Fishing Kusawak Lake in Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  In British Columbia, Kusawak Lake belongs to Stikine Region. It sits at 1,005 metres above sea level. Small at around 6 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Stikine Region standards. The nearest town is Skagway, 76 km away. For a city, Anchorage is 748 km off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Kusawak Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Stikine Region include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Kusawak Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -13°C to 10°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Look for the thaw near late May; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly late October. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. On Kusawak Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The closest car park is 1.1 km away, so pack accordingly. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Three Guardsmen Lake, 11 km out. Treat Kusawak Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.