Jan 8th Save the Date: AOF gathering at Spray

nicemustang · #1 12-13-2010, 02:56 PM

Hello all,

I wanted to send an invitation to all forum members for an informal gathering at Spray Lake Saturday Jan 8th. I will be taking a few newbs to spray as well as a few other veterans out to spray this day, so I thought it would be nice to make a group event out of it. Everyone welcome! Come out and fish and meet some forum members. It's always a good time and we can all learn a thing or two. Fishing is only good early (until noon or so) so we have to leave early but plenty of time to socialize during the afternoon.

Specific details to be confirmed, but here are the tentative plans:

- everyone welcome.
- meet at Petro Canada on #1 and hiway 22 at 6:30 am or at the rendezvous point at Spray at 8:00 am.
- bait but not bait fish allowed (no minnows) so be sure to bring smelt.
- join us for some friendly competition, laughs and stories!

Please PM me you real name, number and email if you'd like to come and I will coordinate the week of Jan 3-8.

General info about spray:
- Lake trout limit 3, rockies 5 over 30 cm.
- no bait fish allowed. CO visit regularily here.
- We will be fishing in roughly 100 feet of water.
- Lures to bring are buzz bombs or tube jigs although plenty of other things work as well.
- It can be cold and windy, so be prepared for that. Shacks and heaters are recommended.
- No driving vehicles out on the lake. You have to be reasonably fit/able to walk 3/4 across the lake and down the ditch. Although we will be sharing gear, so should be a lot easier than if you had to carry everything.
- A sled is also recommended.
- It is one of the most picturesque lakes to fish on a nice day (here's hoping)!

iliketrout · #2 12-13-2010, 03:05 PM

Count me in. Too bad my flasher kit will not be in until mid-January! Thinking Driftwood or elsewhere?

nicemustang · #3 12-13-2010, 03:08 PM

Depends on the number of peeps we have. If we have like 30 people, it will be easier to driftwood but to fish in 100 FOW we have to go further down to the river channel (sparrowhawk).

jts1 · #4 12-13-2010, 03:12 PM

I am in You have my #. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

aulrich · #5 12-13-2010, 03:30 PM

Put a reminder in my calendar, skunkboy and I are in.

Braun · #6 12-13-2010, 03:50 PM

you jack hole. thats probably going to be the day that i fly back. I should have expected that though. We are either comming back on the 6/7/8 the latest. but of course this will probably overlap. Sucks ass.

Gumbi · #7 12-13-2010, 03:56 PM

hhmmm i might be up for that, really want to try that lake.

baitfisher83 · #8 12-13-2010, 04:42 PM

hahah JAckhole....if it wasn't a Saturday I would...oh well

npauls · #9 12-13-2010, 05:20 PM

Count me in and possibly one or 2 other guys from down here if I can talk them into the long trip.

I will have to get the runners cut out and fitted to my sled before then to make for an easier tow. Hopefully the back is feeling better by then so I can walk that far.

Nate

calgarygringo · #10 12-13-2010, 05:29 PM

This is one place I have not yet fished around here. I assume there is a chance of a monster size but more likely not? Reason I ask is if we need a lot of line I may have to get the trolling reel out. I usually try to go as light as I can get away with on my ice fishing reels. For the big boys I switch to my trolling reels with lots of heavy line. Would I be correct in that statement?

Ken

slingshotz · #11 12-13-2010, 05:42 PM

Gringo: The stuff we used for the brookies would work just fine at Spray as long as you have at least 80 feet of line on the spool. There's always the rare chance of the lunker but unless we hike really far, most likely not. If you do want to go, we could probably carpool out there as I've been there many times now.

You can probably count me and the wife in for Spray unless something urgent comes up.

tacklerunner · #12 12-13-2010, 05:47 PM

I'll probably been in with a few buddies but can't confirm till the new year. I have your cell number still. Once you have the final count we should come to a consensus on who will bring augers. No use 30 people lugging 30 augers out there. Maybe 1 auger per 4-5 people??? For those of you who have not been, it's quite a jaunt so packing lighter if possible is a good idea.

Photoplex · #13 12-13-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacklerunner

For those of you who have not been, it's quite a jaunt so packing lighter if possible is a good idea.

In terms of distance, or difficulty of terrain? (or of course, both!?)

jacenbeers · #14 12-13-2010, 06:27 PM

I can definitely go. We should meet at Sparrowhawk. The fishing there has been great. I have gone every weekend now since ice has been on and it is good times.

Jack&7 · #15 12-13-2010, 06:29 PM

I will do my damndest to make this one! Gotta get out there sooner than later and I would like to see some faces I haven't seen in a while.

