Finger Lake Fishing in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  Finger Lake lies within the bounds of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. The land about it is lake country bush. Roughly 161 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 3.1 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. 68 miles away sits Willow, the nearest town. Susitna North lies 73 miles off, Big Lake another 76 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Finger Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name rainbow trout, Coho salmon and sockeye salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Finger Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 58°F in July and bottoms out near 8°F in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly late October. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Finger Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Red Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Finger Lake.