2021 early ice reports [Archive] - Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum

skain11

11-18-2021, 02:13 PM

Anyone been out and can report on current thickness ? Should be getting better with this cold snap. I've seen Huy's videos however I appear to be heavier than him. Currently interested in the Edm area...Wab, Hasse, Star, Lower chain, La Nonne etc. Got the itch and prob explore more on Saturday and will report back here.

Poppa

11-18-2021, 02:51 PM

I'm curious about southern walleye reservoirs......I assume still a long ways off. Been mighty warm this fall....

AlbertanGP

11-18-2021, 04:36 PM

Ice is going to be super sketchy (read cloudy and weak) since it likely froze up during the snowstorm. And now it's warming up again. If it wasn't frozen last weekend, I don't want any part of it this weekend personally. Stay safe.

JohninAB

11-18-2021, 04:43 PM

Lake north of Whitecourt on the way to Swan Hills had 5” to 6” of ice last Friday. Be back there tomorrow to see how much it grew in the last week.

fish99

11-18-2021, 05:55 PM

some ice in the shallows at pigeon now

Cold lake guy

11-18-2021, 06:03 PM

Ethel and Hilda frozen, no snow all black ice! Want to go try manatoken this weekend in the shallows:sHa_shakeshout:

Yes there is still white caps on cold lake

Willowtrail

11-18-2021, 06:52 PM

Ethel and Hilda frozen, no snow all black ice! Want to go try manatoken this weekend in the shallows:sHa_shakeshout:

Yes there is still white caps on cold lake

Hoping for another warm spell like last December so we can head back out to chase them post spawn Lakers

Cold lake guy

11-18-2021, 06:56 PM

I’m not a trout guy but I remember fishing pike in open water in December

skain11

11-22-2021, 10:14 AM

Checked out Hasse on Saturday , no one on the ice and it looked dodgy. Stopped in at Star Lake , two solo guys fishing about 70 yrds from the boat launch. Ice appeared better but the windy blizzard conditions were enough to keep us in the truck. Weak effort by us but it just didn't feel right. Lots of winter yet to come.

fish99

11-22-2021, 10:21 AM

pigeon has 3 inches of ice out about 100 feet from shore , looks iced over this morning . not seeing any open water.

AlbertanGP

11-22-2021, 11:55 AM

I've been fishing a little trout pond since Remembrance Day last week. It started out with 3.25" of good clear ice on the 11th. I went back on the 12th and all was still good, although that day was really warm and sunny with temps around 0*C as I recall, and it rained very lightly that evening. I came back the next day (Saturday the 13th, also a nice day...warm and windy) and the ice had thinned significantly for a 2' radius around yesterday's holes. I actually had to move to new holes as mine were becoming unsafe IMO. Sunday was heavy snowfall, followed by a week of highly variable weather. When I was out last Saturday (the 20th), the ice was now more or less completely cloudy and only 2.5".

TLDR: With the highly variable weather we've had the past couple of weeks...sunny days near 0*C followed by -15*C days, and heavy snow interspersed throughout...the ice is really, really unpredictable at the moment. Don't assume what was good days ago is still safe. A lot of that snow is being incorporated into new ice as lakes freeze, and it is not strong.
Stay safe on the ice. :happy0180:

FearNoFish

11-23-2021, 03:57 PM

Hoping for another warm spell like last December so we can head back out to chase them post spawn Lakers

Any reports for Cold Lake? Getting anxious for an early December open water voyage.
Thanks

SNAPFisher

11-23-2021, 07:01 PM

Hoping for another warm spell like last December so we can head back out to chase them post spawn Lakers

So far, chances are good. .....Hope I didn't just jinx it...
good luck!!

Lambo

11-23-2021, 10:25 PM

Little Bow was wide open yesterday. I’m going to unwinterize my boat! 😁

Willowtrail

11-23-2021, 10:43 PM

Any reports for Cold Lake? Getting anxious for an early December open water voyage.
Thanks

So far so good, just need to not be working and to get a couple warm days

Drewski Canuck

11-24-2021, 10:16 AM

Calling Lake froze last Saturday night, but this week there was some wind, and the ice broke up again.

It has re frozen this morning, but it is not in any way safe to walk on yet.

Last Sunday morning, even though there was ice, there was steam coming off of the ice, so it was not solid ice at that point either.

