Lake Eliza, Alberta: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Alberta, Lake Eliza belongs to County of St. Paul No. 19. Height above sea level is 588 metres. This is sizeable water at about 5.04 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The margin runs to about 14 km in total. You are 21 km from St. Paul. The nearest city of size is Edmonton, 153 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake Eliza

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for County of St. Paul No. 19 include yellow perch, Iowa darter, northern pike and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat Lake Eliza as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -16°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Lake Eliza fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Myr Lake, 8 km away. The position on Lake Eliza is worth confirming on the day.