The Best Ice Fishing Lakes in Alaska: The Last Frontier

No discussion of ice fishing in the US would be complete without including Alaska. After all, The Last Frontier, as Alaska is often referred to, is the nation’s largest and northernmost state. Alaska has over 3,000 named lakes and roughly 3 million unnamed lakes dotting its 586,412 square miles of area.

Alaska is a place like no other. From dense forests to towering peaks, Alaska’s vast landscape is full of awe-inspiring natural wonders, many of which are still unexplored to this day. And if ice fishing is your game, Alaska offers hardwater angling opportunities not found anywhere.

If you’re looking for the hardwater angling adventure of a lifetime, here are the best ice fishing lakes in Alaska.

Big Lake

Big Lake is located in southern Alaska, about an hour’s drive north of Anchorage, the state’s largest city with a population of nearly 290,000 residents.

In addition to offering some of the best ice fishing in The Frontier State, this lake is a popular destination for recreational activities including boating, camping, hiking, and picnicking. Here’s Big Lake at a glance:

With a surface area of 2,495 acres, Big Lake is a sizable body of water. It is 5 miles long and has a maximum width of 2 miles.

At its maximum depth, Big Lake is nearly 90 feet deep at the center of its main basin. All around its winding shoreline, this lake averages 10 to 30 feet deep.
There are 22 islands within Big Lake.
Public amenities at the lake include a boat launch, campsite, parking, picnic tables, and restrooms.

Many of Alaska’s lakes are located in remote areas with very little if any, development around them. Big Lake is an hour outside of Anchorage but there is a bustling community of businesses all around its shoreline. There is even a municipal airport on the eastern side of the lake to receive visitors from afar.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Big Lake

When winter hits Big Lake, this body of water is transformed into a winter wonderland. Riding snowmobiles is a popular pastime here as is cross-country skiing and even dog mushing. But it is the world-class ice fishing that draws in hardwater anglers from all over Alaska and beyond.

These are the top ice fishing targets at Big Lake:

Arctic char
Dolly varden trout
Northern pike

Rainbow trout

One of the reasons that Big Lake is so popular among ice anglers is the size of the fish that live there. Monster arctic char is known to inhabit this lake as are trophy-sized northern pike.

If you’re planning a visit to Big Lake to try your luck on the ice, make sure to bring an assortment of lures, jigs, and spoons. Live bait fishing is prohibited here.

Birch Lake

Birch Lake is located in the heart of Alaska, about an hour southeast of Fairbanks by car. Fairbanks is Alaska’s second-largest city with a population of roughly 33,000. As far as inland Alaska goes, Fairbanks is the state’s most populous urban area.

Once winter rolls around, however, the activity at Birch Lake turns to snowmobiling and watching awe-inspiring displays of the northern lights. Ice anglers are a common sight here during ice fishing season. Here’s what you can expect when visiting here:

Birch Lake covers an area of 800 acres.

Its basin reaches a maximum depth of 49 feet and along shore, depths average 5 to 15 feet.
The lake offers a boat launch, campgrounds, public parking, picnic areas, and restrooms.

With majestic mountains and dense forests all around, Birch Lake may be one of the most scenic settings for ice fishing in Alaska. During the warmer months, Birch Lake is a destination recreational site that is popular among Alaskans and tourists for boating, jet skiing, and swimming.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Birch Lake

Although it is modestly sized compared to other fishing hotspots in Alaska, Birch Lake offers big action to hardwater anglers. These are the most popular ice fishing targets at this lake:

Arctic char
Artic grayling

Chinook salmon
Coho salmon
Rainbow trout

Birch Lake is stocked every year with thousands of arctic char, chinook salmon, and rainbow trout, making it one of the best fisheries for these species in the state.

If you’re planning a visit to Birch Lake during ice fishing season, bring a light rod setup. Jigging with small spoons tipped with salmon eggs works well here. Be willing to fish the entire water column from the surface to the bottom in search of activity, and your persistence will be rewarded.

