Finlayson Lake in Faro: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Faro, Yukon. The country round it is boreal forest from end to end. Supplies mean a trip to Watson Lake, 208 km off. Whitehorse is 261 km and Skagway 356 km. Within a short drive: McEvoy Lake out at 24 km, Wolverine Lake some 32 km off, Fortin Lake out at 33 km, Leckie Lake some 54 km off and Tillei Lake out at 60 km. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Finlayson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Faro, recorded fish include Chinook salmon and Arctic grayling. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Finlayson Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 12°C and January near -24°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. 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. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Finlayson Lake.

• 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. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. McEvoy Lake sits 24 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Finlayson Lake before loading the car.