Fishing McLeod Lake in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  McLeod Lake lies in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. What surrounds it is lake country bush. Supplies mean a trip to Palmer, 2.6 miles off. Gateway is 3 miles away, with Butte at 4.2 miles. Water in the same corner: High Ridge Lake 1.3 miles away, Irene Lake lies 1.4 miles on, Baird Lake 1.4 miles away, Canoe Lake lies 1.4 miles on and Bradley Lake 1.6 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on McLeod Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name rainbow trout, Coho salmon, sockeye salmon, longnose sucker and Arctic charr. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Read McLeod Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 58°F on average, January about 14°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about late April and return around early November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. McLeod Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try High Ridge Lake, 1.3 miles away. Confirm before you fish McLeod Lake.