Bennett Lake in Strathcona County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bennett Lake lies in Strathcona County, in Alberta. It lies 752 metres above sea level. Surface area is around 90 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. With 5.9 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. On size it sits at the modest end of our Strathcona County list. Supplies mean a trip to Ardrossan, 9.8 km off. Sherwood Park lies 22 km off, Fort Saskatchewan another 24 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Bennett Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name northern pike, yellow perch and cisco. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Bennett Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -14°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Bennett Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. You can camp about 1 km away, going by the mapping. There are picnic tables 680 m away. Facilities run to toilets 660 m from the water. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Walter Lake, 3.6 km away. Check the position at Bennett Lake before loading the car.