Swimming
The buoyed swimming area is a fun summer spot for both the young and the young-at-heart. Sand castles and
swimming, playing with friends or just catching some rays are always popular at the beach. Residents are
asked to keep safety uppermost in their minds. There are no lifeguards at the lake, but rescue stations
are situated at several points along the public areas. Swim with a buddy and parents, keep a watchful eye
on your youngsters and their friends. Inflatable swim aids such as mattresses and noodles must remain in
the buoyed swimming area. These toys give poor swimmers a false sense of confidence. The lake is 18.5
feet deep at the central area and the bottom gradually becomes shallower, closer to shore.
Water Craft
There are 8 row boats, 4 pedal boats, 2 canoes and 2 Kayaks (2 man kayaks) available for all residents with a valid ALRA card.
Boats are handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis with no reservations accepted. There are two-hour
limits on rowboats and canoes, and half-hour limits on the pedal boats. During peak times we reserve the
right to shorten the length of boat usage.
A resident 16 years of age or older must be in control of the boat and on the boat at all times. Lifejacket
use is mandatory on all City of Calgary waters, and lifejackets are provided for all sizes by the ALRA
staff.
ALRA boats cannot be docked at any shoreline or private dock on the lake. Beaching them on the shoreline
damages the hull. Emergencies are the exception, of course.
Boats must immediately return to the dock at the fist sign of lightning. We all know how quickly thunderstorms
can brew up in NW Calgary. Have you ever seen whitecaps in the suburbs? It´s quite a sight! On certain
days, we also may call in the boats due to strong winds.
Fishing
The lake is stocked three times per year with Rainbow Trout that are nurtured in natural ponds on the Elbow
River. Fishing is a popular activity nearly all year round,
except in the spring and fall months when the ice is forming or thawing. In the winter, the truly hardy
venture out on the ice with their augers and try their luck at ice fishing. Being a private lake, no fishing
license is required, but we do have rules in place to enhance the development of a sport fishery. Some of
the more important rules are as follows:
- Barbless hooks are mandatory, both for reasons of safety with all the bare feet around, and also to promote the release of healthy fish while using catch-and-release practices.
- 3 fish per day, per household; 10 fish per month, per household; 48 fish per year, per household. Guests may fish with a resident but any fish that the guest keeps go towards the resident´s daily limit. All fish must be reported to ALRA staff.
- One fishing line in the water per resident. Rods must be attended to at all times and young children must be supervised.
- No live bait or corn. (We don´t want alien life forms reproducing in the lake.)
- No fishing from any docks, private shoreline areas or from pedal boats. We ask that fishermen avoid walking on the beach while carrying rods and hooks.
- Spot checks will be made from time to time of closed containers or bags to ensure that limits are not being exceeded.
- These rules apply to all lake shore and lake access properties as well. Residents of these areas are subject to the same limits as all other residents.
- Fish not being kept must be released immediately. Do not keep fish on stringers and release later. They will die, then float on the surface of the lake and decompose over several days.
- No cleaning of fish is permitted on Arbour Lake property. Remember, we have swimmers in and around the lake.
Suspensions: There will be a one month suspension from fishing if you:
1. Use live bait, corn or nets to catch fish
2. Use barbed hooks
3. Go over your fish limits
Random Checks:There will be random checks of tackle boxes before and after entering the lake to insure that all rules and regulations are being followed.
Skating
Skating on Arbour Lake is a joy unequalled - evenings with Christmas lights illuminating a winter sky, and
just the click and scrape of your blades as you circle the quarter mile perimeter track, or perhaps
experiencing the ´ups and downs´ of learning on your first set of skates. From NHL to Kurt Browning,
skating is as Canadian as it gets. All ages are on the ice at Arbour Lake in the winter. From rosy
toddler faces peering out from their scarves, to sedate seniors, weekend-warrior hockey players, and
graceful girls doing spins, for some, winter in Arbour Lake is the best.
The ALRA will indicate when the ice is safe to skate on. This usually occurs in mid - December. Again with
all activities at Arbour Lake, safety is a prime concern. As the ice is freezing in the fall, and later,
as it thaws in the spring, the ice surface is dangerous. Lake shore and access residents need to inform
and supervise their children regarding safety. Please do not throw rocks on the ice, since it becomes
a hazard for skaters and can damage the Zamboni.
A few other notes:
- The ALRA has regulation size hockey nets. Hockey sticks are not allowed on the front rink.
- Skate only on the prepared surfaces. The centre area of the lake is reserved for ice fishing. A fishing hole could cause a nasty fall.
- Private docks and shoreline are off limits for skaters except the residents who live there.
- Watch out for pressure cracks. Natural lake ice is subject to expansion and contraction due to temperature changes.
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