Some Interesting Fishing Locations in Northwest Territories (Canada)
Northwest Territories Fishing Spots – Looking for the perfect spot to cast a line in the Northwest Territories? I’ve compiled a list of intriguing fishing locations that are sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
Holdout Trail (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Escape to the Wilderness on the Holdout Trail
Venture into the heart of the Northwest Territories on the Holdout Trail, a scenic 2.4-kilometer out-and-back trail located near Yellowknife. This moderately challenging trail offers a rewarding escape into nature, taking about 37 minutes to complete.
A Multifaceted Trail (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Holdout Trail caters to a variety of outdoor enthusiasts. Fishing enthusiasts can cast their lines in the pristine waters, while hikers find peace in the surrounding wilderness. Mountain bikers can test their skills on the winding path. The trail’s remote location ensures a peaceful experience, providing a chance to connect with nature without the crowds.
A Year-Round Destination
The Holdout Trail is accessible throughout the year, showcasing its beauty in every season. The Holdout Trail highlights the Northwest Territories’ natural beauty, offering unique seasonal views. From vibrant fall foliage to lush summer greenery, every season reveals a different perspective.
Hottah Lake (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
A Tragedy at Hottah Lake
On November 8, 1972, tragedy struck Hottah Lake in the Northwest Territories. A medical evacuation aircraft, piloted by Marten Hartwell, crashed on a hillside near the lake’s shores. The impact tragically claimed the lives of Nurse Judy Hill and Neemee Nulliayok, a pregnant Inuk woman. Marten Hartwell sustained severe injuries, breaking both legs, while David Pisurayak Kootook, another passenger, also survived the initial crash. Kootook’s actions saved them, but his refusal to eat the nurse’s remains led to his death.
A Lasting Legacy
The name “Hottah” transcends its geographical location, reaching beyond the earthly realm and onto the surface of Mars. Somewhat shorter, please… This tribute highlights the enduring significance of Hottah Lake, even reaching into the vast expanse of space.
Ingraham Trail Lakes (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Ingraham Trail: A Scenic Escape into the Wilderness
The Ingraham Trail, a 70-kilometer road, invites travelers to explore the Northwest Territories’ rugged beauty. It winds from Yellowknife to Tibbitt Lake, showcasing lakes, campgrounds, picnic spots, and boat launches.
A Journey Through Time
The Ingraham Trail carves a path through a mesmerizing Precambrian landscape, where ancient rocks stand as silent guardians of time. The route offers scenic vistas of shimmering lakes, verdant forests, and weathered rock formations.
Playground for Outdoor Adventures (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Ingraham Trail offers a multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities for adventurers of all types. Hiking trails invite explorers into the wilderness, while canoes and boats offer tranquil excursions. Swimmers can cool off in refreshing lakes, anglers cast their lines, and bird watchers enjoy vibrant feathered creatures.
A Gateway to Recreation Areas
The Ingraham Trail leads directly to Prelude Lake Territorial Park, accessed via a paved portion of the route. This park, along with Reid Lake Territorial Park, offers convenient camping facilities for exploring the region’s natural beauty.
Kasba Lake (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Kasba Lake Lodge: A Fly-In Fishing Paradise
Nestled in the heart of the Northwest Territories, Kasba Lake Lodge beckons anglers seeking a world-class fly-in fishing experience. This family-run lodge, near Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, offers access to pristine fishing waters in northern Canada.
A Bounty of Fish (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Kasba Lake teems with a diverse array of fish, offering anglers the opportunity to reel in trophy-sized catches. Huge lake trout and aggressive northern pike provide thrilling fishing experiences, while world-record arctic grayling add to Kasba Lake’s allure.
A Remote Retreat
Kasba Lake Lodge provides a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The lodge’s remote location ensures a peaceful ambiance, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of the surrounding wilderness and focus solely on the art of fishing.
Kazan River (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Kazan River: A Tapestry of Heritage
The Kazan River, a majestic waterway flowing through the heart of Canada’s Northwest Territories, boasts a rich tapestry of natural, cultural, and recreational heritage. In July 1990, recognizing its profound value, a 615-kilometer section of the river was designated as a Canadian Heritage River, a testament to its significance.
