Cutthroat Lakes near Craig: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cutthroat Lakes is one of the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area waters in Alaska. It stands 236 feet above sea level. It measures about 93 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 2.2 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. The closest town, Craig, is 22 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Vancouver, 605 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Cutthroat Lakes

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area 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. Fish Cutthroat Lakes where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 56°F; by January the average is down near 31°F. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Cutthroat Lakes runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Thorne Lake is 3.2 miles distant. Rules at Cutthroat Lakes are worth checking on the day.