Lesser slave lake ice reports

[Georgias daddy]

Looking for ice updates on slave. Hoping to pull shack out soon.

[AlbertanGP]

Just wait for the locals to pull theirs on at the old marina and follow them out. I had a cabin at Joussard for many years after moving from Slave to GP. Some of the locals have more ambition than common sense. They'll make sure it's safe for you.

[Curtsyneil]

I heard that a few guys on cutbank will be setting cabins out on the 27th but wasn’t told or heard actual how many inches of ice is out on the lake as of today.

[Penner]

Should be 5ft thick by end of next week way forecast is looking

[Manning74]

Just wait for the locals to pull theirs on at the old marina and follow them out. I had a cabin at Joussard for many years after moving from Slave to GP. Some of the locals have more ambition than common sense. They'll make sure it's safe for you.

First truck through the ice yesterday, but they weren’t locals, sounds like some guys from GP but can’t confirm.

[Camdec]

First truck through the ice yesterday, but they weren’t locals, sounds like some guys from GP but can’t confirm.

Any idea which part of slave?

[Manning74]

Any idea which part of slave?

Joussard

[dmeinder]

First truck through the ice yesterday, but they weren’t locals, sounds like some guys from GP but can’t confirm.

As in broke through the ice?

[AlbertanGP]

It's too hard to read the ice right now with all the snow, and it's insulating the ice well and putting a lot of weight on it. We were on another lake in trucks today, and as soon as we punched holes we were ankle deep in snow and the trucks were 30-40' away. I'm not surprised to hear someone went in on Slave. I hope everyone is ok.

[Bushleague]

It's too hard to read the ice right now with all the snow, and it's insulating the ice well and putting a lot of weight on it. We were on another lake in trucks today, and as soon as we punched holes we were ankle deep in snow and the trucks were 30-40' away. I'm not surprised to hear someone went in on Slave. I hope everyone is ok.

Another thing that I've seen happen on Slave, is when the jumble ice moves around during freeze up it can actually lift pieces off the water a little bit in places... those places can not get thicker no matter how cold it gets.

Few years back my neighbor, who has fished the lake as long as anyone I know, was slowly feeling his way out and drilling lots of holes as he went, even though he had plenty of ice... when his truck went through a couple hundred yards out he had only 2" of ice under him.

[Manning74]

Another thing that I've seen happen on Slave, is when the jumble ice moves around during freeze up it can actually lift pieces off the water a little bit in places... those places can not get thicker no matter how cold it gets.

Few years back my neighbor, who has fished the lake as long as anyone I know, was slowly feeling his way out and drilling lots of holes as he went, even though he had plenty of ice... when his truck went through a couple hundred yards out he had only 2" of ice under him.

Sounds like he found one of the many natural gas pockets that the lake is famous for , many have died , need to be careful out there , i only quad or sled out to where i fish just to many hidden pockets.

[Bushleague]

Sounds like he found one of the many natural gas pockets that the lake is famous for , many have died , need to be careful out there , i only quad or sled out to where i fish just to many hidden pockets.

It was right in front of his house, and mine, the same route we always take. We had lots of jumble ice and strong winds that freeze-up. I tend to side with his lifted ice theory more than the gas pocket thing in this case.

[Forest Techer]

How much snow? Guessing usual drifts?


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[Bushleague]

How much snow? Guessing usual drifts?


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Just from walking around with the dog near my place, the snow isnt too bad right now. Havnt seen anyone taking trucks out yet though.

[oscar]

We're out in some of the cabins and that should be at cut bank, but pressure ridges and only 9" to 15" of ice, with 6" of snow. Everyone's staged in the bay until there's enough good ice to get out there. A local that I talked to this afternoon is going to try and get a couple of shacks to cut bank with a snow cat tomorrow.

[Peacepipe]

Any updates for Slave Lake? FB guy says he has his cabins out open for business.

[35 whelen]

Have some shacks rented for mon to thur next week at cutbank ,they are staged but not at cutbank yet ,13in at CB yesterday lot of flood water im told .

[AlbertanGP]

Every lake I've been on through the holidays had overflow on it...some in spots, some it seemed like everywhere. And the areas that didn't wound up with an inch or two of standing water in the shelter as soon as we punched holes. It will likely be worse next week if it warms up the way they're forecasting. Have a safe trip.

[Peacepipe]

Ok just texted my guy with cabins. apparently none are out yet at cutbank sketchy ice conditions. Seems odd with the weather we have. If anyone has an update feel free to update.

[35 whelen]

YES most shacks are out in front of the boat launch and in front of cabins ,Im told ice is not drivable to cutbank .