Chena Lake

Chena Lake is another ice fishing hotspot in central Alaska. Located just a short drive southeast of Fairbanks, this popular lake is a perfect example of a well-developed public recreational site co-existing with the surrounding Alaskan wilderness.

Here are some key facts about Chena Lake:

Chena Lake is a smallish body of water by Alaska standards, covering an area of just over 230 acres.
This is a relatively shallow lake averaging 10-15 feet deep along its shoreline and reaching a maximum depth of 38 feet.

Chena Lake offers a host of public amenities, including a boat launch, boat rentals, campsites, beaches, swimming, picnic tables, and restrooms.

If you’re looking for a prime location for ice fishing in the Fairbanks area, look no further than Chena Lake. And for fun on the lake when the weather gets warmer, Chena Lake has plenty to offer. There are plenty of activities making a return visit worthwhile and you can leave the ice auger at home.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Chena Lake

Despite its remote location, Chena Lake draws visitors from all around the year. In ice fishing circles, Chena Lake is a popular spot among hardwater anglers for its high catch rate and healthy fish population. The top targets at this lake include:

Alaska blackfish
Arctic char
Arctic grayling

Chinook salmon
Coho salmon
Rainbow trout

Each year, thousands of trout and salmon are restocked at this lake by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Ice fishing is such a big deal at Chena Lake that you can even rent a cabin out on the ice with the fishing holes already drilled for you and a wood-burning stove inside the hut with pre-cut firewood.

DeLong Lake

DeLong Lake is proof positive that even in Alaska, a land with vast expanses of unexplored wilderness, you don’t need to travel far from major cities to experience amazing ice fishing.

Just a few miles southwest of Anchorage, and right next to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, lies DeLong Lake, one of Alaska’s premier ice fishing lakes. DeLong Lake also proves another thing – that great hardwater angling can be done on small bodies of water. Here’s DeLong Lake at a glance:

DeLong Lake is a small body of water, covering an area of just 20 acres.
The shoreline of DeLong Lake measures just under a mile long.
DeLong Lake isn’t just small, it’s also quite shallow, with an average depth of 14 feet and a maximum depth of 22 feet.

With its small size and shallow depth, DeLong Lake forms a thick layer of ice, typically 14” or so, during the Alaskan winter. Aside from ice fishing, DeLong Lake is a popular spot during the winter months for public ice skating.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at DeLong Lake

Despite its small size, DeLong Lake provides a nutrient-rich habitat where various fish species thrive. The top targets at DeLong Lake during ice fishing season include:

Arctic char

Chinook salmon
Coho salmon
Rainbow trout

Salmonid hybrid

Thousands of rainbows and chinook salmon are stocked in DeLong Lake each year, making this lake a major fishery for these species. With a high catch rate and easy access, DeLong Lake is an ice fishing haven for anglers throughout the greater Anchorage area.

Finger Lake

Another Alaskan ice fishing hotspot is Finger Lake in the southern part of the state. Located about 42 miles northeast of Anchorage, Finger Lake is a popular recreational site that attracts visitors year-round. But when first ice forms, hardwater anglers flock to Finger Lake for some of the best ice fishing around.

Here’s what you need to know about Finger Lake:

This mid-sized lake covers an area of 362 acres.
Finger Lake has a winding, twisting shoreline that stretches for nearly 8 miles in length. The irregular shape of this lake creates large, finger-like inlets that form perfect habitats for the lake’s various fish species.

The average depth of Finger Lake is 5 feet and its basin bottoms out at 44 feet.

Finger Lake State Recreation Site offers camping and boat launch facilities (fee required) and during ice fishing season, access to the ice can be made from here. It should be noted that certain portions of the shoreline are privately owned, and lake access is restricted from these areas.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Finger Lake

With its large coves and inlets forming ideal habitats for local species, Finger Lake boasts healthy fish populations with large specimens. There are half a dozen fish species calling Finger Lake home:

Arctic char
Arctic grayling
Chinook salmon

Coho salmon
Rainbow trout
Salmonid hybrid

Finger Lake is regularly stocked with char, salmon, and trout. Small spoons and brightly colored jigs work well in these waters. Tipping hooks with artificial bait is a surefire way to get good strikes.

