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  #151  
Old 01-08-2023, 03:04 AM
eman eman is offline
 
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any truck on the lake yet ?
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  #152  
Old 01-08-2023, 06:54 AM
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Originally Posted by eman View Post
any truck on the lake yet ?
Well yesterday around the provincial park there was trucks driving around the edge of the lake then walking out to fish.
One truck I saw went right across centre bay to get into some pike, perch walleye areas.

We went off the provincial park on the skidoo, 1km out, 10 inches of ice, experienced no overflow. Under a foot of snow too.

Seems to be lots of snowmobiles and ATV’s venturing out onto the open areas of Cold Lake now, many were way past us.

My gut says don’t take a truck out when I am consistently getting 10 inches of ice measured or slightly less in some areas.

Be safe not sorry.
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  #153  
Old 01-08-2023, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by 300magman View Post
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!
You will not regret it snow checking a new skidoo.
Just a solid reliable work horse.
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  #154  
Old 01-08-2023, 08:59 AM
lromanchuk lromanchuk is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 58thecat View Post
Well yesterday around the provincial park there was trucks driving around the edge of the lake then walking out to fish.
One truck I saw went right across centre bay to get into some pike, perch walleye areas.

We went off the provincial park on the skidoo, 1km out, 10 inches of ice, experienced no overflow. Under a foot of snow too.

Seems to be lots of snowmobiles and ATV’s venturing out onto the open areas of Cold Lake now, many were way past us.

My gut says don’t take a truck out when I am consistently getting 10 inches of ice measured or slightly less in some areas.

Be safe not sorry.
Have you ventured out to the humps yet? If so, how much ice was out there?
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  #155  
Old 01-08-2023, 09:22 AM
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Have you ventured out to the humps yet? If so, how much ice was out there?

Nope not me but I saw a few out there on snow machines and over at garnet too.

My next outing I will venture out and about more and get back to what I am seeing.


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  #156  
Old 01-08-2023, 07:07 PM
Egymcara Egymcara is offline
 
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Made it out for a few hours this morning with a buddy. Action was a bit slower today compared to previous days but we still managed 22 on the ice between 8 and 11am. Had to work a little harder to get the fish to chase or even hit the hook for that matter. Stuck with the hair jigs and we did lose a higher then normal amount of fish today. Made a little video just to show what its like fishing out of our tent for anyone interested. disclaimer: we are just out having fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLQT...ab_channel=TML
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  #157  
Old 01-08-2023, 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Egymcara View Post
Made it out for a few hours this morning with a buddy. Action was a bit slower today compared to previous days but we still managed 22 on the ice between 8 and 11am. Had to work a little harder to get the fish to chase or even hit the hook for that matter. Stuck with the hair jigs and we did lose a higher then normal amount of fish today. Made a little video just to show what its like fishing out of our tent for anyone interested. disclaimer: we are just out having fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLQT...ab_channel=TML
Nice vid!! Looks like a blast!
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  #158  
Old 01-09-2023, 08:56 AM
Deebs Deebs is offline
 
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The fish are starting to get bigger!


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  #159  
Old 01-09-2023, 11:55 AM
Weavster Weavster is offline
 
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The fish are starting to get bigger!


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That's a beauty fish!
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  #160  
Old 01-09-2023, 12:49 PM
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Run and gun today.
Fog sure sucks though but that’s fishing!
Now to get to catching.


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  #161  
Old 01-09-2023, 01:41 PM
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Any fish yet on the hump 58thecat ?
How thick is the ice ?
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  #162  
Old 01-09-2023, 01:59 PM
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Can’t see out to the hump too foggy!
I am about 200 yards off garnet and have seen solid 10 inches of ice so far.
All flood water I came across is frozen too.
Have drilled right across French bay mouth from garnet over with again 10 inches of ice.
I gotta start fishing but this was more an ice verification.
If we get a sunny day I will poke my way over to the hump.


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  #163  
Old 01-09-2023, 02:41 PM
Deebs Deebs is offline
 
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That's a beauty fish!

That was his first day catching lakers after trying for 2 years. Released to fight another day. Needles to say I might have a fishing buddy now lol. Livescope is a game changer for sure


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  #164  
Old 01-09-2023, 03:10 PM
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That's a beauty fish!

Awesome to see!
So after watching your video I said I would like to catch a black beauty too well heck 30 minutes later I got this one.
Never seen a dark laker other than the one you caught.


28 inches but just a awesome looking fish.


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  #165  
Old 01-09-2023, 04:07 PM
Egymcara Egymcara is offline
 
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Out again this morning for one last fish before I head back to work. Ended up with 26 on the ice between 7:45 and 11:15. The bite was very finicky to start, had to use really slow up and downs on the bottom to get a fish. As the morning progressed the trout became more active but definitely had some slow moments as well. A few double headers was fun, just used the hair jig with some belly on it. Until next time!
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  #166  
Old 01-09-2023, 08:49 PM
eman eman is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 58thecat View Post
Can’t see out to the hump too foggy!
I am about 200 yards off garnet and have seen solid 10 inches of ice so far.
All flood water I came across is frozen too.
Have drilled right across French bay mouth from garnet over with again 10 inches of ice.
I gotta start fishing but this was more an ice verification.
If we get a sunny day I will poke my way over to the hump.


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great update garnet is my favorite spot, but have to wait another week or two to drive on .
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  #167  
Old 01-10-2023, 06:34 PM
Deebs Deebs is offline
 
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Tough bite today. Slow but steady action still managed to ice over 20 lakers from 9am to 5pm. Not too many chasing. Hair jig and a minnow is still producing


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  #168  
Old 01-11-2023, 03:22 PM
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Spoons and dead stick was the ticket, sitting in 45fow with 9 inches of ice.







