Knik Lake in Matanuska-Susitna Borough: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Knik Lake in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough part of Alaska. The sea is 1 mile distant. The water covers some 52 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The whole outline is near 1.3 miles, and most of it is walkable. It lies lower than most water we list in Alaska. The closest town, Knik-Fairview, is 5.7 miles away. The nearest city of size is Anchorage, 17 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Knik Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Matanuska-Susitna Borough records list rainbow trout, Coho salmon and sockeye salmon among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Knik Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 58°F, the coldest about 12°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near early November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Knik Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. White Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Knik Lake should be assumed from this page alone.