Closed Waters and special permit areas
Waters closed to sport fishing
To help with conservation efforts, the following waters are closed to sport fishing during the dates below:
| WATERS | COORDINATES | CLOSURE DATES |
|---|---|---|
| BIG FISH RIVER and its tributaries |
68°39’N, 135°52’W | Closed year round |
| MOSQUITO CREEK and the waters of Great Slave Lake within 1 km of the mouth of Mosquito Creek |
62 ̊42’N, 116 ̊04’W | May 1 - June 30 |
|
PROVIDENCE CREEK and the waters of the Mackenzie River within 100 m of the mouth of Providence Creek |
61°15’N, 117°32’W | April 15 - May 30 |
|
YELLOWKNIFE RIVER between Prosperous Lake and Bluefish Lake |
62°39’N, 114°15’W | September 1 - October 31 |
| BAKER CREEK | 62°29′10″N, 114°21′36″W | April 15 - June 15 |
| RAT RIVER | 67°43’N, 136°15’W | August 7 - September 15 |
| HUSKY CHANNEL | 67°36’N, 134°51’W and 68°08’N, 135°16’W | August 7 - September 15 |
| PEEL CHANNEL | 68°07’N, 135°16’W and 68°13’N, 135°05’W | August 7 - September 15 |
| FISH CREEK and its tributaries |
67°43’42”N, 136°15’44”W | Closed year round |
Special Permit Areas
Great Slave Lake
The Mackenzie River Management Area includes all rivers and tributaries, including Kakisa River, and has special restrictions for Arctic grayling and northern pike. See the Daily Catch Limits and Possession Limits chart for more details.
Great Slave Lake – Area VI
This is the area east of a line on 112°30’00’’W from the north shore of Great Slave Lake to the north short of Blanchette Island; and north of a line from the easterly point of Blanchette Island to the most westerly point of Etthen Island, along the south shore of Etthen Island then from the most easterly point of Etthen Island due east to the mainland.
This area has special restrictions for lake trout. See the Daily Catch Limits and Possession Limits chart for more details.
Great Bear Lake Special Management Areas
Includes all of the Camsell River upstream to White Eagle Falls and all other tributaries to Great Bear Lake from their mouths to 1 km upstream.
Any person, including those under 16 or 65 years of age and older, must have a valid Sport Fishing Licence and Special Management Area to fish in this area. This validation may be obtained from any Environment and Climate Change Wildlife and Forestry office for a fee. For further information on sport fishing in the Great Bear Lake Special Management Area, contact the Délı˛nę RRC at (867) 589-4224.
National Parks, National Park Reserves and National Historic Sites
Each national park, reserve, and historic site has their own site-specific fishing licences, regulations, daily catch limits, and closure areas. NWT sport fishing licences are not valid in National Parks.
For more information on fishing licences and regulations for each site visit www.pc.gc.ca or click the park below:
Naats’ihch’oh National Park Reserve
Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve
Edéhzhíe Protected Area
In 2022 Edéhzhíe Protected Area became a National Wildlife Area. This area is protected for wildlife and habitat conservation, and for traditional Dene land-based cultural activities including Dene Ahthít’e (the relationship between Dene and the land, their way of life, language, culture, history and laws).
Resource harvesting and other cultural activities practiced by Treaty and section 35 rights holders in a manner consistent with Dehcho Law are permitted. All other activities within the Edéhzhíe National Wildlife Area now require a National Wildlife Area permit, including access/entry, recreation, hunting, fishing, and research.
You can request a permit by emailing CWSPermitNorth@ec.gc.ca. It is recommended to apply early to allow time for review, as permits are not guaranteed. For more information, visit www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-wildlife-a....
Activities in National Wildlife Areas are regulated under the Canada Wildlife Act.
Land Claim Settlement Areas
Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR)
Any person, including those under 16 or 65 years of age and older, must have a valid Sport Fishing Licence and validation to fish in this area. This free validation may be obtained from a vendor of fishing licences or any Environment and Climate Change Wildlife and Forestry office. Any person intending to fish lakes or rivers on Inuvialuit private lands must first register with either the local Hunters and Trappers Committee or the Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC). If you are not able to register during regular office hours, visit www.fjmc.ca. Persons fishing within the ISR may be contacted at a later date by the FJMC and asked to report their catch. For further information, see the Fishing in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region brochure, available from all licence vendors in the ISR, or www.fjmc.ca, to learn more about why this information is important to fisheries management in the ISR. Website: fjmc.ca/sport-fishing/
Gwich’in Settlement Area (GSA)
Sport fishing in the GSA is subject to the terms and conditions of the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (GCLCA). Permission is required to access Gwich’in private lands. In general, most popular fishing areas in the GSA are located on private lands. Permission may be granted by the local Renewable Resources Council (RRC). Contacts are:
- Nihtat RRC (Inuvik): 867-777-6650,
- Ehdiitat RRC (Aklavik): 867-978-2336
- Tetlit RRC (Fort McPherson): 867-952-2330
- Gwichya Gwich’in RRC (Tsiigehtchic): 867-953-3608
In addition to Gwich’in private lands, sport fishers should also be aware and respectful of the Gwich’in Special Harvesting Areas identified in Volume II – Schedule VI of the GCLCA. Subject to legislation (these regulations), sport fishing is allowed in Special Harvesting Areas. Please contact the GRRB at 867-777-6600 or visit their website: www.grrb.nt.ca/resource-management/fisheries.
Sahtú Settlement Area (SSA)
Sport fishing in the SSA may be subject to terms and conditions in accordance with the Sahtú Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. Persons wishing to fish in the Special Harvesting Area are advised to contact the local Renewable Resources Council (RRC). Permission may be required to access Sahtú Dene and Métis private lands. For further information on sport fishing in the SSA or to access Sahtú private lands, contact the applicable RRC or Land Corporation(s) at:
- Norman Wells: (867) 587-2455
- Délı˛nę: (867) 589-4224
- Fort Good Hope: (867) 598-2193
- Colville Lake: (867) 709-2200
- Tulí’ta: (867) 588-4724
Tłı̨chǫ Settlement Area
For information on sport fishing terms and conditions within Tłı˛cho˛ lands, please contact the Director, Lands Section, Department of Culture and Lands Protection at 867- 392-6381
or visit www.tlicho.ca.
