Upper Ross Lake in North Slave Region: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Upper Ross Lake lies in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories. It stands 278 metres above sea level. The nearest town is Yellowknife, 70 km away. The big place round here is Edmonton, 1019 km distant. Close neighbours run: Victory Lake at about 6.1 km, Ross Lake lies 7 km on, Dome Lake at about 8.8 km, Pink Lake lies 8.8 km on and Languish Lake at about 12 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Upper Ross Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. North Slave Region records list Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Upper Ross Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -27°C for January. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late May. Averages place the thaw at late May and the freeze at late October. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Upper Ross Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Victory Lake is 6.1 km distant. None of that is settled for Upper Ross Lake in what we hold.