Charlie Lake, Alaska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Charlie Lake in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. Country round the bank runs to northern bush. The water covers some 53 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.7 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is a small entry by Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area standards. For a base, Susitna North sits 120 miles out. After that come Willow at 123 miles and Big Lake at 132 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Charlie Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area include bering cisco, least cisco, lake whitefish, Arctic grayling and alaska blackfish. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Charlie Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 56°F in July and bottom out at 1°F in January. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid May. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about mid October in an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Charlie Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is High Lakes, 3.3 miles out. The position on Charlie Lake is worth confirming on the day.