Pennington Lake Fishing in Penhold, Alberta

• Overview

  Pennington Lake is set in Penhold, Alberta. The water sits 894 metres up. Roughly 27 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Penhold sits 3.6 km from the bank. The nearest city of size is Red Deer, 16 km away. Near neighbours include: Fleming Slough 2.5 km away, Hazelwood Lake out at 12 km, Dodds Lake 12 km away, Napoleon Lake out at 13 km and Hazlett Lake 21 km away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Pennington Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On Pennington Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one. Work slowly along one feature rather than covering ground.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -13°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and mid November closes it again. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It sets the rhythm of the year at Pennington Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Some banks are open only from a marked point. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Fleming Slough sits 2.5 km off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Pennington Lake.