Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Tongass lake cabin fishing advice

Wife and I are renting a USFS cabin in the Tongass NF near Ketchikan in early June. Lake has cutthroat, rainbow and dolly varden. We will be using spinning gear. Any thoughts on what to use for lures or any other advice for the adventure.

Assortment of small vibrax is what I use
And maybe some small sinkers to add weight to cast further

Here on the Kenai, trout seem to love black Mepps, or black Mepps with yellow spots in really clear lakes. If I remember correctly.

It's been years since I fished rod'n reel, except a little pike fishing in Interior. Or jigging through the ice in Kotzebue for shee fish- both with spoons.

Best of luck..

I’ve always done well with Mepps, Roostertails and Vibrax spinners. A variety of sizes, colors and brands should cover your needs. I’ve caught some of my bigger fish on smaller hardware so don’t think that everything has to be bigger in Alaska, sometimes small and dainty is the way to go. The fish in some small, remote Alaskan lakes that see little if any pressure don’t seem to care what you throw at them. One lake that we flew into was loaded with nice sized Grayling. We hopped off the float plane, unloaded our gear and watched the plane depart. I tied on a Mepps spinner before moving our gear from the beach to our camping spot and on the first cast hooked into a beautiful “Swordfish of the North”. 😁. If I didn’t hook a fish in 3 casts I moved down the beach 10 yards and it was game on. Of course there are many variables that apply and I don’t expect that kind of fishing everywhere but when you find a place like that you’ll never forget the experience.

Best of luck to you and your wife and I hope you have a wonderful and safe trip.

Bring lots of deet and a bug net.

As an alternative to those spinners, try a clear float and about 7 feet of four lb test trailing an emerging nymph pattern. Crank it slow.

Is that maybe Kegan Lake?

If so, also fish the stream.

I am a big fan of the Thomas Buoyant spoons

I've done well around here with those. The cutthroat love them.

IME, cutties love red and orange, regardless the lure...