Horseshoe Lake in Larkspur: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Horseshoe Lake in Larkspur, Alberta. This is boreal forest ground. At about 13 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 2.6 km on foot. Nearest town is Westlock, 38 km off. Edmonton is the closest city, 107 km away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Larkspur include northern pike and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Horseshoe Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -17°C and July at about 15°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Horseshoe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Spruce Island Lake, 1.5 km out. For Horseshoe Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.