Fishing Nododehon Lake in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska

• Overview

  Set in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, this is Nododehon Lake. Northern bush runs right down to the water. This is sizeable water at about 705 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. The outline measures near 9.1 miles, so local knowledge counts. Few waters listed in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area are bigger. The town to know is Kotzebue, 201 miles out. The nearest city of size is Anchorage, 366 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Nododehon Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area include bering cisco, least cisco, lake whitefish and Arctic grayling. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Nododehon Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 61°F; the cold one sits at -6°F. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid May. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near mid October: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Nododehon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Willow Lake, 8.6 miles out. Ask locally about Nododehon Lake if anything is unclear.