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Catch The
Big One

Fishing in Hay River

Hay River’s history begins when it was established as one of the best places in the region for fishing. Today, it still lives up to that reputation. Every year more and more avid anglers come to Hay River to experience this little-known fishing hot spot in northern Canada. There’s more than enough spectacular fishing to go around and you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice – from private lakefront fishing lodges with boat launches to territorial day-use areas.

Both fly fishing and spin casting are popular in the lakes and rivers around Hay River – there’s no shortage of places to buy fishing supplies or get an insider’s tip on the most secluded and bountiful fishing spots. Whether you’re comfortable going out on your own or prefer a hassle-free guided experience, fishing around Hay River will expose you to just how impressive fish in the North can get.

You’ll understand why so many fishing enthusiasts make Hay River a must-see destination for the best fishing in Canada.

Fish Species

LAKE WHITEFISH – Abundant in the Great Slave Lake. These fish have small delicate mouths so hook gently. They’re good fighters and can be taken on a small fly, spinner or gold small spoon.

LAKE TROUT – Abundant in the Great Slave Lake. Lake trout are the largest of the trout family and can reach up to 32 kilograms (>70lbs). To hook one, you can spin cast, troll or fly fish. The most popular lures for lake trout are spoons or ciscoes. In mid-summer, you’ll want to fish deep.

NORTHERN PIKE OR JACKFISH – Abundant in the Great Slave Lake.
Although they can be found year-round, the best time to hook one is in the early summer. Jackfish like spoons, bucktails, and jerk baits. Pike like to fight so bring your A game! Be careful they have sharp teeth!
Inconnu – Locally known as “Coney” are a large oil rich fish native to the Great Slave Lake.

ARCTIC GRAYLING – Abundant in the Great Slave Lake. Try micro spinners for these small fish. You’ll find the best grayling fishing is right after spring breakup in late April or May by the Kakisa River crossing.

PICKEREL OR WALLEYE – Abundant in the Hay River Cast a line in the Hay River, at one of our secret fishing holes that are abundant in Pickerel/Walleye! Using a bright-colored jig, a spinner, or a spoon you will be sure to catch dinner!

Great Slave Lake

Great Slave Lake is the second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada (after Great Bear Lake), the deepest lake in North America at 614 m (2,014 ft), and the tenth-largest lake in the world by area.

The Great Slave Lake has been recorded as having as many as 21 species of fish present in its waters. The primary fish species include lake whitefish, lake trout, inconnu, northern pike/jack and walleye/pickerel, cisco, burbot, ninespine stickleback, shiner, also longnose sucker.

Types of Seasonal Fishing Licenses

NWT Resident
Canadian Resident
Non-Canadian Resident
NWT or Canadian Resident over 65 years of age
NWT or Canadian Resident under 16 years of age

Types of 3-Day Fishing License Fees

Canadian Resident
Non-Canadian Resident

Where To Purchase a Fishing License

Sport fishing licenses can be purchased online, at the local Environment and Climate Change Regional Office, or the Hay River Home Hardware.

Environment and Climate Change Regional Office

Address: 156 Miron Drive, Hay River, NT
Phone: 867-875-5550
Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/fishing-licence-vendors

Hay River Home Hardware

Address: 70 Industrial Drive, Hay River, NT
Phone: 1-867-874-6722

Fishing Regulations

For information about fishing regulations and to purchase a license online please visit: www.enr.gov.nt.ca

Fishing Tours & Local Guides

Hub Fishing Tours

[email protected]

1-250-814-7689

Judge Gyger Winter: Ice fishing adventures, fishing day trips. fly-out trips are available for exclusive fishing spots. Tackle shop, stunning sunrises & sunsets, waterfall & scenic tours, dog sledding & aurora borealis tours, wildlife viewing: Including buffalo & migratory birds, Indigenous Art Gallery with Northwest Territories perspective.

Great Slave Lake Tours

NWTFishingTours.com

[email protected]

1-867-875-8077

Shawn Buckley offers Fishing day trips, canoe or kayak trips, birding & wildlife tours, water travel & aurora day trips

Castaways Cottages & Campground

CastawaysNWT.com

[email protected]

1-867-875-2903

Darrel Dean Castaways Cottages & Campground - camp sites, cabin rentals, community tours including fishing and sight seeing tours. Kayak, canoe, paddle board & ATV rentals & Sherp rides Located minutes from Hay River along the shores of Great Slave Lake.

2 Seasons Adventures

[email protected]

1-867-875-7112

Frazer Pike fishing tours Lake/River, side by side tours, camper on site rentals, cabin rentals, camper stall rentals nightly/seasonal, jet boat rides to the falls water levels permitting

Where to buy Fresh Fish

Hay River Fish Processing Plant

[email protected] or [email protected]

1-867-875-7116

We offer fresh frozen fillets in whitefish, lake trout, walleye, and northern pike. We also offer frozen pan ready whitefish and smoked inconnu and have a limited supply of pet food morsels. Seasonally, fresh fish can be purchased on fish processing days during fishing season. Come by our sales office located in the plant at 1A Studney Drive, Hay River, NT X0E 0R6 or contact us to order or request a price list. Taste the goodness of NWT Fresh Fish today! From our lake to your plate! To place orders please email us.

R.C Fisheries Commercial Fish Sales and Mobile Food Trailer

1-867-686-2376

To place orders for fresh fish please call: 1-867-686-2376

Fisherman’s Wharf Pavilion Market

Serving seasonal fresh fried fish & chips right off the water, with local Artisans selling their wares, every Saturday rain or shine 10am -2pm from mid June until mid September. Here you can watch the Commercial Fishing Vessels come and go from port with the catch of the day!

Fishing Lodges

Brabant Lodge - Sport Fishing

Brabant Island, NT

BrabantLodge.com

1-867-446-9881

[email protected]

Brabant Lodge offers a premium all-inclusive experience, offering 12-hours daily fishing, fully guided, included in your trip price. They offer a complimentary bar in the main lodge, standard queen-size beds in every cabin, Starlink Wi-Fi, hot and cold running water, and full power connections in every cabin. Your comfort and enjoyment of our NWT lodge is our top priority. Premium Lund boats and reliable Honda outboard engines await you.

Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures

Nonacho Lake, NT

[email protected]

1-587-991-2281

Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures offers world class fly-in fishing near the map’s edge in Canada’s spectacular Northwest Territories from June – September. Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures is one of the longest standing tourism establishments in Canada’s NWT of over 50 years.

Thubun Lake Lodge

Fly-In Lodge with Landa Aviation

Thurbun Lake, NT

landaaviation.com

1-867-874-3500

[email protected]

Thubun Lakes Lodge offers cabins and world class fishing. Thubun Lake Lodge is accessible by plane. To book please contact landaaviation.com

Fisherman's Wharf

Nature & Wildlife