First Lake near Jasper Park Lodge: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  First Lake is one of the Jasper listings for Alberta. Elevation runs to 1,099 metres. It runs to roughly 12 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The bank runs about 2.5 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Jasper Park Lodge is the closest place, 7.5 km off. The nearest city of size is Kamloops, 287 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on First Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name rainbow trout, longnose sucker, brook trout and bull trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At First Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -10°C in January to roughly 13°C in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish First Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. 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. Second Lake sits 0.8 km off and takes the overflow. For First Lake in particular, ask before you travel.