Pilot Lake

Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 0

Pilot Lake is one of the most extraordinary fishing destinations in the Northwest Territories — a pristine, crystal-clear crater lake born from a meteorite impact approximately 445 million years ago during the Upper Ordovician period. Located just north of the Alberta border, roughly 54 km from Fort Smith, this ancient impact structure measures about 6 km (3.7 miles) in diameter and holds a stunning body of water covering 43 km² (17 square miles) with a maximum depth of 90 m (300 ft). Sitting at a surface elevation of 255 m (837 ft) above sea level and dotted with 9 islands, Pilot Lake is a remote, fly-in destination that offers anglers a truly wild and unspoiled experience. The lake's exceptional depth and cold, clear water create ideal habitat for trophy-class Lake Trout and hard-fighting Northern Pike, making it a bucket-list destination for serious freshwater anglers across North America.

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Pilot Lake and what's needed to catch them.

No species information available.

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Pilot Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

The lake's unique crater morphology creates a variety of productive fishing environments. The 9 islands scattered across the lake provide excellent structure for Northern Pike, with their associated shorelines, points, and shallow bays serving as prime ambush zones. The dramatic depth of the crater — plunging to 90 m — creates a sharp thermocline during summer months that concentrates Lake Trout at specific depths. Shallow bays and nearshore areas are most productive for early-season Lake Trout and Pike throughout the season. The steep drop-offs characteristic of a crater lake provide excellent jigging structure for mid-summer lakers.

Know where you can legally fish on Pilot Lake

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Nt licenses and regulations

No licenses or regulations available for Nt.

Take Pilot Lake with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Pilot Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Pilot Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.