Fishing at February Lake, Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Dehcho Region in Northwest Territories is where February Lake sits. Country round the bank runs to northern bush. Roughly 88 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. With about 4.1 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Our Dehcho Region list holds plenty of bigger water. 182 km away sits Fort Nelson, the nearest town. Fort Simpson is 213 km away, with High Level at 251 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on February Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Dehcho Region, recorded fish include longnose sucker, Arctic grayling, bull trout, cisco and northern pike. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. February Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 16°C; the cold one sits at -22°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near late October. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. At February Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, August Lake is 13 km off. What applies at February Lake may have changed since it was mapped.