Cold lake open water season 2024.

[ragweed]

Beauty!


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[HL_transplant]

Hopefully no Apexs were used they are still banned in the Sask regs lol🤣

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by HL_transplant

Hopefully no Apexs were used they are still banned in the Sask regs lol🤣

Alberta Outlaws!

That’s how we role….


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[58thecat]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Alberta Outlaws!

That’s how we role….


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Or roll if you’re into dice…..
.


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[thorne]

37 days and counting!

[58thecat]

Well today was a kayak laker and pike outing.
We covered a few clicks trolling, got into a few bait balls with lakers lurking so took advantage of them being hungry.
After a few hours of catching lakers, nothing big we went after pike and again nothing big but crazy fun.
Had a chat with a a few that wanted to know what we were using etc and them not being from this neck of the woods well I gave them my best.
Showed them what we used etc and off they went just hope they got into a few lakers and had fun.



Another laker taking me for a ride!



This was the ticket for lakers today!
Or one of these…..
Watch out pike!
When you’re on my spot tend to set a collision course….


What a day!


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[58thecat]

And release of the day goes to?




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[-JR-]

Had the son in in law and his two twin boys in the boat this week The the new restrictions we can already see the difference if made. In 6 hrs we landed two fish over 80 cm and one must have been over 100 cm before stripping out the line 3 times before he got off .

[58thecat]

The smoke is thick today!

Pre smoked trout is on the menu!



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[-JR-]

Gregg have you caught any walleye in the main lake yet this year in July
It just does not make sense that you are allowed 3 a day when it’s so hard to even catch one a day It’s easy to find then in early spring but not in summer

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Gregg have you caught any walleye in the main lake yet this year in July
It just does not make sense that you are allowed 3 a day when it’s so hard to even catch one a day It’s easy to find then in early spring but not in summer

I don’t target them as I personally feel the size allowed to keep is too big but that being said evenings and first light you can find them often suspended off points in 20-30 fow.

I know guys that simply just use tube jigs of various sizes and colours to make it happen and do very well.

Maybe next time talk to Dean at boardwalk bait and tackle he has good intel and up to date.


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[58thecat]

So yesterday the pike, lakers and lots of bait fish were stacked up in French bay like cords of wood.
10 fow lakers swimming with pike having a go at bait balls.
I got this second hand cuz someone stole my kayak but hearing it from two people who had lots of success I guess I can’t pass it on as just another fishing story!



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[thorne]

K...all I read out of that post was...Someone Stole My Kayak...that is terrible!! System is useless in dealing with this..but as soon as a guy does "Something" himself to start sorting out those who think they have a "Right" to just take things we work hard for, then the "System" is all over them...really sorry to hear that man, had an 18 foot bowrider I just bought a few years prior stolen back in 2016...just feels absolutely horrible...maybe time to call a town hall meeting and make the point know to officials that they deal with what is happening in Cold Lake now...or it will be delt with for them! This is unfortunately the #1 thing on my wife's mind regarding the move to Cold Lake...the out of control crime. Sad how just wanting a quiet retirement in a place where we can just wake up and do what we love has to come with always living with the reality that someone will always be looking to take your stuff. Can't leave anything unattended or not locked away for a minute...

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by thorne

K...all I read out of that post was...Someone Stole My Kayak...that is terrible!! System is useless in dealing with this..but as soon as a guy does "Something" himself to start sorting out those who think they have a "Right" to just take things we work hard for, then the "System" is all over them...really sorry to hear that man, had an 18 foot bowrider I just bought a few years prior stolen back in 2016...just feels absolutely horrible...maybe time to call a town hall meeting and make the point know to officials that they deal with what is happening in Cold Lake now...or it will be delt with for them! This is unfortunately the #1 thing on my wife's mind regarding the move to Cold Lake...the out of control crime. Sad how just wanting a quiet retirement in a place where we can just wake up and do what we love has to come with always living with the reality that someone will always be looking to take your stuff. Can't leave anything unattended or not locked away for a minute...

Ok
Sorry I mislead with the word stolen more like borrowed!
Only two kayaks so I sat out yesterday as it was a mom and son day kayak fishing!
They killed it catching lakers/pike
and I got my kayak back.



