Cold Lake 2022/23 Hard Water Season.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by laker

After seeing a post on Facebook about garbage left behind on the ice by slobs, thought I’d put a reminder out there for the good people on AO to stop and pick up garbage you see laying around out the ice. I’ve made it a point over last umpteen years to travel out around on the lake after the season with the sxs and pick up garbage left behind out there. It’s amazing what I find. Our beautiful lake needs our help.
And now with ice shack rentals and tent cities I’m finding more and more.
Just had to say this. Thanks to those who care.

Well said, this goes for all outdoor activities, pack out your crap and if you see garbage just pick it up.....after the tournaments I pick up more trash which is simply unbelievable....ohhhh and driving to the lakes through the parks slow down too....people out enjoying the outdoors don’t need to dodge traffic and gives people time to move over with their toys in tow.

[Egymcara]

Hows the fishing been the last few days? I haven't made it out since Friday but may try my luck tomorrow morning.

[ragweed]

Looks like I’m going to head up there Thursday afternoon for a Friday/Saturday fish. Wouldn’t mind bumping into anyone who happens to be out there. I’ll likely be parking in the ice and walking out. No snow machine here.


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[Wapiti340]

Originally Posted by Egymcara

Hows the fishing been the last few days? I haven't made it out since Friday but may try my luck tomorrow morning.

It Was slow for me on Monday. I was still hesitant to venture out exploring some better spots with the ice conditions so I walked on. Fished from 40’-120’ throughout the day and only hooked into a couple fish. Ran dead bait on the bottom on my second line as well and it didn’t get touched. Had a couple chasers but mostly just fish hanging on the bottom with lots of baitfish on the screen. The pup got lots of exercise as we hole hopped though lol….

[58thecat]

Got the Skandic and sled in tow all ready to go but thinking on going after walleye, pike and perch today.
Going to use the aqua-vu so it can show me how bad I am at catching

Laker news has been what I previously posted for the most part, being able to move locations to get on more active fish is key too but sometimes they just lock down and then it becomes a grind.

Good luck to all out there and be safe cold weather around the corner

[SNAPFisher]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Got the Skandic and sled in tow all ready to go but thinking on going after walleye, pike and perch today.
Going to use the aqua-vu so it can show me how bad I am at catching

Laker news has been what I previously posted for the most part, being able to move locations to get on more active fish is key too but sometimes they just lock down and then it becomes a grind.

Good luck to all out there and be safe cold weather around the corner

Good luck! If you want a real grind, try chasing jumbo whites at Pigeon Lake. All the groups have dwindled to 2 or 3 of us. It's like a sickness!

[Brodhead]

Originally Posted by SNAPFisher

Good luck! If you want a real grind, try chasing jumbo whites at Pigeon Lake. All the groups have dwindled to 2 or 3 of us. It's like a sickness!

Hah! 10% of my days chasing pigeon lake whitefish are successful. I'll stick with my 90% success rate on Cold Lake

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[fish99]

Originally Posted by SNAPFisher

Good luck! If you want a real grind, try chasing jumbo whites at Pigeon Lake. All the groups have dwindled to 2 or 3 of us. It's like a sickness!

i see very few people out on pigeon fishing whites this year
anyone seen soiler out this year. have not seen a post from him this year.

[Egymcara]

Made it out for a really quick fish to test some lure colors today. Fishing was definitely slow but I didn't expect any different. Managed 6 fish up between 7:15 and 10. Not many lake trout even in the general area but always bait fish on the bottom. Flood water in many spots, ice was 10-12" where I was. Seen a guy driving a truck out and my reaction was

Careful out there!

[58thecat]

Same results met a buddy out here, decided to go for lakers he hauled up 3 and I got 3 so far.
The pike etc can wait until March, maybe.
All off the bottom, hit flood water in a few areas too but not too bad.


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[58thecat]

This just got real stupid in the last hour, switched to a white tube and a herring tail attached and yup one after another.
On number 8 from this spot moved from 80 fow to 60 fow.
Go figure!


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[-JR-]

Just like you were saying Go shallow come evening !
Are those truck tracks I see behind you ?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Just like you were saying Go shallow come evening !
Are those truck tracks I see behind you ?

Side by side but there are trucks starting to venture out and small suvs just not too far out into the real open water.

At 4pm I lost a gooder that took a few long runs then line went slack, thought it was coming my way so reeled like a bugger to nothing then the dead stick went off and lost that one too, so packed up but still had a good day overall.


