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Species: Arctic grayling, Pike, Trout
Location: Northwest Territories
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Surface Area: 27,200 km²
Why We Chose It:
In 2012, ranked #22 in all time hot-spots.
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Whether sight-casting to huge pike, jigging and trolling for overgrown lake trout or drifting flies for grayling, there’s no place in the world quite like Great Slave. Here, the expectations of catching 30- to 40-pound lakers and pike are so high, 20-pounders elicit a mere yawn. This lake is cold, very deep (more than 600 metres) and frozen eight months of the year—the resulting frigid temperatures mean you don’t have to dredge the depths to hook a trophy.
In 2009, Pike; Numerous fish weighing up to 30 pounds.
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When to Fish: Mid-June to mid-July is best.
Where to Fish: Focus on shallow bays in the lake’s north arm.
Tip: Shallow-running baits and topwaters, such as Rapala Skitter Walks, Skitter Pops and Glidin’ Raps, work best. Long streamers also work well.
—Roger Cannon, past-president at Normark Canada
Why We Chose It: Lake trout; Trophy fish
When to Fish: The first three weeks of July are best.
Where to Fish: Trust your guide. The fish can be in anywhere from five to 90 feet of water.
Tip: Trolling Half Wave Lures dominates.
—Kim Rhodes, president of Lucky Strike Bait Works
Why We Chose It: In 2008, Arctic grayling; Good numbers of average-sized fish
When to Fish: July.
Where to Fish: Focus on streams and rivers in the lake’s eastern arm.
Tip: Cast dry flies, nymphs or small spinners.
—Jim Hoey, host of The Dimestore Fishermen
Why We Chose It: Lake trout; Abundance of large fish, and great scenery and lodging
When to Fish: July through early September.
Where to Fish: Reefs, rock ledges, humps, points and offshore fingers, sandbars, channels and current areas.
Tip: Cast light jigs, jig or troll one- to three-ounce bucktail jigs, troll herring-teaser rigs behind beaded line weights or Dipsy Divers, or cast or troll spoons or large crankbaits.
—Steve MacInnis, host of Adventures North
Why We Chose It: Pike; Prime habitat that grows big fish
When to Fish: June through September.
Where to Fish: Weedbeds in shallow bays and channels.
Tip: Use baitfish fly patterns such as Lefty’s Deceivers and Clouser Minnows, or foam poppers.
—Colin McKeown, host of The New Fly Fisher