Cold Lake 2022/23 Hard Water Season.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by hamster

Waiting for that report from u cat lol, heading out to PP on sat morning, with a rav 4 😅

We will be out there too with the skidoo skandic and two sleds in tow. If you see us stop by for a chat.

Tight lines and be safe.


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[hamster]

Sounds like a plan 👍

[300magman]

Got up to the lake late this afternoon for a couple days with the boy. Only fished for about an hour and a half, but a good start to the trip. He got his (our) first laker through the ice, and we got 5 total this evening. Looking forward to the next couple days. Ice was 9” where we walked on.

Gotta throw a quick thanks to Weaver, this is our 3rd attempt at these things through the ice, and his videos and tips and tricks without question got us pointed in the right direction. Any other amateurs on the hard water lakers should definitely check out the vids and take some notes…..thanks man!

[Egymcara]

Very nice Magman! Looks like a good time.

Has anyone been out the last day or two? just wondering what the action has been like.

[Chewie66]

I managed to get out for a few days while I was up there visiting for the holidays. With all the snow I didn't see any noticeable ice growth on the main lake while I was there. Fishing was hot and cold but pretty steady overall. Luckily, I was able to land a new Cold Lake personal best of 93cm while I was there .

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[fish99]

A hog

[300magman]

Originally Posted by Egymcara

Very nice Magman! Looks like a good time.

Has anyone been out the last day or two? just wondering what the action has been like.

We were out again today somewhat by the Marina. Got 16 out of the hole and lost a few more. Mid morning and mid afternoon were best for us, slowed right down for the last hour and a half of daylight and was a slow start at dawn.

[58thecat]

sounds like a good outing, what was the flavour of the day?
I was finding better results on a smaller presentation be it a spoon or a tube, white still being the colour for tubes. I like to put on a minnow tail too, a little flutter and scent.
I drop down a big tube periodically looking for a bigger fish but no luck to date on that theory.
Dead sticks are getting picked off throughout the day with a 6-8” herring just laying in the bottom too.

[300magman]

White tubes for sure! Also got a couple on a bloody nosed white swim bait. We weren’t running dead sticks…….truth be told, the zipper on my tent screwed up yesterday morning, so it’s a heck of a production getting in and out lol. We were in about 70ft of water and the bait was coming through non stop.

[Egymcara]

Out this morning from 8 to 11:15 AM. Bite was crazy for the first hour and a half then steady for awhile. Ended up with 30 lake trout and 1 burbot, 1 being over 75m and a few close. Fished northwest of the marina, snow is getting pretty beaten down and the ice is slowly getting thicker 8-9"? Used the same 3/8 ounce glow hair jig as usual, converted my friend to it now as well :]! Surprised me fishing was so good being a full moon today, Happy Fishing!

[ruffy71]

I'm fairly new to ice fishing, and am fascinated by this Cold Lake conversation.

Silly question, but what do these lake trout taste like?

[ragweed]

I’ve only been to the lake a couple of times and haven’t retained any. Keeper size is 75cm. I doubt that I would keep any from this lake. Just out of respect for the fishery. It’s special.


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[Egymcara]

Originally Posted by ragweed

I’ve only been to the lake a couple of times and haven’t retained any. Keeper size is 75cm. I doubt that I would keep any from this lake. Just out of respect for the fishery. It’s special.


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If only this view was shared by all, Good on you!

[35 whelen]

Originally Posted by Egymcara

If only this view was shared by all, Good on you!

I'm guessing with the amount of pressure this lake has gotten over the last 5 years those bigger ones are getting rarer and rarer, But I did keep my first lake trout I caught there 15 years ago.

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[ruffy71]

That's how little I know about Cold Lake. I thought people were keeping these fish.

I would never keep anything if the lake is under pressure (which lake isn't), but even if it wasn't, I wouldn't keep any fish that was borderline for taste.

Just curious if they are super tasty, like pickerel, or kinda meh.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by ruffy71

I'm fairly new to ice fishing, and am fascinated by this Cold Lake conversation.

Silly question, but what do these lake trout taste like?

They are really good eating fish but unfortunately on this body of water they want us to keep the big ones which are generally fatty and oily compared to say a 20-25 inch lake trout.
If and when people keep a trout from this lake many end up in the smoker which too is great eating.
I just let them all go and if I want to eat a lake trout I head over to Saskatchewan like pierce lake.