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[ragweed]

Made it to town to pop (hopefully) my cold lake ice laker cherry. If anyone is around tomorrow and wants to say hi, I’ll be near a grey Tacoma with a topper. Heading out from PP.

Wade,


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[Egymcara]

Originally Posted by ragweed

Made it to town to pop (hopefully) my cold lake ice laker cherry. If anyone is around tomorrow and wants to say hi, I’ll be near a grey Tacoma with a topper. Heading out from PP.

Wade,


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Good luck out there man, I'd join you but gotta pay the bills :[ Keep us updated with fishing and conditions!

[58thecat]

So what’s the lake looking like after yesterday’s +5 and rain?
Cold spell should help us out a bit just won’t be around to check it out but come Monday it’s go time again
Good luck to all and be safe.

[Binati]

Really hope the warm weather reduced the snow pack so the upcoming coldness drives some growth. Still 6 to 10in I gather?

[58thecat]

Around the PP and French Bay launch, marina, garnet and in front of ski hill Area 12 inches plus about 200 yards out in some areas but as you go out to more open areas on the lake 8 to 10 inches.
One good thing is the warm temps decreased the depth of the snow and with our cold snap coming I am predicting in a weeks time 12 inches and then you will see more lake travel with trucks.
Still double check as it takes 30 seconds to drill and verify ice thickness especially venturing off the beaten path.


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[ragweed]

Well. That was interesting. Marked dozens of chasers. Missed one single hit. Talk about fussy fish! I must have tried 25 different hooks/presentations. Every new hook saw a chaser or two. I didn’t get to the water I wanted. Found 6-8 of ice in places so I walked out. Lots of folks driving on the ice. Eeeek. They must know where the bad spots are. Going to try driving to deeper water.


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[Deebs]

Haggard lookin fella pulled out this morning


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[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by ragweed

Made it to town to pop (hopefully) my cold lake ice laker cherry. If anyone is around tomorrow and wants to say hi, I’ll be near a grey Tacoma with a topper. Heading out from PP.

Wade,


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Lucky you. Everyone knows ice fishing Cold Lake with a grey Tacoma with a topper confers:

• +3 to All Ice Fishing Skills
• +15% Cold Resists
• -1 to All Nagging Wife Debuffs

[ragweed]

Hahaha. I need the buffs to overcome natural deficiencies.


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[eyeflyer]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Lucky you. Everyone knows ice fishing Cold Lake with a grey Tacoma with a topper confers:

• +3 to All Ice Fishing Skills
• +15% Cold Resists
• -1 to All Nagging Wife Debuffs

Natural selection about to take place on Cold Lake

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Haggard lookin fella pulled out this morning


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Beauty and the beast!




You pick who is who.


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[-JR-]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Haggard lookin fella pulled out this morning


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Why is there skin missing on this laker . Was it from your fishing line ?

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by eyeflyer

Natural selection about to take place on Cold Lake

That picture is from last year when 58thecat was kind enough to come out at -30*C to lead us out to that spot to overnight on our first trip to Cold Lake. Doesn't get much safer than following a local that fishes the lake a few times a week. Darwin would be proud.

[Deebs]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Why is there skin missing on this laker . Was it from your fishing line ?

No sir it did not do the death roll and wrap in the line it was a very clean recovery on a single hook hair jig. It looked like a very old fish by the dorsal and color of the rest of the skin. Don't recall it being covered in those tiny worms.

@58 I would say the the fish are always the beauties =D


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[Deebs]

Same fish from a different angle


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[Jawjacker]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Same fish from a different angle


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I've seen a few Lakers from Cold Lake that look like that. Brian Hamilton( Hamilton House Bed and breakfast ) , Weavster and Willowtrail have spoken to biologists on this matter. Brian has one in his freezer for the biologists to study. Its some soft of disease that hopefully the biologists can figure out. Scary and vicious looking at best.

[fish99]

Originally Posted by Jawjacker

I've seen a few Lakers from Cold Lake that look like that. Brian Hamilton( Hamilton House Bed and breakfast ) , Weavster and Willowtrail have spoken to biologists on this matter. Brian has one in his freezer for the biologists to study. Its some soft of disease that hopefully the biologists can figure out. Scary and vicious looking at best.

this fish was a floater after released and the birds were pecking at it until it got ride of its air and went down . we have caught a few like that as well.
and one day going out we seen some birds and thought the lakers pushed bait up and the birds were getting minnows nope they were pecking on a laker and it looked like the picture