This trip is to the Northwest Territories in Canada. Dubawnt lake is the 12th largest in North America but is fished by less than 60 anglers per year.



We were scheduled for the first week after ice out but were about 4 days early.



The first few days we had to bust through ice to get anywhere. Then once through the wind would close the ice back and we had to bust through again to get to camp.



The 8- 12" thick ice did a number on the props. One day we had to lay out so more props could be flown in.



The mosquitos were terrible as can be seen on Tubby the camp dog.



A 36 pounder comes into the net. The biggest of the trip was a 43lb. 14oz whopper.



Access to the lake is by a Turbo Otter. This is a time consuming and expensive trip... The kind you like to do once but not every year.



Shore lunches were lake trout along with potatoes and onions.



The camp consisted of metal "tents" and two outhouses all of which were full of mosquitos and black flies. Sit down in the outhouse and you would be attacked from below.

I've been wanting to go to Nueltin, but maybe I should reconsider. Laker fishing here isn't too bad though for a few weeks of the year anyway.

MikeIravy,
If you go to Dubawnt try to schedule one of the last two trips. The guides say the big ones are caught then.

No question in my mind that there is a world record in that lake that has never seen a lure.

I've been trying for the PA record, which is not very big. A world record is beyond my ken. Who did you use for an outfitter?
If you have business in western PA or NY in early spring and some extra time drop me a message. I'm out every suitable weekend and frequently have an extra seat or two.

Mikelravy,
I used Tukto Lodge. They are the ones to use.

http://www.arcticfishing.com/canada-trophy-trout-fishing.php

Do not let anyone talk you into fishing Mosquito lake though. Stay with Dubawnt. The big fish for the day on Mosquito might be 24 lbs. On Dubawnt 30 to 45 lbs.

I am sure that some of the fish I seen in that clear water following in my hooked 20 lb plus or minus fish were 50 lb or more - but we did not land one. Almost eveyone in our group had a fish break the line that they swore felt very heavy.

The biggest we netted was 43 lb 14 oz. That guy caught it when it followed in my 34 lb 4 oz. fish. Five minutes later he caught a 36 lb 3 oz. That was three fish over 30 in less than 20 minutes. That was not the usual scenario but it happened.

We regularly caught 10 or more fish per day each over 15 lbs.

Those are huge. A good laker locally is 12-15. Bigger in Ontario but nothing like that. I think NY record is abour 30. I'm going to have to put that on my schedule.

Awesome photos.

I want to fish Canada one day....