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[thorne]

Ahhh...OK...whew! I was wondering why nobrant issued...lol...besides me....my bad, pulled the trigger to soon....kinda a sore spot for me!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by thorne

Ahhh...OK...whew! I was wondering why nobrant issued...lol...besides me....my bad, pulled the trigger to soon....kinda a sore spot for me!

Yeah I knew this thief would return because the fridge was full of food and he has an appetite.



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[Elchinodiablo]

Originally Posted by thorne

Ahhh...OK...whew! I was wondering why nobrant issued...lol...besides me....my bad, pulled the trigger to soon....kinda a sore spot for me!

Lol. Funny but sooo true. We are planning our retirement plans also and this topic is always on our mind. Local news in Southern AB here has reported that the Cold Lake mayor is fed up with it also. Its gotta get better right?

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[thorne]

Unfortunately is probably a case of its gotta get bad to get better. As in all politically motivated actions, an issue gets attention and action after it gets so bad residences make a big issue of it. It seems that that point has come. Cold Lake's location which makes it so attractive is also its undoing. With so many outlying communities where sadly, drug addiction and the resulting need for money to fund these addictions bring these individuals to the closest populated centre in order to find new criminal opportunities to fund these addictions. That place is Cold Lake. Not a new story. It's the same for many places across many provinces. So until there is enough public outcry to force action to deal with the problem, it continues to grow. So hopefully that point has come. It's getting a lot of traction in the municipality and the province. So as long as the public keeps it a very pressing issue, it will get things done. Hopefully in the near future the message will get out that going to Cold Lake to commit these crimes will not be tolerated and it's best avoided. We, the public have to make that known, and keep that message known. Otherwise you may as well just keep your vehicals unlocked, your garages open, and make public service anouncemts saying " To all visitors of beautiful Cold Lake...we welcome you, but know your vehicals will be vandalized and rampet theft is just an accepted price to pay for visiting this beautiful Alberta gem of a recreational destination!"...the issue has traction now, so let's make sure it keep going the right way!

[thorne]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Well today was a kayak laker and pike outing.
We covered a few clicks trolling, got into a few bait balls with lakers lurking so took advantage of them being hungry.
After a few hours of catching lakers, nothing big we went after pike and again nothing big but crazy fun.
Had a chat with a a few that wanted to know what we were using etc and them not being from this neck of the woods well I gave them my best.
Showed them what we used etc and off they went just hope they got into a few lakers and had fun.



Another laker taking me for a ride!



This was the ticket for lakers today!
Or one of these…..
Watch out pike!
When you’re on my spot tend to set a collision course….


What a day!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

On more important issues...lol...One of the biggest things I noticed on all this fish porn you post...lol...is the use of Single Hooks on your rigs. I started to become a fan of single hooks from deep sea and coastal fishing in Mexico, Costa Rica, and other such destinations. Trebles are just not a thing. So I started using mostly singles on my gear here and really, I find I may loose a few hook sets then I would with a treble...but not enough that it really matters. The HUGE difference is how much easier it is to remove the hook, and the exponential difference to the damage it does to the fish! I mean admit it...we have all used baited trebles or artificial lures with trebles and deep hooked a walleye or pike and the only resulting way to remove it was to pull half its throat out of its mouth...always sucks as we know its dead before it goes back in the water. Never had that problem after going with a larger single hook instead. Im honestly amazed Alberta has not mandated single hooks as we have a very perdominate "Catch and Release Only" fishery. For someone who hasn't tried it, give it a go...as per the pics posted constantly by 58th...lol..it works!!! If not for the fish, it sure makes your life as a fisherman easier with easier releases, less tangles and hooks in the fingers...lol

[58thecat]

I also try to if I remember to pinch the barbs too.
Getting better at it and if my son is using my stuff the barbs are the first to go.
I have trebles on some lures but I do agree the single barbless hook would be easier on the fish, anglers and anything a hooks touches for ease of removal.


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[-JR-]

So back on the comment on boat or fishing gear theft when over night parking at cold lake .What hotel are most of you staying at so you can watch your rig at night ?
Has anyone ever installed a motion alarm on their boat ? I had one on a service truck along with door alarms, but i took it off as every time a Harley drove by the alarm would go off.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by -JR-

So back on the comment on boat or fishing gear theft when over night parking at cold lake .What hotel are most of you staying at so you can watch your rig at night ?
Has anyone ever installed a motion alarm on their boat ? I had one on a service truck along with door alarms, but i took it off as every time a Harley drove by the alarm would go off.