Drewski

AlbertanGP

11-24-2021, 11:31 AM

Many lakes up north have frozen, thawed, frozen again, thawed again. This is almost a daily event still on Sturgeon Lake...it's probably happened at least a dozen times since the first freeze up at the start of the month. If you're not watching water bodies on at least a semi-daily basis, you really have no clue what you're walking on this season.

buckman

11-24-2021, 06:23 PM

Driving home from my successful Mule deer hunt today.Went past Dalmead (Weed) Lake East of Calgary.Was someone with a tent on the South end of the lake.

Jims83cj5

11-24-2021, 06:34 PM

Any reports for Cold Lake? Getting anxious for an early December open water voyage.
Thanks

Last lake in the province to freeze over

LUNKDAWGEH

11-24-2021, 08:01 PM

Blood Indian Reservoir had about a half inch last Wednesday. Small ponds near Sundre had about 3 inches on the weekend.

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AK47

11-24-2021, 10:39 PM

Saw pictures on Facebook claiming that Spray lakes have 5 inches of ice. Hard to believe, anybody can confirm??

The Fisherman Guy

11-24-2021, 10:50 PM

Saw pictures on Facebook claiming that Spray lakes have 5 inches of ice. Hard to believe, anybody can confirm??

Could be possible near shore. Spray ice thickness varies quite a bit in the early season. We've found 5-6" 0-100yds offshore, then 3" in the middle of the lake. Makes a guy pucker out that far - with no phone reception.

kc_okotoks

11-26-2021, 01:36 AM

https://i.imgur.com/dOdIT42m.jpg
chain lake on hwy 22 ,lots of open water still.

Weavster

11-26-2021, 04:03 PM

I flew over moose lake on Tuesday most of it was iced up with one stretch of open water in the middle maybe 800 yards or so

TROLLER

11-26-2021, 04:09 PM

Saw pictures on Facebook claiming that Spray lakes have 5 inches of ice. Hard to believe, anybody can confirm??

Snowballs chance in the hot place of that happening before mid to late Dec at the earliest. They have been no colder than Cochrane or Canmore and Ghost lake is wide open with guys fishing for the spawning Lakers on the weekend.

I have always planned on Spray after Christmas and you can usually fish right into mid April sometimes longer.

FearNoFish

11-28-2021, 07:00 PM

5 inches everywhere we measured. Average bite today but only the small fresh stockers.

Dylan hunter

12-01-2021, 09:09 PM

Does anyone have any info on lac la biche…looking to possibly check out the poplar point area around the 10th of December! This cold weather should thicken it up I’d think. Just walking out.

highwood

12-02-2021, 11:47 AM

Just flew to Yellowknife, Calling isn't even completely frozen yet and many of the smaller lakes have very uneven looking ice that has formed, cracked, reformed, cracked, etc. Be cautious. It will be a while yet unless the mercury really takes a dip.

SamSteele

12-02-2021, 12:06 PM

Saw a photo of whitecaps on Lesser Slave taken today. Going to be a while there.

AlbertanGP

12-02-2021, 01:34 PM

One more week of warm weather before it takes a plunge, if you can believe anything the weatherman says. Definitely be careful if you head out. Take a friend when possible.

TROLLER

12-02-2021, 04:34 PM

Driving home from my successful Mule deer hunt today.Went past Dalmead (Weed) Lake East of Calgary.Was someone with a tent on the South end of the lake.

And now a week later and it is open. Gonna need a real decent cold spell before we get any safe fishn around south Ab.I always felt safe any time after boxing day and it's starting to look like that date again.

MaxxiD

12-04-2021, 03:35 PM

Dalemead has 4-5" good ice. Coupke of tents out there today. Sqwsomeone pulling a few pike through the ice

Sundancefisher

12-04-2021, 05:00 PM

Dalemead has 4-5" good ice. Coupke of tents out there today. Sqwsomeone pulling a few pike through the ice

I’d be a little cautious. Sundance was down to 2 inch or less after the heat wave.

What else are people catching there? Perch? The odd trout? Any whitefish?

RACKER

12-04-2021, 05:19 PM

Was at coal today and drilled some holes to check ice was suprised to see 10-11" The top 2 inches were the usual slush/ice mix but overall not bad.There was snowmobile tracks out there too.Drilled out about 300 yds south of the hiway in the middle.Water was 5-6 ft in all holes.

