Big Lake Fishing near Ketchikan, Alaska

• Overview

  Big Lake falls in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, part of Alaska. Tidal water begins 1.3 miles from here. At some 376 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Around 7.2 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. Head to Ketchikan, 19 miles away, for anything you forgot. Vancouver is the closest city, 545 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Big Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Ketchikan Gateway Borough names pink salmon, Chum salmon, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and sockeye salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Big Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 57°F in August. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Time your trip to Big Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Basin Lake, 1.2 miles away. Ask locally about Big Lake if anything is unclear.