Netsilik Lake, Nunavut: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Netsilik Lake in the Nunavut part of Nunavut. Dry open country runs right down to the water. It covers about 393.23 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. There is far more edge than the surface area suggests, thanks to the arms. Size puts it in the front rank of our Nunavut list. For a base, Gjoa Haven sits 132 km out. After that come Naujaat at 416 km and Igloolik at 443 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Netsilik Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Netsilik Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics. Approach from downwind so your line does not land ahead of you.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 5°C; by February the average is down near -34°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early July. Climate averages put the opening at about early July and the closing near early October. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Netsilik Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Qikiqtaqtuuq Lake sits 12 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Netsilik Lake before loading the car.