Shipley Lake, Alaska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Shipley Lake is a Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area water, in Alaska. Tidal water begins 1 mile from here. It measures some 452 acres, and wind has room to build across it. On our Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area list it sits near the top for size. Craig is the closest town at 44 miles. Wrangell follows at 49 miles, then Petersburg at 53 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Shipley Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area include pink salmon, Chum salmon, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Shipley Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 55°F, the coldest about 31°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Shipley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Sutter Lake sits 3.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Shipley Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.