[birdseye]

I just talked to my friend that lives in the area,he said it’s 16” and he drove on it with his truck,lots of shacks all over too,have fun be safe

[Georgias daddy]

Was out at joussard yesterday ice is 16 fishing was slow but we got our shack set up.

[35 whelen]

Just got back from Cutbank ,fishing was slow moved around the shacks about half a mile ,5 of us caught 2 walters 1 humpie and about 12 small pike ,nothing was caught in rental shacks. Road to cutbank is fine .

[Peacepipe]

Awesome thanks for the update. Glad to hear road is ok for now. Hopefully snow stays away.

[Worm]

Any updates on snow and ice conditions in the narrows, assigneau or canyon creek areas? I'm hoping to get out there soon.

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[Camdec]

Cutback ice conditions are good. The rental shack guys have done a great job of making the trip out easy. Find your own way of tipping accordingly when you run to them if access their nicely plowed trail. Would beat up your truc otherwise.

Cutback fishing for me was slow but caught a 55cm walleye and several nice jack. Neighbors had a couple walleye and nice perch.

I believe the fish are there but just not biting. That’s ice fishing imo. Good luck.

[marlin4570]

I heard that guys are pulling shacks at jousard. 2’ of flood water! Anybody hear anything about this?

[Penner]

I haven’t been out to slave but the fact someone is saying 2ft of flood water is about as accurate as them catching limits of 10lbs Walleye and 14inch Perch

[Worm]

Thanks for the update Camdec.

Agree that sounds a little extreme around Joussard but it doesn't take all that much flood ice to make it miserable.

Anyone been to the Eastern parts Narrows to Cutbank? Last couple years it had much less snow. I assume it blows off in that area.

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[SNAPFisher]

I haven’t been out to slave but the fact someone is saying 2ft of flood water is about as accurate as them catching limits of 10lbs Walleye and 14inch Perch

:lol: :lol:

Need to make up the legend of perchzilla that dwells in L Slave now. Came from the lakes in B.C. where the Sasquatch roam.

[Worm]

Oops, brain wasn't working when typing and cant seem to edit. Meant canyon creek to narrows area.

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[icecap]

Spent the last two nights at canyon creek. Access is good. Lake travel is good. There’s some drifts but you can work your way around them. No flood water. A little surface water from the rain and melt. Fishing was slow. Brought home a few. :bad_boys_20:

[marlin4570]

Good to hear, hoping to get out there. Most fields are bear and water running in the ditches here. I’m a couple hours north west of slave.

[Jays toyz]

Anybody out at cutbank way or Narrows? How thick is the ice? I am really paranoid about driving on the ice but have too much crap that is too heavy to haul without my truck. How is it getting around on the lake by truck now? It was tough going 2 weeks ago.

[35 whelen]

Buddys left cutbank yesterday ,no issues

[Worm]

Assineau now. Measured almost 2 feet in one spot but it was a clear spot with no snow and a lot of refrozen flood water. Probably less in most areas.

Lots of sun, lots of people, no fish yet I've seen.

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[Worm]

Spent the night on the lake. No walleye at all. Just wondering how everyone else found the bite on slave this weekend? Super slow or maybe I just suck lol.

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[AlbertanGP]

When I lived in Slave Lake back in the 90's, no one fished Assineau except for a few of the locals that actually lived there, and access was literally across some farmer's field. I used to fish with the locals after work and we pounded burbot before they were a sport fish and had no limit. But walleye were always especially rare there, even right before the spawn when they are on the move. Now I hear it's a popular spot with rental shacks and everything and I scratch my head. :confused:

I did catch a burbot there the first year they became a sport fish in 98/99 that would have been the Alberta record for the first two years had I bothered to take it to an official scale. So there's that.

[Worm]

Thanks for the input Albertan. I guess it is challenging catching what isn't there.

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[Buck Rogers]

Just got back from Joussard, was there from Thursday till Sunday. 16” to 18” of ice with a lot of the snow melted down into flood water but it is mostly frozen over now. Caught two keeper walleye at about 6 am Saturday morning other than that the walleye bite was finicky, we caught jack fish like crazy, my buddies kid caught a 34 1/2” 11 pound jack and we also brought home some burbot. We rented a shack from pinto ice shack rentals and had a great time, Trevor the guy that owns them maintains a good road out, would highly recommend if you want to try an overnight fishing trip.

[AlbertanGP]

Thanks for the input Albertan. I guess it is challenging catching what isn't there.

They may be there now...it's almost 25 years since I fished Assineau and things can change. Still, I kinda feel like with all the rental shack business's showing up on the lake, people are being put on mediocre fishing spots. That and the lake thrives on its past reputation more than it's current production.

