Sundown Lake Fishing in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska

• Overview

  Sundown Lake is one of the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area listings for Alaska. It stands 341 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 301 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The perimeter runs near 4.2 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Farmers Loop lies 100 miles from the water. It is 358 miles to Anchorage, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Sundown Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area records list bering cisco, least cisco and lake whitefish among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Sundown Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -12°F in January and 61°F in July. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. The season between ice runs from about mid May to mid October. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Sundown Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Setgun Lake, 1.4 miles away. For Sundown Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.