Alma Lake Fishing Guide, County of St. Paul No. 19, Alberta

• Overview

  Set in County of St. Paul No. 19, Alberta, this is Alma Lake. The surface lies 562 metres up. At some 1.46 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. There is roughly 8.2 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Some 36 km away sits Elk Point, the nearest settlement. For a city, Edmonton is 204 km off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Alma Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for County of St. Paul No. 19 list yellow perch, Iowa darter, northern pike, white sucker and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Alma Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -17°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Alma Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Paterson Lake at 3.6 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Alma Lake for certain.