Forks boat launch

[AK47]

Wondering if anybody been there recently. How is water levels? Ok to launch bigger boat? Would hate to drag it for 3 hrs and then unable to launch…

[kouleerunner]

Water level is low, typical for this time of year. Pads are dry. Large prop boat would not be very easy to launch and more difficult to load and pull out. Doable, but not advisable.

[AK47]

Water level is low, typical for this time of year. Pads are dry. Large prop boat would not be very easy to launch and more difficult to load and pull out. Doable, but not advisable.

Would you say levels are about the same like early May this year or even lower? I was there during season opening weekend and it was low - saw few bigger boats launching quite easily.

[kouleerunner]

Yes, very similar to May levels.

[eric2381]

If it’s a jet boat you could always launch at the gravel bar upstream a few hundred yards.

[AK47]

If it’s a jet boat you could always launch at the gravel bar upstream a few hundred yards.

Thanks for the tip, I guess we will come and see how it goes. This gravel bar is right on the left hand side when you entering the park?

[stein]

Thanks for the tip, I guess we will come and see how it goes. This gravel bar is right on the left hand side when you entering the park?

it's upstream of the park on the oldman, dirt road takes you right to it

[AK47]

So we spend Sunday, Sunday night and Monday boating, fishing and camping at Forks. Launched boat ok, just needed to go to the side of the launch as bunks are out of the water and not usable.

https://i.postimg.cc/3RkdHVmn/forks-launch.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/gkFrfMJH/launched-and-rady-1.jpg

Then we went up the Oldman looking for some fishing spots. As soon as you leave Forks area it is super shallow and after slaloming between rocks and gravel bars for about 10-15km we turned around and headed back to some deeper holes we noted near Forks.

https://i.postimg.cc/qR6MFnHF/Oldman-river.jpg

This little bend had nice rocky shore and depth up to 8-9 feet so we decided to try it out. Tons of bites and small walleye and mooneye was keeping us busy all day.

https://i.postimg.cc/5Ng1npF0/Mooneye.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/4NNjNGmf/walleye-1.jpg

Then we decided to get ready for the night, parked the boat near shore and started fishing from shore. Same results, small walleye, in the range of 46-48cm, no keepers to fry so dinner was plan B and good all smokies:). Quite a few frogs where jumping near the shore.

https://i.postimg.cc/138TwKGb/walleye-2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/05ZH44ZL/Walleye-3.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bJgLKG0Q/launched-ands-rady-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/dVQCxWHS/IMG-2178.jpg


Evening was approaching so we got ready for the night. Extremely happy how the boat converts into camper.

https://i.postimg.cc/4dvNZGnv/Sleeping-on-water.jpg

Surprisingly night bite was not happening, so went to sleep at 11 pm and slept until 7am. Same results in the morning, more small walleye, even babies like this:)

https://i.postimg.cc/x8TY2bwY/baby-walleye.jpg

Monday during the day wind gusts got too nasty for staying on the boat so we parked at Forks and fished a bit from the shore. Few huge silver redhorse, more mooneye and cherry on top for the end of the trip 37 inch sturgeon. All in all a great day, night and day spent in one of the most beautiful places in southern Alberta. Will be back for sure!

https://i.postimg.cc/QN4Z7VL9/silver-redhorse.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/pdNjk2jR/sturgeon-37.jpg

[AK47]

something wrong with image uploading.... Will try to figure it out and fix it.

[fishinisgood]

Fantastic

[Howard Hutchinson]

Awesome pics! Must have been a hoot to be camping and fishing from your boat. Very cool and lots of action to boot. Life is good, friend.

That frog. Native to that area? I've never seen one so green and with spots like that. Neato

[AK47]

That frog. Native to that area? I've never seen one so green and with spots like that. Neato

I think it is just regular leopard frog, but few I saw all where green but with a bit different spot pattern.

[owlhoot]

Nice set up on the boat, a home away from home

[dodger]

Life looks good buddy. Nice fish and a very nice ride!!

Dodger.

[Howard Hutchinson]

I think it is just regular leopard frog, but few I saw all where green but with a bit different spot pattern.
>>
Neat frog. Says they are an endangered species. Neat you took some pics of them along with your fishees. Thank you

[WayneChristie]

>>
Neat frog. Says they are an endangered species. Neat you took some pics of them along with your fishees. Thank you

there was only 1 area the biologists knew of near Bow City that the leopards reproduced in but I found a second area not far from my home actually and the U of C sent out their researcher and found it was indeed another reproduction spot. I see lots of the frogs along the Bow and Oldman both now, its a good indicator that the water is cleaning up so they can come back. :sHa_shakeshout:
Nice fishes, the bigger eyes will be showing up hopefully soon with the cooler weather.

[thumper]

Great photos and trip description - thanks for sharing. That's a Northern leopard frog, a species of concern in Alberta. The Calgary Zoo and others have captive breeding programs in place to help boost their populations, The Alberta Conservation Association operates 'Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program' AVAMP, and encourages everyone who sees Leopard frog to report them. It's easy to do at :https://www.ab-conservation.com/avamp/overview/

[AK47]

Great photos and trip description - thanks for sharing. That's a Northern leopard frog, a species of concern in Alberta. The Calgary Zoo and others have captive breeding programs in place to help boost their populations, The Alberta Conservation Association operates 'Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program' AVAMP, and encourages everyone who sees Leopard frog to report them. It's easy to do at :https://www.ab-conservation.com/avamp/overview/

Just registered and reported. Thanks for sharing this info!