TROLLER

12-05-2021, 08:15 AM

I’d be a little cautious. Sundance was down to 2 inch or less after the heat wave.

What else are people catching there? Perch? The odd trout? Any whitefish?

Only thing I ever saw was pike but a friend said he did see a few perch on his camera a few yrs. back.

One of the problems with Dalemead is people cannot find it in the regs so just assume they can keep 3 pike any size. The pike limit is 3 but as with most lakes have a minimum length of 63cm.

The influx of new fisherman caused by the covid has created a mass of people and others posting pics and directions of where to fish has not helped much either. I saw a few guys last yr. following directions off an internet post on their phone. Asked me if I knew that exact spot. LOL

F&W finally went out I saw last Feb and wrote a number of tickets for under sized fish. Don't know how many were kept but I have seen a lot of people leaving with under size fish. I have pointed out to a few on the ice that their fish was illegal some put them back and some ignored.

So like a lot of other lakes that have been interneted it is a tough if you want to find any keepers in that weedy lake.

AlbertanGP

12-05-2021, 09:34 AM

-30*C here this morning. Was similar out on the ice yesterday, and is forecast to stay cold through to Tuesday last I looked. Everything is good to go up here. Could probably get on most with a small sled or quad by mid-week. Someone was out on Snipe on a sled already. :scared0015:

Hartly

12-06-2021, 06:33 AM

Any reports on ice thickness at Wabamun town site ? Thanks in advance :)

Foot Stomper

12-06-2021, 07:33 AM

Drone footage taken Dec 4 over Pigeon Lake.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y6MHQ3RxRuvsYRta8

timsesink

12-06-2021, 10:02 AM

Hoping to hit Calling Lake this coming weekend (Dec 11 &12) for an overnighter with my boys. Think it will be good for walk on?

highwood

12-06-2021, 10:32 AM

Hoping to hit Calling Lake this coming weekend (Dec 11 &12) for an overnighter with my boys. Think it will be good for walk on?

Extreme caution. Wasn't even fully iced over on Dec 2.

crawad

12-06-2021, 10:35 AM

I was fishing on birch yesterday....4" or so of good ice with couple inches of water on top.
Anyone been out to spray?

AmateurHr

12-06-2021, 11:11 AM

9” all over south east Lac st Anne yesterday. Drilled holes in 6’-9’

FishingNewb

12-06-2021, 07:52 PM

I got home from ice fishing, the st. paul area has 12' of ice 100 yard from shore

Poppa

12-07-2021, 08:06 PM

I got home from ice fishing, the st. paul area has 12' of ice 100 yard from shore

Gonna need the extension to get through that! :)

fish99

12-08-2021, 11:23 AM

drilled some holes yesterday at pigeon lake 8-10 inches of ice . lots of cracks and some open water in them . put down plywood to cross the cracks . safe ice if not for the cracks .

salmonfan

12-08-2021, 12:38 PM

Are there any online resources about ice thickness? Wanting to go to Chain Lakes as soon as possible.

Lowrance Fishburn

12-08-2021, 03:06 PM

Hoping to hit Calling Lake this coming weekend (Dec 11 &12) for an overnighter with my boys. Think it will be good for walk on?

I personally wouldn't dare to risk it with the weather we have had. 3 people (assuming) in one tent, with the heater on overnight. Flirting with disaster for sure, especially if there are kids I would say wait a couple more weeks.

PlayDoh

12-08-2021, 06:17 PM

I personally wouldn't dare to risk it with the weather we have had. 3 people (assuming) in one tent, with the heater on overnight. Flirting with disaster for sure, especially if there are kids I would say wait a couple more weeks.

Aside from heater safety, I can’t see how there’s any risk of disaster. They gotta have 6in or more of ice.

timsesink

12-09-2021, 09:53 AM

Any update on Calling after the cold? 6 inches is my minimum and no, there won't be a disaster. :-)

Outbound

12-09-2021, 10:22 AM

Any updates on Swan Lake near Valleyview?

We're taking a drive out that way tomorrow and I'm debating whether or not to bring the gear along to try a bit of fishing. Either way, we'll be stopping in at the lake and I'll bring back a report myself.

Logan

12-09-2021, 11:22 AM

Anyone seen any ice reports from Newell as of yet ?

Seli

12-09-2021, 12:33 PM

Was out on Pine Lake Dec 6th
Two other anglers there as well.
6-8” of ice.
Deepest I checked was at 18ft of water.
Caught only pike.

