Pine Lake

Every year, this long and narrow parkland lake surrenders pike up to 20 pounds and Walleye up to 7 pounds. For Walleye, try a slip-float rig with a live leech or night crawler. For pike, you can't go wrong with a frozen smelt or night crawler sitting on the bottom or worked below a ball-type float at the edge of a weedbed. Big spoons and spinner baits also produce pike. Fly fishers using big gaudy streamer flies do well on pike, especially in late spring. Fishing is closed from April 1 to mid-May to protect spawning walleye. Under new regulations introduced in 1996, angler's can't keep any walleye. Pine Lake also has a bountiful perch population. For best results, use a tiny 1/64 ounce jig tipped with a maggot or live leech below a slip float. Getting there: Head north of Calgary on Highway 2 to Innisfail, then drvie east for about 40 kilometres on Secondary Highway 590.

Pine Lake for Walleye

If there was ever a lake designed for kids, it's Pine Lake. There are a ton of fish in this small mesotrophic body of water and they are eager to bite. Pine has one of the Highest populations of perch in the province and they are fairly stunted due to the high numbers. Walleye grow fast and fat on them. For some reason, the walleye seem to top out at eight pounds although the odd 10 is taken. The largest population of fish however, is walleye below 15 inches. Catching 50 of these a day is no problem and kids have a riot.    For some reason, the walleye are really keen for a leech presented beneath a slip-bobber. This can be on a bare hook or a small 1/16 ounce jig. This is another reason for the popularity with the kids. Don't ask me why, but a slip-bobber will out produce all other presentations at all times of the year. Jigs and live-bait rigs work well too, but more aggressive presentations are usually ignored.    Although first impressions may indicate otherwise, there is a ton of structure for walleye to relate to in Pine Lake. Most of it is not obvious from above the water line and the use of sonar is required to locate the hot spots. Points are really good on Pine Lake, but the best areas are sharp drop-offs close to reed flats. There is a classic drop off about half way up the lake on the west side that produces extremely well. Just look for the anchored boats. While walleye can usually be found in shallow water, give the 30 foot water on the east shore a try in August.    Pine Lake is another popular resort lake that sees a tremendous amount of boat traffic throughout the day. Fishing in the early morning and evening is by far the best and there is also and excellent night bite. Try trolling a shallow running crank bait like the Thunderstick over the weeds at the north end of the lake.