Hoare Lake, Northwest Territories: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Northwest Territories, Hoare Lake belongs to South Slave Region. It stands 301 metres above sea level. At 7.64 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. You are looking at roughly 22 km of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. It is a small entry by South Slave Region standards. Baker Lake is the closest town at 451 km. Yellowknife lies 483 km off, Fort Smith another 535 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Hoare Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across South Slave Region include Arctic grayling, lake trout, Arctic charr and slimy sculpin. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Hoare Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 13°C; by January the average is down near -30°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early June. The season between ice runs from about early June to mid October. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Hoare Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Cruikshank Lake, 14 km away. Confirm before you fish Hoare Lake.