Jackfish Lake Fishing in Sahtu Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Jackfish Lake sits within Sahtu Region in Northwest Territories. The bank is 214 metres above sea level. Some 8.7 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It is a small entry by Sahtu Region standards. Supplies mean a trip to Norman Wells, 8.7 km off. After that come Inuvik at 460 km and Fort Simpson at 463 km. Others close at hand: Turton Lake near enough 58 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Jackfish Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Sahtu Region, recorded fish include longnose sucker, rainbow smelt and deepwater sculpin. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of Jackfish Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -26°C in January and 16°C in July. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about mid October in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Jackfish Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Turton Lake is 58 km off. Treat Jackfish Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.