Nodinka Narrows, Northwest Territories: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Nodinka Narrows is set in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories. It sits at 444 metres above sea level. Yellowknife lies 230 km from the water. Behchokǫ̀ is 274 km away, with Hay River at 421 km. Water in the same corner: Dumbell Lake after 12 km, Matthews Lake the better part of 15 km, Courageous Lake after 26 km, King Lake the better part of 26 km and Athenia Lake after 37 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Nodinka Narrows

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The head and tail of a pool beat the body of it. Where two currents meet, work the crease between them. Fish documented in North Slave Region include Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Nodinka Narrows for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 12°C and January at -27°C. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Winter narrows this to the open runs; full flow returns around early June. Break-up near early June, freeze-up near mid October: that is the shape of an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Nodinka Narrows.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Dumbell Lake is 12 km distant. The position on Nodinka Narrows is worth confirming on the day.