If we aren't camping we always stay at the holiday Inn right at the turn to the base. Never had an issue there and lots of open parking out front.

[-JR-]

It just takes once to have your gear taken
Only takes seconds to remove an electric motor or fish finder
I rather be in a place where I can back my boat up to my hotel room door

[mlee]

Originally Posted by -JR-

It just takes once to have your gear taken
Only takes seconds to remove an electric motor or fish finder
I rather be in a place where I can back my boat up to my hotel room door

Do you stay up all night watching it? Lol if someone is going to steal stuff they don't care if you're sleeping through a door.
The holiday Inn has a well lit wide open lot out front and they do have cameras covering it....but if someone wants my stuff bad enough it really doesn't matter where it is and that's what insurance is for. I always remove my head unit rods and tackle bag.

[58thecat]

So a few years ago we had a cat ****ing all over the lawn furniture etc, old male farm cat and the bugger was smart enough to stay out of shooting range etc.
Wife went on amazon and there were these motion sensor, light flashing super loud high pitch noise making solar powered owls. She bought two and they work like a charm. Place one in the boat under the tarp and one in the back of the truck.

Seems no matter where you go nowadays you have to stay ahead or try regarding thieves.

[-JR-]

Originally Posted by mlee

Do you stay up all night watching it? Lol if someone is going to steal stuff they don't care if you're sleeping through a door.
The holiday Inn has a well lit wide open lot out front and they do have cameras covering it....but if someone wants my stuff bad enough it really doesn't matter where it is and that's what insurance is for. I always remove my head unit rods and tackle bag.

I had stuff taken while parked just outside in front of the office at a Hotel last year in cold lake . Homeless guys are every where now a days trying to make a buck. If it happens again . I just might sleep in the boat with a baseball bat Lol

[ragweed]

In generally take the important stuff out of the boat each night. Sometimes locked in the cab of the truck…other times brought into the room. Rods, fishfinder head unit, trolling motor.
I’ve only stayed in a hotel once with the boat on. Usually I camp at Baywood so that I can plug the boat in, chain it to a tree and go to town with the truck. They have a nice launch spot with a dock. It’s not perfect though. If thieves want something bad enough, they will find a way to take it.


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[Curtsyneil]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

So a few years ago we had a cat ****ing all over the lawn furniture etc, old male farm cat and the bugger was smart enough to stay out of shooting range etc.
Wife went on amazon and there were these motion sensor, light flashing super loud high pitch noise making solar powered owls. She bought two and they work like a charm. Place one in the boat under the tarp and one in the back of the truck.

Seems no matter where you go nowadays you have to stay ahead or try regarding thieves.

I’m not sure if that’s 100% accurate. Seems like cold lake has a serious problem with theft and I havnt read any other threads on theft like cold lake that’s forsure. Sad and the authorities should be doin there job better if you ask me.

[-JR-]

Originally Posted by Curtsyneil

I’m not sure if that’s 100% accurate. Seems like cold lake has a serious problem with theft and I havnt read any other threads on theft like cold lake that’s forsure. Sad and the authorities should be doin there job better if you ask me.

The town authorities are just like the sales people at Costco . They only work there ! They don't run the place . They only do there job .Cops do the paper work just so you can hand it to your insurance company .
Any trucks left over night in the provincial boat launch parking lot will have the windows smashed out . I m sure if the MD owned it ,they might do something about like build a few camp stalls around the parking lot . But for now, its free for the pickings as no one around to stop them .

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Curtsyneil

I’m not sure if that’s 100% accurate. Seems like cold lake has a serious problem with theft and I havnt read any other threads on theft like cold lake that’s forsure. Sad and the authorities should be doin there job better if you ask me.

The completed lakeland area has crime issues, Bonnyville really gets hit hard but it always happens in spurts then gets quite for a bit, people get relaxed and complacent then crime happens more often.

Heading out shortly and always hope to come back to my truck and trailer all as I left them.