Cold Lake whiteout

[Drewski Canuck]

A Good friend, with lots of time on his hands, has been hammering lakers all week and I had to see what it was all about.

Drove to St. Paul leaving at 5 AM. Got to St. Paul about 7ish. Head to Cold Lake, about 2 hours drive. Lake is heavy snow cover, but there was a trail. Knee deep snow easily. Had no reference point as it was snowing pretty good, but eventually started seeing blobs of trucks on various spots.

Got the holes cut and first time ever on Cold Lake, or going for Lakers, dropped the "Special". Action was slow, and it was about a fish an hour for our group. Did manage a nicer one, 68 cm, but not the 10 - 12 pd I had heard about.

Drive back out got real interesting. 40 - 50 km winds and the snow was blowing in the track. I was chained up and made it through easily, but those without chains were fighting to stay on what was left of the trail.

All in all, a good day, but it is getting sketchy with the snow pack and the wind. Drive back was tough as the warm roads melted the first blowing snow, which then froze, and on open stretches you could not see the road for a 1/4 mile at at time.

Most people we talked to raved about how the fishing was days and weeks before. Not knowing a thing about lakers, it gave some confidence. Catching one reinforced it. Apparently this is the best winter at Cold Lake so far. I look forward to the future.

Drewski