Timing is important when fishing on the ice. Getting out onto Finger Lake at the crack of dawn is your best window of opportunity. Toward midday, head out to deeper waters and try to work the entire water column up and down to find where the fish are gathering.

Harding Lake

The greater Fairbanks area is an ice angler’s paradise with a number of great options to choose from. Less than an hour’s drive south of Fairbanks lies Harding Lake, an ice fishing destination that has a reputation for producing trophy-sized fish.

If you’re considering a visit, here are a few facts about Harding Lake:

With a surface area of 2,192 acres, Harding Lake is a decently sized lake supporting a variety of recreational activities aside from fishing. Boating, canoeing, and jet skiing are very popular here during the warmer months of the year.
Harding Lake has nearly 7 ½ miles of shoreline.

With a maximum depth of 141 feet, Harding Lake is fairly deep for its size.

Being just 45 miles away from Fairbanks makes Harding Lake the perfect destination for a day on the ice. With its wide open expanses, finding your own spot to fish away from other anglers won’t be a problem – just be sure to pack some patience along with your gear.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Harding Lake

Many lakes in Alaska offer a variety of species that can be fished, often half a dozen or more. This is not the case at Harding Lake. The lake is stocked every year with arctic char and the other species that can be caught here is lake trout.

What Harding Lake lacks in variety, however, is more than made up for by the size of the fish that can be caught from these waters. Arctic char and lake trout pulled through the ice at Harding Lake can range in size from 20 inches to over 30 inches.

To get good strikes and hook one of these monsters, you’ll need to be patient. Harding Lake is fairly deep, and you may need to work the water column and change locations to follow the fish throughout the day.

Jewel Lake

Anchorage is not only Alaska’s largest city, but it also boasts several of The Frontier State’s best ice fishing lakes. One such hotspot is the fittingly named Jewel Lake, a true gem that has been drawing in hardwater anglers from all over Alaska.

Located on the outskirts of Anchorage just south of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Jewel Lake is a municipal lake offering year-round recreational activities including boating and swimming. But once winter rolls around and the first ice forms, the name of the game at Jewel Lake is ice fishing.

Here’s what to expect when visiting Jewel Lake:

With a surface area of just under 28 acres, Jewel Lake is a small lake by any measure. But like its neighbor to the north, DeLong Lake (also on this list), Jewel Lake proves that great ice fishing can be found in modestly sized bodies of water.

Jewel Lake’s pear-shaped shoreline measures just under a mile long.
This lake is also very shallow, measuring a mere 14 feet at its deepest point. The main basin lies at the southern end of the lake while the northern end of Jewel Lake is where you’ll find water that is just several feet deep.

Whether you live in Anchorage or are just visiting, if you’re looking to experience ice fishing at its best, be sure to set aside a day to spend at Jewel Lake.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Jewel Lake

Being a small municipal lake, Jewel Lake doesn’t have the bottom structure and basin features that would support a large number of different fish species. What fish do live in this lake, however, absolutely thrive here. These include:

Arctic char
Land locked salmon

Rainbow trout

All 3 fish species are stocked every year and for visiting anglers, this means high catch rates and decent-sized fish when you hook one.

Ice fishing at Jewel Lake isn’t just for seasoned anglers either. With its shallow depth, solid ice, and location in city limits, Jewel Lake offers a family-friendly atmosphere where future generations of ice anglers can learn and enjoy this wonderful winter pastime.

Quartz Lake

The Fairbanks region is a hotbed for ice fishing lakes, with three other lakes on this list aside from this one.

We’ve already seen that Chena Lake, Harding Lake, and Birch Lake are ice fishing destinations familiar to Alaskan ice anglers for the great hardwater action that is found there. Further down the Richardson Highway, roughly 90 miles southeast of Fairbanks, is Quartz Lake, yet another ice fishing hotspot.