TBH, I haven't fished anywhere on Slave since I sold my place in Joussard back in 2017. I got tired of catching the same 17" walleye 30,000 times, left, and never looked back. I talk about going back to fish the Narrows, but I'd have to pass better lakes to get to it.

Let the flaming begin lol.

[OL_JR]

I wonder what slave would look like if it had a slot implemented for the last decade or two instead of the 1 over regs.

[Peacepipe]

Going to Cutbank Thursday and I see snow, any word on trial out to cabins?

[AlbertanGP]

I wonder what slave would look like if it had a slot implemented for the last decade or two instead of the 1 over regs.

I actually wish they would have left the three fish limit in, or maybe cut it back to two fish year round. There are a bazillion small walleye in that lake, and I believe not enough food. I don't keep fish often, but I remember going multiple open water seasons in a row never seeing anything in the stomachs of the ones I cleaned.

[Curtsyneil]

I fish slave regularly in the winter and have caught 17 inch fish to 24 inch fish so I wouldn’t say the lake is loaded with small eyes. Fishing walleye in the winter is tough, specially mid January and February, down size hooks and baits and really focus on sunups and sundowns for the bite window could only be 15-45mins. When the bite gets tough out there and they get lock jaw dead sticking will trigger bites but make sure your running small stuff. Tight lines!!

[Manning74]

The lake is far from what it once was. Used to only be a hand full of shacks fishing here at home now thers over 100 out there. 24” walleye is by no means large but on this lake you could say thats a good fish these days. Thers a ton of walleye in the lake and we are starting to think thers not enough forage to sustain a healthy fishery. The lake is in trouble, the whitefish populations have exploded since the termination of the commercial fishery and thats not good for any lake. Many may not agree because of its size but many do not realize that it gets hammered all winter long from one end to the other. The breeding stock is slowly diminishing , regs need to be changed to protect this population. It is a matter of time before its fished out or starved out. Just my observation over the past 25 years.

[AlbertanGP]

The lake is far from what it once was. Used to only be a hand full of shacks fishing here at home now thers over 100 out there. 24” walleye is by no means large but on this lake you could say thats a good fish these days. Thers a ton of walleye in the lake and we are starting to think thers not enough forage to sustain a healthy fishery. The lake is in trouble, the whitefish populations have exploded since the termination of the commercial fishery and thats not good for any lake. Many may not agree because of its size but many do not realize that it gets hammered all winter long from one end to the other. The breeding stock is slowly diminishing , regs need to be changed to protect this population. It is a matter of time before its fished out or starved out. Just my observation over the past 25 years.

Winner winner chicken dinner!

[Curtsyneil]

You would think if the lake is over run with whitefish then there should be a tonne of small whitefish minnows swimming around every year Probly really good walleye bait. Oh yeah and there ciscos in the lake as well I’m sure there reproducing and more food for walleye. How many creeks that carry minnows or shiners that flow into lesser slave lake. I don’t know the numbers but I’m sure there is a few forsure. This fish are far from starving but just my opinion!!

[OL_JR]

According to the past fisheries engagement the bios are planning on moving to 1 of 3 options.

1 over 50cm
1 between 45-50cm
1 between 50-55cm

I think a slot could do some good as long as it's given time, but however you feel this is the time to get an email sent to the powers that be and voice concerns.

Anyways not going to derail this thread anymore :).

[AlbertanGP]

According to the most recent Fall Index Netting (https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/2b4db9e8-9b20-46c9-8545-7f981a4d8a9a/resource/0306256d-7e2d-47f4-a9ea-68cacb8588bc/download/aep-lesser-slave-lake-fin-summary-2020.pdf) for Lesser Slave, the west basin is in worse shape than the east, which makes no sense to me.

[Jays toyz]

Bump... Any recent ice reports on slave? Hoping to do the 4 hours each way with some confidence I won't die and also maybe lose my truck.

A fishing report would also be ginchy (good).

Hot spots and specific instructions would also be accepted.😉

[timsesink]

She's bare with good access.

[FlounderPounder]

20" at Jousarrd. No snow.

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[buckbrushoutdoors]

20” of ice at canyon creek, fishing was beyond slow but the weather was really nice. Spent 4 days on the ice, can’t complain

[Georgias daddy]

I was out the 16-17 of feb. ice was solid no snow but had to cross a pressure ridge seen open water as I drove over! A little risky was following another guys tracks in the light snow. Had to find another way off wasn’t comfortable jumping it again. On the fishing side burb and walleye were slamming jig and minnows total in just under 24 hours 15 walleye 12 burb with my biggest walleye 23 inch.

[Worm]

I'm heading to the lake in a couple days. Did the joussard end get any snow? Wondering if bringing the sled for a joy ride is worth it.

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