Central Alberta Lakes

132 lakes · Regional stillwater overview

Central Alberta Lakes — Stillwater Hatches

Last reviewed 2026-05-21

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

July hatches

No photo available

Diving Beetle

Dytiscidae

Moderatelow

#8-1210-20 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

Midge

Chironomidae

Highhigh

#18-263-12 mm

Air -5–25°C (optimal 5–18°C)Water 2–20°C (optimal 4–15°C)

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

No photo available

Callibaetis

Callibaetis spp.

Highmedium

#14-188-12 mm

Air 14–28°C (optimal 16–26°C)Water 14–22°C (optimal 15–21°C)

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

Damselfly

Zygoptera

Highmedium

#12-1625-35 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

Dragonfly

Anisoptera

Highmedium

#6-1030-50 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

No photo available

Scud

Gammarus

Highmedium

#14-188-14 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

Leech

Hirudinea

Highmedium

#8-1220-80 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

No photo available

Phantom Midge

Chaoborus

Highmedium

#18-228-15 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

No photo available

Water Boatman

Corixidae

Highmedium

#12-168-12 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

No photo available

Backswimmer

Notonectidae

Highmedium

#10-1410-15 mm

Air 10–28°CWater 8–22°C

Prairie pothole and foothills lakes. Chironomids dominate; ice-out midge/chironomid peaks in May. Callibaetis and damselflies in vegetated bays through summer.

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