Beaver Mines

THLTD · #1 01-02-2020, 09:26 AM

Happy New Years,

We have been to Beaver Mines and have noticed that the biter seems really slow? Does anyone else have an update as far as success. The lake is typically better than this.

Scott N · #2 01-02-2020, 09:29 AM

I've noticed the same thing, and actually we were out yesterday, and only caught 1 fish between 2 of us in about 5 hours before calling it a day. We did see fish on the camera, but they were not interested in our presentations. Before Christmas we were out a few times as well, and while we caught fish, the numbers weren't very good.

Beaver Mines Lake did not treat me well in 2019, I wasn't sure if that was just me or if others were noticing a decline as well.

pinelakeperch · #3 01-02-2020, 09:33 AM

Looks like it got stocked with more fish in 2019 vs 2018, but much smaller. What was the ice like?

Scott N · #4 01-02-2020, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinelakeperch

Looks like it got stocked with more fish in 2019 vs 2018, but much smaller. What was the ice like?

There's about 8" of good ice under about 3-4" of white ice yesterday. Not much snow on top.

THLTD · #5 01-02-2020, 10:05 AM

We fished it last winter a lot and was very good. Lots of action and good size fish . Been there twice this year and have only caught 3 fish? Ice is good and not much snow, unlike last winter! Strange why it is so slow. Not even marking many fish.

Twin Valleys · #6 01-02-2020, 10:49 AM

I find the best action on this lake is at the crack of dawn, by 10 a.m. might as well pack up

pinelakeperch · #7 01-02-2020, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott N

There's about 8" of good ice under about 3-4" of white ice yesterday. Not much snow on top.

Thanks for the update. What were you using for bait/lures?

Scott N · #8 01-02-2020, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinelakeperch

Thanks for the update. What were you using for bait/lures?

I usually have a pickerel rig set up outside and usually use a small jig on my active rod, and usually use shrimp, powerbait, or worms for bait. Sometimes I use a suspended leach fly or other nymphs, but yesterday it was shrimp and powerbait we were mainly using.

pinelakeperch · #9 01-02-2020, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott N

I usually have a pickerel rig set up outside and usually use a small jig on my active rod, and usually use shrimp, powerbait, or worms for bait. Sometimes I use a suspended leach fly or other nymphs, but yesterday it was shrimp and powerbait we were mainly using.

Seems like you have all of the bases covered. Hopefully the bite picks up soon!

flyguyd · #10 01-02-2020, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinelakeperch

Looks like it got stocked with more fish in 2019 vs 2018, but much smaller. What was the ice like?

Not sure you can always trust the stocking report...lol

Payne got 85000 fingerlings in september you would think i woulda had at least one bite in 2 hours this morning

Didnt look like any of the other guys did any better

pinelakeperch · #11 01-02-2020, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyguyd

Not sure you can always trust the stocking report...lol

Payne got 85000 fingerlings in september you would think i woulda had at least one bite in 2 hours this morning

Didnt look like any of the other guys did any better

2in rainbows likely aren't going to be taking your offering, lol! How's the ice out there?

THLTD · #12 01-02-2020, 01:59 PM

Worms,shrimp,small plastics...etc.
Bigger tube jigs and leaches for the bulls!Would usually spend the day with it slowing down from 11-2 then a bit of a run till dark.

Drewski Canuck · #13 01-02-2020, 04:52 PM

Oh yee of Little Faith about mid day trout!!!

Go out to the deep. Put down a 1/16 ounce jig with a worm. Fish all depths, yes even under the ice in the middle of the lake.

You would be surprised at the mid day action with a live worm in the deep water.

Drewski

flyguyd · #14 01-02-2020, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinelakeperch

2in rainbows likely aren't going to be taking your offering, lol! How's the ice out there?

About 10 "

those fingerlings should be at least 6-7 inches by now. It has been 4 months

CNP · #15 01-03-2020, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THLTD

Happy New Years,

We have been to Beaver Mines and have noticed that the biter seems really slow? Does anyone else have an update as far as success. The lake is typically better than this.

The bite is not just slow. Fish numbers are way down. Stocking has been reduced over the last few years due to the temporary closure of the Sam Livingston hatchery in Calgary.

When you don't see any fish on a flasher in 50 holes...you know it isn't just that the bite is slow.

pinelakeperch · #16 01-03-2020, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CNP

The bite is not just slow. Fish numbers are way down. Stocking has been reduced over the last few years due to the temporary closure of the Sam Livingston hatchery in Calgary.

When you don't see any fish on a flasher in 50 holes...you know it isn't just that the bite is slow.

Are the stocking reports not to be relied upon? It looks like the lake consistently gets around 23,000 fish/year, other than last year when it was about half that number.

I'm not being facetious, I've just always assumed that they were fairly accurate.

CNP · #17 01-03-2020, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinelakeperch

Are the stocking reports not to be relied upon? It looks like the lake consistently gets around 23,000 fish/year, other than last year when it was about half that number.

I'm not being facetious, I've just always assumed that they were fairly accurate.

My bad on the stocking report. Yes 2018 stocked only 11,500, while 2019 and years prior were typically at 23,000. I looked at albertafishingguide.com for lake specific stocking and I only saw 10,000 in May when in fact mywildalberta.ca indicates a further stocking of 13,000 in Sep, not reported in albertafishingguide.com.

Nevertheless, catch report is very low and I rely on a flasher to tell me if fish are present in the usual locations. Numerous locations covering a substantial area of the lake did not reveal any fish in 6 - 16 fow.

Hey...….I hope they are hiding

http://www.albertafishingguide.com/l...nes-lake#stock

https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/fis...g-reports.aspx

THLTD · #18 02-06-2020, 12:34 PM

Was back a couple weeks ago and again no luck and didn't mark a fish. Pretty disappointing as this lake has been so good in the last few years. Talked to a couple other groups with the same results.

Thoughts???

pinelakeperch · #19 02-06-2020, 01:16 PM

I caught a nice one out of there a few weekends back and missed one on the dead stick shortly after. All in about an hour or an hour and a half of fishing. Didn't mark anything else.

Tons of slush at that time!

THLTD · #20 02-06-2020, 02:34 PM

yes slushy when I was there too.
Whats a nice one 23" plus?

pinelakeperch · #21 02-06-2020, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THLTD

yes slushy when I was there too.
Whats a nice one 23" plus?

20" on the nose. Nice for me, lol!

THLTD · #22 02-07-2020, 09:09 AM

ya nice fish for sure. The biggest we have caught out of there was 23"

I would attach a pic if I new how...LOL

pinelakeperch · #23 02-07-2020, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THLTD

ya nice fish for sure. The biggest we have caught out of there was 23"

I would attach a pic if I new how...LOL

Great fish!

Here's a few pics of mine. I talked to a guy a hundred yards away from me who kept a 16in bow and noticed a large pile of gut contents on the ice near the fish. Must've been about half a dozen small shiners and aquatic insects. Mine had three or four good sized shiners. Nice to see that there's baitfish in the lake.

THLTD · #24 02-07-2020, 01:47 PM

23" from last winter

pinelakeperch · #25 02-07-2020, 02:04 PM

Great photo, especially with the mountains in the background. I might head over there this weekend.

pinelakeperch · #26 02-08-2020, 01:20 PM

Anyone out there today? Wondering what the road is like out there.