The Winter season is pretty long in Alberta and if you can’t wait for the summer to go fishing, ice fishing might be a great option. Even if you never tried ice fishing before, it is easy to learn and you can get all the equipment for $200 or even less if you buy used gear.
I will list some of the good spots to fish near Calgary that are no more than two hours away. We will also take a look at the basic gear you will need to start ice fishing.
Where to Ice Fish Near Calgary?
All the lakes below are listed based on the distance from Calgary.
Chestermere Lake
Great lake to fish if you don’t want to drive far from Calgary
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Pike – 3 (over 63 cm)
- Perch – 15
Location: 19 km from Calgary
Dalemead Lake
A great small lake for catching pike.
This lake falls under general province-wide regulations
- Pike – 3 (over 63 cm)
- Walleye – 3 (over 50 cm)
- Whitefish – 10
- Perch – 15
Location: 55 km East from Calgary just off 22X.
Ghost Lake Reservoir
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Whitefish – 10
- Trout – 5 (0 for cutthroat)
Location: 60 km from Calgary
Eagle Lake
Great place to catch pike and walleye if you don’t mind catch and release.
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Pike – Catch and release only
- Walleye – Catch and release only
- Perch – 15
- Burbot – 10
Location: 61 km from Calgary near the town of Strathmore.
Pine Coulee Reservoir
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Pike – 3
- Walleye – 3
- Trout – 5
Location: 127 km south of Calgary
Chain Lakes Reservoir
This is a very popular spot both for open water and ice fishing. This lake is heavily stocked (~130,000 rainbows in 2020) and it is not too hard to get lucky when fishing there.
The most popular species that you will catch at Chain Lakes are Rainbow Trout and Suckers. You can eat both but suckers usually have lots of bones.
Location: 132 km south of Calgary.
Chain Lakes Reservoir falls under general stocked lakes regulations.
Spray Lakes Reservoir
A scenic place to fish in the Rocky Mountains.
Fishing regulations as of 2020
Whitefish – 5 (over 30 cm)
Trout – 5 (but only 3 Lake trout)
Location: 132 km from Calgary. Located close to Canmore.
Upper & Lower Kananaskis Lakes
A beautiful place to fish.
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Trout – 1 (over 50 cm)
Location: 140 km from Calgary in Kananaskis country by Highway 40.
Sylvan Lake
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Pike – Catch and release only
- Walleye – 1
- Whitefish – 5
- Perch – 5
- Burbot – 2
Location: 160 km from Calgary
Crawling Valley Reservoir
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Pike – Catch and release only
- Walleye – Catch and release only
- Perch – 15
- Whitefish – 10
- Burbot -10
Location: 160 km from Calgary
McGregor Lake Reservoir
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Pike – Catch and release only
- Walleye – Catch and release only
- Perch – 15
- Burbot – 10
- Whitefish – 10
Location: 173 km south of Calgary
Lake Newell
Another good fishing spot to catch pike and walleye where only catch and release is allowed. The best place to fish is around Kinbrook Island Provincial Park.
Fishing regulations as of 2020
- Pike – Catch and release only
- Walleye – Catch and release only
- Whitefish – 10
- Perch – 15
- Burbot – 10
Location: 208 km from Calgary not far Brooks.
Other Fishing Spots Near Calgary
Alberta Fishing Regulations Overview
You will need to have a fishing license to fish anywhere in Alberta if you are over 16. The license costs about $28 if you are a resident of Alberta.
Most lakes and streams have their own regulations except for stocked lakes.
Bull trout is only catch and release everywhere in Alberta.
Fishing Regulations for Stocked Lakes as of 2020
- Open Year-round
- Bait is Allowed
- 5 trout of any size
- 3 Pike of any size
- 15 perch of any size
It is always a good idea to check current regulations to stay up to date with any changes. You can find these Alberta fishing regulations online or you can get a hard copy in your local Canadian Tire for free.
Another great resource to see stocking reports for trout lakes is mywildalberta.com
Ice Fishing Gear List for Beginners
Ice Auger
Auger is used for making holes in the ice. Ice augers come in different sizes and can be manual, electrical, or gas-powered.
Manual augers are usually the cheapest and lighter than gas-powered ones. However, if the ice is thick it will take more time and effort to drill a hole with a manual auger.
The most common size of augers used is 6” but depending on what you are planning to fish 8” might be better for bigger fish.
However as the size of the ice auger increases, so does the amount of time required to drill the hole because you will be removing more ice with a larger size auger.
Ice Fishing Rod
Your regular fishing rod is too long for ice fishing and it is a good idea to get an ice fishing rod that is shorter and more flexible. Most ice fishing rods are pretty affordable.
Ice fishing Tip-Up
Since 2 lines are allowed when ice fishing in Alberta it might be a good idea to have a fishing rod and a tip-up to increase your chances and catch more fish. You can find tip-ups for less than $20.
Scoop for Ice Removal
You can either buy one of them or use something from your kitchen instead.
Bait and Lures
You can usually use the same bait and lures as you do during open water fishing.
Winter Fishing Line
It is also a good idea to get cold-resistant line when ice fishing to avoid snapping due to low temperatures.
Best Spots to Buy Ice Fishing Gear
If you want to buy new gear, Canadian Tire usually has a lot of stuff. The Fishing Hole has great deals as well. Another option is Cabela’s.
If you can’t find the gear you want in your local stores or prefer to shop online, Amazon has a lot of options as well.
If you are just starting and don’t mind used gear, Kijiji has a lot of equipment for winter fishing.
Basic Safety When Ice Fishing
The three common dangers when ice fishing are thin ice, cold temperatures, and slippery roads.
The rule of thumb is never to fish if the ice is less than 4 inches thick. It is also important to keep in mind that you will need much more than 4 inches if you want to drive on ice.
To stay warm always bring extra clothes and wear a few layers. Great winter boots are very important because you will not be moving much and it is very easy to get cold.
Driving to the lake can also be dangerous because roads might be covered with ice so it is always a good idea to take your time while driving.
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