Big Lake Fishing in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska

• Overview

  Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, is where Big Lake sits. The coast is 2.9 miles away. It runs to roughly 218 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Around 3.6 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. For supplies, Craig is 33 miles out. Then Wrangell, 43 miles, and Ketchikan, 53 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Big Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area records list pink salmon, Chum salmon and Chinook salmon among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Big Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 56°F and January at 29°F. In milder years the surface never sets. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Big Lake around it. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Trumpeter Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Treat access at Big Lake as something to verify.