Donkey Lake Fishing near Sterling, Alaska

• Overview

  Set in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Donkey Lake is an Alaska water. It stands 243 feet above sea level. It measures about 162 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The margin runs to about 4.4 miles in total. Sterling lies 6.7 miles from the water. Further out sit Ridgeway (6.9 miles) and Funny River (8.5 miles). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Donkey Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name northern pike, sockeye salmon, rainbow trout and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Donkey Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 15°F to 57°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Donkey Lake.

• 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. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Sunken Island Lake, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Donkey Lake is worth confirming on the day.