Sylvan Lake Report: - 2021

[DiabeticKripple]

covid lockdown has everybody looking for a new hobby

[pikeman06]

This time next year itll be toast. Save some pictures to show the grandkids what a whitefish looked like. Wait till new years day. The word is out.

[Zip-in-Z]

There was even more people out on the lake today than in the pic's the other day .... N.Y. Day will be another zoo . Sylvan went up to 35 active covid cases today, play safe.

D.

[Macdrizzle]

Originally Posted by pikeman06

This time next year itll be toast. Save some pictures to show the grandkids what a whitefish looked like. Wait till new years day. The word is out.

Lol most southern Alberta lakes are packed dense with whites. I know guys that catch their 10 limit every time. Lots of these lakes have more whites than sylvan too.

[vic1]

Originally Posted by pikeman06

This time next year itll be toast. Save some pictures to show the grandkids what a whitefish looked like. Wait till new years day. The word is out.

I agree with you. It is going to be like a Gull shortly. To much advertising.

[Zip-in-Z]

Took my new Zip Sled for a test drive this morning, got set up by 8:15 had my limit of Whites before lunch, the Mrs didn't want any fish for supper, they all went back. I missed one huge White came in slowly & smacked my w/w from the wrong end and no hook up, I'm seeing a few really big whites this year. As for advertising, all 15K residents from Town will be on the ice tomorrow plus 1/2 Red Deer & the surrounding areas. If you decide to join the crowds, play safe & enjoy your day.

Happy New Year

D.


New Zip Sled

[damienelliott]

Does anyone fish for pike on sylvan? If so is anyone catching them. I’m laid up from surgery hoping to get out by mid January.

[Zip-in-Z]

Originally Posted by damienelliott

Does anyone fish for pike on sylvan? If so is anyone catching them. I’m laid up from surgery hoping to get out by mid January.

There's no retention limit on Pike, I've caught 3-4 small one's this winter but there's a few monster Pike hiding out there & they slowly come up to your presentation and stare at it ..... then disappear. Scott was lucky to get a big one to commit the other day, broke his rod & got away ... not a fish story.

D.

[damienelliott]

Originally Posted by Zip-in-Z

There's no retention limit on Pike, I've caught 3-4 small one's this winter but there's a few monster Pike hiding out there & they slowly come up to your presentation and stare at it ..... then disappear. Scott was lucky to get a big one to commit the other day, broke his rod & got away ... not a fish story.

D.

Thanks Ya I know it’s zero retention. I got 9 last year 20lb and over. Got 15 the year before that over 20. And many from that 30-38”(6-15lb) just wondering if anyone is catching any so I can get excited for when I’m cleared to start walking again lol

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by damienelliott

Thanks Ya I know it’s zero retention. I got 9 last year 20lb and over. Got 15 the year before that over 20. And many from that 30-38”(6-15lb) just wondering if anyone is catching any so I can get excited for when I’m cleared to start walking again lol

You got them all at sylvan? Or other places? That’s a load of big fish. Gratz!

[damienelliott]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

You got them all at sylvan? Or other places? That’s a load of big fish. Gratz!

Thanks yes All at sylvan. I’m in red deer it’s close and the kids like catching whites while watching flags.

[sparkster]

Taking my boys out to target whitefish for the first time tomorrow.
With all the talk of large groups and crazy crowds, if a guy drives out on the ice, is it still possible to find a less crowded spot and still see success? Like many, I'm not huge on the crowds, but also want good chances of my 3 young boys seeing some whites on camera and hopefully hook a few. I'm coming from the south so was thinking of ice access either at half moon or RR23.
Finding some burbot or walleye wouldn't be a bad thing either :-)
Was planning on driving my Duramax on the ice unless people think otherwise?
Any helpful comments appreciated.

[abhunter8]

The Sylvan Skunk got us again today! 😩

[damienelliott]

Originally Posted by abhunter8

The Sylvan Skunk got us again today! 😩

Still Better than a day at work.

[abhunter8]

Originally Posted by damienelliott

Still Better than a day at work.

Ya, 5 hours of staring down a hole and fishin hard to see 1 whitefish between 2 people! Fun fun...ouch my neck and back. Lol. There was a Lot of people on the lake today.

[damienelliott]

Originally Posted by abhunter8

Ya, 5 hours of staring down a hole and fishin hard to see 1 whitefish between 2 people! Fun fun...ouch my neck and back. Lol. There was a Lot of people on the lake today.

I believe that. The lake has turned into a zoo the last few years.

[Fishingforjoy]

January 1 2021. Second time out to Sylvan Lake. Be there at 12pm. Stop in Norglenwold. Tried 15, 8, and 6 fow. Till 4:30pm, landed 9 whities kept 5, and a walleye. Crowded and noisy but fun day for New Year.

[Zip-in-Z]

Jan 02nd .... Went out with Scott we were set up in 8 fow just after 8:15 it was still dark & hard to see the bottom, had a White smack my w/w, missed it, could finally see the bottom had a few come in, we got 2 Whites just after 9:00 am, enough for the Mrs for supper. It was C&R the rest of the day, a bit slower than previous trips, had a few bigger Whites attack the flutter spoon & Candy Cane Y/O w/w, lost a few more than normal, just bad hook sets. After 5 trips, today I seen my first Pike and 1 nice Burb that bumped my spoon, the fellow next to us got a nice Walleye. It was a Bty warm fun day. The Mrs enjoyed her supper and has left overs for lunch tomorrow. The lake was crazy busy, hope everyone enjoyed being out and perhaps caught a few fish, too.

