Lily Lake Fishing in Lac Ste. Anne County, Alberta

• Overview

  Lac Ste. Anne County in Alberta is where Lily Lake sits. This is pine and birch country. Around 41 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge runs 2.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. For a base, Mayerthorpe sits 41 km out. Edmonton sits 81 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Lac Ste. Anne County include northern pike, walleye, white sucker, lake whitefish and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Lily Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -14°C in January up to 15°C in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Lily Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The water borders Lily Lake Natural Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lessard Lake, 8.7 km out. Nothing on Lily Lake should be assumed from this page alone.