Had some great runs at Ghost Reservoir this weekend. Wind was all over the place but the surface couldn't be better this time of year. Best part is we have the whole lake to ourselves - no ice fishers, motorcycles, or sleds. Still lots of good ice.

macboy, Spray should be great mid-April. Still freezing and snowing up there.

Five days away - can't WAIT!

you guys are killin me.:shocked2:

Canuck: Do the fish houses around your area have to be off by a certain date? Love when March 1st comes, that's when all the shacks are gone around here and I no longer have to play dodge the fish house.

btw: No more teasing allowed

Thanks for rubbing it in, a

Cheddarhead: Most ice huts I have seen are the portable kind and get packed up at the end of the day. Sylvan Lake has had problems in the past and had a "Take It Off" campaign this year local - huts not removed by April 1st when the ice fishing season closed there were removed and impounded. I am not a fisherman, but looking at the Alberta Fishing Regs it does not look like there is a fixed date for removal.

mdpminc: have to promote the few pleasures of the wild west when we can - nobody in Ontario usually listens anyways...

" have to promote the few pleasures of the wild west when we can - nobody in Ontario usually listens anyways... "
haha, nothing exists outside Ontario does it?

I think Spray has a mandatory take off date for fishing huts, I just can't remember the date. I remember calling one of the fishing shops early on the year about the ice and somehow that was mentioned too.

ya Macboy, can't make it this weekend, but it could be *really* good still.

This was a worst snowkite season for us here in SW Ontario Not even a month of real winter.....
We are only envious of yours, so enjoy when and while you can !
Cheers

ya, outside the mountains its been lean here too (at least in southern AB). Knowing how it's been in most other places in North America, I'm definitely appreciative of every trip out this year.

I am so glad you took me up to Spray this Christmas Canuck. I can see now how it stays frozen until near June .

Some kids went through the ice at Red Deer this past weekend so careful on those lower lakes.

Thanks BR, I'm glad you could make it. We'll have to get you to Spray when the wind is not doing 180's

Forecasting snow at Nakiska Thursday night and all day Friday (Spray is the next valley to the west) so I'm hoping the wind will show up this weekend. It could be a good one.

We are really lucky here to have the mountains so close and great Spring conditions after a so so winter.

I'm here Canuck. Even brought the SA in case it's the session saver. Friday afternoon and Saturday if wind cooperates. I was gonna text you as I drove past your house this evening but the road narrowed and I figured I ought to keep it between the lines

Regardless of all things I'll hopefully see you while I'm down here. I can even swing by and get the heater outta your garage if you're still looking to unload it.

Hey Canuck - can I get up and around to Spray from here without going back to Hwy 1 and then up again?

I saw a road closure sign for "Highwoods" was it? Is that beyond the Spray turnoff do you know?

there is basically a mountain right inbetween you and Spray...so you could go north to highway 1 or south on 40 then turn onto Spray Trail (Smith Dorrien road), which heads back north. Have no idea which would be faster. Any ideas Canuck?
http://maps.google.com/?ll=50.756441,-115.085907&spn=0.3...

Here's the link for road closures in that area....
http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/trailreport.aspx
So, ya, grassi lakes to Engadine lodge was closed yesterday, which means the access road up to Spray from Canmore was closed. When this happens, I know some guys have still accessed Spray from the southern route, even though Engadine lodge is pretty far south on that road.

hey macboy, I sent you a text message. See you soon.

Yes , the Highwood Pass on Hwy 40 is beyond the turn-off to Spray. Kitedelight has the info. Kananaskis Village is about equal distance to the Sparrowhawk picnic area launch site either way - Google maps puts it 71 km if you head south on Hwy 40 to the Smith Dorrien Trail/Hwy 742 (gravel surface) or 80 km if you head north on Hwy 40 to Hwy 1 and through Canmore to Hwy 742, Weather sounds nasty Friday and might lead to another closure out of Canmore for avalanche control work. Grassi Lakes is at the base of the mountain out of Canmore and there is a gate across Hwy 742 there. There is a 13km stretch of gravel road that snakes its way up to Spray Lakes out of Canmore- take it slow if you go that way. The easier access launch site is Driftwood boat launch 6.5 km north of Sparrowhawk. There is also Spurling Creek at the dog leg in the lake about 4.3 km north of Sparrowhawk. Be careful if you are out on your own - no cell coverage on the lake - you have to climb high enough up the mountain to pick up the tower in Banff.

This vid was posted on a local facebook forum for the bow valley,... gives some perspective on the area...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flukkv_SVwQ&feature=youtu...

Macboy might have some vid from his recent trip up there.