Pike Fishing

[FullMetalJeep]

I am looking for a place close to cochrane/calgary to do some pike fishing. I know its starting to get late in the season, but I would like to try before summer ends, and as soon as the ice starts breaking up next spring.

Also, is there any suggestions for some real good pike spots anyone knows about? Doesnt have to be close. Apparently Cochrane Lake has pike, though every single angler that mentions that place says it bone dry.

Thanks for the tips.

[Ostego]

Cochrane Lake has pike just gotta know what spot.
Other then that grab the fishing regulations, it says what fish are where~

[FullMetalJeep]

Cochrane Lake has pike just gotta know what spot.

how big you figure they get in that "lake"? Should I bump up from a ten pound line? Or are they monsters...

I have heard a bit of stories regarding the unfriendliness of the cochrane lake locals. One extreeme case I heard of was someone shooting at or in the direction of a fisherman... I myself would be on the phone with the cops in that case....

[cLAY]

Cochrane Lake has pike just gotta know what spot.
Other then that grab the fishing regulations, it says what fish are where~

Are you talking Cochrane Lake or Ghost Lake? Last time I heard Cochrane Lake was more like a slough....

[w squared]

Well, it's on the opposite side of Calgary from Cochrane, but Eagle Lake near Strathmore has some pretty good pike fishing. Shallow, warm, weedy...pike paradise. After work one day, I went there with a friend and a very leaky canoe. In 90 minutes the pair of us caught 45 pike and one walleye.

Catch and release of course! 

We might have had five or six of those fish that were under five pounds. No "monsters", but consistently getting hits on almost every cast. I'd swear that those pike would have chased our spoons right into the canoe if they could figure out how...I caught one when the spoon was less than ten feet from the end of my rod.

If you're running ten pound test, you're probably okay...but I'd make real sure that you've got a steel leader.

[Immortal]

pssssssst, Todd.... it was the same damn fish over and over again. Must have had tasty bait.

[FullMetalJeep]

Are you talking Cochrane Lake or Ghost Lake? Last time I heard Cochrane Lake was more like a slough....

Cochrane Lake: 3 pike limit, 15 perch limit.

thanks W2, will have to check out Eagle lake. What size spoon you using? Maybe bigger lure would provoke bigger pike? Depends on the size of the lake too I suppose.

If any one in the CJA wants to do a little fishing let me know! I cant hardcore 4x4 anymore as both of my Jeeps are stuck on pavement.

[GiS]

Close to Calgary you say??

Glenmore Resivour 

[.:.Dingman.:.]

go to badger its worth the drive last year I pulled out a 36 inch 20 pound pike and a lot of other 30+ inch ones ice fishing . crawling valley is also good , you just have to find that sweet spot.

Dingman

[w squared]

thanks W2, will have to check out Eagle lake. What size spoon you using? Maybe bigger lure would provoke bigger pike? Depends on the size of the lake too I suppose.

Bigger lures catch bigger fish (of course).

I think that we were both running spoons in the four inch range. That orange/green/black perch combo. Don't worry too much about pike - they're so bloody agressive that they'll attack a lure that is one third of their length. Those relatively large four inch spoons wouldn't scare off a one and a half pound hammer handle pike.

You'll want to rig weedless if at all possible. I wasn't kidding when I said there's some good growth in there. And bring your pliers! We forgot ours, and my hands were bleeding by the end of the night.

[FullMetalJeep]

I went out to Seebee to fish the dam today. Was out there ALL DAY and not a dang thing!! Spoons, spinners, sinkers, jigs, all sizes all shapes all colors. stupid. even put some cheese and marshmallow granola bar (my lunch) in the mix at one point, just to see what the hell... nothing.

Only thing I can think of I didnt try was fly.

[w squared]

Until you get down into Calgary (Bearspaw dam to be precise), the Bow is some serious hit and miss. The water levels fluctuate wildly because of the dams and TransAlta opening and closing gates to meet power needs. Everything says it should be good fishing up there...but I've never caught a bloody thing on that stretch of the Bow.

Maybe there's someone else here that's had great luck along the Bow West of Cochrane, but it isn't me.

[FullMetalJeep]

Hurray! It's my girls 2nd birthday today!  They brought me luck, I bagged 5 whitefish this morn out the bow @ 6 am. Released all cause I dont know how to make em taste good.