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

• Overview

  Chuck Lake is listed under Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska. The water sits 30 feet up. Around 155 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge covers about 3.7 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. Ground here is low by Alaska standards. Craig lies 24 miles from the water. Vancouver is the closest city, 625 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Chuck Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The tide is the timetable on this water; two hours either side of the change usually fish hardest. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name pink salmon, Chum salmon and Chinook salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Anyone new to Chuck Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 56°F, with January the cold end at about 34°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Chuck Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Crooked Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Chuck Lake in what we hold.