Jarvis Lake Fishing in Yellowhead County, Alberta

• Overview

  Jarvis Lake sits in Yellowhead County, out in Alberta. The land about it is lake country bush. It measures some 1.44 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. The outline measures near 15 km, so local knowledge counts. For a base, Hinton sits 16 km out. For a city, Edmonton is 286 km off. Close by you have: Blue Lake lies 2.5 km on, Cache Lake at 3.5 km, Graveyard Lake lies 4.1 km on, Peppers Lake at 4.7 km and Gregg Lake lies 9.8 km on. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Jarvis Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Yellowhead County include rainbow trout, mountain whitefish, 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. On Jarvis Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 13°C and January at -10°C. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Jarvis Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A made slipway is 1.3 km from here, which settles the boat question. There is a mapped landing stage 750 m away. There are picnic tables 1.3 km away. There are toilets 1.4 km off. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Blue Lake is 2.5 km distant. None of that is settled for Jarvis Lake in what we hold.