Sifton Lake, Northwest Territories: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Sifton Lake in South Slave Region, Northwest Territories. It lies 347 metres above sea level. This is big water, about 93.27 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Bays run back a long way, and the fish move between them with the season. The closest town, Yellowknife, is 419 km away. Edmonton is the closest city, 1201 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Sifton Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in South Slave Region include Arctic grayling, lake trout, Arctic charr and slimy sculpin. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Sifton Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 13°C; by January the average is down near -30°C. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early June. Climate figures give an open season running early June to mid October. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Sifton Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Deville Lake at 26 km is the sensible second choice. For Sifton Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.