Cushing Lake near Bonnyville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cushing Lake is set in Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87, Alberta. It sits at 633 metres above sea level. The water covers around 5.23 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The shoreline runs about 10 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Bonnyville is the closest place, 30 km off. After that come Elk Point at 35 km and Grand Centre at 42 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Cushing Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 list yellow perch, Iowa darter, walleye, white sucker and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Cushing Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 16°C and January about -16°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Cushing Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Square Lake sits 5.7 km off and takes the overflow. For Cushing Lake in particular, ask before you travel.