Big fish make better fish stories
Up North, you’ll catch plenty of fish – just be careful the fish don’t catch you. In fact, a few summers ago a fisherman on Great Bear Lake landed a trout that weighed a whopping 38 kilos. That’s 83 pounds. Huge, right? But really, it’s no wonder. Northern lakes have long been known to produce the largest sportfish on Earth. For the lowdown on the best fishing in the world, check out our fishing lodges and adventures. Here’s what you might reel in:
Pretty pickerel
Racing down turbid creeks or lurking under sunken logs, the Northwest Territories’ pickerel are among our bravest fighters. Also known as walleye, they often weigh more than two kilos and provide lean, snow-white flesh.
char off the charts
Brilliant-red Arctic char churn the waterways that pour into the Northwest Passage. We’re home to some of the biggest char on Earth, tipping the scales at three kilos or more. They’re fierce fighters – and mighty fine to eat.
trout as big as a whale
Lake Trout are the lords of Northern lakes, crushing the scales at 25 kilos or more. The profound, mysterious depths of Great Slave and Great Bear are the most famous hunting grounds for these beasts, but gargantuan trout can be found even in smaller lakes. Some anglers return year after year, seeking to break personal records – or maybe even the world record.
great grayling
Patrolling the clean, cold rivers of the mainland Northwest Territories, Arctic grayling are a sight to behold, boasting shimmering, iridescent scales and a sail-like dorsal fin. They’re a favourite among fly-fishers, commonly weighing in at as much as one kilo.
peak pike
Slithering through the weeds in warm, shallow bays and lazy rivers, Pike put up a ferocious fight and make for a darn good shore lunch. In locales like the island-strewn North Arm of Great Slave Lake they grow to legendary size – 18 kilos or more.
King coney
French for “unknown,” inconnu are in fact well-known in the Northwest Territories, where they’re a popular sportfish. Common in the Mackenzie drainage, they have a dark back, silvery sides, large scales and can reach 30 kilos. A fat, oil-rich fish, they can be cooked like salmon, and are delicious smoked.
whitefish, the right fish
A member of the salmon and trout family, whitefish are found throughout the Northwest Territories. They have narrow silvery bodies, a small head compared to their size, and average about one kilo. They’re good fighters on a small fly or spinner and boast white flesh with a delicate, sweet flavour.
dashing dolly varden
Dolly Varden is a fine looking fish that resembles a bull trout and can be found in the western Mackenzie Delta, along the northern slope of the Richardson Mountains and on the Peel River watershed. They can reach up to 1.5 kilos and will take imitation roe and pixie spoons.
brave-hearted bull trout
Bull trout are found in the Liard and Mackenzie watersheds and the streams that flow out of the Mackenzie Mountains. Featuring dark backs and small red, orange or yellow spots on the back and sides, bull trout average can reach up to three kilos. They’re aggressive battlers, and will take medium-size spinners, spoons and flies.
Keen to land the catch of a lifetime? Explore Northwest Territories fishing.
Intriguing tales from Canada's Northwest Territories
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