Bartlett Lake in North Slave Region: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bartlett Lake is listed under North Slave Region, Northwest Territories. It stands 275 metres above sea level. It covers about 180.54 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. Its outline wanders a long way for the area it covers, which puts more edge in play. Size puts it in the front rank of our North Slave Region list. The town to know is Behchokǫ̀, 120 km out. Fort Simpson is 206 km and Yellowknife 213 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Bartlett Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for North Slave Region names Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Bartlett Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -25°C on the long-run figures. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near late October. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Bartlett Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Lac la Martre, 28 km away. The position on Bartlett Lake is worth confirming on the day.