Keho Lake, Ice Fishing. Help?

[LumberjackLuke]

Looking for some hints, tips and suggestions.

Where: Keho Lake, Alberta
When: February, 2015
Length of time: 4 Days
People: 8-10

Many of the guys going are first time anglers or first time ice fishermen.
We're excited to get into some action and/or away from our old ladies. Ha Ha!
I want them to have a great experience. Help please!

Questions:
How should we access the lake? Park?
Where should we set up base camp?
---- Is there a camp ground?
---- Would you recommend sleeping on the ice?
---- Are you allowed wood burning stoves/propane there?
Where are the fish (ice fishing)?
---- Pike, Walleye, Whites and Burbs?
---- Depths for all species?
---- Suggestions for lures/bait/possible jigging techniques.
**** Is alcohol allowed?

Thanks!

[Newellknik]

Just wondering ....Where are you coming from ?

[huntsfurfish]

[LumberjackLuke]

We're coming from Calgary.

[lromanchuk]

Great lake for big pike.

[zipper]

If you're looking for a 'great experience' I would look somewhere else. There is no campground at Keho so any alcohol would be 'drinking in public'. There has been very few big fish caught the last couple of years, the average size seems to get smaller every year. I see too many people killing every thing they catch. The fishing this year is the worst I've ever seen it, it's been really slow and I've moved on to other water. It's a shallow lake and it's basically a big bowl with very little structure. Drive on access is at the boat launch at the south east corner. Be careful.

[LumberjackLuke]

Thanks for all the great info thus far!

[notpoliticallycorrect]

Originally Posted by zipper

If you're looking for a 'great experience' I would look somewhere else. There is no campground at Keho so any alcohol would be 'drinking in public'. There has been very few big fish caught the last couple of years, the average size seems to get smaller every year. I see too many people killing every thing they catch. The fishing this year is the worst I've ever seen it, it's been really slow and I've moved on to other water. It's a shallow lake and it's basically a big bowl with very little structure. Drive on access is at the boat launch at the south east corner. Be careful.

There is a size limit on Keho, believe 63cm so if you see that report it. Have to agree on the quality of fishing really poor.

[Loki610]

Questions:
How should we access the lake? Park?

Most common area is on the south side at the boat launch, east and west side are also popular for foot traffic.

Where should we set up base camp?
---- Is there a camp ground?

Not really any campground but many will set up camp on the crown land Leased by Keho Colony along the north side.

---- Would you recommend sleeping on the ice?

If the ice is thick enough and you have shelter than yeah sure.

---- Are you allowed wood burning stoves/propane there?

Yes

Where are the fish (ice fishing)?
---- Pike, Walleye, Whites and Burbs?
---- Depths for all species?
---- Suggestions for lures/bait/possible jigging techniques.

Try to find the edge of a weed bed or where there's a bit of a drop off. Considering the maximum depth is only about 16 feet on the east end you'll quickly find out what depth works for you and what you're targeting.

I usually have my best luck for pike with a stationary smelt about 6" off the bottom on a tip up. a large jig with half a smelt also works well.

**** Is alcohol allowed?
No I don't think so.

[Wes_G]

Your best bet is going to be pike, there are whites and burbs in there to although I have never seen whites caught. I have seen 2 good size burbot caught there. Apparently there are walleye in there but have never seen one caught either. I think if you are going to specifically target anything other than pike you will be disappointed.

I have fished the lake (although not religiously) for about 15 years. I usually make 1 or 2 trips out there a season just to remind myself why I don't fish it a lot. I fished it this past weekend and caught 1 fish in 5 hours. There are far better lakes in Southern Alberta to fish IMHO. I would head to Newell as it fits a lot more of your criteria, you wont be keeping much though, but thats likely why the fishing there is superior.

[SNAPFisher]

While I appreciate some people are helping out, I would advise you go with someone else before then or show up and Brownlows at Gull Lake one weekend and learn something yourself. If your "ask" is legit, it sounds like you have never ice fished. Be the adventurer and learn something to show your buddies in February. You will find people are very social ice fishing and you can learn a lot more first hand then on a fishing board like here.

[LumberjackLuke]

Wow! Thank you all for such great information.
My brother and I are looking to try out ten new lakes this winter before the big ice fishing trip with the boys. These comments, suggestions, tips and hints are VERY helpful.
Heading to Crawling Valley tomorrow and will post with a fishing report.
Thanks again!

[craig82]

There is a campground at the golf coarse at keho. Also park lake is not far and as far as I know if you are camping you can drink

[Crankbait]

not sure I would camp on the ice at keho, it's a shifty beast on the best of days. we've done all nighters on the road at the inlet, but then again we don't drink.

[zipper]

The crown land all along the north side is posted ' no camping'. The golf course campground/RV park is closed in winter. Like snapfisher suggested, you would learn a lot by doing some exploring on your own, I've found most of my favourite spots that way and I don't disclose them here.

[brentm]

Theres a small town called Barons about a 2 minute drive away from the west end inlet to Keho. I'm pretty sure there's a campground there. Ice is getting close to a foot thick in the inlet canal. Take a look where others are punching holes, and you'll be able to figure out the rest. I caught this one 2 weeks ago at Keho, 12 pounds 36 inches.

[kevinhits]

Go to Lake Newell by Brooks...I believe they keep a loop open for winter camping