A Unique Boreal Landscape
The Kazan River’s designation stems from its unique boreal landscape, characterized by a transitional zone of boreal forest and treeless tundra. The designated section flows from the outlet of Ennadai Lake to Baker Lake, Nunavut, showcasing a diverse range of ecosystems.
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The sparse black spruce and tamarack forests, rarely exceeding a few meters in height, stand amidst rocky terrain, featuring sandstone, granite, and volcanic rock. Notable geological formations, such as tilted layers of blood-red sandstone formed by ancient wind-blown dunes, add to the river’s geological intrigue.
This river holds profound cultural importance. (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Kazan River holds deep cultural significance for the Caribou Inuit, who have inhabited the region for over 5,000 years. Their ancestors traversed the river during summers, utilizing its resources for hunting and fishing before retreating to the tree line or the coast for the remainder of the year.
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The river’s importance to the Caribou Inuit is reflected in the name “Kazan,” derived from the Inuit word for “caribou.” Their traditional life on the river is deeply intertwined with the migration routes of the Qamanirjuaq caribou herd, the largest movement of land mammals in the world.
A Legacy of Exploration
While the Kazan River has been a vital lifeline for the Caribou Inuit for millennia, it was not formally mapped until 1894, when J.B. Tyrrell, a pioneering geologist, canoed from its headwaters to Forde Lake. His expedition marked the beginning of formal exploration of this remarkable waterway.
A Haven for Outdoor Enthusiasts (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
For six to eight weeks, from July to September, the Kazan River welcomes wilderness paddling enthusiasts. Numerous campsites dot the riverbanks, many bearing the marks of past occupation by both ancient and modern Inuit, including hunting grounds, lookouts, and even gravesites.
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Visitors are encouraged to respect the sanctity of these historical sites and report any archaeological findings to the Territorial Chief Archaeologist. The Kazan River also offers exceptional fishing opportunities for Arctic grayling and lake trout. Caribou trails crisscross the tundra as the river flows through prime migration routes, providing opportunities for wildlife viewing. Birdwatchers can spot rare species, including Arctic terns, tundra swans, snowy owls, and ptarmigans.
Lac La Martre (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Lac La Martre Adventures: A Unique Fishing Destination
Nestled in the heart of the Northwest Territories, Lac La Martre Adventures offers a one-of-a-kind fly-in fishing experience on the breathtaking Lac La Martre, a pristine lake renowned for its size and abundant fish populations. Lac La Martre, the third largest lake in the Northwest Territories, is truly a unique destination, boasting a diverse range of fish species, including monster trophy northern pike, lake trout, and arctic grayling.
A World-Class Fishing Experience (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The lodge attracts anglers from across the globe, eager to test their skills against the challenging fish that call Lac La Martre home. Many guests have reeled in the biggest catches of their lives, leading them to book return trips year after year. Lac La Martre Adventures meticulously manages the fishing experience, allowing only a limited number of anglers per year, ensuring the pristine waters and their inhabitants remain protected.
A Commitment to Conservation
Lac La Martre Adventures is committed to sustainable fishing practices. The lodge strictly enforces a catch-and-release policy, ensuring the preservation of the lake’s remarkable fish population for future generations. Within the lake’s expansive 1,000 square miles, anglers can expect to encounter an abundance of trophy-sized northern pike, lake trout, and arctic grayling, providing an unparalleled fishing experience that is unlike any other.
MacKay Lake (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Mackay Lake Lodge: A Gateway to the Canadian Arctic
Venture into the heart of the Canadian Arctic, to the untamed wilderness of the barrenlands, where the aurora borealis dances across the night sky, and time seems to stand still. Mackay Lake Lodge, a haven for adventurers seeking a connection with nature’s untamed beauty, offers a unique opportunity to experience the raw magic of the north.
Wildlife Wonders of the Barren Lands
The Canadian Arctic boasts a rich tapestry of wildlife, and Mackay Lake provides a front-row seat to this natural spectacle. The lodge sits amidst a landscape where the Bathurst caribou herd, one of the last remaining true spectacles of nature, migrates annually, a breathtaking display of natural abundance.
