Matanuska Lake near Gateway: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Alaska, Matanuska Lake belongs to Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The land about it is mixed forest. Roughly 61 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The whole outline is near 1.5 miles, and most of it is walkable. Gateway is the closest town at 1.2 miles. The big place round here is Anchorage, 32 miles distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Matanuska Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Matanuska-Susitna Borough include rainbow trout, Coho salmon, sockeye salmon and longnose sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The near bank of Matanuska Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 14°F to 58°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Matanuska Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Kepler Lake, 0.6 miles away. The position on Matanuska Lake is worth confirming on the day.