Fishing at Turnpike Lake, North Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Turnpike Lake belongs to North Slave Region, Northwest Territories. It lies 311 metres above sea level. At about 65 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On size it sits at the modest end of our North Slave Region list. Behchokǫ̀ lies 182 km from the water. After that come Yellowknife at 220 km and Kugluktuk at 381 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Turnpike Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. North Slave Region records list Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Turnpike Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 14°C, with January the cold end at about -30°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. Average temperatures cross freezing around late May in spring and again near mid October in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Turnpike Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. 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. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Laurie Lake at 9.3 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Turnpike Lake are worth checking on the day.