Horsetail Lake Fishing in Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17, Alberta

• Overview

  Out in Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17, Alberta, sits Horsetail Lake. The surroundings are northern bush. About 2.76 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. With 12 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Wabasca-Desmarais lies 29 km from the water. Slave Lake is 122 km and Fort McMurray 145 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Horsetail Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17 include yellow perch, cisco, walleye, Arctic grayling and lake whitefish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Horsetail Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 15°C and January at -19°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. From about late April to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Horsetail Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Kamistikowik Lake sits 12 km off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Horsetail Lake in what we hold.