PYZER’S HOT SPOTS
To commemorate Outdoor Canada’s golden anniversary, our long-time fishing editor shares his 50 favourite places across the land to wet a line
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#1 GREAT BEAR LAKE, N.W.T.
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As I was flying into Great Bear years ago, I looked out the bush plane window and became worried the pilot was going to hit the logs floating on the water. As we dropped lower, however, I soon realized the logs were actually huge lake trout cruising the crystal-clear shallows. Not surprisingly, every line class world-record laker has been caught on Great Bear.
CATCH: Arctic grayling, lake trout and northern pike
WHEN TO GO: The season is short, from July through August
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TOP TACTIC: Big baits catch big trout so troll the largest Eppinger, Williams and Len Thompson spoons possible; big Kwikfish, Flatfish and Magnum Bondy Baits also work great
LEARN MORE: www.plummerslodges.com
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#2 KASBA LAKE, N.W.T.
I caught my first 40-pound lake trout and enjoyed my first 100-laker day on Kasba. My most memorable catch, though, was when another lodge guest got spooled by a giant trout and I managed to hook the trailing end of his line as we trolled past. I quickly cut off my lure, tied my line to his and reeled in the trophy trout of a lifetime.
CATCH: Arctic grayling, lake trout, northern pike and whitefish
WHEN TO GO: End of June through August
TOP TACTIC: Troll a Williams C90 Whitefish in silver and gold Nu-wrinkle. First, though, replace the treblehook with a barbless 2/0 or 3/0 siwash hook dressed with a six-inch white Mister Twister Curly Tail
LEARN MORE: www.kasba.com
#3 KAZAN RIVER, N.W.T.
Chock full of hard-fighting Arctic grayling, Kazan River is a short flight from Kasba Lake Lodge, taking you over the stunning Arctic wilderness. Fishing from boats stashed ashore, you can expect to catch grayling on practically every cast. If you’ve never experienced non-stop angling action, go to the remote Kazan—it won’t disappoint.
CATCH: Arctic grayling
WHEN TO GO: End of June through August
TOP TACTIC: Grayling are great fun on light tackle, so bring a 6’ 8” medium-light spinning rod spooled with six-pound mono. Make short casts with dressed #1 to #3 Mepps Aglia and Comet spinners
LEARN MORE: www.kasba.com
#4 COPPERMINE RIVER, NUNAVUT
Offering a once in a lifetime fly-out fishing adventure from one of the fishing lodges on Great Bear or Great Slave Lake, the Coppermine is an iconic river of the Far North, steeped in Canadian history. It’s also full of a wide variety of feisty fish. The river is so large that visiting anglers typically fish from shore.
CATCH: Arctic char, Arctic grayling, lake trout, northern pike and whitefish
WHEN TO GO: July and August
TOP TACTIC: This river is swift, wide and relatively deep in spots, so you’ll want slightly heavier #3 and #4 Mepps spinners and compact Williams Ridge/Back and Rapala Cast Champ spoons to get further out and down deep. A medium-action spinning rod and reel spooled with six- to eight-pound mono is ideal
LEARN MORE: www.plummerslodges.com
#5 WOLF RIVER, YUKON
During my visit in 2009, there were so many dimples on the river’s surface from rising Arctic grayling that it appeared to be raining. This made for dry-fly fishing beyond the imagination, while nymphs picked up fish on every drift through the deeper runs. We even caught a big bonus laker that had come upriver from like-named Wolf Lake to feast on the grayling.
CATCH: Arctic grayling
WHEN TO GO: July and August
TOP TACTIC: Bring your favourite five- or six-weight dry-fly outfit. The grayling here aren’t picky—I used everything from Chernobyl Hoppers to Comparaduns. Ditto your favourite nymphs
LEARN MORE: www.wolflake.ca