Fishing at Cladonia Lake, Mackenzie County, Alberta

• Overview

  The Mackenzie County entry here is Cladonia Lake, in Alberta. The bank is 787 metres above sea level. At 3.44 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. There is roughly 25 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. La Crête sits 150 km from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Edmonton, 649 km distant. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Cladonia Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name longnose sucker, northern pike, Arctic grayling and goldeye. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Cladonia Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 14°C in July and bottoms out near -22°C in January. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. Climate figures give an open season running mid May to late October. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It holds true on Cladonia Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Rocky Island Lake at 22 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Cladonia Lake are worth checking on the day.