Crater Lake, Nunavut: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Nunavut, Crater Lake is a Nunavut water. It stands 147 metres above sea level. At about 59 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 3.5 km of margin, front to back. Our Nunavut list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 37 km away sits Pangnirtung, the nearest settlement. Saguenay sits 2033 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Other water nearby: Glacier Lake at 30 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Crater Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Crater Lake fishes better once you know its edges. Fish move up in low light and drop back as it brightens.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 3°C on average, February about -26°C. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Once it clears, about early July, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice clears near early July and comes back about mid September in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Crater Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Glacier Lake, 30 km out. Check the position on Crater Lake before loading the car.