Fishing at Longtom Lake, North Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Out in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories, sits Longtom Lake. The land about it is dry open country. Surface area runs to some 45.64 sq km, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. It is among the larger waters listed here for North Slave Region. Head to Behchokǫ̀, 277 km away, for anything you forgot. Kugluktuk is 320 km away, with Yellowknife at 346 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Longtom Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for North Slave Region cover Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Longtom Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 15°C; by January the average is down near -28°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near late May, freeze-up near mid October: that is the shape of an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Longtom Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Zebulon Lake is 13 km off. The position on Longtom Lake is worth confirming on the day.