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alxnaj
Member since April 2009Recent Activity
Early Risers
One of my favorite BC-like? BC-ish? BC-esque? lakes in Alberta is Beaver Mines. Not only is this easily accessible Rainbow Trout stocked lake full of scrappy fish, the backdrop is gorgeous. There are also some great lakeside vehicle campsites, where, if you’re prepared for the mighty lake winds (Brrr…she says), you can keep your boat within easy reach your entire stay. Early mornings and evenings are great here, as it’s usually flat as glass. The abundant rising trout can easily be caught with light spinning gear, or on the fly, both in the middle of the lake and from shore. Bait fishers also frequent this lake. We arrived late Tuesday night and were lucky to get a choice spot. After setting up camp and a quick bite over the fire, I couldn’t resist throwing a tiny 22 Brown Flying Ant at ‘em from shore. Sure enough, 3 quick catch’n releases, all over 12”. I knew I was in for some fun the next two days! While the strong wind was a bear, the fishing sure wasn’t. I had to take advantage of early mornings and late evenings when the lake was calm, but released 6-10 scrappy Rainbows in a couple of hours each day. My best was 18”, with most between 14-16”. The second bite Thursday morning on the Woolly Bugger was a serious fish; I knew it as soon as I hooked up. I actually stood up and shouted at him, “Ok, I’ll get serious now”. I regretted it immediately! First, the feisty 'lil bow forced my rod tip into the water, then it took me way down into the weeds, which by the way, are far too plentiful in this lake, and broke me off. I think I woke up a few late sleepers after that one. (Grrrr!!). Anyway, Beaver Mines is still a fun little lake, with some good sized leapers if you can find them. It’s not going to produce big numbers the way it did 20 years ago, but the trout fight hard and are great eaters on the campfire. I’ll definitely continue to go back every year. Funny thing about this lake; somewhere in the north middle portion, my cell phone always kicks in! On a side note, thanks to the two young Watercraft Inspectors who checked my boat on the way out. They were pleasant, knowledgeable, and efficient, and I’m a firm believer in stopping the dreaded spread… Date: Thursday, August 20, 2015 Time: 6:47 a.m. Weather: 12C, Sunny, 6km W Winds GPS: 49.371632, - 114.297471 Boat: Lund WC12 Motor: Minn Kota Endura Max / Speed 2 Rods: Templefork 4 Piece, 5 Wt; Shimano Compre Graphite 6’ Reels: Amundson Trend 5/6; Shimano Sidestab 1000RE Lines: SA Supra Floating Line quick sinking tip; Stren Magnathin 4lb. Tippet: Berkley 2 lb. Fly/Lure: Green Woolly Bugger 8-10; Flatfish Frog pattern No 4
Rising to a bass challenge
Alex Nagy, Angler's Atlas field staff volunteer out of Calgary, shares this report on Duck Lake near Creston. Duck is generally considered the finest bass-fishing lake in B.C. "I found myself at Duck Lake just a few days after spawn this spring, often a difficult time of year to entice largemouths into a strike, but I'm always up for a challenge! "I began the long bumpy ride towards the end of the channel road, and after a quick stop to watch a young wolf bolt into the farmlands at the south end, made it all the way around and launched at the sluice gates. The large fish I spotted in the channel while unloading would have to wait. I absolutely have to remember my DEET! "After the usual 350 or so oar strokes it takes to get to the Sirdar weed beds (in calm conditions), I dropped anchor and started throwing spinnerbaits to cover as much water as possible. I caught half a dozen that afternoon, on the very west side of the weed beds, casting further west for cruisers; nothing earth shattering, just the usual two-pound or so average. The wind, of course, kicked up by 4 p.m., so I let it push me to the north shore (anchor still out!) and packed it in with a similar plan for the next day. I have to remember my sunscreen! "And what a beauty it was. It's a rare event when Duck Lake STAYS calm, so I let the