Ice fishing lake Athabasca

[dustinjoels]

Have any of you members ever driven the ice road to fort Chipewyan and ice fished lake Athabasca in the winter? I was wondering how long the drive took from fort mcmurray and if the fishing was any good.

Or has anyone ever went ice fishing there through any of the lodges? What was the experience like?

[PINEHURST-PIKE-FREAK]

a bunch of friends go up every march,giant pike/walleye and decent lakers

[Safety D]

I heard old fort bay is where the super sized hens are. If you want to catch Giants that's the place to go !!! Get some locals to take you over there as its big unstable water around there.

[PINEHURST-PIKE-FREAK]

my buddies go up the river on sleds to Atha and fish near the mouth.Last yr the biggest pike was 28lbs,biggest walleye was 13,22 lb laker and numerous fish in the teens.Apparently when the walleye are on the feed you could drop a frying pan down and they'de hit it.He said your hook rarely makes it to the bottom!

[FlounderPounder]

How long of a drive is it from Fort Mac? I've been to the start on the ice road , but that's it

[PINEHURST-PIKE-FREAK]

i'm not sure how long it takes from FORT MC,I know its a long day for them because they take a ton of stuff including a dozen sleds.They went up the river this summer boats/seadoo's and built a cabin closer to their fishing spot because they had to travel 40kms from the original spot that was vehicle access.They also took barrels of gas. This last march was the slowest fishing in yrs they said which is crazy because I seen pics of their fish. Lots of trophy fish in prior yrs but the pics I seen from the last trip were huge!The walleye are soooo fat!!

[FlounderPounder]

That sounds like quite the excursion lol

[Positrac]

It's about 3 1/2 hours to Fort Chip from Fort McMurray, give or take.

Sounds like a cool trip.

[PINEHURST-PIKE-FREAK]

you would have to pay for fishing this good anywhere else! They leave at 3am and try to be there before dark

[FlounderPounder]

That's not that bad of a hike. Would be an experience for sure.... Do it once and I imagine you'd be hooked

[PINEHURST-PIKE-FREAK]

That's not that bad of a hike. Would be an experience for sure.... Do it once and I imagine you'd be hooked


yes,a father to one of the group has been going for 30 yrs

[FlounderPounder]

Where did they stay before the cabin was built? Did they just camp out on the ice?

[PINEHURST-PIKE-FREAK]

outfitters tents and pulled enclosed sled trailers that doubled as a shelter