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  #31  
Old 12-28-2018, 09:56 PM
Fwee6 Fwee6 is offline
 
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14” of solid black ice.
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  #32  
Old 12-29-2018, 12:09 AM
wolfhunter wolfhunter is offline
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I've never been been to this lake, is it pretty easy access.
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  #33  
Old 12-29-2018, 04:32 AM
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Originally Posted by wolfhunter View Post
I've never been been to this lake, is it pretty easy access.
Yes, it's easy to access. Take Hwy 742 south from Canmore and it will take you right beside the lake. Most people park at either the Driftwood day use area, or just off the highway at the Sparrowhawk Day use area. You can get a better view on Google Maps.
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  #34  
Old 12-29-2018, 10:43 AM
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Do people drive on ever? I’d imagine the ice doesn’t get any better than there.
Can you access the ranger station? I’m itching to go.
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  #35  
Old 12-29-2018, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by PlayDoh View Post
Do people drive on ever? I’d imagine the ice doesn’t get any better than there.
Can you access the ranger station? I’m itching to go.
You definitely are not allowed to drive on the ice there.
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  #36  
Old 12-29-2018, 11:04 AM
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You definitely are not allowed to drive on the ice there.


10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.
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  #37  
Old 12-29-2018, 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by PlayDoh View Post
10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.
Yes, you are correct about no motorized vehicles on Spray, although I've had a license check done by someone on a sled before. Motorboats are ok on Spray though.
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  #38  
Old 12-29-2018, 01:13 PM
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I didn’t use a tape measure but more than 12” max 14-15”. Was out this morning. Wind was intense. Broke every rope on my tent and sent it down the lake. Thanks to the guy that saved it. Turned out to be be a short trip as I didn’t feel like spending the rest of the day in the wind. Fished an hr and a half and landed one laker so that was nice to bring home dinner at least. Forgot how windy it can get out there. It’s been a few years.
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  #39  
Old 12-29-2018, 07:13 PM
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I didn’t use a tape measure but more than 12” max 14-15”. Was out this morning. Wind was intense. Broke every rope on my tent and sent it down the lake. Thanks to the guy that saved it. Turned out to be be a short trip as I didn’t feel like spending the rest of the day in the wind. Fished an hr and a half and landed one laker so that was nice to bring home dinner at least. Forgot how windy it can get out there. It’s been a few years.
Anyone heading out Sunday?

Anyone catch anything other than lakers and mountain whites?
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  #40  
Old 12-30-2018, 01:37 PM
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I would like to hear more on the whitefish. Who's went for them particularly and when is the bite most voracious?
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  #41  
Old 12-31-2018, 09:35 AM
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Went for lakers yesterday. Between blizzards and wind gusts we managed two sitting outside all day. Had a fair number of bites. Lost 4 reeling them up. My jig fly worked however need to modify it with a stinger.

Two bites felt like I caught the bottom at first. Not sure how big they were.

Never tried for whites. Flasher saw fish at bottom and some near the top.

Bites from 45-70 feet of water.

Tons of people fishing. Fishing pressure significantly higher that 10 years ago. Not a lot being caught by any body.
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  #42  
Old 12-31-2018, 05:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayDoh View Post
10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.
Can’t ice fish National Park waters, Minnewanka is NP.
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  #43  
Old 12-31-2018, 06:12 PM
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Can’t ice fish National Park waters, Minnewanka is NP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayDoh View Post
10-4. And likely no motorized at all. Makes sense. Thanks. I only drive on tracks, and I suspected it was forbidden.
Same for Minnewanka? I’m certain it’s a no motorboat, which translates to no drive on I’m presuming.


National parks are different.

For Spray Lakes...

Can’t find anything that says you can’t drive on it. However Spray Lake water level can fall and create dangerous cracks as well as difficult icy egress slopes. I personally would never drive on a reservoir used for hydro electric purposes. https://www.transalta.com/facilities...eration/spray/

Didn’t see any cars on it however did see quads. While the lake is long, the road parallels it. Is also narrow so easy to walk across.

Motor boats are allowed on the lake.
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  #44  
Old 01-08-2019, 02:31 PM
wolfhunter wolfhunter is offline
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Anyone been out to spray lake recently, going out there either tomorrow or Thursday. Was curious on the ice conditions.
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  #45  
Old 01-08-2019, 03:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfhunter View Post
Anyone been out to spray lake recently, going out there either tomorrow or Thursday. Was curious on the ice conditions.
Not exactly recent, but I was out on New Year's Day, ice was 10"-12" off of Sparrowhawk.
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  #46  
Old 01-08-2019, 06:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancefisher View Post
National parks are different.

For Spray Lakes...

Can’t find anything that says you can’t drive on it. However Spray Lake water level can fall and create dangerous cracks as well as difficult icy egress slopes. I personally would never drive on a reservoir used for hydro electric purposes. https://www.transalta.com/facilities...eration/spray/

Didn’t see any cars on it however did see quads. While the lake is long, the road parallels it. Is also narrow so easy to walk across.

Motor boats are allowed on the lake.
Didn't think any type of vehicle is allowed on the lake, as per Kananaskis park guidelines. Unless something recently changed?
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  #47  
Old 01-09-2019, 11:43 AM
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Each provincial park seems to be different, I know you can drive on Chain lakes but for sure not on Spray.

I was told by F&W you could not drive on unless you had a permit and right now a few outfitters have a permit to haul their shacks on and off the ice. You will get a ticket if you drive onto Spray with any motorized vehicle. So, as hey say suc it up and walk on.
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  #48  
Old 01-09-2019, 03:07 PM
Fwee6 Fwee6 is offline
 
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Planning to head out Sunday -- fingers crossed it's not a hurricane. Anyone else?
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  #49  
Old 01-20-2019, 09:07 PM
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Anyone been out to Spray Lake recently?
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  #50  
Old 01-21-2019, 09:55 AM
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Was out on Wednesday last week. Ice off Sparrowhawk was 12". Lots of action in the morning dropping tube jigs down to the bottom and then reeling them up fast. Lakers were along the bottom and would follow it up 30-40ft and then hit it. Ran out of smelts by 12:30.
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  #51  
Old 02-11-2019, 04:58 PM
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Anyone been out these past week. Curious on how the fishing has been and ice conditions. Thanks.
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  #52  
Old 02-12-2019, 01:34 AM
masssalmon masssalmon is offline
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Went ice fishing and did mushrooms on this lake once. Greatest night of my life.
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  #53  
Old 02-12-2019, 08:12 AM
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Default White fish trick at spray

Hello all, I always catch whitefish using this technique while I am fishing for lakers at Spray. Tie on a white power bait grub on a jig with a 1/4 oz head, then tie a royal coachman up 1 foot above your jig. Tip the jig with a 1/3 piece of a smelt and then put 3-4 maggots on the royal coachmen. Bounce the jig off the rocks on the bottom. I have had days when only the fly works on lakers and as a fact the biggest laker I caught up there was on the ol royal coachmen.

hope this helps

Goose
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  #54  
Old 02-12-2019, 02:46 PM
TROLLER TROLLER is offline
 
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I thought bait was not allowed (maggots) on Spray. Only Smelt which does not follow in that category
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  #55  
Old 02-12-2019, 04:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TROLLER View Post
I thought bait was not allowed (maggots) on Spray. Only Smelt which does not follow in that category
Maggots are fine bait fish are not. Smelts and Herring are not considered bait fish.
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  #56  
Old 02-17-2019, 06:18 PM
ponchoyu ponchoyu is offline
 
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How is Driftwood are for fishing? Is it better to head to Sparrowhawk?
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  #57  
Old 02-20-2019, 02:47 PM
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I wouldn't say one is better than the other, depth is more important in my experience. Get there early in the morning and find an area that is over 60ft deep and you'll find fish. Driftwood is definitely an easier walk though.
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  #58  
Old 02-23-2019, 07:51 AM
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Finally heading out today! Will drop report later
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  #59  
Old 02-23-2019, 07:53 PM
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Has anyone ever had a strong mark show up at 40ft off of sparrowhawk on their flasher? I was in 92ft of water and their was something on the flasher showing pretty strong at 43ft, but defiantly wasn't fish. Even made my DD100 read 43ft instead of 92ft.
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  #60  
Old 02-24-2019, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by ks.snow View Post
Has anyone ever had a strong mark show up at 40ft off of sparrowhawk on their flasher? I was in 92ft of water and their was something on the flasher showing pretty strong at 43ft, but defiantly wasn't fish. Even made my DD100 read 43ft instead of 92ft.
Aquaman was swimming by
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