Kah Shakes Lake Fishing Guide, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  Alaska holds Kah Shakes Lake, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. The surface lies 23 feet up. With some 184 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Some 3.3 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It is low-lying compared with other Alaska water we list. Start from Metlakatla, 26 miles down the road. For a city, Vancouver is 520 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kah Shakes Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The tide is the timetable on this water; two hours either side of the change usually fish hardest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Kah Shakes Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 58°F, with January the cold end at about 33°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Expect Kah Shakes Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Sykes Lake is 7 miles distant. The position on Kah Shakes Lake is worth confirming on the day.