Post Lake, Alaska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Post Lake lies within the bounds of Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. It sits in spruce and muskeg country. It runs to roughly 96 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 1.7 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It is high ground by Alaska standards. The closest town, Willow, is 117 miles away. Anchorage sits 135 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Post Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, recorded fish include bering cisco, least cisco, lake whitefish, Arctic grayling and alaska blackfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Post Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 53°F and January at 1°F. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The lid usually goes in mid May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around mid May until roughly mid October. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Anyone fishing Post Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Widgeon Lake at 13 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Post Lake is worth confirming on the day.