Island Lake, Northwest Territories: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Island Lake sits in South Slave Region, out in Northwest Territories. This is dry open country country. Surface area runs to some 14.73 sq km, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. With about 58 km of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. The nearest place of any size is Yellowknife, 452 km away. The big place round here is Edmonton, 1179 km distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in South Slave Region include Arctic grayling, lake trout, Arctic charr and slimy sculpin. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Island Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -30°C in January up to 13°C in July. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. After early June the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around early June in spring and again near mid October in autumn. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan around that when you fish Island Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Radford Lake is 6.9 km distant. Nothing here settles the position at Island Lake for certain.