Elbow lake

[Flieguy]

anybody know if the ice is off enough to fish it yet?

[Kokanee9]

Isn't the highway closed until mid June?

I may be wrong on that one and they may have opened June 1, but I thought it was around the 15th.

[Steven Noel]

Isn't the highway closed until mid June?

I may be wrong on that one and they may have opened June 1, but I thought it was around the 15th.

Highway #40
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to Highwood House Junction is closed December 1st to June 14th inclusive.

http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/annual-road-closures.aspx

[waterninja]

don't know where elbow lake is (i'll google it soon) but i find it hard to believe that any lake in alberta still has ice on it.

[Scott N]

don't know where elbow lake is (i'll google it soon) but i find it hard to believe that any lake in alberta still has ice on it.

Elbow Lake is in Kananaskis, there are a few lakes at the higher elevations where the ice might not come off completely until late June or even July.

[Flieguy]

That's why I'm asking. I knew some guys who have biked from the gate to the trailhead before the road opens. I'm entertaining the possibility of trying it

[Scott N]

That's why I'm asking. I knew some guys who have biked from the gate to the trailhead before the road opens. I'm entertaining the possibility of trying it

My guess would be that Elbow Lake is ice-free now, but it would only be a guess. It's not all that high and gets a lot of sunshine.

[Flieguy]

It's higher than one might think... it's right up near the pass and probably a good five hundred feet up from kananaskis lakes.

[kinwahkly]

Yes road closed till middle of June, I was just up there.

[waterninja]

Elbow Lake is in Kananaskis, there are a few lakes at the higher elevations where the ice might not come off completely until late June or even July.
ahhhhhhh..now i get you. sounds like a neat lake to hike up to. can you make it a one day fishing trip?

[Scott N]

can you make it a one day fishing trip?

Absolutely. I hike in with my belly boat when I go.... it's not a long hike.

It's full of stunted brook trout, so you won't catch anything of size. The scenery is great and the fish are usually pretty eager, so it can make for a nice day trip.

[Kokanee9]

I believe that there is currently a bear warning on that portion of the road.

[FishingFrenzy]

I believe that there is currently a bear warning on that portion of the road.

There is, but I talked to the CO and they were allowing people to ride bicycles up (what I was doing), and they did not seem too concerned. There is usually bears in that area, almost everytime I go up to Elbow Lake or that area I see a bear. I've seen both blacks and grizz. In fact all my close bear encounters have been in at Elbow Lake.... :)

[slivers86]

Pretty easy hike in, steep for a solid 200M to start, than fairly smooth the rest of the way- I'd guess if its not ice off - its damn close. Probably safe bet mid/late june.

Brookies are small but plentiful. Fun place to go, been there twice.

4 wt is overkill - butter and a frying pan a must...

[Calgaryguy1977]

Pretty easy hike in, steep for a solid 200M to start, than fairly smooth the rest of the way- I'd guess if its not ice off - its damn close. Probably safe bet mid/late june.

Brookies are small but plentiful. Fun place to go, been there twice.

4 wt is overkill - butter and a frying pan a must...

Ive probably been there around 4 times and from my experience you should throw a small (tiny even) white or yellow fly....maybe a cahill variant.

X2 on the frying pan hahahah we need to thin those suckers out so it can become a decent fishery!!

Ive never actually kept one outta there but thought about it......I ended up feeling bad for them as they have tiny little bodies and giant heads lol

[Okotokian]

don't know where elbow lake is (i'll google it soon) but i find it hard to believe that any lake in alberta still has ice on it.

I've fished Loomis (in K Country) still 2/3 covered with ice in JULY.

As for Elbow, nice place to fish, fun, but I've never caught anything worth actually taking. Small little guys.

[Flieguy]

Yeah my girlfriend and her sister are both new to fly fishing. Gonna take them and hopefully put them into some little brookies :) I'd rather take them to a little stream but they aren't open yet