Fishing at Teal Lake, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  You will find Teal Lake in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. Tidal water begins 17 miles from here. The water covers some 57 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 1.7 miles on foot. The nearest place of any size is Sterling, 15 miles away. After that come Funny River at 17 miles and Ridgeway at 23 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Teal Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Public occurrence data for Kenai Peninsula Borough names northern pike, sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Teal Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 57°F, the coldest about 16°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near early November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Teal Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Birch Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Teal Lake should be assumed from this page alone.