Mink Lake Fishing Guide, South Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Mink Lake lies in South Slave Region, Northwest Territories. This is open dry country ground. This is big water, about 31.03 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. The outline measures near 67 km, so a boat opens up water the bank never reaches. Behchokǫ̀ lies 131 km from the water. It is 961 km to Edmonton, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Mink Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for South Slave Region names Arctic grayling, lake trout and Arctic charr. The county list is broader than any single water. On Mink Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 17°C in July and bottoms out near -25°C in January. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about mid May to late October. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Mink Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Second Lake, 25 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Mink Lake.