The territories are fly-in and lodge country. Great Bear and Great Slave lakes hold the world's largest lake trout, Arctic char run the rivers of Nunavut and the Arctic coast, and grayling fill nearly every clear stream. Barbless hooks and catch-and-release rules are standard on the trophy waters.
Key waters and what to tie
| Water | Species | Rigs that work |
|---|---|---|
| Great Bear & Great Slave lakes (NWT) | Trophy lake trout, pike, grayling | Wire leader spoon, flatline trolling with big spoons, jigging tubes |
| Yukon River system & Teslin | Grayling, lake trout, pike, chinook | Dry-dropper rig, split-shot rig, wire leader spoon |
| Nunavut rivers (Tree, Sylvia Grinnell) | Arctic char, lake trout | Spoons on fluoro leaders, fly rigs |
Seasons
Short open-water season, mid-June to September; ice fishing for lake trout much of the rest of the year.
Bait rules
Bait rarely used; artificial lures and flies. Barbless hooks required in most of NWT.
Seasons, zones and limits change yearly. Always confirm with the current provincial regulations summary before fishing.