Fishing at Skelly Lake, Stikine Region, British Columbia

• Overview

  Within Stikine Region, British Columbia, you have Skelly Lake. It sits in northern bush country. This is sizeable water at about 2.89 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. Shoreline length is close to 13 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Skagway sits 47 km from the bank. Haines follows at 71 km, then Whitehorse at 107 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Skelly Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Stikine Region list Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Skelly Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -16°C in January and 10°C in July. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late May until roughly late October. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Skelly Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Moon Lake at 8.8 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Skelly Lake locally before you travel.