Southern Alberta Lakes
 

Hello everyone. I haven't been to the forum for a while and today I finally got back to it. I read a couple of posts earlier about the conditions of some of the the lakes in the area Like Newell and Travers. I was wondering if all of the ice is off already? If anyone has any pictures it would be great if you could share them.

Thank you! :)

Not much ice left on travers. maybe a slab here or there.

Thank you! I remember ice was off much later last year

A few slabs on Newell as well but mostly open. Not to wait for May ? For opening day. Can't wait. Sure is too bad no fishing this year. Hopefully it means better fishing in the coming years.

What do you mean no fishing this year?:scared:

Newell is now closed as of April 1 same as the majority of southern lakes.
Newell Lake – including the inlet canal downstream of the Bow Slope turnout structure (NE32-16-15-W4)
May 8 to Mar. 15 – Walleye limit 0 – except the holder of a Special Fish Harvest Licence and tags may retain walleye of a size, number and at the times specified on the licence; Pike limit 3 over 63 cm; Perch limit 15; Lake Whitefish limit 10; Burbot limit 10; Bait allowed.
Mar. 16 to May 7 – CLOSED

Last year Newell stayed open but the limits were 0. Just a little frustrating seeing as the ice is off about a month early.

a few open waters around here, not as good fishing as Newell though.

My Pa did a tour last weekend of a bunch of Southern Lakes. Keho, Travers, Little Bow and Badger all wide open. Tones of snow Geese in the middle of Badger looked like a big ice chunk. MacGregor mainly open (south and North of Lomond crossing as far as you can see, with some ice left at the camp ground and North causway but not at shore. That will be gone right away. Ahhhhhhhhhh, all the favorite haunts are open and a month to go before we can get the rods out. Oh well, I've hit the Bow last week and will for the next week or so untill the tributaries open up and get some some pre-spawn rainbow action till the Lakes open for the spring Hogs! Good luck to you all in the up coming season!

Well I guess we will have to decide between the lakes. Usually Newell was the first lake I'd hit for pike :angry3:

Anyone know if Chain still has ice

I would think what with; PCR being open so should Chain.

Looking for somewhere close to get the boat wet.

you might want to check the reg's but places for gaitors that are open now are horsefly,cpr taber.terry said that these were changed to allow fishermen to fish them before they choke up with weeds.due to there shallow water. so check your reg's:thinking-006:

x2

lots more than those lakes. probably hit 3 or 4 of them this weekend :sHa_shakeshout:

Us too
 

We have several scoped out and are going to go for a drive on Saturday and see what we can run into for pike action as well.

Of those lakes mentioned that are open do they have decent launches?and when you say shallow is it too shallow for bigger boats I have Lund 1900 prov thanks a lot in advance......

The lakes around Taber that are open for fishing,do not have any sort of boat launch.Not saying you can't take a big boat on them but I have never seen a big boat on them.I use my 12' alum. with a trolling motor.Marsh Lake has a motor size limit of less than 10 hp.It has a private launch.

doubt you will get on the private launch on Marsh unless you have a campground membership, they arent very accommodating to anyone else. there is a mud launch at the dam, but doubt you would want
to try and get a bigger boat in there.