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Fishing in the Yukon Territory

Large lake trout are common in the Yukon Territory
Another happy client at Grizzly Creek Lodge !

The Yukon Territory is an Anglers Dream !

When was the last time you visited a place that has more wildlife than people? The ‘land of the midnight sun,’ is such a place. The Yukon Territory has a landmass about the size of Spain, and only 43,000 people. Fishing in the Yukon Territory is a true wilderness experience.

 
Twenty-seven species of freshwater fish can be found in Yukon lakes and rivers. Among those twenty-seven species are, arctic grayling, northern pike, and lake trout.   
 
Salmon fishing is also possible, although opportunities for this species are somewhat limited. You will need a salmon conservation catch card if you plan to target them. You can get your card here.
 
There are a few product links in this post. Yes, we do earn a small commission on the products you will see. You can rest assured that we do not recommend products we don’t use or have experience with.
 
 
 
 

About Whitehorse Yukon Territory

 
Whitehorse is the capital city, and home to the majority of Yukon’s population. With all the conveniences of any modern city; travelers will find everything they need in Whitehorse. That includes a good selection of fishing and camping equipment.
 
 
Rural communities tend to be small, and shopping is very limited. Cell service is also limited anywhere outside of the communities. For this reason, it is a good idea to have a satellite phone or a Garmin Inreach if you venture off the beaten path. You can rent these devices from several local businesses in Whitehorse.
 
 
 
 

Getting Here

 
 
Air Canada, and Air North, both offer scheduled flights to Whitehorse Yukon. Travelers can connect with these flights through Vancouver, Edmonton, or Calgary. Air North, is a Yukon-based airline and has a reputation for excellent customer service.
 
For those that prefer to travel by car, the famous Alaska Highway connects the Yukon to all points south. Gone are the days when you needed four spare tires and extra fuel to make the trip. The Alaska Highway is now a modern road, with ample services along the route. It’s a very scenic drive that winds through some impressive wilderness.
 
 
 

Fishing opportunities abound in the Yukon.

 
 
 

Fishing the Yukon road system

 
Some very productive water is accessible along the Yukon road system. This fact makes it a popular option for the do-it-yourself type of angler. Just remember to tell someone where you are going, and how long you plan to be gone. It’s also a good idea to take enough supplies for a few extra days. The Yukon is a big place and extra supplies could come in handy if you experience delays.
 

Day-trips around Whitehorse

 
Single day trips are available in the Whitehorse area as well. These trips are a great option for anglers who don’t have a lot of time. As an added bonus, most of the guides offering these trips will provide the proper equipment.
 

Wilderness outpost camps

 
Wilderness outposts, like our upper lake outpost camp, are another alternative. Outpost camps are a cabin or collections of cabins that you can rent. Access to most of these camps will be by bush plane. Boats, motors, and fuel are usually provided, but food, cooks, and guides are not. An outpost camp can be a rustic one-room log cabin, or it can be a collection of cabins with modern amenities. Since you won’t have a guide, this type of trip is best suited to anglers with experience in the backcountry.
 

Wilderness lodge

 
Most anglers find a wilderness lodge the easiest way to experience fishing in the Yukon Territory. This type of trip will usually be a multi-day trip, and include everything. Some wilderness lodges are accessible by road, and others are fly-in-only destinations. Air-charter costs make fly-in destinations more expensive than other types of fishing trips, but, the added cost comes with some big benefits. Meals, rooms, guides, and fishing equipment are usually included in most fly-in packages. An added benefit is the fact that a fly-in trip will usually put anglers on more productive water.
 

Lake trout, arctic grayling, and northern pike are three of the most prized gamefish in the Yukon.

Anglers come from all over the world each year to fish Yukon’s pristine water, for these three species. The following information will give anglers a brief overview of all three species. For a more thorough look at the tactics and gear we use see our fishing page here.
 

Lake Trout Fishing in the Yukon Territory

 
 
Lake trout, ( Salvelinus namaycush ) are the largest members of the char family. Native only to North America, these fish have been introduced all over the world. Like most fish, lake trout are temperature sensitive. They prefer water temperatures between 48 – 53F. Find this temperature band, and you will find trout. Renowned as a hard-fighting game fish, trout over 50 pounds are not unheard of in the Yukon.
 
The dietary preferences of these fish vary depending on their age and the water they inhabit. Juveniles feed on insect larvae, aquatic insects, smaller invertebrates, and zooplankton.
 
Larger lake trout are predator fish and are at the top of the food chain in the waters they inhabit. Their diet consists of smaller fish such as ciscoes, whitefish, suckers, and sculpins. Lake trout will also eat each other. We once found an adult trout washed up on shore with another trout stuck in its mouth. The big predator had attacked and tried to eat a fish too large to swallow!
 

High quality gear is the best choice for Yukon fishing trips

 
Lake trout are powerful fish. Even smaller trout in the 7-12 pound range have stamina which is surprising. Anglers can expect long hard runs that will give even the best gear a workout.
 

Spinning rods and reels:

 
High-quality spinning gear is more expensive, but it will last for years and handle the largest trout. A moderate action rod, coupled with a good reel makes a great lake trout rig.
 
The Ugly Stik Bigwater series are tough rods that handle big fish, well. St. Croix makes excellent rods as well. They are more expensive, but very high-quality rods. Either of these rods will serve you well for years to come.
For the best prices check here.  and here.
 
Here at Grizzly Creek Lodge, we are partial to Penn reels. The reason is simple. There is nothing worse than having a reel break during a fishing trip. This is especially true on wilderness trips where the nearest store is 200 miles away. We have used Penn reels for many years and found them to be of excellent quality. The Slammer series are excellent reels that will handle any fish you hook. 

Fly-fishing rods that will handle big trout.

