Fishing Marys Lake in Nome Census Area, Alaska

• Overview

  Marys Lake stands in Nome Census Area, Alaska. Boreal forest runs right down to the water. Surface area is around 189 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Alaska listings. 49 miles away sits Nome, the nearest town. Then Kotzebue, 138 miles, and Chevak, 255 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Marys Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Nome Census Area include Arctic grayling, antlered sculpin, threaded sculpin and hamecon. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Marys Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 53°F for July and -1°F for January. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. The lid usually goes in early June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near early June, freeze-up near late October: that is the shape of an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Marys Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lake Omiaktalik sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Marys Lake may have changed since it was mapped.