Fishing Mush Lake in Haines Junction, Yukon

• Overview

  Mush Lake is a Haines Junction water, Yukon side. The land about it is boreal forest. At roughly 17.57 sq km it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The shoreline runs to about 27 km, far more than one trip can cover. Size puts it in the front rank of our Haines Junction list. Head to Whitehorse, 139 km away, for anything you forgot. Anchorage sits 683 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Mush Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Haines Junction, recorded fish include Arctic grayling, northern pike, lake trout and Dolly Varden. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Mush Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 11°C for July and -16°C for January. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near late October: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Expect Mush Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Bates Lake at 10 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Mush Lake carry more weight than any list.