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

• Overview

  Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, is where Salmon Lake sits. The water sits 125 feet up. This is sizeable water at about 1,367 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. At about 9.4 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Size puts it in the front rank of our Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area list. Nearest place of any size is Craig, 20 miles away. Vancouver is the closest city, 593 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Salmon Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area include pink salmon, Chum salmon, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and sockeye salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Salmon Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 31°F in January up to 55°F in August. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan any trip to Salmon Lake around it. The week either side of a change of season often fishes hardest.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. 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. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Karta Lake at 1.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Salmon Lake.