Tutkaimund Lake, Alaska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Tutkaimund Lake lies in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, in Alaska. Country round the bank runs to open dry country. Roughly 270 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. A shoreline of some 2.5 miles keeps the choices simple. 24 miles away sits Tok, the nearest town. Deltana is 102 miles and Dawson City 114 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Tutkaimund Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, recorded fish include Arctic grayling, lake whitefish, lake trout, longnose sucker and round whitefish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Tutkaimund Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -15°F in January up to 59°F in July. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid October. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. At Tutkaimund Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Long Fred Lake is 2.2 miles off. Check the position at Tutkaimund Lake before loading the car.