West Round Lake in Inuvik Region: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Northwest Territories holds West Round Lake, in Inuvik Region. Tidal water begins 22 km from here. It measures some 2.80 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. Shoreline length is close to 7.7 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Ground here is low by Northwest Territories standards. Inuvik sits 39 km from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Norman Wells (489 km) and Dawson City (571 km). Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on West Round Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Inuvik Region, recorded fish include Arctic charr. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat West Round Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -28°C in January up to 13°C in July. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early June. Averages suggest open water from about early June through to roughly early October. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on West Round Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. East Round Lake at 2.7 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at West Round Lake for certain.