7 up-and-coming fishing hot spots in northern Alberta

7 up-and-coming fishing hot spots in northern Alberta

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Open for almost three years, Cold Lake’s Exsile Outdoors supplies northeastern Alberta’s anglers and hunters with everything they need. There’s even an indoor archery range. Owner Jason Laudin says a must-have local bait is the Cold Lake Special—a five-inch-long tube jig with a treble-hook stinger. Here are Laudin’s top spots for lakers and more.

More info: Exsile Outdoors, (780) 594-2538, www.exsileoutdoors.com

COLD LAKE, ALBERTA

GPS: 54.512, -110.122

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FISH: Burbot, lake trout, northern pike, walleye, whitefish, yellow perch

HIGHLIGHT: A great population of lakers, including monsters over 50 pounds

WHEN: Year-round

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FERN LAKE, SASKATCHEWAN

GPS: 54.818, -108.201

FISH: Rainbow trout, splake

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HIGHLIGHT: Easy access to rainbows averaging three to seven pounds

WHEN: Year-round

LITTLE BEAR LAKE, ALBERTA

GPS: 54.551, -110.301

FISH: Rainbow trout

HIGHLIGHT: Fly fish from a belly boat for 10-pound-plus trout

WHEN: May to March

MARIE LAKE, ALBERTA

GPS: 54.632, -110.308

FISH: Burbot, walleye

HIGHLIGHT: Easy walleye fishing for kids, plus trophy burbot

WHEN: Summer for walleye, winter for burbot

PIERCE LAKE, SASKATCHEWAN

GPS: 54.507, -109.723

FISH: Burbot, lake tout, northern pike, walleye

HIGHLIGHT: Good camping and many eating-size walleye, in crystal-clear water

WHEN: June to September

PINEHURST LAKE, ALBERTA

GPS: 54.657, -111.431

FISH: Northern pike, walleye, yellow perch

HIGHLIGHT: Near-wilderness water with trophy-size pike and walleye

WHEN: Year-round

SIEBERT LAKE, ALBERTA

GPS: 54.724, -111.308

FISH: Burbot, northern pike

HIGHLIGHT: Good numbers of walleye

WHEN: June to March

Check out our complete list of hot Canadian angling destinations