Choose an appropriate fly-rod for lake trout
An 8wt fly rod is a great choice for lake trout or pike
It’s important that flyfishers choose an adequate fly-rod, for a couple of reasons. The most important reason is fish mortality. Studies show that recovery rates are better when the duration of the fight is shorter. Another good reason to choose an adequate rod is the fact that fly rods are expensive. I have seen my share of fly rods snapped in half when a big lake trout sounds into the depths. Experienced flyfishers can handle big trout with a 5/6 wt rod, but an 8-9 wt rod is a better choice.
Moonshine Rod Co. offers a good blend of quality with competitive price points. They offer a lifetime warranty, and an extra tip comes with some models.
Their 8wt is a great rod for both lake trout, and pike. See it here.

Fly-fishing reels that will handle big trout

The disc-type drag system is by far the best choice when it comes to big hard fighting fish. The spring- and -pawl drags don’t have the power to handle lake trout.
A quick change spool system makes a reel more versatile and gives you more options out on the water. Extra spools give you the ability to switch fly-lines in seconds. This is handy when you want to fish both streamers and dry flies on the same outing.
The Creede, by Moonshine Rod Co., checks all the boxes. This is a high-quality fly-reel that will last a lifetime.
See it here.

Northern Pike Fishing in the Yukon Territory

norther pike are one of the twenty seven species found in Yukon
Northern pike, ( Esox lucius ) is a member of the Esocidae family of fishes. Found across most of the northern hemisphere, northern pike is an aggressive predator. Spring spawners, pike prefer water temperatures between 64-70F ( 18-21C).
When it comes to dietary preferences, Im not sure there is anything a pike won’t eat. Their main food source in our waters are whitefish and ciscoes. That said I’ve seen them take a variety of baby ducks, including loons. They will eat mice or any other small animal unfortunate enough to find itself in the water. We even found a muskrat in a pike’s stomach once.
Pike are excellent fighters and one of Yukon’s best-kept secrets. Large numbers of trophy-class northern pike live in Yukon waters.
The largest pike ever landed by one of our clients measured a whopping 51 inches long! On another occasion I watched two of our clients catch and release 61 northern pike in two hours of fishing. Only one of those fish was under 30 inches in length.

Must have spoons and swimbaits for northern pike fishing in the Yukon

Some of our favorite pike lures include Eppinger spoons, and soft swimbaits.
Since pike spend a lot of time in cover, a weedless spoon is always a good choice. Favorite colors include the classic red and white, yellow five of diamonds, and red and black.
Eppinger Dardevle spoons are so effective, that we rank them as the best pike lure available. You can order yours here.
Storm swimbaits are also very effective. These popular baits come in a variety of sizes and shapes. You can’t go wrong with any of them. They have a life-like motion in the water that drives pike crazy. They are our go-to bait when pike is lethargic during warmer weather. The downside to soft swimbaits is that they don’t last very long. Plan on going through a couple of swimbaits every day if the action is good.
For the best prices check here.

Best streamers for northern pike flyfishing in the Yukon

Northern pike has become a popular target for flyfishers in the last few years for good reason. They are aggressive predators with a unique ability to generate a lot of excitement! Pike is the fastest of all freshwater species. They hit patterns with blinding speed and aggression. Even experienced flyfishers will find themselves flinching when a big pike hits.
I’ve said this in the past but it bears repeating. The clouser minnow, is the single best pattern for both lake trout and pike, that I have ever used. If I could have only one pattern for these fish, it would be the clouser minnow.
Large streamers like bunny fur leeches and large articulating streamers work well also.
We go through a lot of pike flies. The best prices we have found are through Amazon. You can follow the link here.

Arctic Grayling Fishing in the Yukon Territory

Arctic grayling are one of the most beautiful of all freshwater fish
The arctic grayling, ( Thymallus arcticus ) are a memeber of the salmon family. Widespread throughout northern Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, arctic grayling are a popular gamefish. They are one of the most beautiful of all freshwater species. Their sail-like dorsal fin is their most striking feature. The largest arctic grayling on record is just over 5-pounds.
Spring spawners, arctic grayling will move into their spawning areas as soon as the ice goes out. After spawning they migrate to summer feeding areas. The biggest fish will usually seek out deeper holes and eddies.
Voracious feeders, arctic grayling feed heavily on drifting aquatic insects. Black flies, mayflies, stoneflies, and caddis are their primary food source.

The best spinning gear for arctic grayling

A good quality ultralight spinning rod with 4-lb test line is perfect for these feisty fish. Since some of the best grayling streams are smaller tributaries, I prefer a shorter rod. This makes it easier to cast along brushy shorelines.
The Rambler series spinning rod from the Moonshine Rod Co. is a high quality ultra light that is perfect for arctic grayling. The included carrying case protects this rod which is nice on those bush flights. 
Find it here 
Panther Martins are the lure to beat for anglers using spinning gear. The blade creates a vibration that drives these fish crazy. Some of the best arctic grayling habitat will be close to good cover like logs or overhanging brush. Good casting techniques will make it easier to fish these areas.
Amazon has the best prices we have found, check prices here

Best fly-rods and patterns for arctic grayling

These voracious fish will take both wet and dry flies. The elk hair caddis, bloody mosquito, or black gnat are all top choices. Arctic grayling are one of the easiest fish to catch with a fly-rod. This makes them a favourite with both experienced and novice flyfishers alike.
A good selection of dry flies can be found here.
I prefer a 3wt for a dedicated arctic grayling fly rod. Again I’m going to recommend the Moonshine Rod Co. Their warranty and customer service is second to none.
You can find their store here.
Fishing in the Yukon Territory is always an adventure. Anglers who visit are in for a very special experience. Book your trip with us today.

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