Simpson Lake Fishing in Watson Lake, Yukon

• Overview

  Simpson Lake lies in Watson Lake, Yukon. Height above sea level is 739 metres. At roughly 21.42 sq km it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The bank runs about 30 km in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Nothing else we list in Watson Lake covers more water. 80 km away sits Watson Lake, the nearest town. After that come Whitehorse at 316 km and Skagway at 365 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Simpson Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Watson Lake, recorded fish include lake trout, longnose sucker, mountain whitefish and round whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Simpson Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 14°C; by January the average is down near -25°C. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid May. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near late October: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan any trip to Simpson Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. 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. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Marten Lake sits 9.6 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Simpson Lake should be assumed from this page alone.