Canadian game fish in the Northwest Territories

Arctic Char are considered superb eating. They're found in the icy waters of rivers that flow into the Arctic Ocean, as they travel to inland spawning lakes. They have dark green backs and silvery, spotted sides and bellies. During the fall spawning season, males develop long, hooked lower jaws and their sides and bellies turn bright orange-red. A few char remain in freshwater lakes year-round. Average weight: 2.25 - 3 kg (5 - 7 lbs).

Arctic Char are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories:

NWT sport fishing operators offering Arctic Char fishing

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Arctic Grayling

Arctic Graying are common throughout the Northwest Territories. These spirited little prizefighters are easily identified by their outsize, blackish-blue dorsal fins. They have dark blue-black backs and greyish purple sides. Spring spawners, they are commonly found in swift, cold rivers. Average weights: 0.5 - 1 kg (1 - 2 lbs).

Arctic Grayling are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories

NWT sport fishing operators offering Arctic Grayling fishing

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Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden are sometimes confused with Arctic Char. They are coloured dark blue to olive green, and speckled with yellow, orange or red spots. They're considered good eating.

Dolly Varden are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories:

NWT sport fishing operators offering Dolly Varden fishing

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Inconnu

Fur-trade voyageurs gave this "unknown" fish its name. Locally called Coney, it's a member of the whitefish family, with large scales, a dark back, silvery sides and deeply forked tailfin. Still unknown to many anglers, it's found in the rivers that flow into Great Slave Lake and in the Mackenzie Delta. Weights can average 4 - 9 kg ( 9 - 20 lbs).

Inconnu are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories:

NWT sport fishing operators offering Inconnu fishing

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Lake Trout

Widely spread in deep, cold Northern waters and fast-flowing rivers, Lake Trout provide spectacular sport. Commonly reaching weights between 13 - 18 kg (30 - 40 lbs), they're speckled green, grey, brown or black with a lighter belly. The world record catch, weighing 32.5 kg (72 lbs) was made at Great Bear Lake.

Lake Trout are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories:

NWT sport fishing operators offering Lake Trout fishing

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Northern Pike

The earliest fish to spawn in spring, Northern Pike (or Jackfish) inhabit weedy bays or warm, slow rivers south of the Treeline. They're excellent fighters with long, spotted greenish brown bodies and prominent snouts. Average weights run from 2 - 7 kg (5 - 15 lbs), but pike weighing 13 to 18 kg (30-40 lbs) have been taken.

Northern Pike are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories:

NWT sport fishing operators offering Northern Pike fishing

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Pickerel (Walleye)

The largest and most robust member of the perch family has two dorsal fins on an elongated body coloured olive green, flecked with gold or yellow. Its large, light-sensitive eyes are the reason it's often called Walleye. It prefers weedy areas or deep, clear water, mainly in the southern regions of the NWT, and puts up a spirited battle when hooked. Average weights run up to 2.5 kg (5 lbs).

Pickerel (Walleye) are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories:

NWT sport fishing operators offering Pickerel (Walleye) fishing

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Whitefish

Silvery-sided, deep-bodied fish, darker on top and with a forked tailfin. Long esteemed for their taste, whitefish thrive in deep, cold lake waters. Autumn spawners, whitefish weigh an average of 1 - 1.5 kg (2-3 lbs).

Whitefish are found in these regions of the Northwest Territories:

NWT sport fishing operators offering Whitefish

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