Fishing Kennedy Lake in South Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  The South Slave Region entry here is Kennedy Lake, in Northwest Territories. It stands 449 metres above sea level. About 7.93 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs to about 47 km, far more than one trip can cover. It is a small entry by South Slave Region standards. The nearest place of any size is Yellowknife, 283 km away. Edmonton sits 1128 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kennedy Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. South Slave Region records list Arctic grayling, lake trout, Arctic charr and slimy sculpin among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Kennedy Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -29°C in January to roughly 14°C in July. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. The lid usually goes in early June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, early June opens the water and mid October closes it again. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Kennedy Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Fletcher Lake, 27 km out. For Kennedy Lake in particular, ask before you travel.