cold lake ice conditions

[35 whelen]

hi all any reports on ice at cold yet thanks

[Penner]

My guess is she's wide open. Usually doesn't freeze until Christmas. Big deep lake takes longer than most.

[lemmotlow]

I dont think it will freeze this year/ till ??????:bad_boys_20:

[kitchen]

keep this thread open. i wanna know when shes good to drive on.

[splake0]

I was just out to french bay, there is ice just off the boat launch. It'll probably be another couple weeks to freeze up for lake trout. If you were after pike you can probably walk on the ice now.

Last year we were fishing Lake Trout in French Bay Dec 16.

[splake0]

Most of the lake is froze over now. Won't be long till Lake Trout fishing. I'll try French Bay this week.

[Walleye101]

I want to go Tues the 21st. Hopefully it will be good by then. I'm anxious to try my new Hummingbird Ice 55!!!!

[7mmremmag]

4 days ago it was wide open water at the beach! But i heard some guys were walking out and fishing jacks and perch on the provincial park side!

[lemmotlow]

Lake is still open in many areas , with this wind it could be a long time till its safe. Its not worth the risk for a few lbs of fish.

[splake0]

OK I just came off French Bay. We drilled 6 holes,the ice is mostly 7 inches but we did hit flood water about 200 yds from the boat launch and the ice is 6 inches there. We walked out to 42 and 82 feet of water(depth) around 1 km out. The ice was 7 inches.
As we were leaving some natives pulled up and drove on the ice to set nets (close to shore) they had an F150. I'm going out tomorrow with snow-machine or quad.

[icecap]

Thanks Splake0 I was waiting for this post. Just wondering about the flood water and recent snow, do you think a 4x4 quad would do ok. Here in edm. its snowed quite a bit.

[splake0]

I would not hesitate taking a quad out on French Bay.

[icecap]

Thanks man that is what I wanted to hear. Never fished that area, never went this early. Usually head up by the sk. border no earlier than middle of Jan. Love goin for lakers, lots of c&r and some good eatin trout. Gonna make it there in the next few days or right after Christmas, thanks again.

[tyee33]

was at French Bay at 1500 hrs and didnt see any tracks on the lake, did see a hole punch about 20 ft out from the launch but NO foot prints, tire marks, sled tracks anywhere other than to/from that hole. Went to the main launch and did see 1 sled trail that followed the break wall to the west but NOTHING out to the main body of the lake. Unless Im blind and last time I checked I wasnt, there was no one on the lake as of 1500 hrs. Not saying that someone else didnt arrive after I left but I know what me and my family were looking at

[lemmotlow]

Wide open in the nw part of lake, heavy snow on lake also , i would stayoff.:angry3:

[7mmremmag]

No your right tyee, doesnt seem to be anybody brave enough yet!

[splake0]

Need to get your eyes checked. Was out there and was on the ice well before 1500. You stay at home. I'll be fishing tomorrow.

[tyee33]

eyes are fine so are my skills, 20 years in the "ARMY" learned how to read the odd foot print or 2, Ill see you in the AM

[DeanP]

A friend of mine went out Thursday afternoon at the Marina. He was in about 80fow and the ice was around 4-5". TOO BRAVE!
Myself, I'm waiting until the new year! Today I'm heading to Ethel for some perch...

[lemmotlow]

No respect will lead to trouble, ice is not good yet .

[tyee33]

Just back from the Provincial park Bay launch with the sled and except for the hole that someone drilled 20 or so ft out, no tracks,did see 2 inches of slush right at the launch.I skirted all the way around Long bay through the cat tails, came out into French bay and skirted the shore right to the launch, only tracks I did see were deer. Someone else has had a sled or quad out by Long bay but I was clearly the 1st machine out in French bay and be cautious as there are some slushy spots and some heave ice south west corner on both bays. Not saying that someone else isn't or hasn't been out punching holes but I didn't see anyone or any signs. I wont be out for a while yet!!

[splake0]

WOW. don't know what French Bay you were at. Started fishing approx 1030 hrs. Left the lake at 1330 hrs.
We got three keepers all 10-12 lbs. I was fishing in 80 ft of water and my two buddy's we in 100 ft. There were two other guys that walked out, don't know how they did.

The natives drove on the ice to check their nets they set yesterday. I would not recommend taking a truck on the ice.

[-JR-]

Hey splako, were those lakers !
Haven't seen any lakers pictures posted yet ,do you have any to post yet !

[tyee33]

where did you get on the lake, what launch? did you walk on?, did you see my sled tracks at the provincial park launch? Honestly, didnt see a single track at the launch, neither me, my wife or kids.. Are you talking about the bay at the provincial park?? I could be wrong but I know this lake pretty well.Not going to argue with you but whatever people are going on the lake, take care..

[DeanP]

Saw someone out in front of the marina today. About 150yds out from the pier; probably in about 70-80fow...I thought it could be JJSTAR.

[lemmotlow]

Lake is not safe..........

[7mmremmag]

Lake is not safe..........

Im with you! ill wait until I get back from christmas holidays.
OHHHHHH boy I cant wait to catch some lakers through the ice:sHa_shakeshout:

[horsetrader]

.

The natives drove on the ice to check their nets they set yesterday. I would not recommend taking a truck on the ice.

OH yeah you are definitely at fault and can be sued you almost pushed him out there with your truck....:sHa_sarcasticlol:keep posting we need good reports
not just the lakes not safe.........

[Gumbi]

So we made it out, there first place we tryed was cold lake p.p. and we walked out about a 100yrds drilled a hole found out it was 3in thick then got off the ice. After then we went for a drive to try to find french mens, when we found it there was about 10 guys out there off a point with quads and sleds out there. We talk to a fourm member that was walkin in to grab hes face mask because she was a little chill out that day. He said the ice has 7 to 8in so we new it was safe to walk on. We tryed for a bit in about 70f and had no luck and that was about all the line we had. So we went of a little point to try to find the drop off and try for some eyes or pike with no luck there we packed her in for the day and headed to the hotel runnin on a hour of sleep it was nice to see a bed after we added some line to the reels. Next mornin we headed out to frenchmens again and pulled the sled to where the guys the day before were fishin. With no one else out there [all day],We busted some holes and set up camp. It was around 115f deep the morning was slow with only a couple little bites, it start to pick up around 130 i hookin to a big dog but after a short battle he was gone. i hook in to a smaller one a little later anothere short battle. Had a couple more bites and that was the the day. Now back home thinkin of the next spot to go!