Fishing Fitzpatrick Lake in Nunavut, Nunavut

• Overview

  Fitzpatrick Lake lies in Nunavut. The land about it is open dry country. About 7.49 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. At about 30 km of edge, most people fish a single area and learn it well. It is high ground by Nunavut standards. Some 276 km away sits Baker Lake, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Rankin Inlet at 493 km and Arviat at 501 km. There is no other water near enough to combine into a single trip. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Fitzpatrick Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish Fitzpatrick Lake to its features, not to its size. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 12°C and January at -31°C. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid June. Climate figures give an open season running mid June to early October. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Fitzpatrick Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Check the position at Fitzpatrick Lake before loading the car.