Fishing at Muskox Lake, South Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Out in South Slave Region, Northwest Territories, sits Muskox Lake. Beyond the shoreline you have dry rangeland. Surface area runs to some 56.71 sq km, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. The outline is heavily broken, with arms and bays reaching well back from the main body. Yellowknife lies 389 km from the water. The nearest city of size is Edmonton, 1267 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Muskox Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for South Slave Region list Arctic grayling, lake trout, Arctic charr and slimy sculpin. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Muskox Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 12°C and January about -30°C. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid June. The water is typically free of ice between mid June and early October. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That shapes the year on Muskox Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. 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. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Jim Magrum Lake at 16 km is the nearest alternative. Treat Muskox Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.