In short. Great Slave Lake is huge and cold, and fished mostly by boat with a guide or local operator. Check the territorial rules for the area and the Mackenzie River management area.
Rules change. Seasons, closures and limits change often and can change mid-season. We link to the official pages rather than repeat them, so check them before every trip.
Licences and rules
- Species and limits: start at Fish species and catch limits, Government of the Northwest Territories, which lists the sport fish and catch limits by area.
- National parks: waters inside Nahanni and Wood Buffalo fall under Parks Canada rules, so check them separately.
- Licences and gear: check the territorial and federal rules for the water you plan to fish before you travel.
- Moving boats and gear: clean, drain and dry your boat and gear between waters.
Choose your fishing area
- Yellowknife and the Ingraham Trail
- Hay River, Fort Providence and the South Slave
- Fort Smith and Wood Buffalo
Fish named for this region: Northern pike, Trout, Walleye, Arctic grayling, Inconnu. Read the species guide.
Yellowknife and the Ingraham Trail
- North Arm of Great Slave Lake
- Lake trout, northern pike, walleye and inconnu (named by the territory for Great Slave Lake)
The Government of the Northwest Territories lists Great Slave Lake and its tributaries for inconnu, lake trout, northern pike and walleye. The Ingraham Trail and Yellowknife are on the lake's north arm.
We list 4 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Hay River, Fort Providence and the South Slave
- South shore
- Northern pike, lake trout and Arctic grayling (named for the South Slave)
Spectacular NWT names the South Slave for northern pike, lake trout and Arctic grayling, with local operators and boat trips from Hay River. The territory also lists the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence for northern pike and walleye.
We list 3 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Fort Smith and Wood Buffalo
- Slave River
- Waters not yet matched to fish
Fort Smith is on the Slave River at the edge of Wood Buffalo National Park. We list the campgrounds, but have not found a source we trust for the fish here, and national park rules apply inside the park.
We list 1 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Gear for this water
- Shore fishing essentials. A compact rod and reel suited to your target fish. Search on Amazon
- River & fly-fishing kit. A rod/reel combination suited to the planned method. Search on Amazon
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Where the fish names come from
- Government of the Northwest Territories: Fish species and catch limits
- Spectacular NWT: Fishing in the South Slave