Anaunethad Lake in Northwest Territories: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Northwest Territories, this is Anaunethad Lake. The surroundings are taiga. Around 188.61 sq km of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The form is ragged, which puts a lot of structure within casting range. The closest town, Fort Smith, is 422 km away. Further out sit Yellowknife (552 km) and Arviat (558 km). Alternatives close at hand: Wholdaia Lake 26 km off and Rowley Lake within 46 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Anaunethad Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Anyone new to Anaunethad Lake should walk it once before setting up. A steady ripple beats flat calm on most days.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -28°C to 14°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early June. In an average year the thaw lands around early June and the freeze near mid October. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Anaunethad Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Wholdaia Lake, 26 km away. For Anaunethad Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.