We are planning an ice fishing trip to Lac Sante this weekend. We have never been there before and are looking for advice on what part of the lake we should go to.
We are planning on fishing for Pike or Whitefish in the afternoon and then fish for burbot starting in the evening. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Take some Kub along to eat. Fishing in that lake has never been great. My Mother In Law had a home there for many years. Tried fishing it summer from boats and winter through the ice, rarely caught a fish. The water has quite a high Alkaline content and used to have a Pelican population so I think that really limits the fish too. The last couple of years before she sold in 2020, even the Pelicans weren't around so I suspect the fish population isn't high enough even for them.
There may be someone who has had better luck there but it sure wasn't me.
There are very few if any fish left in sante other than burbot. The alkaline and saline levels have prevented successful spawing for a long long time from what I was told by a CO. I hear stories of the odd huge pike being caught every couple years....but it's pretty much strictly a burbot fishery now and even that is on the decline as the lake gets absolutely hammered every winter. 5-10 years ago there were lots of 8-10lb burbs in that lake....a few in the teens....now it's a struggle to catch anything bigger than 2-4lbs but there are still lots of those.
You don't have to travel anywhere near 2 hours to find decent fishing around Edmonton. Wab as mentioned, Lac St Anne, Pigeon lake, for Pike, Whitefish and Walleye. Also, Hasse, Morinvile, the golf course pond at Cardif and a wack of others near here that are stocked for trout. If you get hold of the Alberta stocking guide it lists all the ponds near Edmonton, when they were stocked and with what.
Ice Fishing at Lac Sante
Hybrid Mode
