Yen Lake Fishing in North Slave Region, Northwest Territories

• Overview

  Yen Lake lies in North Slave Region, in Northwest Territories. It lies 277 metres above sea level. At roughly 43.41 sq km it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The bank runs about 144 km in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Few waters listed in North Slave Region are bigger. The closest town, Kugluktuk, is 291 km distant. The big place round here is Edmonton, 1367 km distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Yen Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for North Slave Region cover Arctic grayling, lake trout and slimy sculpin. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Yen Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 13°C in July and bottom out at -27°C in January. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. Open water usually runs from late May until about mid October. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Expect Yen Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. 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. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Kway Cha Lake is 17 km off. Check the position at Yen Lake before loading the car.