Marten Lake Fishing in Watson Lake, Yukon

• Overview

  Watson Lake in Yukon is where Marten Lake sits. This is spruce and muskeg country. About 2.50 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. There is roughly 7.5 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. The nearest town is Watson Lake, 80 km away. After that come Whitehorse at 307 km and Skagway at 355 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Marten Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name lake trout, longnose sucker, mountain whitefish, round whitefish and Arctic grayling. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Marten Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 13°C, with January the cold end at about -23°C. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Open water usually runs from mid May until about late October. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. At Marten Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Sambo Lake, 8.1 km out. Where Marten Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.