Gilbert Lake Fishing in County of Athabasca No. 12, Alberta

• Overview

  Gilbert Lake lies in County of Athabasca No. 12, Alberta. It sits at 656 metres above sea level. The water covers some 12 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Supplies mean a trip to Athabasca, 24 km off. For a city, Edmonton is 108 km off. If this one is busy: Lee Lake at about 0.7 km, Mastin Lake a touch under 1.6 km, Arthur Lake at about 2.9 km, Ansell Lake a touch under 4.3 km and Frank Lake at about 5.2 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Gilbert Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name yellow perch, white sucker, northern pike, longnose sucker and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Gilbert Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 16°C and January about -16°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It sets the rhythm of the year at Gilbert Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records show it does not hold water year-round. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lee Lake, 0.7 km out. Confirm access to Gilbert Lake locally before you travel.