Mackay Lake Lodge: A Destination for Adventure (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Whether you seek the thrill of the hunt or the tranquility of nature, Mackay Lake Lodge provides a personalized experience tailored to your interests. Experienced guides assist guests in pursuing giant lake trout, fly fishing for arctic grayling, or simply capturing the breathtaking beauty of the Arctic tundra through photography. The lodge also offers guided hunting safaris for caribou, black bear, and arctic wolf, led by experienced professionals who ensure a safe and fulfilling experience.
A Remote Oasis of Comfort
While nestled in a remote wilderness setting, Mackay Lake Lodge offers a surprising level of comfort, seamlessly blending rustic charm with modern amenities. Private cabin accommodations provide a cozy retreat, equipped with electricity, indoor plumbing, a licensed lounge, and a restaurant-style kitchen. Freezers, laundry service, modern boats and motors, and an airstrip all contribute to making Mackay Lake Lodge a premier hunting and fishing destination in the Northwest Territories.
Mackenzie River (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Mackenzie River: A Canadian Giant
The Mackenzie River, a colossal waterway coursing through the vast expanse of northwestern North America, stands as a testament to the raw power and beauty of nature. It forms the largest drainage basin in Canada, surpassed only by the mighty Mississippi-Missouri system in North America.
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The Mackenzie River system encompasses a staggering 697,000 square miles, a landmass nearly as expansive as Mexico. This majestic river traces a winding path for 2,635 miles from the headwaters of the Finlay River, flowing through the heart of Canada’s north, and emptying into the cold, often-frozen waters of the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean.
A Network of Rivers and Lakes
The Mackenzie River system is a complex network of interconnected waterways, including numerous large rivers and expansive lakes. Several major rivers, including the Liard, Peace, and Athabasca Rivers, drain vast forested plains in British Columbia and Alberta, contributing to the system’s substantial size. Shorter rivers, flowing from the east, drain the rocky hills of the Canadian Shield. The system also encompasses a constellation of impressive lakes, including Great Slave Lake, Great Bear Lake, and Lake Athabasca, further amplifying its scale and grandeur.
A Harsh Yet Unspoiled Landscape (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Mackenzie River region experiences a harsh winter climate, with limited resources and challenging accessibility. However, this harsh environment has preserved a remarkable natural heritage, making it one of the few truly unspoiled regions in the world. The Mackenzie River system teems with diverse wildlife and breathtaking scenery, offering a unique and awe-inspiring experience.
The Mackenzie’s Rhythmic Cycle
The Mackenzie River’s journey from its source to the Arctic Ocean is punctuated by a cyclical dance of ice and water. The river’s southern section typically experiences ice breakup in early to mid-May, often preceded by breakup on the Liard River. Tributary rivers break free of ice before the Mackenzie, leading to high water levels and occasional flooding, particularly when ice dams form.
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The ice on the lower Mackenzie River breaks up in late May, and the channels in the Mackenzie River delta are typically ice-free by the end of May or early June. The Beaufort Sea, however, often retains offshore sea ice in June, especially when prevailing winds blow onshore.
Mosquito Lake (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
A Journey to Mosquito Lake: A Remote Escape
Reaching Mosquito Lake requires a scenic drive through the heart of Haida Gwaii, offering a taste of adventure. Beginning at the Kwuna Ferry, travelers will turn right onto the South Bay Mainline Road, following its winding path for several kilometers. At the junction for Moresby Road, a turn awaits, leading to the tranquil Mosquito Lake Recreation Site. This 40-minute, 35-kilometer drive promises a journey through the island’s natural beauty, culminating in a secluded oasis.
The Story Behind the Name
Despite its name, Mosquito Lake wasn’t christened for the pesky insects. Instead, the lake pays homage to Haida Gwaii’s connection to the de Havilland Mosquito, an aircraft renowned for its speed during World War II. The Mosquito, constructed primarily of wood, incorporated Sitka Spruce harvested from this very area. Rest assured, the lake’s name is a tribute to the aircraft, not a warning about its insect inhabitants.
Mosquito Lake Recreation Site: Rustic Charm (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
The Mosquito Lake Recreation Site embraces a rustic charm, appealing to those seeking a true escape from the hustle and bustle. This free campground offers nine sites, a pit toilet, a basic boat launch, and a covered picnic area. A short but scenic trail meanders along the lake’s shoreline, revealing breathtaking views. Kayakers and canoeists can enjoy leisurely paddling on the lake, while anglers can cast their lines in search of trout.
