Fishing Boat - Half (1/2) Day

On a half-day beneath the Arctic sky, Yellow Dog Lodge’s self-guided Fishing Boat — Half (1/2) Day drops you on Graham and Duncan Lakes, a pair of cold-water basins just outside Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. These waters are famous for hard-fighting lake trout, trophy northern pike, feisty Arctic grayling and a surprising walleye population. The trip is a compact, hands-on fishing day: you get a 16-foot aluminum boat with a 15hp or 20hp outboard, fuel, safety gear, PFDs, two-way marine radios and spinning rods and reels.

Most boats have sonar to find structure and schools, and the lodge staff give a brisk orientation, maps of hot spots and tips on where to hunt. Start with a short breakfast and an on-water orientation, then head for shallow bays where pike patrol ambush corridors in early summer, or for the deeper channels where lake trout cruise later in the season. Anglers report daily numbers that can reach double digits for trout and dozens of pike on a good day; the lodge record lake trout weighed 47 lbs.

Grayling hunt rocky shoals and river mouths—bring ultra-light gear or a fly rod to feel their hard, surprising runs. This is self-guided boating, capped at three people per boat, so it’s ideal for small groups who want control of the day. Guides are available for an extra fee if you prefer a local on-board; book them in advance.

Shore lunches are offered, and guests can use the lodge smoker to take fish home, but the operation encourages catch-and-release to sustain the fishery. Essentials include dry bags, polarized lenses, layered clothing and insect protection—spring and early summer can be buggy near rivers. Beyond the rods, the lakes are a northern scene: spruce and tamarack along rocky shores, channels that glow under long summer light, and the occasional bald eagle or moose on the bank.

You’ll navigate by map and radio, watching depth readouts and learning to read wind and water. Weather can change quickly; boats are seaworthy but can feel the chop in a stiff breeze, so physical fitness and common-sense caution matter. If you want solitude and the rhythm of casting and waiting, this half-day rental is a compact portal to the Northwest Territories’ wild fisheries.

Yellow Dog Lodge’s commitment to conservation—practical catch-and-release, careful stewardship of shorelines and clear guest guidance—makes this more than a trip: it’s a responsible way to chase big fish in a high-latitude setting that still feels like discovery. Plan two to five hours on the water. Boats are limited to three people, include fuel and safety gear, and most have sonar; an onboard guide is available for an additional CAD 190 per half-day, and fishing licenses must be obtained.