Fishing Island Lake in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska

• Overview

  Island Lake lies in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, in Alaska. The water sits 1,673 feet up. With some 247 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Around 6.4 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. The closest town, Tok, is 19 miles distant. Deltana is 95 miles and Dawson City 119 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Southeast Fairbanks Census Area include Arctic grayling, lake whitefish, lake trout, longnose sucker and round whitefish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Island Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 58°F; by January the average is down near -13°F. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid October. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Island Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Sand Lake sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Island Lake is worth confirming on the day.