Fishing at Shrew Lake, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  In Alaska, Shrew Lake falls inside Kenai Peninsula Borough. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 14 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Kenai Peninsula Borough. The closest town, Sterling, is 19 miles away. Funny River is 21 miles and Ridgeway 25 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Shrew Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Kenai Peninsula Borough names northern pike, sockeye salmon, rainbow trout and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Shrew Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 57°F and January near 16°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate figures give an open season running late April to early November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Shrew Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lonely Lake, 0.4 miles away. Confirm before you fish Shrew Lake.