Lake Tourangeau Fishing near La Crête, Alberta

• Overview

  You will find Lake Tourangeau in Mackenzie County, Alberta. It sits at 315 metres above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 1.58 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. Around 6.3 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. It is a small entry by Mackenzie County standards. The nearest town is La Crête, 3.2 km away. It is 549 km to Edmonton, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Tourangeau

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Mackenzie County records list longnose sucker, northern pike and Arctic grayling among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Read Lake Tourangeau for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -21°C in January and 17°C in July. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice clears near late April and comes back about early November in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Lake Tourangeau more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows a jetty some 340 m off. Overnight stays are possible 440 m away. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Linton Lake is 4 km off. Nothing on Lake Tourangeau should be assumed from this page alone.