Frank Lake near High River

[jacenbeers]

Are there fish in Frank Lake. The Barry Mitchell guide references a different Frank Lake which it says is just a widening of a river. Frank Lake looks pretty big and is relatively close to Calgary so I thought it might be stocked. Anyone know?

[Okotokian]

Good question. I don't know. Never seen or heard of fishing on it, but that means nothing. I'm not sure they would stock as it's already got DU sites and is also a conservation area. They might not want the extra traffic.

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by jacenbeers

Are there fish in Frank Lake. The Barry Mitchell guide references a different Frank Lake which it says is just a widening of a river. Frank Lake looks pretty big and is relatively close to Calgary so I thought it might be stocked. Anyone know?

Years ago 20+ there were Pike in there,however they winter killed and were never re-stocked.Frank lake is big,but very shallow in alot of places.I use to be able to walk across the lake in my chest waiter's when I was 14 years old,hunting Ducks.It is bar-none one of the best duck hunting spots in alberta.I have shot 2 wood ducks there aswell as a black duck,which are rare for alberta. however It was opening week and the birds were not colored yet,if they were I would have mounted them!

[bubba 96]

Im pretty sure the frank lake they are talking about is the widing of the crownest river in frank, in the crownest pass, we had some good luck, but lots of debre like the mag said..

[Crusty]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

Years ago 20+ there were Pike in there,however they winter killed and were never re-stocked.Frank lake is big,but very shallow in alot of places.I use to be able to walk across the lake in my chest waiter's when I was 14 years old,hunting Ducks.It is bar-none one of the best duck hunting spots in alberta.I have shot 2 wood ducks there aswell as a black duck,which are rare for alberta. however It was opening week and the birds were not colored yet,if they were I would have mounted them!

Mighty good thing to shoot those rare birds, hombre!!!

[bigfis]

theres a frank lake in crows nest but , the one that you are thinking of east of okotoks looks moor like a 4 feet of water swamp am pritty shure its protekted by ducks unlimited I dont hutt but they do have somthing to do with it

[marlin1]

Originally Posted by Crusty

Mighty good thing to shoot those rare birds, hombre!!!

was thinking the same thing , we even have a season on those. I think I've seen one wood duck ever

[kevpack]

Originally Posted by Crusty

Mighty good thing to shoot those rare birds, hombre!!!

If the guy's hunting legally talk to the province!

[75ft Arborist]

Originally Posted by marlin1

was thinking the same thing , we even have a season on those. I think I've seen one wood duck ever

They are the second most hunted duck besides the Mallard out East. They are only rare to this province. Their flyway is the Eastern U.S.A. and Eastern Canada.
As for Frank Lake its divided into 3 lakes. The middle one is easily 10ft deep in parts. That being said i have never seen any pike in them. Not like setting the decoys up at Eagle and having the 2ft of water erupt in front of you cause you almost stepped on a nice Pike.

[marlin1]

the wood duck or the black duck?

Originally Posted by marlin1

was thinking the same thing , we even have a season on those. I think I've seen one wood duck ever

Yup, they are 100% legal. It seems we are starting to see more wood ducks every year. There's quite a few nesting pairs on the ponds at Sam Livingston Hatchery. A fully plummaged drake make a very impressive trophy indeed. Another duck I'm starting to see more and more of that I rarely saw before is the cinnamon teal. Alberta gets a lot of spill over from other flyways and you occasionally see the oddest birds.

There was a project in Calgary to introduce wood ducks to Alberta so I'm not sure if the increased numbers are related to that or not.

[marlin1]

been seeing some small teal east of the city , maybe some are cinnamon teal . pretty sure I saw some pintails too , good to see them . Thought the wood ducks were more in the foothills or closer to the mountains

Originally Posted by marlin1

Thought the wood ducks were more in the foothills or closer to the mountains

You are likely thinking of harlequin ducks....another very brightly coloured bird.

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by Crusty

Mighty good thing to shoot those rare birds, hombre!!!

There are millions of wood\black ducks in north america,get your facts straight buddy.

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by marlin1

was thinking the same thing , we even have a season on those. I think I've seen one wood duck ever

Millions of wood ducks in North america,they just are'nt common in Alberta,got this male in october south of medicine hat,he is mounted on my wall!

[marlin1]

guess I've been informed , millions? really? nice looking duck though

[grizz]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

Millions of wood ducks in North america,they just are'nt common in Alberta,got this male in october south of medicine hat,he is mounted on my wall!

I would love one of the capes off a wood duck. Straight swap for some quality hand tied flies your choice . Anybody..:

[tatical22]

does anyone know if you can hunt in all three lakes

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by tatical22

does anyone know if you can hunt in all three lakes

yes you can ,but get permission from the hutterites or who evers land you must pass through to access the lake.

[gitrdun]

There are no fish in Frank Lake. Smell the water and that might have you thinking twice about eating anything associated with it. I have heard that it was dumping station for Cargill's treated waste water. Past history shows that they haven't been all that attentive to their water treatment quality. Just what I heard is all.

[Christofficer]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

There are no fish in Frank Lake. Smell the water and that might have you thinking twice about eating anything associated with it. I have heard that it was dumping station for Cargill's treated waste water. Past history shows that they haven't been all that attentive to their water treatment quality. Just what I heard is all.

I don't think that's a myth either, my aunt worked at the cargill plant down there and she said the same thing.

[Alpine Archer]

Haha! My black lab got stuck in the mud while retrieving a mallard there about 15 years ago. My Dad had to go in to help him; actually heaved his guts twice on the way out there!! Worst smell I've ever encountered!! We had to throw him in the back of the pick-up and take him to the river to wash off...Haven't hunted ducks there since...No question that it's an awesome nursery for waterfowl, but that turned me off...There was a warm water effluent flowing in from the Cargill plant at the time, which actually kept ice off the one end during late fall. Not sure if that's still the case. It was rancid...

[vcmm]

It's a run off slough for Cargill's treated water