Cotterill Lake Fishing in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Look for Cotterill Lake in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories. The surroundings are sage and rock. At 17.79 sq km you are fishing a fraction of it whatever you do. The shoreline runs to about 70 km, far more than one trip can cover. The nearest town is Behchokǫ̀, 162 km away. For a city, Edmonton is 1181 km off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Cotterill Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across North Slave Region include Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Cotterill Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -30°C in January and 15°C in July. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Average temperatures cross freezing around late May in spring and again near mid October in autumn. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Expect Cotterill Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Ranji Lake is 14 km distant. Treat Cotterill Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.