A Tranquil Retreat
Mosquito Lake Recreation Site provides a serene escape from the demands of modern life, a haven for those seeking peace and tranquility. While a brief visit is all that was needed to appreciate the lake’s allure, the desire for solitude and serenity can easily be fulfilled here. Remember, caution is advised as the road leading to the site is an active logging road.
Niven Lake (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
An Urban Oasis: The Niven Lake Trail
Nestled amidst the urban landscape of Yellowknife, the Niven Lake Trail offers a peaceful escape into nature. Located behind the Chateau Nova and Explorer Hotels, this easy two-kilometer loop winds its way around the shores of a small, marshy lake, providing a tranquil retreat from the city’s bustle.
A Haven for Wildlife (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Despite its urban setting, Niven Lake teems with wildlife, showcasing the resilience of nature. Beavers and muskrats make their home in the marsh, while waterfowl grace the water’s surface. Birdwatchers can enjoy exceptional urban birdwatching opportunities, spotting a variety of species amidst the serene surroundings.
A Trail for Everyone
The Niven Lake Trail welcomes visitors of all interests and abilities. Trail runners can enjoy a brisk workout, walkers can savor a leisurely stroll, and nature lovers can soak in the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The trail features benches and viewing platforms, offering perfect spots to rest and observe the lake’s vibrant ecosystem. A floating pontoon bridge spans the water, adding a touch of charm and adventure to the path. Accessible year-round, the trail transforms with the changing seasons, offering a unique experience in every month.
Nonacho Lake (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures: A Remote Escape
Nestled amidst the vast expanse of Canada’s Northwest Territories, Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures offers an unparalleled fly-in fishing experience. Situated near the map’s edge, the lodge provides access to pristine waters teeming with fish, offering a unique and secluded adventure for anglers.
A Legacy of Wilderness Fishing
Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures boasts a rich history, standing as one of the longest-running tourism establishments in the Northwest Territories, with over 50 years of experience in guiding anglers to unforgettable fishing experiences. The lodge has long been recognized as a premier destination for those seeking an authentic wilderness adventure.
This hidden haven offers peace and tranquility. (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Escape the demands of modern life and immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of Nonacho Lake. Sixty miles long and nearly two hundred miles from the nearest highway, this remote lake can only be accessed by float plane, offering a truly unique and secluded experience. The absence of telephones, televisions, and other modern conveniences ensures a disconnect from the outside world, allowing guests to fully embrace the tranquility of nature.
A Fishing Destination of Legend
Nonacho Lake is a paradise for anglers, teeming with massive lake trout, northern pike, and jumbo whitefish. The lake’s isolation ensures a pristine environment, free from the pressures of overfishing, offering anglers the chance to catch trophy-sized fish without encountering other boats. The only companions on the water are fellow members of your fishing party, creating a unique and intimate experience.
Point Lake (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
A Remote Gem in the Canadian North
Point Lake, a captivating body of water nestled in the heart of Canada’s Northwest Territories, stands as a testament to the raw beauty and vastness of the Canadian North. Located approximately 3,100 kilometers northwest of Ottawa, the nation’s capital, Point Lake lies 493 meters above sea level and encompasses a remarkable 701 square kilometers. This expansive lake stretches 53.9 kilometers from north to south and 97.4 kilometers from east to west, showcasing its impressive scale.
Nature’s artistry is evident in this diverse landscape. (Northwest Territories Fishing Spots)
Point Lake boasts a diverse array of natural features, reflecting the unique character of the region. Keskarrah Bay, a prominent bay, indents the lake’s shoreline, adding to its scenic appeal. Starvation River, a vital waterway, flows into Point Lake, contributing to the lake’s ecosystem.
A Harsh Yet Beautiful Climate
Point Lake experiences a boreal climate, characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The average temperature hovers around -9 degrees Celsius, with July marking the warmest month at 10 degrees Celsius and March the coldest at -24 degrees Celsius. Despite this harsh climate, Point Lake remains a testament to the resilience and beauty of nature in the face of extreme conditions.