Lincoln Lake in Stikine Region: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Stikine Region, British Columbia, you have Lincoln Lake. The country here is northern bush. At some 1.23 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The outline measures near 6.9 km, so local knowledge counts. Skagway at 134 km is the nearest place to stop. Anchorage is the closest city, 935 km away. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lincoln Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Stikine Region include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and mountain whitefish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Anyone new to Lincoln Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 10°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late May. Break-up sits around late May on average, with the water closing again about mid October. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Lincoln Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Gladys Lake is 12 km off. The position on Lincoln Lake is worth confirming on the day.