Here’s a look at what Quartz Lake offers:

Covering an area of 1,458 acres, Quartz Lake is a mid-sized lake, falling in between nearby Birch Lake and Harding Lake in terms of size.
Quartz Lake has decent depth, with its basin bottoming out at 38 feet. But most of the lake averages around 15 feet deep, which is perfect for targeting the fish living there.
Activities that are supported at this lake include boating, camping, hiking, picnicking, and swimming.

With Chena Lake, Harding Lake, and Birch Lake to the north, Quartz Lake forms a quartet of amazing ice fishing lakes right off of the Richardson Highway (also known as Highway 2 to locals) near Fairbanks that are among the best hardwater angling spots in the entire state.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Quartz Lake

Quartz Lake is stocked every year by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and many of the fish that are planted here are in the catchable size range. These are the top targets at Quartz Lake:

Arctic char

Arctic grayling
Chinook salmon
Coho salmon

Northern pike
Rainbow trout
Whitefish

Some of the species in Quartz Lake can grow to impressive (and social media-worthy) sizes, including rainbows which can reach 18 inches or so, and arctic char, which can grow to 28 inches here.

A favorite ice fishing setup among locals at Quartz Lake is jigging with shrimp or salmon eggs. If you’re after arctic char, switch over to bright, shiny spoons at the end of your line.

Scout Lake

The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting out from the southern side of Alaska. It sits south of Anchorage and is bordered by Cook Inlet on one side and Prince William Sound on the other. This area is considered one of the most beautiful and scenic settings in Alaska, which is saying a lot.

Scout Lake is about a 2 ½ hour drive south of Anchorage, making it a doable day trip for serious ice anglers. Here’s Scout Lake at a glance:

Scout Lake is on the smallish side, with a surface area covering a modest 95 acres.
Its winding shoreline measures 2.3 miles long and creates several large coves and inlets where fish like to gather.

Scout Lake is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 13 feet and a maximum depth of 20 feet. With its small size and flat basin, this lake reliably forms good, thick ice every winter.

Aside from fishing, Scout Lake is a very popular destination for hiking, camping, and simply taking in the breathtaking scenery.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Scout Lake

Each of the lakes on this list offers a unique ice fishing experience, whether it is the size of the lake, the water conditions, or the species of fish that can be caught there. In the case of Scout Lake, the primary targets include:

Arctic grayling
Coho salmon
Rainbow trout

Trout and salmon are stocked every year, resulting in good catch rates and decently sized fish. Local anglers go with colorful spoons and spinners. Tipping these lures with salmon eggs or small shrimp is sure to attract good strikes.

It is worth noting that northern pike can be found in these waters but a program to rid the lake of this predatory fish was started in the late 2000s to protect other fish populations.

Conclusion

As the largest state in the US and one of its least explored, it should come as no surprise that the state of Alaska is rich beyond compare when it comes to natural resources. Alaska covers an area of over half a million square miles and much of it is covered in dense forests and mountainous terrain.

Alaska also has plenty of lakes and this is where you’ll find some of the best hardwater conditions anywhere. If you’re planning to visit The Frontier State, be sure to set aside some time for some Alaskan ice fishing. It is sure to be an experience you won’t soon forget.

SOURCES:

https://alaska.gov/Kids/learn/aboutgeography.htm

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/SF_Lakes/Document/Index/7401?fullBathImg=True

https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/maps/biglakemap.pdf

https://fishingreports.sportsmans.com/fishing-report/big-lake/44/

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/SF_Lakes/Document/Index/5746?fullBathImg=False

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=587

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/SF_Lakes/Document/Index/5946?fullBathImg=True

https://www.alaska.org/detail/chena-lake-recreation-area-1

https://www.takemefishing.org/blog/february-2024/5-places-to-go-winter-fishing-in-alaska/

https://www.alaskahandbook.com/places/delong-lake/

https://www.muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/IceTrailStatus.aspx