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[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Egymcara

Out this morning from 8 to 11:15 AM. Bite was crazy for the first hour and a half then steady for awhile. Ended up with 30 lake trout and 1 burbot, 1 being over 75m and a few close. Fished northwest of the marina, snow is getting pretty beaten down and the ice is slowly getting thicker 8-9"? Used the same 3/8 ounce glow hair jig as usual, converted my friend to it now as well :]! Surprised me fishing was so good being a full moon today, Happy Fishing!

Was just over at boardwalk bait and tackle, picked up a few hair jigs for our outing tomorrow.

Gotta keep up with the jones


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[Egymcara]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Was just over at boardwalk bait and tackle, picked up a few hair jigs for our outing tomorrow.

Gotta keep up with the jones


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Hopefully you'll have some luck! I find glow really helps during sun up. I hope to be out there again on Sunday.

[Wapiti340]

Heading out on foot tomorrow morning bright and early… will be walking around on foot out there for the weekend. Broke out the fly tying gear and made some new hair jigs to try! Otter resort tent somewhere between 50-90’ north ish of the marina good luck out there.

[Egymcara]

Originally Posted by Wapiti340

Heading out on foot tomorrow morning bright and early… will be walking around on foot out there for the weekend. Broke out the fly tying gear and made some new hair jigs to try! Otter resort tent somewhere between 50-90’ north ish of the marina good luck out there.

Looks awesome! I hope you catch a beast on the hand tie, nothing more satisfying. Keep us posted on how you make out

[300magman]

Well this morning as previously mentioned was awesome. We had the best luck with with some big Bondy’s. Not as good of a morning as Egymcara (or even close really), but the best bite we had on this trip and got 13 on the ice in 2.5hrs! Unfortunately we’re back home now……till next time I’ll have to live vicariously through you guys lucky enough to have this fishery in your backyard! Best of luck to everyone this weekend!

[Egymcara]

Originally Posted by 300magman

Well this morning as previously mentioned was awesome. We had the best luck with with some big Bondy’s. Not as good of a morning as Egymcara (or even close really), but the best bite we had on this trip and got 13 on the ice in 2.5hrs! Unfortunately we’re back home now……till next time I’ll have to live vicariously through you guys lucky enough to have this fishery in your backyard! Best of luck to everyone this weekend!

13 is still a great catch on average! We are pretty spoiled with Cold Lake, too bad they don't protect it even more. Seems like you had a decent few days regardless, thanks for the updates!

[300magman]

Originally Posted by Egymcara

13 is still a great catch on average! We are pretty spoiled with Cold Lake, too bad they don't protect it even more. Seems like you had a decent few days regardless, thanks for the updates!

Couldn’t agree more……it’s a very special place that really should get the protection it deserves. Hopefully for those of us that don’t fish with square hooks at least, the decision to send them back to be caught another day is made more often than not, regardless of legality. I’d say all the time, but that’s just dreaming lol.

[58thecat]

What a beauty day out on the ice.





Using my Dads 1970’s Mitchell 300, classic!!!


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[300magman]

Looks like a great day! That’s a nice sled…..my ‘13 tundra is giving me some grief. Might need to snowcheck a skandic for next year!

[hamster]

Wow nicely done. We ended up with 7 lost 5 , we did not c anyone driving out on the lake, so we end up walking out,13inch of ice and what a gorgeous day 😀

[Wapiti340]

We put 10 on the ice and lost a few more… lots of stragglers and then every once and a while we would get an aggressive fish but, we walked around drilling a bunch between 45’-80’ of water. As everyone already said what a beauty day just to be on the lake Took a friend out for his first time and he out fished me lol needless to say he his hooked….

[laker]

Originally Posted by 300magman

Couldn’t agree more……it’s a very special place that really should get the protection it deserves. Hopefully for those of us that don’t fish with square hooks at least, the decision to send them back to be caught another day is made more often than not, regardless of legality. I’d say all the time, but that’s just dreaming lol.

What are you referring to there as far as protection? I agree it a great place to spend time on.

[300magman]

Originally Posted by laker

What are you referring to there as far as protection? I agree it a great place to spend time on.

The stoppage of all netting. And my comment doesn’t pertain only to cold, there are many lakes I fish that that comment stands true on. It’s a pipe dream but would be great to see none the less.

[laker]

Originally Posted by 300magman

The stoppage of all netting. And my comment doesn’t pertain only to cold, there are many lakes I fish that that comment stands true on. It’s a pipe dream but would be great to see none the less.

Pipe dream yes. Shake head and look the other way.