Arrowhead Lake Fishing in Improvement District No. 24, Alberta

• Overview

  Look for Arrowhead Lake in the Improvement District No. 24 part of Alberta. The water sits 302 metres up. At some 7.15 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The perimeter runs near 15 km, so plan the walk before you start. The closest town, Fort Smith, is 104 km distant. After that come Hay River at 174 km and La Crête at 231 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Arrowhead Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Improvement District No. 24 include goldeye, northern pike, walleye and cisco. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Arrowhead Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -22°C to 16°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Arrowhead Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Thultue Lake at 7.8 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Arrowhead Lake should be assumed from this page alone.