Fishing Edmonton in the Spring
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| March | 36° / 18° |
| April | 52° / 31° |
| May | 64° / 42° |
Ice pulls back and the North Saskatchewan River steadies. Stocked ponds wake up fast; prairie lakes around the region transition from late-ice to open water.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Rivers: Rainbows/browns on nymphs and streamers during warming afternoons; spoons and small crankbaits for pike in slower edges.
Lakes: Northern pike and walleye prowl warming bays; slow-rolled spoons, swimbaits, and jigs shine. Perch/whitefish near drop-offs.
Not Hot: High, cold flows right after snowmelt—wait for clarity to improve.
Fishing Edmonton in the Summer
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| June | 70° / 50° |
| July | 74° / 54° |
| August | 72° / 52° |
Peak open-water action. Early/late light bites are best; mid-day pushes fish deeper or tight to current seams and shade.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Rivers: Trout on caddis/PMD dries, terrestrials, and nymph rigs; pike smash streamers/spinners along weed edges.
Lakes: Walleye on jigs, bottom bouncers, and crankbaits over points/weedlines; pike on spoons and topwater in the evenings; perch on small jigs.
Not Hot: Midday in bright, flat conditions—go deeper, slow down, or switch to finesse.
Fishing Edmonton in the Fall
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| September | 63° / 42° |
| October | 51° / 32° |
| November | 34° / 18° |
Cooling water triggers pre-winter feeds. Some of the heaviest pike and walleye of the year come now; trout color up and chase bigger meals.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Rivers: Streamers and larger nymphs for trout; big spoons and suspending jerkbaits for pike in slower holes.
Lakes: Walleye slide onto points and channel edges—jig/minnow and slow cranks; whitefish stage on flats for small spoons/flies.
Not Hot: First hard cold snap right after a warm spell—give fish a day to stabilize.
Fishing Edmonton in the Winter (Ice Fishing)
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| December | 23° / 7° |
| January | 19° / 3° |
| February | 26° / 9° |
Reliable hardwater season on regional lakes. Watch for chinook swings and always check ice thickness.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Ice Fishing: Walleye on spoons and jigging raps at dusk; pike on tip-ups with large baits; perch on tiny tungsten jigs; whitefish on small spoons/flies near bottom.
Open Water: Occasional Bow/North Saskatchewan soft windows—think tiny midges and slow drifts.
Not Hot: Bluebird, high-pressure days—downsize and deadstick.
