Awayak Lake in Bethel Census Area: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Awayak Lake in the Bethel Census Area part of Alaska. It sits at 1,086 feet above sea level. At about 71 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 2.8 miles of margin, front to back. On size it sits at the modest end of our Bethel Census Area list. The closest town, Dillingham, is 88 miles away. Then Bethel, 92 miles, and Chevak, 214 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Awayak Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Bethel Census Area, recorded fish include sockeye salmon, Chum salmon, Coho salmon and pink salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Awayak Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 52°F, with January the cold end at about 17°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. Averages suggest open water from about mid May through to roughly late October. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That shapes the year on Awayak Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Nimgun Lake, 1.6 miles out. The position on Awayak Lake is worth confirming on the day.