AlbertanGP

12-09-2021, 01:16 PM

UngulateMeatEater

12-10-2021, 03:05 PM

Anyone seen any ice reports from Newell as of yet ?

Thats what im looking for as well

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WayneChristie

12-10-2021, 03:14 PM

Thats what im looking for as well

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Main lake had 4 foot whitecapa 10 days ago

Outbound

12-10-2021, 06:12 PM

There's about 7" of ice or so on Swan near Valleyview. Fishing was slow today but I managed two around the 5lb mark.

MaxxiD

12-10-2021, 07:23 PM

About 6-8 inches on McGregor tonight 🤙

nimrod

12-11-2021, 11:41 AM

Passed by telegraph pond at Hay Lakes today, one person said 1 foot around the edge, lots of people fishing today, but the pump keeps the middle open, stay safe

Gretz5582

12-11-2021, 12:21 PM

9 inches of ice at wab yesterday . couple big heaves going to give guys trouble

Worm

12-11-2021, 03:04 PM

Drove by Mink lake today. Saw 2 small trucks on the lake. Those guys are much braver than me, I wouldn't be driving yet. I didn't stop to check thickness though.

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Logan

12-11-2021, 04:55 PM

4”-6” at Newell and the snot rockets were hitting like freight trains haha.

SamSteele

12-11-2021, 05:58 PM

9 inches on Lower Chain north of Athabasca.

SS

Hogujak

12-11-2021, 07:46 PM

Anybody checked kananaskis or spray lake area?

Soiler

12-11-2021, 09:00 PM

Measured 12” of ice just off the boat launch at Mulhurst and 15” at Mameo.
Didn’t go out deep tho, looked sketchy. I’d imagine the cold snap next week will make er good & safe for ATV’s.

Gbuss

12-11-2021, 09:45 PM

Measured 12” of ice just off the boat launch at Mulhurst and 15” at Mameo.
Didn’t go out deep tho, looked sketchy. I’d imagine the cold snap next week will make er good & safe for ATV’s.

I was at the pp this morning and the heavs were bad. Open water and about 8" of ice. I didnt fish moved to another lake.

Gbuss

Sea Hawk

12-12-2021, 09:00 AM

Fished calling lake yesterday. 9 inches of ice 300 yards from shore. Talked to Drewski and one of his neighbors was out on the ice with his truck. Lots or rough ice pushed up on the east end by the tower. If that gets covered with snow it will risky to drive a vehicle.

AlbertanGP

12-12-2021, 09:08 AM

From what I have seen and heard from friends, there's about 12" of ice on most all the lakes up here. They *should* be safe to drive on next weekend with the cold weather forecast for this week. I'm excited to bring the Ranger out of hibernation. Be safe.

SNAPFisher

12-12-2021, 09:28 AM

fish99

12-12-2021, 10:56 AM

lots of ice heaves at Sandholm beach area and 10 inches of ice , some thin ice by the heaves. be careful out on pigeon lake

Soiler

12-12-2021, 07:20 PM

Didn’t wander all over but just to the right of the boat launch there was 8-9” of ice today.

timsesink

12-12-2021, 07:56 PM

10-12 at Calling Lake. Snow covered. Lots of heaves.

Kelikran

12-12-2021, 08:18 PM

11 " on Long Island on last Thursday. Dec 8.

Drewski Canuck

12-12-2021, 09:08 PM

Another word of caution for Calling. Ice thickness 800 yards from shore was 12 inches, problem is that there are a number of mini heaves that formed when the ice froze, then broke up, and the ice pans were pushed up by the wind and waves. Some place in front of the town site it is very obvious as the heaves and piles are 6 to 10 feet tall.

Then there are the sections that are 6 inches to 18 inches high. If the snow blows onto those shorter piles and jumbles, and you hit it with a low clearance vehicle, a quad, a side by side, or a skidoo, you will stop instantly.

Best case scenario a torn out tranny, front end, or oil pan. Worst case scenario someone gets killed. GO SLOW and be careful. Try to follow any other vehicle, and if you see a potential hazard get out and check how high it really is.

Drewski

posnick

12-14-2021, 03:38 PM

Zip-in-Z

12-14-2021, 04:19 PM

The local guys who rents shacks/trailers told me he's got them out on Gull over 12" ice .... Wilson Beach area..

