Fishing at Hugh Smith Lake, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  Hugh Smith Lake is set in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska. This is mixed woodland ground. About 811 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs about 8.2 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Ketchikan Gateway Borough list. Metlakatla lies 36 miles from the water. Vancouver sits 514 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hugh Smith Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Being tidal, the water moves twice a day, and the fishing moves with it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Ketchikan Gateway Borough: pink salmon, Chum salmon and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Hugh Smith Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 30°F to 57°F. In milder years the surface never sets. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. The season on Hugh Smith Lake follows the weather closely. Barometric swings often matter more than the calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Quadra Lake is 3.4 miles off. Treat access at Hugh Smith Lake as something to verify.