Fishing at Shoal Lake, County of Barrhead No. 11, Alberta

• Overview

  Shoal Lake is a County of Barrhead No. 11 water, in Alberta. Everything around it is spruce and muskeg. About 5.49 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The edge covers about 20 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Supplies mean a trip to Barrhead, 14 km off. Further out sit Westlock (39 km) and Mayerthorpe (57 km). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Shoal Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across County of Barrhead No. 11, recorded fish include northern pike, white sucker and brook trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Shoal Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 16°C at the top of summer and -16°C at the bottom of winter. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Time your trip to Shoal Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Kipp Lake at 12 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Shoal Lake are worth checking on the day.