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  #169  
Old 01-11-2023, 04:02 PM
Binati Binati is offline
 
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And a leader. Throwing my world upside down
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  #170  
Old 01-11-2023, 04:44 PM
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And a leader. Throwing my world upside down

Ya and a big snap too for my old eyes and frozen fingers!



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  #171  
Old 01-11-2023, 05:12 PM
Egymcara Egymcara is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Binati View Post
And a leader. Throwing my world upside down
Lake trout actually don't care much about leaders to be honest, I have seen no difference in numbers over the years. Only place I could see it making a difference is with finicky fish on a non moving line. Just my 2 cents
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  #172  
Old 01-11-2023, 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Egymcara View Post
Lake trout actually don't care much about leaders to be honest, I have seen no difference in numbers over the years. Only place I could see it making a difference is with finicky fish on a non moving line. Just my 2 cents
I run flouro leaders but sometimes I'll add a snap swivel. I've done side by side with my wife....2 rods same lures one with a snap swivel one direct tied and I'll agree that there's no noticeable difference.
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  #173  
Old 01-11-2023, 08:43 PM
Binati Binati is offline
 
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That'll save me so much time. I switch a lot when I'm up there looking for what's working. Every video I've seen it looked to me like floor and sure I've read jewelry spooks them.
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  #174  
Old 01-11-2023, 08:45 PM
eyeflyer eyeflyer is offline
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Originally Posted by 58thecat View Post
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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From what I see they have a keep limit on a size that hardly exists or almost nobody catches which Fish and Wildlife do often especially for Walleye. In about 4-5 posts anglers reported catching about 80 fish (20 or so each in just a few hours), but I only see 1 over 75 being caught. What does that tell you about the fishery?................ and the pressure on Cold Lake hasn't even got going yet.
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  #175  
Old 01-11-2023, 09:11 PM
HL_transplant HL_transplant is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eyeflyer View Post
From what I see they have a keep limit on a size that hardly exists or almost nobody catches which Fish and Wildlife do often especially for Walleye. In about 4-5 posts anglers reported catching about 80 fish (20 or so each in just a few hours), but I only see 1 over 75 being caught. What does that tell you about the fishery?................ and the pressure on Cold Lake hasn't even got going yet.
I have discussed this with a Sask fisheries Bio. Probably 1% to 2% of the population density in cold lake is over 75 cm. There were a lot bigger fish when the limit was 65 cm. But Probably a fewer fisherman.

Last edited by HL_transplant; 01-11-2023 at 09:17 PM.
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  #176  
Old 01-11-2023, 09:55 PM
eyeflyer eyeflyer is offline
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I have discussed this with a Sask fisheries Bio. Probably 1% to 2% of the population density in cold lake is over 75 cm. There were a lot bigger fish when the limit was 65 cm. But Probably a fewer fisherman.
Popularity for Cold Lake..............ice fishing especially has been growing by leaps and bounds for over 10years. Even if you have a boat, that can be an ugly lake in just a few minutes with 6 footers not uncommon..............much calmer in the winter.
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  #177  
Old 01-11-2023, 10:51 PM
Bhflyfisher Bhflyfisher is offline
 
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You're seeing no fish over 75cm because almost every single fish over 75cm is getting removed from the lake. Effectively removing the bigger fish genes.

The problem the government faces is if they open it to 1 or 2 fish under 75 or say going back to 65cm. Everyone retaining their one fish will make a huge dent in an already slow-growing population.

Lake would be best off having certain months allowed with the retention of smaller slot sizes. But people would cry about that not being inclusive for everyone. No matter which way you spin it, the public really won't be happy with any management plan.
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  #178  
Old 01-12-2023, 01:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Binati View Post
That'll save me so much time. I switch a lot when I'm up there looking for what's working. Every video I've seen it looked to me like floor and sure I've read jewelry spooks them.
One set up I use has a series of small spoons and then about 18 inches below that I snap on a lure, jig etc.

Works awesome in low light and 100 fow or deeper, the little spoons flutter mimicking bait fish and then the bigger presentation gets picked off.

Some just like the bling bling
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  #179  
Old 01-12-2023, 01:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eyeflyer View Post
From what I see they have a keep limit on a size that hardly exists or almost nobody catches which Fish and Wildlife do often especially for Walleye. In about 4-5 posts anglers reported catching about 80 fish (20 or so each in just a few hours), but I only see 1 over 75 being caught. What does that tell you about the fishery?................ and the pressure on Cold Lake hasn't even got going yet.
You actually would be surprised how many over get caught, I know many folks that don’t do social media etc but toss them back.

On one location last winter we caught four in a row over, largest being 36 but iced only a handful of unders.

Location, location, location and luck
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  #180  
Old 01-12-2023, 06:08 AM
Egymcara Egymcara is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eyeflyer View Post
From what I see they have a keep limit on a size that hardly exists or almost nobody catches which Fish and Wildlife do often especially for Walleye. In about 4-5 posts anglers reported catching about 80 fish (20 or so each in just a few hours), but I only see 1 over 75 being caught. What does that tell you about the fishery?................ and the pressure on Cold Lake hasn't even got going yet.
The reality is humans do not have reasonable expectations. Lake trout do not grow fast enough in order to support the pressure from anglers. We all love to fish? We all love to catch big fish? So why are we keeping any fish if its clearly having a negative effect on the population. Many anglers also have no education when it comes to handling and releasing the fish properly either.

On a side note... fisherman compete against bait fish in Cold Lake and a lot of large lake trout will never even see your hooks over their entire life span.
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