Fishing Nokudsay Lake in Village of Teslin, Yukon

• Overview

  Nokudsay Lake lies in Village of Teslin, in Yukon. It sits at 1,194 metres above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 1.74 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. At about 8.2 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Whitehorse lies 103 km from the water. After that come Skagway at 121 km and Haines at 143 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Nokudsay Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Village of Teslin, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, lake whitefish and Arctic grayling. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Nokudsay Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 12°C at the top of summer and -18°C at the bottom of winter. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid May. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Nokudsay Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Hawdt Lake, 2.4 km out. Check the position on Nokudsay Lake before loading the car.