Indian Hill Lake Fishing Guide, North Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  The North Slave Region end of Northwest Territories holds Indian Hill Lake. The country round it is open dry country from end to end. Around 30.50 sq km of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. You have roughly 106 km of edge to choose from, which rewards a scouting trip. Nearest place of any size is Yellowknife, 202 km away. Then Behchokǫ̀, 268 km, and Fort Smith, 369 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Indian Hill Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. North Slave Region records list Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Indian Hill Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 14°C on average, January about -28°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early June. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early June and starts locking again about mid October. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Indian Hill Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Lac Tete d'Ours, 16 km out. Where Indian Hill Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.