Five Mile Lake Fishing in Carmacks, Yukon

• Overview

  Five Mile Lake sits in Carmacks, out in Yukon. The water sits 1,173 metres up. It measures about 53 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The outline measures near 5.1 km, so local knowledge counts. It is a small entry by Carmacks standards. Head to Whitehorse, 163 km away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Skagway at 269 km and Dawson City at 288 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Five Mile Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Carmacks cover Chinook salmon, Arctic grayling, northern pike and lake whitefish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Five Mile Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 12°C and January near -21°C on the long-run figures. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid May. Expect the water usable from around mid May until roughly mid October. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Five Mile Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. MartensLake at 1.2 km is the sensible second choice. For Five Mile Lake in particular, ask before you travel.