Fishing Onestone Lake in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  Onestone Lake lies in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, in Alaska. The surroundings are lake country bush. Surface area runs to roughly 248 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. Shoreline length is close to 3.9 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. It is among the larger waters listed here for Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The closest town, Willow, is 50 miles away. The big place round here is Anchorage, 72 miles distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Onestone Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Matanuska-Susitna Borough include rainbow trout, Coho salmon, sockeye salmon, longnose sucker and Arctic charr. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Onestone Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 9°F in January to roughly 58°F in July. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near late October. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Onestone Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Shell Lake is 3.3 miles off. For Onestone Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.