Trumpeter Lake, Alaska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Trumpeter Lake in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area part of Alaska. The bank is 46 feet above sea level. It measures about 51 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 1.5 miles keeps the choices simple. Most waters listed here for Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area are larger. Some 34 miles away sits Craig, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Vancouver, 607 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Trumpeter Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Salt or brackish and tidal: fish the flow, rest at slack, and watch the mud on a falling tide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Trumpeter Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 56°F at the top of summer and 29°F at the bottom of winter. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Trumpeter Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. 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. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Big Lake at 1.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Trumpeter Lake.