23-24 Alberta Hardwater

[Walks on Water]

October 1
First frost out here this morning, about an hour north of YEG.

Last year I drilled my first hole November 11. Time to start pulling gear out of storage and getting ready for a new season.

[allenford]

 

[Walks on Water]

15C with a thunderstorm happening right now, but tonight is the last night in the forecast above 0, with daytime highs below 0 starting next week.

I'm still river fishing in the meantime. Walleyes have been steady with the occasional pike.
Lots of fresh bear tracks along the bank, so gotta be keeping an eye out for them as they fatten up. Only saw one so far this fall, a medium black, and luckily it was on the other bank.
In an ideal year, river fishing and the start of hardwater overlap., If that doesn't happen hopefully at least the dreaded "can't go fishing" time is very short.

[Walks on Water]

Been a lot warmer the last few days, got pretty big doubts about equaling last year's start date.

In the meantime, the NSR is still fishing well. Walleye, pike and goldeye are all biting.

[Rodstewart]

The long term forecast looks terrible. In the +'s during the day. Its going to be a late start this season for sure. Fingers crossed we get a fast freeze and can hit some pothole trout ponds at the start of December. 

[Walks on Water]

Yup. I was all ready for the ice a few weeks ago when it was in the minus teens but now I'm back at the river.

At least it's been around freezing, so everything is cooled right down already. Once we get a few days of -20 the lakes will be walkable in no time.

[Walks on Water]

I'm north of YEG. Last year I was on the ice drilling a fishin' hole on November 11. This year I was standing on a riverbank catching walleye.

With forecast highs above 0 for the next 7 days( and as high as +8), open water season isn't ending any time soon. Bonus: November gas bill should be a lot lower.

Ice gear is ready to go, but in the meantime I'm fine with this. It'd be different if it was +1 and wet and windy, but at this rate I should be able to go from soft to hardwater with almost no downtime.

[icepack]

Cheers guys.
Have things ready to go as well.
Filled some time exercising trout but I'm ready for ice now.

[Walks on Water]

Can't fish the river due to ice and the local trout pond has two inches but a local lake was still mostly wide open.
Forecast is for +9 today.

[Walks on Water]

Wasn't much, but it counts.

Went exploring today and found 7 inches on a trout pothole. Tried for a couple minutes and carried on(not a trout guy). Ended up at a larger lake that still had a lot of open water and spent a while jigging on 3" over 4 fow at the sheltered end. Had something come for a look but it didn't hit.

As long as tomorrow's strong winds don't mess things up,and given the forecast, by next week most local lakes should be walkable.

The season has begun. 

[icepack]

Next week Temps 

[Walks on Water]

Found 7 inches yesterday. Got snapped off, and landed a 64cm pike, in about an hour and a half.
Every year I'm surprised at myself at how quickly I go from jumping out of my skin at every crack and pop to being a bit too comfortable on early ice. I kept having to remind myself this was open water a week or so ago. A little fear is healthy.

[icepack]

Nice find and nice catch.
I'll give it another week and then it's game on.

[Walks on Water]

Nice find and nice catch.
I'll give it another week and then it's game on.

Thanks : )

Three more lakes yesterday. Two had about 7 inches of ice, one had waves. Landed a couple 70 cm jack in the first one, and a handful of smaller ones in the other solid lake.

In another good reminder of how conditions can be very different, the lake with open water was in between the two frozen ones.

-16C right now and still no snow in the region. Everything should be reasonably solid by Monday.

[Walks on Water]

Hit a new lake yesterday morning. 9+ inches of very noisy ice but not many fish. Iced a few hammer handles and saw the first perch of the season.
Cold temps, bright sun, and no snow to diffuse it meant the ice was rumbling and cracking and singing and popping and any other sound ice makes. I had the cam down and it was interesting to watch how the spot-tail shiners responded. They would ignore most of the ice sounds that lingered, but the sharp "crack" sound would make them panic and scatter.

Spent the afternoon at a more familiar lake playing with more hammer handles before finally getting a couple 'eyes after sunset. First one was maybe 15 inches but the second was a broad shouldered beauty that was in the mid-20's.

[Shotgun]

You must be awful lucky where you live to find several lakes with decent ice.

I sure would like to see a few pics of these good sized  pike and especially the big walleye.

Southern AB. is I think several weeks away from safe ice.

SHOTGUN

[Walks on Water]

You must be awful lucky where you live to find several lakes with decent ice.

I sure would like to see a few pics of these good sized  pike and especially the big walleye.

Southern AB. is I think several weeks away from safe ice.

SHOTGUN

Yeah, sounds like you guys will have open water till xmas down there.

Today was trip 9. Pretty much everything has at least 6" if not a few inches more up here north of YEG. Was hoping for a burbot, but it wasn't to be. Iced lots of pike between about 35 and 60 cm. Had small perch come in and shake my jig around a few times too.

If I am fishing with someone, or I am bringing a catch home, I'll take pics. Otherwise, the priority is getting them back in the water asap. If I get a really good fish I try to get a photo for my ego , but I haven't done that yet this season. Pike under 10 lbs and walleye under 6 don't quite count.