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10-25-2023, 04:05 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,964
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First (SAFE) Ice Predictions??
Temps are staying steady below zero up here, day and night.
Lots of steam coming off of the sloughs and dug outs, and I imagine the small lakes are still in cool down phaze as well.
Any guesses on first safe ice for the season? It will be a small trout pond and it will probably be at higher elevations, but my guess is November 15th for Edson and northwest.
Drewski
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10-25-2023, 09:10 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North of Redmonton
Posts: 1,607
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I was on the ice November 11th the last two years on local trout lakes. I doubt this year will be much different, despite all the global warming hype.
Of course we may have very different definitions of what constitutes safe ice.
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10-26-2023, 01:12 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta
Posts: 4,063
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I am taking a drive this weekend and may be able to punch some holes into 1 or 2 spots I fish early ice. They seem to freeze up faster than anywhere else.
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10-26-2023, 01:31 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Airdrie area
Posts: 341
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Same
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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10-26-2023, 06:21 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,615
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With overnite lows in the -15 range for the last 4 or 5 nights, and daytime highs below zero....I bet I could tiptoe out and catch a trout in 4 ft of water in a couple ponds I know of already. Certainly wouldn't suggest anyone try it. Might test the ice on Sunday, bringing a rod of course.
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10-30-2023, 07:06 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,770
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The Bow is mostly frozen in my area now, havent checked any lakes yet
__________________
Dinos
681
Shove your masks and your vaccines
Non Compliance!!!!!!
"According to Trudeau, Im an extremist who needs to be dealt with"
#Trudeau must go
Wheres The Funds
The vaccine was not brought in for COVID. COVID was brought in for the vaccine. Once you realize that, everything else makes sense.” ~ Dr. Reiner Fuellmich
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10-30-2023, 07:37 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: North
Posts: 2,185
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10-30-2023, 07:51 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,690
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB
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Nothing like catching big brookies on a couple inches of ice, although I would use a spud bar to check it out instead of the auger. But hey, I'm not a world record angler so what do I know...lol
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11-01-2023, 05:59 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB
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Not surprised! Wildhorse ALWAYS is the first lake in central AB that freezes up from what I know.
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11-01-2023, 02:12 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Calgary
Posts: 296
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It'll be a while before we get safe ice in southern alberta I think.
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11-01-2023, 05:20 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 62
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I had high hopes to be on safe ice the first week of December with my kids but now I’m thinking not with this warmup and long range forecast. We’ll see what the end of November brings hoping for some serious ice making weather.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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11-05-2023, 09:15 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: North
Posts: 2,185
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlbertanGP
I was on the ice November 11th the last two years on local trout lakes. I doubt this year will be much different, despite all the global warming hype.
Of course we may have very different definitions of what constitutes safe ice.
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I don't think Nov 11 is going happen this year.
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11-05-2023, 11:00 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,615
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Was building nicely last week. Tiptoed out to about the 3 ft depth last week. Only 2 inches didn't dare poke a hole. Now its open water again. Just a stocked trout hole, but a fair sized one. Itll freeze quick when it gets cold. Thinking of taking the boat out again, sheez sitting in the driveway ready to go.
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11-05-2023, 11:29 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Airdrie area
Posts: 341
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I saw 1” of half decent ice last week. 1.5” of ****ty ice this week. Need some cold nights to firm that stuff up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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11-05-2023, 11:34 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North of Redmonton
Posts: 1,607
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB
I don't think Nov 11 is going happen this year.
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I could have been out already tbh. We've had 3" of ice in front of my place for almost two weeks. This photo is from right now. Looks a bit sketchy now, but last week it was golden.
I'm in no big rush this year. Last year I was skunked more often than not early and got pretty burned out in March back and forth across Alberta and Saskatchewan.
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11-06-2023, 12:17 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North of Redmonton
Posts: 1,607
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11-06-2023, 01:14 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: pigeon lake
Posts: 1,578
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlbertanGP
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so sad.
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11-15-2023, 06:38 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,108
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Temps taking a drop end of this weekend. Looks like ice making weather to me. Bring it on.
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11-15-2023, 07:52 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North of Redmonton
Posts: 1,607
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Went out to the small stocked trout lake I usually fish on the south shore in the shade at first ice on Sunday and there was less than an inch. When we got back we walked out in front of my place in the picture above and had three inches, but no one was excited about fishing for small pike and walleye just to say they did it. Looks like the weekend of the 25th/26th is going to be go time around here for any decent fishing. Maybe a little later than past years, but only by a week or so.
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11-15-2023, 02:36 PM
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Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 381
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With it being an El Nino year, I'm guessing most lakes wont be safe to drive on until end of Jan. Approximately a month later than usual.
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11-15-2023, 05:38 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,444
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lowrance Fishburn
With it being an El Nino year, I'm guessing most lakes wont be safe to drive on until end of Jan. Approximately a month later than usual.
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Around Central and North it should still be good to go by Xmas break or right after. Glad my skidoo is in the shop though getting ready. I probably won't venture out with anything else until I hear of 12 or more inches.
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11-30-2023, 03:01 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 157
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Hoping for a Sylvan Ice Update
Hoping to be ice fishing for whites on Dec 11th or close to. Hoping for an ice thickness report.
Thanks
Tony
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11-30-2023, 03:13 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,072
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I was hoping mid-December for Brooks area, but holy Christ is it ever going to be warm the next couple weeks. We might be lucky to get out by New Year. I've been told some west-central AB trout lakes are locked up with about 5" of walkable ice, but those baby 'bows are not really my idea of fun. Gonna wait for the big walleye lakes to lock up...
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12-01-2023, 08:28 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 866
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Was out on Coal last Saturday and the ice was 5-7”. Now with the colder evenings this week it should be a good 8 inches.
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12-01-2023, 01:36 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,444
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RACKER
Was out on Coal last Saturday and the ice was 5-7”. Now with the colder evenings this week it should be a good 8 inches.
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Good to hear! I feel for the Southern members.
Man, it feels cold at -14 as the low. One day we will be saying that's TShirt weather.
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12-01-2023, 01:58 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,171
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I was on the ice with on of my boys Nov12 up in NW Alberta. Walked out a bit, maybe 30-50 m. It and chipped thru the ice…it was about 5-6” thick then. Crystal clear ice. Caught a few brookies and a tiger trout . Was a fun 2 hours on our travels up north.stopped in again on our way home the next day. Ice was about another 1” thicker
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12-01-2023, 06:23 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 290
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First time out on ice tuesday found 6 inches of ice. Cracking ice and slow fishing. The ice was about 6 inches. Went back out today and found 11 inches of ice. still walking out.
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12-03-2023, 06:59 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,444
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Yep, seeing 6 to 8 inches as well North of Edmonton on small lakes. It is on!
Will plan to hit up Gull and Sylvan when they are open and if the ice is thick enough. I"m sure Gull will be.
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12-03-2023, 08:20 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Makepeace, Alberta
Posts: 107
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Would Crawling Valley be safe first thing in the morning after a cold night? I'm just itching go get out.
Minimal gear with hand auger?
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12-03-2023, 09:09 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,964
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Make sure you go out with other people. Make sure someone has a rope, and if possible, take a 2 x 4 - 8 footer. If someone breaks through the 2 x 4 can bridge the hole to help the person get out.
There are these floating Ice picks that you can carry in a pocket that will give you a grip on the ice if you have to try and pull yourself out after falling in.
Wet ice is nearly impossible to grip to pull yourself out on without ice picks or a couple very good pocket knives to dig into the ice to pull against to get out of the hole.
Just some ideas that may help out in an emergency.
Drewski
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