Fishing Talbot Lake in Northern Sunrise County, Alberta

• Overview

  This water sits in Northern Sunrise County, Alberta. The surface lies 694 metres up. About 6.60 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. There is roughly 11 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. La Crête is the closest town at 90 km. For a city, Edmonton is 458 km off. If this one is busy: Rossbear Lake (14 km), Wadlin Lake at 32 km, Bison Lake (39 km), Donaldson Lake at 39 km and Sawn Lake (54 km). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Talbot Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Northern Sunrise County include northern pike and spottail shiner. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Talbot Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 15°C and January near -18°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about early November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Talbot Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Rossbear Lake, 14 km away. For Talbot Lake in particular, ask before you travel.