breeze push me around all day with much more success. Again, spinners were the hit of the day, but chartreuse preferred over white, and gold willow leafs over silver. The key was to pick up the reel immediately after casting to the west edge of the beds, although I also caught a couple a litlle deeper within feet of the boat. My best was well over 4 lbs.; lots a fun with a flexible Browning Kokanee Downrigging rod. One took me all the way around the boat! I lost count after a dozen or so, with a nice 'chunk' on a purple plastic Zoom worm, stubbornly won as I rowed/trolled on the way in. Once the boat was loaded, I realized a third straight day on my own was doubtful, so I carefully scouted the banks before I left with a lazy plan for Friday. I must remember my camera! "Last morning; too pooped to row, so I drove to the swing gates off the highway at the north end, grabbed an ultralight spinning outfit, a coupl'a plastics, full can of DEET, SPF 33, IPhone and headed to the sluice gates. Such fun sight-fishing for largemouth in two feet of water! I quietly flipped my black seven-inch worm to the opposite bank, and as soon as it noisily plopped into the water, Wham!, a 3/12 lb'er. I coaxed in three others within 20 minutes, but despite the DEET could take no more (all you Duck Lake faithful know what I mean). "Another great few days on Duck Lake. Pricey, what with the non-resident yearly licence and new CVWMA fishing permit fee, but worth it every time. I only hope I'll have a fall topwater report for you all sometime in October." Date:14/06/19 Time:10:00-17:30 Weather:22C, partly cloudy Wind:2-28kph!, SSW GPS:49.23858,-116.63135 Boat:Lund WC12 Rod:7' Browning Lamiglass Reel:Shimano Curado Baitcast Line:Spiderwire Stealth Braid Lures:Stanley Vibra-Wedge, 1/2 oz Chartreuse,Single Willow Leaf, Strike King Premier Plus,3/8 oz White,Dbl. Gold Willow Leaf, Culprit Original Worm, 7 1/2 inch Purple Sharper Hooks, BassMaster Alex
Monsters grow on shrimp
Alex Nagy, field staff volunteer in Calgary, reports on a little-known lake close to town that's full of surprises: This may be the first ever report on this lake, which is not necessarily a bad thing. You'll soon see why... I've been fishing this secret Gem for about 20 years, and it has rarely disappointed. Just an incredibly short and easy 14-minute drive from my parents' door in downtown Cranbrook (shhhh...), New Lake is small, with an even smaller fishable area due to the amount of lily pads straddling the shore and a very shallow south end (but more on this later). I've seen 2,000 10-inch-plus Gerard and Kamloops trout released into the lake in early June on several occasions, and with the abundance of freshwater shrimp for food, these fish quickly grow to monster proportions. Regardless of size, expect a real battle when you hook up, with spectacular leaps, and long deep runs, and an average size of 2-4 lbs. by late August. In the shallow south end, where only us fools and the occasional bald eagle dare to go, I've caught what I estimate to be a 30-inch, 8-lbs.-plus Kamloops trout, one of the most beautiful rainbows I've ever seen. Anyway, I had an early visit to Cranbrook recently, so spent a couple of hours Monday in the rain, and as usual the fishing didn't disappoint. I released four 12- to 16-inchers, which is good for this early in the season, and even kept a few smaller fish for the pan. All were caught trolling my dad's original tie along the west side, rounding the corner just outside the weed line. I will give you this -- red or orange. The lake was angry that day, my friends! When a small mountain lake has whitecaps, the rain is horizontal and it takes Speed 5 to control a 12-foot boat, one knows it's time to leave! Guess I'm a fair-weather fisherman after all, ha ha. Not. Date: Monday June 16, 2014 Time: 10:46 a.m. Weather: 9C, Rain, 17km NW Winds GPS: 49.51737, - 115.85162 Boat: Lund WC12 Motor: Minn Kota Endura Max / Speed 2 Rod: Templefork 4 Piece, 5 Wt Line: SA Supra Floating Line with quick sinking tip Tippet: Berkley 2 lb. Fly: Nagy Special
