Coal Lake is about 40 minutes south of Edmonton on HWY 2A. It has a
campground with a boat launch on either end of the lake. The best place
to fish this lake is on the South side of the lake because of the wide
spread weed bed that provides a shelter for the perch and a hiding spot
for the ambushing pike. Also on the south end of the lake there is a dam
that provides the angler without a boat a nice place to fish. Coal Lake
has been known to produce Pike up to 20 pounds and Perch up to 1 1/4
pounds.
Personally the largest perch I landed was about 1/2 a pound,
while the largest Pike was around 6 pounds. The lures of choice would
have to be the Red Devil Spoon and a Large Rappala Minnow for the Pike.
Last I hooked into a big one, and the Pike actually broke the hook right
off the Rappala. To fish this lake in the winter, for some reason the
North end of the lake produces more fish. Just follow the groups of
people and in no time you will have found your honey hole, pulling out
the perch as they feed in their usual frenzies.