Rat Lake Fishing near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta

• Overview

  Rat Lake is one of the Clearwater County waters in Alberta. The country here is rolling bush. At 3 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Clearwater County standards. Rocky Mountain House sits 22 km from the bank. Red Deer is the closest city, 94 km away. Others close at hand: Cow Lake lies 12 km on, Mitchell Lake 12 km, Swan Lake lies 14 km on, Phyllis Lake 22 km and Crimson Lake lies 26 km on. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Rat Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Clearwater County include bull trout, mountain whitefish and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Treat Rat Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 14°C and January reads -11°C. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Rat Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A pier or jetty stands 140 m away, which helps on a crowded bank. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Cow Lake, 12 km out. Confirm before you fish Rat Lake.