Cold Lake 2022/23 Hard Water Season.

[ragweed]

Damn! Well done!


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[hamster]

Omg what a tank 😳, congrats

[eman]

how thick is ice now ?

[58thecat]

Depends where you are.
Mostly 10 inches to 12 inches but I have seen 6 inches with lots of overflow.
Crazy ice this year due to early snow and no real deep freeze.


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[58thecat]

https://www.alberta.ca/2023-24-sport...ngagement.aspx

Interesting survey on slot size for cold lake so get your say!


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[58thecat]

Fishing was slow but the sun was a blessing after a week or more of overcast, fog, sleet and snow.
Hope we get a cold snap and more sunshine.


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[Wapiti340]

Filled out the survey thanks cat….. you guys figure the early season bite is over??? Was going to make another trip up Monday as our first 2 trips were awesome but, it’s a long drive when they decide they aren’t hungry or play cat and mouse! Haha

[Egymcara]

Originally Posted by Wapiti340

Filled out the survey thanks cat….. you guys figure the early season bite is over??? Was going to make another trip up Monday as our first 2 trips were awesome but, it’s a long drive when they decide they aren’t hungry or play cat and mouse! Haha

I'll be out tomorrow and Sunday, keep you posted on the bite status but I suspect its still pretty good.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Wapiti340

Filled out the survey thanks cat….. you guys figure the early season bite is over??? Was going to make another trip up Monday as our first 2 trips were awesome but, it’s a long drive when they decide they aren’t hungry or play cat and mouse! Haha

Make the trip cuz ya never know what lurks below the ice.
Today the bite was on early from 8-10 am then died right off but had chasers to keep me entertained

[Wapiti340]

Originally Posted by Egymcara

I'll be out tomorrow and Sunday, keep you posted on the bite status but I suspect its still pretty good.

Much appreciated! I’ve got a couple new modifications to the jigs that need to see water

we found the bite was better earlier as well the last trip too cat. My day starts at 4 am when I come up but, maybe I’ll get up an hr earlier lol

[RACKER]

Originally Posted by 300magman

WOW!!! Beauty fish!!!

What a tank. No one more deserving catching a big one. Congrats

[ragweed]

Hoping the bite lasts until feb. Small chance I’m going to make the drive from yyc next weekend.


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[Egymcara]

Made it out this morning with a buddy for a quick fish. The bite has definitely slowed down compared to the previous 4 weeks. We managed 19 on the ice between 7:30 and 11:00 but its noticeably slower. Ice conditions are still bad, ice is 10 inches and lots of flood water seeping through cracks. Beautiful day out though, nice to finally see the sun for once.

Cheers

[Deebs]

Originally Posted by Egymcara

Made it out this morning with a buddy for a quick fish. The bite has definitely slowed down compared to the previous 4 weeks. We managed 19 on the ice between 7:30 and 11:00 but its noticeably slower. Ice conditions are still bad, ice is 10 inches and lots of flood water seeping through cracks. Beautiful day out though, nice to finally see the sun for once.

Cheers

Agreed. Past couple of days have slowed considerably. February ice fishing blues are slowly creeping in


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[Deebs]

Too cool not to share. Happened on Jan 20, 2023 on Cold Lake with Jeff, his son Harvey and myself:

Memory of a lifetime. 3yr old Harvey has been ice fishing with the boys lasting 6-8 hours a trip between the lulls and always being a trooper. Today we were doing some hole hopping and 3 of us had lines down. A thick red mass presented on the livescope and stopped dead on his bait when he started yelling he had a fish on. This was the first fish he has ever caught in his life and it measured 31.5" long (10lb 10 oz) and Harvey is 40" tall. Normally would release the bigger ones but it was bleeding badly anyway. Most of the morning was tough going so we were teaching him some fishing tips and his secret to the catch was saying "here fishy fishy"




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[Weavster]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Too cool not to share. Happened on Jan 20, 2023 on Cold Lake with Jeff, his son Harvey and myself:

Memory of a lifetime. 3yr old Harvey has been ice fishing with the boys lasting 6-8 hours a trip between the lulls and always being a trooper. Today we were doing some hole hopping and 3 of us had lines down. A thick red mass presented on the livescope and stopped dead on his bait when he started yelling he had a fish on. This was the first fish he has ever caught in his life and it measured 31.5" long (10lb 10 oz) and Harvey is 40" tall. Normally would release the bigger ones but it was bleeding badly anyway. Most of the morning was tough going so we were teaching him some fishing tips and his secret to the catch was saying "here fishy fishy"



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That's an awesome story and the smile says it all. He will be hooked for life now just like the rest of us!

