Most of the reports I'm hearing is that there is a lot of ice, over 2' pretty much all over. As far as access to the north side I'm not exactly sure, I do know there is a small camping area on the far north east side that is accessed from Pierce lake side, just look on google maps to locate that one. I'm sure people drive on from there but I can't be 100% positive. Driving on the lakes is awesome this year up there, the best I can remember. Very little snow and no overflow so really I wouldn't worrry about driving on at the provincial park and driving around if you wanted or go on up at the hatchery and drive around either way I'm sure it would be good going. Personally unless there is a trail I would hesitate to drive across the middle but if there is a trail, what the heck giver. Lots of good structure on that lake, if you can get up around the island on the back side there is some nice structure that usually holds decent fish. One only has to be out about 100 yards and your in over 100' of water.  In the summer when the packs are out I fish an area along the south, south west portion of the island out about 400 yards, there's a nice ledge there that holds fish but in the winter it may be a crap shoot find the ledge. I'm sure by now there is lots of tell tale signs of where people are fishing and no lack of blood on the ice from the trout bleeding out by the time people wrestle them off the hook in -20 and throw them back to die for Mariah bait. Good luck and let us know how you make out and pics please.

Nothing to add except have fum with the family OL, stay safe. Be great to see pictures.

Nice pics OL_JR

The province has the ability and chance and resource to turn that lake into a world class Lake Trout fishery, the abundance is there, instead they will leave it as is until it's almost collapsed then once again shut it down and round, round we go. That lake is infested with trout but all small. Why not let people take one or two small ones home and throw those big trophies back in an dreamy promote proper fish handling. Just makes a guy want to bang his head againts the wall.

Hope to post some pics if we get some.  Here is a few from past trips.  Generally throw them all back as the one I did keep a couple years ago wasn't good eating but might try one again this year. 

     I wish the lawmakers would do a tag or slot size and quit forcing people to keep the bigger ones if they want to eat a fish.  Let the big girls who are going to make it due to their instincts and habits pass there genetics on as long as possible.

Actually the Bio for Cold Lake was seeing that the average fish size was dropping with the old regs so wanted to institute Tags. But as Cold Lake is shared with Saskatchewan he needed there OK on tags. Saskatchewan does not have a tag system and had no intention of starting one so tags were out. Hence he and Saskatchewan brought in the larger retention size in order to address the shrinking average size of the lake trout.

             I think a slot size would be a good idea on Cold Lake to try and there are a lot of other lakes that could benefit from it.  I think a tag would be better than the current size limit but yes I would agree that Cold might be an ideal lake to have a slot.  It gets a lot of pressure but just due to it's size I feel it would handle it and maybe even flourish by protecting the older age classes.

             I've talked to two different biologists about why Alberta does not incorporate more slot sizes into the regulations and both gave the exact same answer and I quote loosely, "We have tried it in the past and find that to many people stretch the tape on both sides of the slot rather than just one." 
 
             Where they've tried it before in Alberta I'm not exactly sure I never asked.  Maybe someone can help me out on that one.  Perhaps the "we" includes other provinces that have more slot limits and they are assuming it won't work here due to our high angler/lake ratio.  I think on lakes that hit a sweet spot between angling pressure and fish population it should be implemented.  Protect those big fish and make the slot size on the lower end high enough to allow younger age classes to get a bit of breeding in as well before harvested.

             With that said I do believe the tag system is the best for lakes that get an incredible amount of pressure.  Pigeon would be a good example.  The tag system has saved the Walleye there imho.  If they would have opened it up to a 1 over ..cm or even a slot we'd be looking at a wiped out Walleye population in a short time.

             One thing is for certain and that being the need for more proactive management from our fisheries handlers.  I'm sure the budgets and time constraints contribute to the fact that we get fisheries that get way out of balance before something is done but to me that means biologists are going to have to start trusting some of that anecdotal evidence they receive from anglers across the province.  My guess is they don't and that's why you're seeing town hall meetings concerning fisheries in the lakeland region.  People are fed up.

           
 
             

              Heard another big crack opened up today that spans all the way across the lake from the provincial park to the north end.  Was hoping not to haul the bikes up again this year but starting to think about it now.  All these cold and warm cycles seem to be making for some big ice movement it seems.

Wow that get's covered in a bit of snow, watch yourself's. We had a guy that happen to on Elinor lake years back, total quad and busted him up badly.

Yep mother nature on a lake can be a she devil, I have been on Slave when the wind came out of nowhere, and man can it make you feel small. Again have fun OL and stay safe, I'm headed out past Brazeau this weekend for our annual family day winter camping/wolf hunting trip. Looking forward to spending time with the wife and two girls. (and future SIL  ) there good guys actually. 

       Well made er back from our fishin trip and it was a ton of fun.
        Arrived Saturday night after hitting the Garth Brooks show and gotta say really glad we went as it was awesome. 
        Sunday arrived with a bit of off weather.  Not to bad in town but where we decided to try and fish ended up being a whiteout.  By the time we got out we only had a couple hours to fish but managed to hook a few.  Right before pack up Dad hooked into a good one.  Got a couple glimpses of a big Mellon refusing to turn up into the hole and that was it.  Spit the hook and gone. 
       Monday we returned to the same general area and fished a bit of a hump and some spots around it and for the most part it was pretty slow.  Landed a handful of trout but average size was smaller.
       Tuesday we tried to do some exploring to the north but a big heave across North bay prevented that.  I'm sure a guy could poke his way around it near shore but I play it pretty safe with the family even on the quads.  We ventured back to another spot I've had success before and the fish were there but again it was a struggle to get them to bite.  Had to put the big tubes away and use smaller stuff like little light coloured swim baits and a glow PK spoon with a minnow hooked horizontal.  Fluttering it a bit and than tickling it just scratching bottom.
        Wednesday we had a half day to fish so we chose a spot we could drive to.  Looking at shoreline and depth charts it appeared it could be a place that trout would push bait up against and sure enough dropping the flashers down revealed a huge school of baitfish and at times completely filling the screen down from about 50' to ten feet from bottom.  The trout were definetly there but not crazy aggressive and once again the smaller lures were better raising them up through the bait school and then letting them fall to bottom.
        All in all a great trip, we always have fun there.  Wish we could have done a bit more exploring to out of the way spots but there is always next time.  So much water to cover  yet.
      A few pics from the trip

     

Thanks for the pictures and the story, nice to see you and the family had a great time. Don't stopping posting pictures love it. Guess I should take my advise and start posting a few of my outings  to.