Great Slave Lake is among the deepest lakes in North America and Yellowknife sits on its north arm, so ice fishing here is a real local pastime rather than a gimmick. This outing runs about three and a half hours and includes lunch, with a guide handling the equipment and showing you how to fish through a hole in the ice. It has a good score across more than seventy reviews. The catch depends on luck, and the point is the setting: a huge, flat white lake under a big sky, usually with fresh air and a hot meal. The activity depends on safe ice, which forms well after the first freeze, so it belongs to the deep winter and into April rather than the start of the season. The shoulder weeks between the fall aurora season and the winter season that starts in mid-November are often cloudy, so check each operator's first winter departure date before you plan around it.
What happens
You travel out to a fishing spot on the lake, a guide drills holes and explains the gear, and you fish while lunch is prepared. Some operators in Yellowknife also offer heated fishing shacks stocked with hot drinks, which makes a big difference on a cold day, so ask whether your outing has one. Bring patience and keep hands moving.
Season
Ice thick enough to hold vehicles and people forms after freeze-up, and the Dettah ice road is a useful clue, since its five-year average opening date is 2 January. Operators decide day by day. The Destination Canada guidance notes that in April the ice is still thick enough to combine fishing with aurora viewing, so late winter is a good time.
Tips
Wear insulated boots with a thick sole, because standing on ice is the quickest way to get cold feet. Layer a windproof shell over insulation, carry a thermos, and keep sunscreen and sunglasses for bright late-winter days. Do not walk onto the lake alone, and let the guide choose where to go.
What to expect
The experience
A guided ice fishing outing on Great Slave Lake with equipment, instruction and lunch.
Best time
Deep winter into April once the ice is safe, with late winter pleasant for combining with aurora nights.
How long
About three and a half hours.
Tips
Wear insulated boots, a windproof shell and bring sunglasses; ask whether a heated shack is part of your outing.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want a slow, local winter experience rather than a fast one.
- Families
- Good for children who can be patient, since the pace is slow and lunch is included.
- Couples
- A relaxed, memorable day on the lake.
- Pair with
- Dog sledding or the Dettah ice road drive, and an aurora tour in the evening.
- Time needed
- Half a day including transport.
Good questions
How long is the ice fishing outing?+
The tour is listed at about three and a half hours, and it includes lunch.
When is the ice safe?+
Operators decide day by day, but the lake needs time to freeze hard. The Dettah ice road, which has averaged an opening date of 2 January, is a rough guide to when ice is solid.
Will I catch anything?+
Possibly, but nothing is guaranteed. Treat the fish as a bonus and the lake setting as the main event.
Is there a heated shelter?+
Some Yellowknife ice fishing outings use heated shacks with hot drinks. Ask whether yours does when you reserve.
What should I wear?+
Wear insulated boots with thick soles, a windproof outer layer, a warm hat and mitts. Sunglasses help on bright days.
