Fishing at Slemon Lake, North Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Out in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories, sits Slemon Lake. Dry rangeland runs right down to the water. It covers about 45.99 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. With about 114 km of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. Size puts it in the front rank of our North Slave Region list. For supplies, Behchokǫ̀ is 46 km out. It is 1085 km to Edmonton, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Slemon Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Slemon Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 16°C and January near -29°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 late May. Ice clears near late May and comes back about late October in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Anyone fishing Slemon Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Strutt Lake is 16 km off. What applies at Slemon Lake may have changed since it was mapped.