have water pooling.

The perch were out and some uninterested Whitefish. The Burbot didn't show up until we went to bed and the jaw jackers started going off.

Never camped out before but boy it's hard to sleep when the ice sounds like it's collapsing and exploding around us, we didn't sleep well. The Burbot made it worth it.

[speckspotter]

Full marks for perseverance and dedication H and B. Just out of curiosity, what was bedtime when the burbs showed up?

[ToonFisher]

Great perseverance! Never brave enough to stay overnight. Burbots usually come 1 hour after sunset just when it's hard to see the gears.

[ToonFisher]

Whitefish we caught on Sunday in 5 feet of water.

[shawno]

Nice haul ToonFisher!

I too am curious speckspotter as to when the bite for the Burbs got going.  It seems to be pretty slow for them this year.  Not too much be mentioned across all threads.   Hopefully they will pick up soon...as the season is almost over.

[speckspotter]

That's a great pile of whities Toonfisher. Now you have me thinking about smoked whitefish......

[saskbucks]

That's a great pile of whities Toonfisher. Now you have me thinking about smoked whitefish......

A delicacy for any pallet.

[ToonFisher]

I just bought a smoker this winter for that. Most weekends the two of us caught 0 or just a few.

[ran7ger]

Very nice catch.  They're tasty baked in a dill cream sauce too!

[Hatandboots]

Wish I had the action you guys are having with the Walters but Burbs are good too!

I don't know the exact time but I'm pretty sure it wasn't until after midnight. Maybe they come up on main Lake earlier. We were near the dam.

[shawno]

Wish I had the action you guys are having with the Walters but Burbs are good too!

I don't know the exact time but I'm pretty sure it wasn't until after midnight. Maybe they come up on main Lake earlier. We were near the dam.

Thanks for the info....that is a late bite. 

[Paraaronoid]

I was swimming in the water with the burbot downstream of the Coteau Creek Power Station on March 15th...We definitely found some but it felt like we missed the serious mating season, it seems to happen more at the beginning of March.

[shawno]

Awesome photos Paraaronoid! 

I was out at Pelican Pointe recently at LML and I would agree. Traditionally, this is pretty good spot to come across burbot in March. I only saw two…and they had zero interest in my hook. I can only assume the spawn must have been earlier this winter.

[speckspotter]

Well I was south of Etter's on LML today after pike. I got one incidental burbot in about 5 fow. There were some guys out a bit further on a big flat 8-9 feet deep and they had a PILE of burbot that they were cleaning. I'm not sure if they had a fabulous morning bite or if they had spent the night, but they had gotten into the lawyers big time.

[EVAN NIM]

Thanks to the stranger if your on here for the advice on ice conditions In coteau near the narrow
Would have been a sketchy situation had I driven on

Looked like it had opened and refroze and 4” of ice , few weeks ago there was 20” +

Also looks like possible gas well or just something strange .. on the north side of that narrow as well to watch for