D.

AmateurHr

12-15-2021, 09:53 AM

Want to drag the ice shack out to Lac St Anne this weekend. I have heard the rental companies already have permanent shacks out. Anyone been out to confirm? Seems a bit early for trucks and ice shacks.

Cheers

Confirmed. They got their shacks out just off Alberta Beach as usual. They pull em out with ATV tho. Light vehicles might be good for the weekend with this cold snap but I’d check as you go..

graybeard

12-15-2021, 10:03 AM

If this cold snap continues, we should see near 1" of new ice every night....in southern Alberta alone...

I am waiting for January 01 for a hard base to walk one... But that is just me.....Driving on the ice is a whole different animal....

Stay safe....

Poppa

12-15-2021, 01:53 PM

Heading out to a southern reservoir on Sunday and am convinced I'll have 8-10" easily, thanks to this week of cold. Taking my cousin, who's hardcore but has a new baby so he doesn't get out as often as he'd like, and we're gonna get after 'em. Forget Christmas, I'm losing sleep just dreaming about underwater camera footage.... :sHa_shakeshout:

AlbertanGP

12-15-2021, 02:00 PM

Christmas holidays just means more fishing a little further from home with kids to pull the heavy stuff where needed. :happy0034:

Binati

12-15-2021, 06:39 PM

Talked to guys on the ice at rochon on buffalo they had trucks on the edge said 12 inches.

FlounderPounder

12-15-2021, 08:22 PM

Does anyone have any ice reports on Buck Lake? (South buck)

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salmonfan

12-16-2021, 12:05 PM

Anyone have info on Chain Lakes by chance? Eager to go...

EZM

12-16-2021, 03:26 PM

Anyone have info on Chain Lakes by chance? Eager to go...

There are 2 Chain Lakes - make sure you get the right info for the right lake.

One in the South off 22x and one North towards Athabasca. One could be safe and the other not.

AlbertanGP

12-16-2021, 03:28 PM

The north one has well over a foot of ice.

Mark

12-16-2021, 03:34 PM

4”-6” at Newell and the snot rockets were hitting like freight trains haha.

Snot Rockets?????
Never heard that term in reference to fishing. What are snot rockets?

Frank_NK28

12-16-2021, 03:36 PM

Snot Rockets?????
Never heard that term in reference to fishing. What are snot rockets?

Hammer handles & snot rockets, aka small northern pike.

Jim Blake

12-16-2021, 03:41 PM

Anyone been to Strubel Lake by Rocky Mountainhouse?

salmonfan

12-16-2021, 04:57 PM

There are 2 Chain Lakes - make sure you get the right info for the right lake.

One in the South off 22x and one North towards Athabasca. One could be safe and the other not.

Yes, thanks. Looking for info on the 22x one. This cold should help a lot but don’t want to make the trip until it’s safe….

CardiacCowboy

12-16-2021, 10:58 PM

Yes, thanks. Looking for info on the 22x one. This cold should help a lot but don’t want to make the trip until it’s safe….

+1

MaxxiD

12-17-2021, 06:40 AM

Yes, thanks. Looking for info on the 22x one. This cold should help a lot but don’t want to make the trip until it’s safe….

I was fishing there last Sunday, there was about 8 inches of ice

Lowrance Fishburn

12-17-2021, 09:54 AM

This freeze up should basically ensure that nearly every lake in Northern Alberta should be good to drive your truck out on after New Years without much worry. Hope everyone has a great Christmas and happy fishing!

James.m

12-17-2021, 10:51 AM

Anyone been to Strubel Lake by Rocky Mountainhouse?

I've been ice fishing west of Rocky and Caroline for 3 weeks now, last weekend was 8" of good clear ice on those lakes, probably going to be close to a foot of ice now with this cold snap.

SamSteele

12-23-2021, 06:59 AM

16-18” on Lac La Biche yesterday. Guys driving trucks all over there.

There were a couple small heaves and an area with shard ice to pick through.

SS

SNAPFisher

12-23-2021, 08:09 AM

16-18” on Lac La Biche yesterday. Guys driving trucks all over there.

There were a couple small heaves and an area with shard ice to pick through.

SS

What a year. A warm November making you wonder when ice would be driveable into one of the coldest December we've seen an a long while with much more to come. Going to have some great January ice this year....other than the heaves.