Buffalo Lake, Northwest Territories: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Buffalo Lake is set in South Slave Region, Northwest Territories. The land about it is boreal forest. Around 553.24 sq km of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The outline is heavily broken, with arms and bays reaching well back from the main body. Few waters listed in South Slave Region are bigger. The nearest place of any size is Hay River, 69 km away. Further out sit Fort Smith (202 km) and High Level (210 km). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Buffalo Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for South Slave Region list Arctic grayling, lake trout, Arctic charr and slimy sculpin. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Buffalo Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 16°C; the cold one sits at -22°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly early November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Buffalo Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Buchan Lake is 40 km off. For Buffalo Lake in particular, ask before you travel.