How is the lodge with the new ownership? Was it still busy with the zero limit on pike?

Also was surprised to see 2018 regs catch and release only now for Pike.

Was here last weekend. Large Indigenous tent camp set up before mud hole on public launch road. Netting the lake. Public launch road in very poor shape. Don’t go in alone and have a way to get out etc... Lake was poor fishing, massive algae bloom covering the whole lake. Caught 5 fish in 2 days. Can’t see further than 6” in the water. Wake from the boat on the water was dark green.

Dreams come true here 15-20 lbs
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Was there all last weekend had a blast stayed at Winefred Lake Lodge good time nice place. Boat launch a little poor though, good thing I have a lift on my truck to get my 18' tacker in. Had the truck out 40" into the water! Only one 24"walleye lots of small pike we got a 47",43", 2-42" also

Ice off?

Fished off Sandy River islands on Mar. 23rd. Caught three 18lbers, two 16lbers, 14lber, & two 12lber Pike. Caught 1st and only Walleye seen of three trips this year. Very slow fishing this year compared to other years.

I wouldn't take a12ft Boat on that lake. It's huge and the wind can be brutal. If you get a really calm day you would be ok I'm some of the bays but I don't think you would want to cross the lake.

no theres ice

Howms the weather and the lake conditions here? I'm from 5 hours south and want to plan a weekend trip in the summer. Will a 12ft Harbercraft aluminum fishing boat do the trick?

How's the drive in? Pulling the sleds up, can I get all the way in?

Big Pike
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Well done Fluffy...how are you moving around on the ice? How is the snow?

Banana point, few small pike biting on rapala (green)
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12-19lb pike, slow muting but worth it
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12-19lb pike , slow but worth it
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Fishing was slow, but pulled out a handfull of 12-19 lbs pike out by the islands

How much snow is on the lake? Accessible with a pickup ?

Ice Report: 32 in
Left of the boat launch by the islands

Anyone have an update on ice conditions?

Anyone interested on putring bit of money toward mini x rental? I'll put time in to fix up launch and couple the bad spot's......

Access to the public launch was pretty normal. Bad in the same spots but passable.

The fishing was good, but the access to the public launch was terrible. It looked like the public launch has been dug out with an excavator. We paid the launch fees at the lodge, and it was $52.50 per boat. Criminal.

Has anyone been to the lake lately. Hoping to drive in on Friday or Saturday. How's the road?

tried to get in last week,the road was impassable. turned around (which was a task in itself) and fishing Christina instead with decent results.

Two guys stuck at start of trail when I went in last week. Pull one with sling and other with winch. Road is deteriorating with rain condition's. Lake level is very high and there is not really a beach to pullbboat up on now.

Hi all would any one have any updates on the public launch and the road to it. Cheers

We work in the area. Being such a remote area,a lot of times we are the only people around and usually have to pull out a dozen trucks per season down there. If you catch it right after the grader has been down to the lodge it is usually pretty good. I wouldn't tow in anything of significant value IMO.

Was a breeze getting in and out last year, I had good tires but no lift on my F150...yes the section from the grist lake turn is quite narrow and if it's rained for several days it could be a little tricky. As for the launch none of the boats that made it down this same "horrible" road had issues launching or getting to the launch.

If you don't have a lifted 4x4 with fresh mud tires,you're going to get stuck either going to,or on the public launch road. Especially if it rains. Launch road is narrow and will definitely scratch up anything going down it. The Public launch is extremely steep. Tough to launch on a windy day with all the big boulders and rocks around the launch area. Only been there a couple times and seen a few damaged legs.

Road to public launch is really bad. You may get in but if it rains while in there you may not get out. Two vehicles are a must and come alongs or winches are a good idea. Stock trucks with stock tires and running boards are a bad idea and your paint will get scratched.

Will do. Do you know if there is somewhere to camp and launch a boat on that lake other than the lodge?

Let me know what they say, I wanted to go there next weekend too.

Lodge called 2 days ago. Still 2' of ice on south end of lake. They are calling me again Wednesday with an update as I have a reservation for next weekend :(

Is the ice off yet?

This is by far the best lake I've ever fished in Alberta. 52 Walleye in one day & two 18, 17, two 16, 15, & 14 lber pike. Unreal fishing

This lake is a producer. 71 cm walleye and multiple 10+ lbs pike. Dead weight all day. Rough road comin in. One guy had a rock fly right through his windshield. We'll be back Winny!

Always my favourite lake was there today fished for 8.5 hours and caught 169 fish between 3 of us biggest was 15.15lbs and 110cm long looked bigger to me but the scale don't lie lol roads were rough getting in but if you have a good 4x4 you should be ok!!!

Ice Report: 20 in
Almost 2 feet of ice, more than safe for a truck to be on. Lots of fish, the walleye are hungry right now!

Hey thinking of heading out, what size hook and where to fish,. Would really appreciate it.

Huge pike from 5:30-9:30daily 15-27lbs Off point from winefred lake lodge.
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The amount of pike biting is ridiculous! Brought pretty close to 80-90 fish into the boat over 2 1/2 days between the 4 of us. Absolutely amazing experience!

Hi Islander, posted this on Outdoor Forum but as promised here it is on ifish. Just got back from a trip to the Lodge, amazing time. Dry as a bone all the way but everyone is right, the road past the gas plant is very greasy when wet and if you go too fast or have to pass someone you run the risk of hitting the ditch. Once you are off the lease roads and onto the trail it isn't greasy but there are a few wet spots. The only real trouble to the public launch (which I didn't get to check out) is that section is not maintained, so it gets rutted out. The fishing, well second to none of course. The rivers were slow fishing and water level is down. Plus early ice off so the fish were already moved out to the main lake. We tried all three rivers, grist is weeded in but if you stop at the bends you can cast into the deep spots and hit walleye and pike of around 5 lbs. Winfred river mouth was slow fishing, and the bay into it was weeded up already and our motor got clogged with weeds on way to it. Caught 5-8lb pike and 4-5lb walleye. Sand river is not too bad and we could rip all the way in, but could only fish deep spots again with same results 5-8lb pike and 4-5lb walleye. Once we moved into the main lake we had better luck and bigger fish. Still overall the fish size was down (probably due to early ice off) but we managed 4 pike over 10, one was 16 and several walleye over 5lb with 7 being the largest. Averaged 20 fish per person per day. Already planning next year's trip.

Pawliw11, the lake is surrounded with crown land but there is no access. You can go to Pauls camp, the lodge or the public access that comes from the Grist airstrip. You could camp somewhere on the road in and use the lodge to put boat in/out. I did this years ago, where road intersects a pipeline right of way. The fishing is epic so i suggest doing whatever you can to make it happen. We are going on guys trip June 17. Will post results after.

Public road is usually garbage. I got stuck there in a 4x4 for several hours last year. It's totally doable but bring reinforcements in case you get stuck. Any rain makes it real bad.

Does anyone have any info on the condition of the road to the public launch? Thanks.

Yes the ice is off the lake. Yes you can camp on the south end of the lake. Go past winefred lake lodge road. Must have 4x4 and a second vechile to get out incase. Road doesn't get maintained at all

Anybody know if the ice is off?

Is there anywhere that a group can camp on this lake that isn't organized? Any crown land on the lake?