[Deebs]

Originally Posted by Weavster

That's an awesome story and the smile says it all. He will be hooked for life now just like the rest of us!

Yea for sure. I've had the opportunity to take out a lot of family and friends this winter and I had no idea "guiding" fish is almost just as satisfying as catching them yourself


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[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Too cool not to share. Happened on Jan 20, 2023 on Cold Lake with Jeff, his son Harvey and myself:

Memory of a lifetime. 3yr old Harvey has been ice fishing with the boys lasting 6-8 hours a trip between the lulls and always being a trooper. Today we were doing some hole hopping and 3 of us had lines down. A thick red mass presented on the livescope and stopped dead on his bait when he started yelling he had a fish on. This was the first fish he has ever caught in his life and it measured 31.5" long (10lb 10 oz) and Harvey is 40" tall. Normally would release the bigger ones but it was bleeding badly anyway. Most of the morning was tough going so we were teaching him some fishing tips and his secret to the catch was saying "here fishy fishy"




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That there’s is what it Is all about....puts a smile on my face too

Only thing better would have been to be there and see it happen.....great memories made out on the ice.

Awesome.

[58thecat]

Enough with he wee ones please.

Lol

Need a bigum!


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[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Too cool not to share. Happened on Jan 20, 2023 on Cold Lake with Jeff, his son Harvey and myself:

Heckuva first fish.

[Frank_NK28]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

https://www.alberta.ca/2023-24-sport...ngagement.aspx

Interesting survey on slot size for cold lake so get your say!


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Thanks for the reminder! Done!

[58thecat]

Why is it every time you are just about to have a sammich the fish start to feed?
When it’s slow reach for a sammich!



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[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

[IMG]When it’s slow reach for a sammich!

Or hot chocolate/coffee, which you will then proceed to spill all over everything....every time...

[300magman]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Too cool not to share. Happened on Jan 20, 2023 on Cold Lake with Jeff, his son Harvey and myself:

Memory of a lifetime. 3yr old Harvey has been ice fishing with the boys lasting 6-8 hours a trip between the lulls and always being a trooper. Today we were doing some hole hopping and 3 of us had lines down. A thick red mass presented on the livescope and stopped dead on his bait when he started yelling he had a fish on. This was the first fish he has ever caught in his life and it measured 31.5" long (10lb 10 oz) and Harvey is 40" tall. Normally would release the bigger ones but it was bleeding badly anyway. Most of the morning was tough going so we were teaching him some fishing tips and his secret to the catch was saying "here fishy fishy"




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Absolutely awesome!!!

[capper]

we were out to cold lake jan 20-22. first time fishing lakers and it showed, caught 2 total over 2 days. We did catch and release a 14lb burbot which was a huge highlight. 10” of ice. people are driving on but most are staying close to shore in and around the p.p. anyone else fish the shoreline around the p.p this weekend?. Was it slow for everyone or are we just terrible laker fisherman.

[58thecat]

We were out away from the crowds across the lake near the garnet area.
Found like most years at this time they tend to chase but really hit on or near the bottom with a slight bounce kinda like fishing finicky walleye.
I put a number two Len Thompson on and really worked the water columns then once I got chasers that wanted nothing but that just to chase I dropped a white tube down and played near the bottom for hook ups.
Got them worked up with the spoon then slowed it down with the tube and it seemed to work.
I find if you can get more than one worked up eventually one will bite, kinda like a predator feeding frenzy.
Who knows what they want the next day?
Some days I wonder though and move, change tackle just to go back to my original spot and have an hour of good fishing.
Or the dead stick is killing with a 8 inch herring laying on the bottom popped full of holes to let the scents out.
That burb must have been awesome, poor man’s lobster!
At least you had good weather.


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[capper]

Thanks for the advice cat! we will definitely try that next time we go. weather was great!!

[58thecat]

Forgot to mention that sometimes the bite is on in shallow water at first and last light then a bit deeper say midday.

Have caught in 30-50fow first light and last light but seems to be about an hour or so then I will move out to say 80-120fow and get picked off at
The bottom.

Just a thought for your return trip.


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[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.

[Egymcara]

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.

You deserve many props for being a good person. I'd like to say nice things about the general population but I'd be holding myself in contempt. This is why I avoid crowds and popular areas at all costs. Most people on this forum probably aren't the offenders but its still a good reminder.