Let me know what I can do to help...

iliketrout · #16 12-13-2010, 06:31 PM

Slingshotz: Do you mean 80 feet or 80 yards? I don't think 80 feet is enough at Spray IMHO. Wouldn't take much to get spooled especially if we're out from Sparrowhawk.

flygirrl · #17 12-13-2010, 06:34 PM

Will probably be able to make it,,,, did you say 100 feet of water

Anyone object to me bringing my pontoon boat on the ice

No really

Sigh, vallium it is

Anyone staying in Canmore that eve...

jacenbeers · #18 12-13-2010, 07:10 PM

I might get a hotel room in Canmore that Friday night.

iliketrout · #19 12-13-2010, 07:56 PM

flygirrl, do you think that if we get Sandalius an XXXXXL slurpee that we can convince him to come out?

jts1 · #20 12-13-2010, 11:33 PM

Hotel !!! He says as his ears perk up..
This motley crew has done a few camping trips. But come on lets be fair here that was out in the bush... Alone... In the dark... To do it in PUBLIC...

What will they say ?? What will they think?? As for Steve we may need to hook up a slurpy i.v. STAT

Kingfisher · #21 12-14-2010, 12:09 AM

I'll certainly put this one on the calender and most likely will be able to make it out. There are lots of condo's to rent in Canmore.

http://www.ownerdirect.com/accommodation/canmore

This one looks nice.

Not bad for $ 179.00/n (2 Nights Min.)
http://www.ownerdirect.com/canmore/v...rentals/107305

Rob

Fishfinder · #22 12-14-2010, 04:26 AM

I will be there. Work for the city, weekends off

Bout time I visit Kcountry again, never caught a laker...yet

Cheers n GL all!

nicemustang · #23 12-14-2010, 09:19 AM

Great idea on the hotel or cabin, though I won't be able to do that. But sure up for a bit of a party / fish fry afterwards!

To answer some questions:

1. We will likely walk down the ditch from sparrowhawk. It's not that steep or dangerous but not the easiest either. There is usually a good path so depending on snow fall it it usually pretty good. It will be about a 500-700 meter walk to the spot, about 200 meters to the lake edge where it flatens out. I'd say a 20-30 meter incline. So not bad but if you're 80 it might be a little difficult. We can share gear so lots of people to pull the sled!

2. We will fish in 100 FOW at sparrowhawk. Because it's so deep, I really recommend braided line. Nothing worse than 100 feet of stretchy mono to try to get a good hook set. That's just my opinion. A nice healthy spool of power pro is best. Most fish are 10-20" (.5 lb - 3 lbs) but at this location I've had quite a few big ones on (and lost) in the past and ever year there is a larger one north of 15-20 lbs caught. I've also bagged a 10 lb bull here one year some time ago.

3. And yes there is lots of CO's out there so have to consider that. (ie: beer)

FishBrain · #24 12-14-2010, 09:30 AM

I am in, I wil try to convince Travis to come out this day too!!!
Did you hear that Travis?? huh, did ya?

DarkAisling · #25 12-14-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flygirrl

Will probably be able to make it,,,, did you say 100 feet of water

Anyone object to me bringing my pontoon boat on the ice

No really

Sigh, vallium it is

Anyone staying in Canmore that eve...

You can crash at our place if a hotel/cabin doesn't work out. We have a spare bed in the office.

It will be #1 son and me . . . hubby might tag along. One of the gents from my work may be joining us as well.

The Fisherman Guy · #26 12-14-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingfisher

I'll certainly put this one on the calender and most likely will be able to make it out. There are lots of condo's to rent in Canmore.

http://www.ownerdirect.com/accommodation/canmore

This one looks nice.

Not bad for $ 179.00/n (2 Nights Min.)
http://www.ownerdirect.com/canmore/v...rentals/107305

Rob

I am in!

Great suggestion on the cabin Rob. It's my turn to crash on the couch. Let me know where and when and who to pay to make it happen! I promise not to gift everyone in the morning of the sound of my GI tract rejecting the Whiskey submittal from the night earlier, as I did at the last hard water gathering at Gull Last year.

jts1 · #27 12-14-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Fisherman Guy

I am in!

Great suggestion on the cabin Rob. It's my turn to crash on the couch. Let me know where and when and who to pay to make it happen! I promise not to gift everyone in the morning of the sound of my GI tract rejecting the Whiskey submittal from the night earlier, as I did at the last hard water gathering at Gull Last year.

LOL oh ya I forgot about that. Not sure how I could have... I am in for the cabin. Just let me know the details

ORV · #28 12-14-2010, 02:05 PM

i would be interested in the cabin as well.
it would be fun to shoot the breeze & have a few wobbly pops
after a days fishing.
my one & only trip to spray was not a great memory.
the 3ft of snow i dragged everything thru did not help.lol.

nicemustang · #29 12-14-2010, 02:19 PM

Ok, so far we have about 25-30 already!

Me + 2 buddies.
Dark
jts
fisherman guy
orv
gringo
fishfinder
aulrich
skunboy
iliketrout
Gumbi
Npauls
tacklerunner
jacenbeers
slingshotz
flygirl
kingfisher
fishbrain
rayl42

jts1 · #30 12-14-2010, 02:40 PM

Since the bite will drop off early out there. Maybe we could do as we have done in the past and have a potluck as well. I am sure everyone has a freezer full fresh meat from this season and a great hunting story to go along with it. Is this the same spot we went a few seasons ago?