Big Joe Lake Fishing in Haines Junction, Yukon

• Overview

  Look for Big Joe Lake in the Haines Junction part of Yukon. It lies 1,183 metres above sea level. At 8 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Haines Junction list. Head to Whitehorse, 171 km away, for anything you forgot. Skagway is 241 km and Haines 257 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Big Joe Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name Arctic grayling, northern pike, lake trout, Dolly Varden and round whitefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Big Joe Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 10°C in July and bottoms out near -19°C in January. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near mid October. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Big Joe Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Fly Lake, 12 km away. Confirm before you fish Big Joe Lake.