Sisgravik Lake in North Slope Borough: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sisgravik Lake is one of the North Slope Borough listings for Alaska. Land around it is dry open country. At roughly 7.8 sq miles it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The shoreline runs to about 29 miles, far more than one trip can cover. On our North Slope Borough list it sits near the top for size. Utqiagvik is the closest town at 27 miles. For a city, Anchorage is 693 miles off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Sisgravik Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Work the tide here — moving water feeds, slack water rests. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in North Slope Borough include bering cisco and Arctic cisco. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Sisgravik Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 45°F at the top of summer and -18°F at the bottom of winter. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. After late June the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up sits around late June on average, with the water closing again about early October. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Sisgravik Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Lake Tusikvoak is 9.5 miles distant. For Sisgravik Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.