Lake within 5 hours of calgary

[ZJHoban]

What lake would you all choose for a 3 day trip?

I'm trying to get some ideas, maybe find a new lake I enjoy as a regular.

Camp ground with a boat launch or very short drive to the launch.
Can be unserviced and no cell reception.
I would like to be able to keep a fish out two to eat while camping - type of fish is unimportant.

Non stop action is not a requirement, although im not a talented fisherman yet.

I have a 14' tinny with a 15hp.

I appreciate any input!!

[Scott N]

There has to be a number of lakes that check all of your boxes, I'm going to start the recommendations with Beaver Mines Lake SW of Picher Creek.

[spurly]

Chain is a nice place, good campground, close to home

[spurly]

Clear lake if you want Pike.

[TROLLER]

Cannot keep any pike at Clear.

Payne lake between Cardston and Waterton is a great trout fishery.

Nice little campground and a decent boat launch. Stocked heavily every yr and you and the kids should have no problem catching a daily limit.

HAVE FUN

[Commander B]

Cow, Phylis, Strubel, Dickson, Glenmifer, individually or a combo of all. Just watch the motor reg on some.

B.

[Commander B]

Forgot Burnstick


B.

[FlyTheory]

Surveyor lake in kikoman prov park west of Elko in BC. Tons of bass, nice spot, hand launch. Koocanusa lake access close within the park, and other lakes in the area. About 3.5-4hrs from Calgary depending on traffic.

[ZJHoban]

There are a lot of solid suggestions in here! I've got some research cut out for me.

Keep any more suggestions coming!

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by FlyTheory

Surveyor lake in kikoman prov park west of Elko in BC. Tons of bass, nice spot, hand launch. Koocanusa lake access close within the park, and other lakes in the area. About 3.5-4hrs from Calgary depending on traffic.

may not want to swim in that one. unless its cleaned up lots of turtles to watch too, but its been a long time since Ive camped there

[graybeard]

https://calgarysun.com/news/local-ne...e-608d3f0f20d2

[goose]

I would try Spray lakes it has pretty good fishing and the campgrounds are spectacular.

Goose

[rafternk]

Lake Diefenbaker has 26 species of fish including walleye and you can keep 4 ( only one over 55 cms ). It also holds the #1 and #2 world record for Rainbow Trout. Great camping at Sask Landing with a fantastic marina and boat launch. Lots of sheltered bays on windy days. Prairie landscape no mountain views.

[Jims83cj5]

Has anyone looked at the list of lakes people put on this post,,, did “ retards r us” open the gates to the nut house

[Curtsyneil]

Originally Posted by Jims83cj5

Has anyone looked at the list of lakes people put on this post,,, did “ retards r us” open the gates to the nut house

Seems like it but the post does say within 5 hrs so what about lake newal, or gull or pigeon or battle or buck or sylvan or wab or Lac st or calling or lac la biche like the list can go on. Lol

[Sundancefisher]

If you don’t mind crossing the border… Duck Lake has lots of 16-218 inch rainbows that the best eating I’ve ever found.

Campground is good. Boat launch is fine and there are sites you can pull up to shore with.

Wind can be problematic but I’ve done it in a 12 footer. 14 footer is better. 15 HP is fine. People troll and spin fish and fly fish.

Generally not hard to catch. Licenses can be pricey on the reserve but part of the cost of good eating fish I suppose.

[ZJHoban]

Originally Posted by goose

I would try Spray lakes it has pretty good fishing and the campgrounds are spectacular.

Goose

I was on Spray for about 14 hours a number of weeks ago, it was very nice and got onto about 10 lakers (first time catching one).

I would love to go back there, but the road up there beat the snot out of my boat/trailer. Nuts and bolts shook loose. ratchet straps came loose. It was a stressful drive in and out lol.

[thorne]

Wow!!! 218 inch Rainbow!!! I'm in! Man the harpoon me lads!! Gonna need a bigger boat!

[ZJHoban]

Originally Posted by rafternk

Lake Diefenbaker has 26 species of fish including walleye and you can keep 4 ( only one over 55 cms ). It also holds the #1 and #2 world record for Rainbow Trout. Great camping at Sask Landing with a fantastic marina and boat launch. Lots of sheltered bays on windy days. Prairie landscape no mountain views.

Diefenbaker has been on my radar. It looks big enough to spend a ton of time exploring, but shaped a way that would make avoiding big waves possible if the wind kicks up.


I have thought of those bigger lakes in northern/central AB as well, but some of the reading on the forum has had me shying away from them. Big open water seems to want to bring up large waves.

2 weeks ago on Ghost Lake I was trying to fish on the weekend and the wake from the surf boats sent me packing by noon. Too much to concentrate on dealing with those big waves to think of fishing. During the week that is a nice lake - albeit tough to fish. I did manage one laker, a small brown and a couple other decent bites that spat the hook before I got them in though.


As far as crossing the border goes - I dont even have a current passport