Fishing at Mayo Lake, Mayo, Yukon

• Overview

  Mayo Lake is one of the Mayo waters in Yukon. The water sits 671 metres up. It covers about 98.11 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. Bays run back a long way, and the fish move between them with the season. Of the waters listed here in Mayo, this is the largest. The closest town, Dawson City, is 217 km distant. Anchorage sits 811 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Mayo Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Mayo include Chinook salmon, mountain whitefish and sockeye salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Mayo Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -23°C in January to roughly 12°C in July. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late May until roughly mid October. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan around that when you fish Mayo Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Salmon and sea-run fish answer to spoons and spinners where lure fishing is allowed; check the method rules first. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Williamson Lake, 13 km out. Ask locally about Mayo Lake if anything is unclear.