Pyramid Lake in Jasper: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Jasper in Alberta is where Pyramid Lake sits. The surface lies 1,180 metres up. About 1.25 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The outline measures near 6.8 km, so local knowledge counts. It ranks high for size among our Jasper listings. The nearest town is Jasper Park Lodge, 4.9 km away. The big place round here is Kamloops, 294 km distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Pyramid Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Jasper include rainbow trout, longnose sucker, 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. Pyramid Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -10°C and July at about 12°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and early November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Pyramid Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A slipway is marked about 760 m from here. Mapping shows parking within 260 m. A pier or jetty stands 890 m away, which helps on a crowded bank. Somewhere to sit and eat is 370 m out. Toilets show in mapping about 260 m away. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Katrine Lake at 1.7 km is the nearest alternative.