Cheers

D.

[abhunter8]

Originally Posted by Fishingforjoy

January 1 2021. Second time out to Sylvan Lake. Be there at 12pm. Stop in Norglenwold. Tried 15, 8, and 6 fow. Till 4:30pm, landed 9 whities kept 5, and a walleye. Crowded and noisy but fun day for New Year.

Sounds like you had a good day, congrats! Why may I ask do your fish look so bloody? Looks like an animal got into them. Lol

[Fishingforjoy]

Originally Posted by abhunter8

Sounds like you had a good day, congrats! Why may I ask do your fish look so bloody? Looks like an animal got into them. Lol

I bled them. Taste less fishy

[therand]

Was out today at Palm Bay in the morning before sunrise hoping to see my son catch his 1st whitefish or to get him to believe I caught many similar types at Wabamum and Pigeon 40 years ago. Well, I failed. We saw 4 whites and a Burb but no actual bites. The closest we came was in the darkness where I attempted a hook set when I lost site of my lure, only to feel no bite had occured and see Mr. whitefish slowly swim away. The other 3 were curious but certainly not hungry. A good bonding day none the less. We fished in 6 and 8 feet of water for 3 hours. Lots of shacks and drive ons at daybreak but I remember many more people at Wabamum back in the day.

[sparkster]

Originally Posted by sparkster

Taking my boys out to target whitefish for the first time tomorrow.
With all the talk of large groups and crazy crowds, if a guy drives out on the ice, is it still possible to find a less crowded spot and still see success? Like many, I'm not huge on the crowds, but also want good chances of my 3 young boys seeing some whites on camera and hopefully hook a few. I'm coming from the south so was thinking of ice access either at half moon or RR23.
Finding some burbot or walleye wouldn't be a bad thing either :-)
Was planning on driving my Duramax on the ice unless people think otherwise?
Any helpful comments appreciated.

Jan 1 Summary from the boys and my maiden voyage was we made it to the lake around 8:00 AM. Drove onto the lake at half moon, followed the coast NW until I felt i was half way in between the RR23 and half moon (as I said, I kinda like to be secluded). Doesn't seem busy or like a zoo at all if you go away from the big crowds at the entrances. More open ice seen by us than occupied ice. People maybe just need to venture out further.

Wasn't overly active day, but a great day out with my boys, especially for it being a exploratory day for us on a new lake targeting new species (Primarily whites).

5 FOW, 1 Massive (18-20 lbs) Northern - Landed cleanly with my 14 yr old doing everything except me hand pulling him out of the hole. Took a couple quick pics, and put him back in for one of you to catch :-)

8 FOW, 2 Whites on ice (first for us)

12 FOW, nothing landed, but saw whites on Camera and 1 medium Northern

16 FOW, 2 Burbot and one Walleye, late day activity.

Four different species caught. Boys were pretty excited about that.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by sparkster

Jan 1 Summary from the boys and my maiden voyage was we made it to the lake around 8:00 AM. Drove onto the lake at half moon, followed the coast NW until I felt i was half way in between the RR23 and half moon (as I said, I kinda like to be secluded). Doesn't seem busy or like a zoo at all if you go away from the big crowds at the entrances. More open ice seen by us than occupied ice. People maybe just need to venture out further.

Wasn't overly active day, but a great day out with my boys, especially for it being a exploratory day for us on a new lake targeting new species (Primarily whites).

5 FOW, 1 Massive (18-20 lbs) Northern - Landed cleanly with my 14 yr old doing everything except me hand pulling him out of the hole. Took a couple quick pics, and put him back in for one of you to catch :-)

8 FOW, 2 Whites on ice (first for us)

12 FOW, nothing landed, but saw whites on Camera and 1 medium Northern

16 FOW, 2 Burbot and one Walleye, late day activity.

Four different species caught. Boys were pretty excited about that.

Successful day in every aspect! Care to post a pic of that beast pike?

[Pikebreath]

Originally Posted by Fishingforjoy

I bled them. Taste less fishy

This is a good practice to follow. Kills the fish right away, it does not have to die from suffocation and freezing and yes your fish taste better for dong it!!!

[happyfisher]

Great report sparkster....thanks for that

[Pastaman]

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sparkster]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Successful day in every aspect! Care to post a pic of that beast pike?

Wish I would have gotten a better one that showed her girth. But am always worried keeping them out too long. Just a solid fat momma, nice and healthy. We were all going nuts when we saw that fat gator head pass by the hole the first time. Haha

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by sparkster

Wish I would have gotten a better one that showed her girth. But am always worried keeping them out too long. Just a solid fat momma, nice and healthy. We were all going nuts when we saw that fat gator head pass by the hole the first time. Haha

That is a nice pike congrats

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by sparkster

Wish I would have gotten a better one that showed her girth. But am always worried keeping them out too long. Just a solid fat momma, nice and healthy. We were all going nuts when we saw that fat gator head pass by the hole the first time. Haha

That’s awesome man!

[SNAPFisher]

Yep! Super day and super pike. Congrats on the great day out - and outside of the box...er crowds