North Meadow Lake in North Slope Borough: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find North Meadow Lake in North Slope Borough, Alaska. The setting is sage and rock on every side. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The whole outline is near 0.8 miles, and most of it is walkable. It is a small entry by North Slope Borough standards. Nearest place of any size is Utqiagvik, 3.2 miles away. Anchorage is the closest city, 721 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on North Meadow Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. This is tidal water: the state of the tide decides where fish sit, so plan the session around it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. North Slope Borough records list bering cisco and Arctic cisco among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of North Meadow Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -17°F in February up to 42°F in July. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late June. Averages suggest open water from about late June through to roughly early October. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to North Meadow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is South Meadow Lake, 0.4 miles out. Rules at North Meadow Lake are worth checking on the day.