Fishing Red Lake in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska

• Overview

  The Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area entry here is Red Lake, in Alaska. It sits in open valley country. This is sizeable water at about 409 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. The edge covers about 5.0 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area listings. Nearest place of any size is Wrangell, 39 miles away. The nearest city of size is Vancouver, 644 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Red Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Salt or brackish and tidal: fish the flow, rest at slack, and watch the mud on a falling tide. 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. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Red Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 55°F, the coldest about 31°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. On Red Lake the same rules apply, with local timing. Long dry spells drop the level and concentrate them.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Salmon Bay Lake, 5.1 miles out. Where Red Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.