Guesses on Cold Lake Ice off

[topgun]

Anybody have any updates on the big lake? Heard Long Bay was open.

[-JR-]

main lake frozen to the edge on the weekend

[58thecat]

Back bays are open.....shhhhh....the eyes are waiting.......main body is grey and yup still frozen over....a few opening along the shore line.....I check everyday on my motorbike.....

[-JR-]

Back bays are open.....shhhhh....the eyes are waiting.......main body is grey and yup still frozen over....a few opening along the shore line.....I check everyday on my motorbike.....

Your the Cat in the Hat for Cold lake.
Let us know when the ice is off .

[58thecat]

Was at French bay yesterday....ice is off but less than a hundred yards out in front of the ski hill there was ice....basically any large open areas is still ice covered...shore lines maybe 20 yards ice free....and remember the ice never leaves it just sinks to the bottom....that's why it's called cold lake:)


Oh and it's warm and raining today so might speed up the process too:sHa_shakeshout:

[thorne]

You are the man Cat! Keep the updates coming. Got my campsite...I mean....hotel booked for the opening...just a wait and see game if the ice is off or not.

[58thecat]

just did a recce....ice is moving around due to the wind...about 100 yards of open water on the shore of the direction wind is coming from...actually seen white caps....opening day the ice will more than likely be still there just gotta fish the back bays and pay attention to the wind cuz you might not get back to the launch....more to follow.

[EZM]

just did a recce....ice is moving around due to the wind...about 100 yards of open water on the shore of the direction wind is coming from...actually seen white caps....opening day the ice will more than likely be still there just gotta fish the back bays and pay attention to the wind cuz you might not get back to the launch....more to follow.

That's true - a few years ago on opening weekend, went to the other side along shore on one side where there was open water along the edges, came back a few hours later (the wind changed) and the ice was to shore, so had to go back around to the other side and carefully pick my way through an ice field ....luckily there was a spot where it was breaking apart .... got pretty lucky.

Leaving your boat overnight on a lake with ice can leave you to a crumpled tin can for a boat the next morning - saw what ice did to a aluminum boat before and it looked like a tank ran it over.

Excellent reminder.

[thorne]

Thermal pic of Cold Lake last night....should be good to for the weekend... hopefully!

[58thecat]

Thermal pic of Cold Lake last night....should be good to for the weekend... hopefully!

ya that was a north wind blowing and blocked off the bays.....so if we get a south wind that would be awesome to move the ice away......that big chunk still floating around wont be gone anytime soon.

[thorne]

You know the lake Waaay better then I do! I'll still keep the positives waves out there in hope 9t does go. Not sure if we get another flyby before the weekend, so you are the boots on the ground! Looking forward to your next Sit-rep!

[58thecat]

You know the lake Waaay better then I do! I'll still keep the positives waves out there in hope 9t does go. Not sure if we get another flyby before the weekend, so you are the boots on the ground! Looking forward to your next Sit-rep!


If you launch at the cold lake city , provincial park and French bay launches you got to be very careful scooting say into the bays to fish because if the wind shifts you may be in a pickle getting back to the launch and remember the sand bar too so open water does not mean opening her up.....I usually just putt around at first to see what is going on a little chunk of ice can make a large hole and the temp of the water would make for a cold swim:)

MTF....

[thorne]

Yep! I just keep it simple...if there is a sizable Ice slab floating around the lake...I'll just wait till its gone. Spent a lot of time on the East Coast as a kid dealing with, and seeing what ice can do, and how quick things can change. Lots of summer left..lol.

[thorne]

Got another fly over, ice is breaking up fast! And on the move...lol.

[wildalberta]

Hoping its clear for the weekend!

[58thecat]

yup the ice is moving all over the place....here is hoping for a south wind to keep the ice away from the launches...:sHa_shakeshout:

9km/h from the west today, 11km/h from the sw on opener day but the day before 30km from the north:scared0015: might stuff the launch and opening of the bays with ice.....poop.....but here's hoping things work out....the eyes are calling.:)


On another note there was some net fishing going on a few days ago in French bay so watch out for that sucks getting crap wrapped up in your prop.

[58thecat]

was at French bay and no ice to be seen even across and in front of the ski hill area....16 degrees out....:sHa_shakeshout:

two more sleeps...

[thorne]

Woo-hoo! Won't be on the water till Sunday myself, but so far everything is looking awesome! Hope the 21 deg forecast holds true!

[Egymcara]

On another note there was some net fishing going on a few days ago in French bay so watch out for that sucks getting crap wrapped up in your prop.

These same people were throwing live pike on the ice to die. I saved a 10 pounder and put it back in the water, some weren't so lucky.

[58thecat]

These same people were throwing live pike on the ice to die. I saved a 10 pounder and put it back in the water, some weren't so lucky.

Jeepers call fish and game on these slobs.:sign0176:

[wildalberta]

Shes a windy one today, hope that clears it up!

[58thecat]

Shes a windy one today, hope that clears it up!

from the north too pushing what ice is left towards the bays and launches...going to head out shortly for a look and update.....

[thorne]

Not much ice left! Just a bit of slush in the SW corner and still melting fast! No thermal on the bird this fly-by. Just good old day cam!

[58thecat]

Not much ice left! Just a bit of slush in the SW corner and still melting fast! No thermal on the bird this fly-by. Just good old day cam!

what the heck do you do for a living...tac hel ? weatherman...?

with that type of technology can you point me to a 30lbs plus laker?:)

[58thecat]

well I would say she is all but gone..just got back from a looksie..white capping out...wind from the north..no sign of ice etc but tomorrow be careful still could be the odd chunk of ice floating around....tight lines and good luck to all...stay healthy and safe out there.

[thorne]

what the heck do you do for a living...tac hel ? weatherman...?

with that type of technology can you point me to a 30lbs plus laker?:)

Lol.....click here and behold the wonder of public information!

https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentinel-playground/?source=S2&lat=54.54578296565096&lng=-110.04592895507812&zoom=10&preset=1-NATURAL-COLOR&layers=B01,B02,B03&maxcc=20&gain=1.0&gamma=1.0&time=2019-11-01%7C2020-05-13&atmFilter=&showDates=false

Retired from Army Recce years ago.. for the 30lber...give me a PM Sunday and follow my wake...happy to share a honey hole I stumbled across a few years ago with the Cat!

[58thecat]

Lol.....click here and behold the wonder of public information!

https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentinel-playground/?source=S2&lat=54.54578296565096&lng=-110.04592895507812&zoom=10&preset=1-NATURAL-COLOR&layers=B01,B02,B03&maxcc=20&gain=1.0&gamma=1.0&time=2019-11-01%7C2020-05-13&atmFilter=&showDates=false

Retired from Army Recce years ago.. for the 30lber...give me a PM Sunday and follow my wake...happy to share a honey hole I stumbled across a few years ago with the Cat!


80's...Strat Assault Trooper (Harvey Barracks Calgary)....new you had some intel going there...going to use it..thx.

tight lines..

[thorne]

90's for me 44 and 60...lol..now we have to say hi Sunday!! Perseverance!

[-JR-]

Friends are there now....IT'S ALL OFF !!

[wildalberta]

Perfect! Now is the provincial boat launch going to be open?

[Walleye101]

The Eye’s are waiting to visit my livewell.:oregonian_winesmile

[58thecat]

Well got the tires all hung around the outside of the ol'tin boat to gently nudge you off my spots....pirate rules apply In The bay's boys.....:)


Hope you all have a great outing....oh and tire marks do buff out:sHa_sarcasticlol: