Gah!!! It's go time!

[Sea Hawk]

Calling lake wide open as of today.

[AlbertanGP]

Sentinel Playground is your friend to check satellite images and see what’s frozen and when it froze.

[WayneChristie]

looks on the map like the south end of Newell is freezing nicely. its a start!

[AlbertanGP]

And away we go….

[RACKER]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

And away we go….

Good luck to you and i was wondering how many shelters do you own?This model wasnt under your reviews! lol Be safe out there.

[AK47]

happy to report 10cm of solid ice in McGregor by north dam!

[WayneChristie]

did a visual just now, I didnt see any water in this bay. someone else checked the thickness, I wasnt geared for it but I will be checking it out this coming week for myself. Tons of snow in this area so be tired for it. if you know the bay that stump sticking out at the edge is usually only 6 inches or so but its still a ways out of the ice.

[Johnnydanger]

Originally Posted by goldscud

But my tube still has air in it.....I need an ice breaker

That sure is a chunky rainbow. Well done!

[fish99]

Originally Posted by AK47

happy to report 10cm of solid ice in McGregor by north dam!

whitefish should be biting good with this early ice

[Skabulon]

I'm gonna go out and check the ice around Edmonton today I think, I'll start a new ice thickness thread when I get back. We've had more cold weather this year than we did last year so I'm thinking I'll find some good ice to drop a line in

[AK47]

Originally Posted by fish99

whitefish should be biting good with this early ice

Water was murky, no whites seen or burbot. Got one pike only. Water needs to clear up for whites to show up. Hope for next weekend.

[fish99]

Originally Posted by AK47

Water was murky, no whites seen or burbot. Got one pike only. Water needs to clear up for whites to show up. Hope for next weekend.

any ice by the boat launch

[AK47]

Originally Posted by fish99

any ice by the boat launch

All lake is frozen just not sure how thick it is by boat launch.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

And away we go….

Any luck?

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Any luck?

Hah. I was hoping no one would ask. I got skunked all weekend. I fished one of the two trout lakes I frequent Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, and only saw one rainbow all day. There were talks of a summer kill on the lake, and my fly fishing friends who came up in the Fall caught one nice fish off the bat and then it was so bad they left early. Losing this lake and Obed in the same year really, really sucks.

Went out for whitefish in the afternoon on Friday as well. Saw about 20 fish in total up on a shoal getting ready to spawn, but nothing showed any resemblance in interest in my myriad of offerings. I'm going to get serious and be out for first light this weekend to have another go.

I'd say my ego is crushed but that's fishing. I think that might be the first time getting skunked on opening weekend though...definitely with that kind of time logged.

[bullgetter]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Jaw jackers out-fish me more times than I care to admit. Lots of times I just bring two and a comfy chair to sit in and wait.

If you dont mind me asking what is your go to bait and or hook to fish with your Jaw Jackers? I am typically using a micro jig or worm but I dont catch much for size. My auto jacker will get something a little flashy with the deadstick a worm. Both have their days.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by bullgetter

If you dont mind me asking what is your go to bait and or hook to fish with your Jaw Jackers? I am typically using a micro jig or worm but I dont catch much for size. My auto jacker will get something a little flashy with the deadstick a worm. Both have their days.

For trout I typically use a 4mm tungsten and any of Power Bait, scuds, market shrimp from Costco, roe sacs I tie myself, or a piece of worm. I've even been known to use a leech ice fishing from time to time.

Where are you putting your hook in the water column? That's more likely your problem.

[Poppa]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

looks on the map like the south end of Newell is freezing nicely. its a start!

waaaaaahoooooooooo!! As soon as I can get a day off work, we'll be headed that way. Hopefully next Sunday.....

[AlbertanGP]

mis-post

[bullgetter]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

For trout I typically use a 4mm tungsten and any of Power Bait, scuds, market shrimp from Costco, roe sacs I tie myself, or a piece of worm. I've even been known to use a leech ice fishing from time to time.

Where are you putting your hook in the water column? That's more likely your problem.

Typically i'm setting about 2 feet off bottom but that is in only about 10 fow. Use plenty of tungsten jigs myself, pricey but effective.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by bullgetter

Typically i'm setting about 2 feet off bottom but that is in only about 10 fow. Use plenty of tungsten jigs myself, pricey but effective.

Try higher up. 10 fow is fine. You can try shallower in the morning and deeper in the afternoon. But if I had to sit in one spot all day, it would be 8 to 10 fow on most lakes.

[Outbound]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Hah. I was hoping no one would ask. I got skunked all weekend. I fished one of the two trout lakes I frequent Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, and only saw one rainbow all day. There were talks of a summer kill on the lake, and my fly fishing friends who came up in the Fall caught one nice fish off the bat and then it was so bad they left early. Losing this lake and Obed in the same year really, really sucks.

Went out for whitefish in the afternoon on Friday as well. Saw about 20 fish in total up on a shoal getting ready to spawn, but nothing showed any resemblance in interest in my myriad of offerings. I'm going to get serious and be out for first light this weekend to have another go.

I'd say my ego is crushed but that's fishing. I think that might be the first time getting skunked on opening weekend though...definitely with that kind of time logged.

I think I know which lake you're talking about. I've heard rumors of a summer kill as well. I fished it in October and managed one really good fish and one small one. It was really slow. I also saw 2 fish belly up near shore. I wouldn't be surprised if it did have a summer kill as the algae bloom seemed pretty heavy and I also seem to remember it dying off earlier than it did this year. It's a real shame as it's our favorite lake to ice fish.

[AlbertanGP]

I'm sure it's the lake you're thinking of. Odd that the one fish I saw was a 6-8lb beast. I was thinking of spending more time on another nearby lake this winter anyways, so maybe this is a blessing for me.