Fishing at Fishhook Lake, North Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Out in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories, sits Fishhook Lake. The bank gives way to dry rangeland. About 8.33 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs to about 41 km, far more than one trip can cover. The closest town, Behchokǫ̀, is 146 km away. Then Yellowknife, 184 km, and Hay River, 363 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Fishhook Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across North Slave Region, recorded fish include Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fishhook Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 15°C, the coldest about -30°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice usually gives way near late May, and forms again about mid October. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Fishhook Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Ranji Lake, 7.5 km away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Fishhook Lake is worth confirming on the day.