Fishing at Spruce Lake, Dawson, Yukon

• Overview

  In Yukon, Spruce Lake belongs to Dawson. This is taiga country. At roughly 8 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Our Dawson list holds plenty of bigger water. 104 km away sits Dawson City, the nearest town. It is 709 km to Anchorage, the nearest city. Not far off: Chapman Lake roughly 1.8 km, Outfitter Lake a touch under 3.6 km, Calico Lake roughly 4.7 km, Pistol Lake a touch under 7.1 km and Boot Lake roughly 7.6 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Spruce Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Dawson cover Arctic grayling, Chinook salmon, lake whitefish, round whitefish and slimy sculpin. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Spruce Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 12°C and January near -26°C on the long-run figures. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Count the season from break-up, usually late May. On average, late May opens the water and early October closes it again. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It holds true on Spruce Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Chapman Lake, 1.8 km out. The position on Spruce Lake is worth confirming on the day.