Athabasca & Slave Rivers

[BADBOY]

Anybody fish these 2 rivers ,going up on Sat. to fish all rivers along the old Hwy. 2 . Have a few apotions with 5 rivers in the area west of Smith.Will have a good walk if anything,looking forward to seeing the North country in a whole new perspective

[davegrant]

Might be a little early for the big ones but there is always fish in both rivers.
There is a tagging study on Lesser Slave River so if u do catch a tagged walleye ( colored tag beside dorsalfin ) record tag number, fish length, weight, date and where caught and phone Athabasca district office
780 675 2419. Caught one 2 years ago and kinda cool to get update on
fish you caught. Fish and Wildlife sends you the update if you like.

[BADBOY]

Should be fun, going to try and get into the Saltuex river where it joins the slave as well,it used to be good many yrs ago im told

[blackburbot]

The athabasca is really high right now. The launch at the smith bridge is questionable. As for fishing the mouth of the slave, would say that is out of the question right now. The slave river is normal flow levels right now, as long as you are fishing far enough upstream that the high water from the athabasca isnt pushing it back. Would be fine around the salteaux as long as it didnt rain too much in the last couple days

[Norpike]

Monsters in both rivers, Athabasca is fast and mighty, find a deep eddie or slower area for some guaranteed action (beware of the sturgeon). Slave is good and the moose also yield's some great pike and walleye.

[AppleJax]

Originally Posted by Norpike

Monsters in both rivers, Athabasca is fast and mighty, find a deep eddie or slower area for some guaranteed action (beware of the sturgeon). Slave is good and the moose also yield's some great pike and walleye.

What Sturgeon? none in the Athabasca drainage!

[Norpike]

There Rare, but they are there.

[pickrel pat]

Originally Posted by Norpike

There Rare, but they are there.

youve caught? you seen one caught? you talked to a bioligist? just curious.

[Norpike]

Lived in athabasca for 25 years, only ever seen 1 small one come out, lots of stories and seen a picture of a guy holding a 4 footer by the rock bar west of town. the pic was from years ago though. extremely rare, but people used to say they were alot more common several years ago but died off. talked to a few guys who tried fishing them with no luck.

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Originally Posted by Norpike

There Rare, but they are there.

Fail

[Cal]

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

Fail

They migrate upstream from NWT, everyone knows that!

Both rivers have some monsters in them, all my biggest walleye have come out of the Slave in the fall. Impressive because I barely do any fishing in the fall, just the odd short session in between hunting. Far more big fish in the river than in the lake.

[AppleJax]

Originally Posted by Norpike

Lived in athabasca for 25 years, only ever seen 1 small one come out, lots of stories and seen a picture of a guy holding a 4 footer by the rock bar west of town. the pic was from years ago though. extremely rare, but people used to say they were alot more common several years ago but died off. talked to a few guys who tried fishing them with no luck.

Are you sure it wasn't a picture of ogopogo? Was bigfoot holding it?