Charlie Lake ice fishing?

[Why not?]

Ice safe yet?

Any of you guys ice-fish for walleye there?

Going to be in Ft Saint John next week.

Thanks,
Ted

[DawsonCreedmoor]

For some reason ice fishing pretty much sucks out there! Have never heard much positive about hard water action. I've been a few times and have yet to catch a fish, we catch lots from the boat though.

If you go let me know how you make out!

[BRvalley]

don't know of ice conditions yet, but I'd imagine it's safe by now

growing up in ON, charlie lake is one of my favourite lakes in BC/northern AB winter and summer

pm me your email and I"ll send you a map or two (they're on my old cell phone right now)

tiny jigs, the smallest jiggin raps, spoons all work...doesn't hurt to run a light leader, lots of pike around

never been skunked there, the bites are very light in winter and eyes hold tight to bottom, bottom 3-4', occasional suspend fish but not many in my experienc....fish shallow early and late under 10 fow, deeper during the day...look at a map and find points and drop offs (very easy to find)

can only fish one line...if you find a good spot where fish are holding, drill several holes, bounce around holes to get more bites

edit: cannot use fin fish for bait, dead or alive, or parts (kind of limits options for a tip up)

[northernsculler]

Ted: Head up to the golf course. You'll see the 'point' work out in that line both over the shallow ridge and north into deeper water. Those walleye are about the best eatin fish around. Males are pretty small but you can get some nice size females. The other spot would be at the south end boat ramp head up the east side of the lake past the manicured properties to where some bush and cliffs hit the shore. There is a small cove there with a couple houses set back. approx 100 yards off the shore you can clean up.

Charlie lake is in the top half dozen most productive walleye lakes in the country. No lunkers but once you find a school you can get a fry together pretty quick.

Not sure where you might find em but nothing beats an earth worm on a short leader below a small willow leaf (or a wedding band arrangement) above. fish just off the bottom. Super sharp #8 ish hooks. If you don't get action in short order move. If you do get action get your rig back down quick.

The above consistently outfishes every rubber/maggot/jig concoction I have seen fished there.

We used to fish 2 kids and a wife out there at dawn all summer until the flesh softened never came back with out a limit.

The other thing, and I have never seen it with my own eyes BUT, apparently there is exc perch fishing at the north end where the creek enters. If you have a sled might be worth checking.

If you want to have a chance at a nice fish thru the ice and can stand the drive down to One Island you 'd have a chance at some serious rainbows and respectable brookies.

The other thing is that the Peace R is right there....

[ARC]

I fished just south of the golf course point a few times with luck. Although I found it to be slow this time of year. Seemed to pick up throughout February and into March.

I mainly caught walleye, with the odd pike.

[Why not?]

Hi Guys,

Been away for almost a month, and heading back home. Should be plenty of ice there now, eh?

Ted

[Sitkaspruce]

-22 today and we just got 10" of snow...lots of ice!!

Cheers

SS

[P.J.]

They are ripping on the ice track now so I'd say your safe. Didn't get much snow for a few weeks with cold temperatures. Snowed a bunch the other day so a bit of shovelling til you hit the ice.

[Johnnyexcavator]

They are ripping on the ice track now so I'd say your safe. Didn't get much snow for a few weeks with cold temperatures. Snowed a bunch the other day so a bit of shovelling til you hit the ice.


Anyone been fishing out out there lately? Any reports? I'm heading up that way in a week or so.

[tfl]

Yep lots of people out on the ice
was 12-14 inches a couple weeks ago and it's been cold since then
went out 1hr before dark caught 2 lost 4
not big but good eating 1.5lbs walleye

[BRvalley]

fished off the golf course over the holidays....handful of walleye and a few perch...light biters in winter

[BCHunterFSJ]

I live in Charlie Lake and HATE the ice fishing!
Catch walleyes all summer long, but just don't get any through the ice...
In March the burbot fishing can be quite good! Tasty...

[Johnnyexcavator]

fished off the golf course over the holidays....handful of walleye and a few perch...light biters in winter
What type of lures are good producers? Also would I be looking for structure in the 10-15ft of water? This fishery is new to me.

[wideopenthrottle]

dont you just set up the tip ups with minnows 6 inches off bottom ...build a big fire and check the lines every so often...we used to call it "ice drinking" when we were teens...heheheh

[Surrey Boy]

I used to jig whitefish crankbaits, sometimes a shad rap. Did well enough.

[Sitkaspruce]

What type of lures are good producers? Also would I be looking for structure in the 10-15ft of water? This fishery is new to me.

Not much structure in Charlie, basically some small ridges and gullies along the west side (Golf Course) and some rock piles and such on the east side (Beatton Park). We use yellow or gold mister twister jigs or Rapala snap jigs.


dont you just set up the tip ups with minnows 6 inches off bottom ...build a big fire and check the lines every so often...we used to call it "ice drinking" when we were teens...heheheh

Minnows are illegal, so that won't work. Fire is good, so is enjoying some cold ones.....

Cheers

SS

[BRvalley]

What type of lures are good producers? Also would I be looking for structure in the 10-15ft of water? This fishery is new to me.

I fish deep in the day and shallow at dusk and dawn, I like 15-25' and fish tight to bottom....not a lot of visible structure but lots of drops, ledges, rock piles...basically any change in bottom contour is worth drilling a hole...I return to waypoints I've marked in summer, but the navionics app for Charlie is pretty accurate

small jigs, rapala jiggin raps, pk spoons, Swedish pimples, marmooska jigs, drop shot gulp minnows...and of course the trusty worm and split shot...meal worms and pieces of shrimp sometimes....it's generally slow in the winter but you get a fair share of hot bites if you stick it out long enough

i rely on my electronics quite a bit, not required but certainly help

[lovemywinchester]

I can't ice fish without my graph. It's absolutely THE most important tool on the hardwater. Not if your in 5 ft of water, in a tent looking down, but for any deeper water its a must.




i rely on my electronics quite a bit, not required but certainly help

[Chuck]

I live in Charlie Lake and HATE the ice fishing!
Catch walleyes all summer long, but just don't get any through the ice...
In March the burbot fishing can be quite good! Tasty...

I too have been in Charlie lake...not fishing mind you, but with my car. If it wasn't for the nice lady in the large log house up across the highway, I'd probably still be there. A memory of 1969. I didn't know everyone chained up in summer time when it got wet. I never got an opportunity to thank her, though her log house was just fab.

Dragon lake, just south of Quesnel was a great spot for ice fishing big (5+lbs) rainbows years ago. I'm not sure how time has treated that lake over the years. I recall that the beautiful fish were somewhat muddy flavoured.

[jwiebe]

Can anyone tell me when the ice is off charlie lake ?

[Sitkaspruce]

Will be a few more weeks yet, still 20+" as of Tuesday.

Cheers

SS

[jwiebe]

Thanks for the info sitkaspruce my family and are planing a little camping trip hope to go there when the ice off