Best lingcod lakes in Alaska
8 Alaska waters hold lingcod, 8 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A Pacific Coast ambush predator of rock, pinnacles and steep ledges, requiring stout tackle and a current check of tightly managed seasons and size rules.
- Silver Bay — 400 ft max · survey depth data · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Ketchikan Harbor Anchorage Area — 162 ft max · survey depth data · Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific HalibutWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Hoonah Harbor — 275 ft max · survey depth data · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Ryus Bay — 92 ft max · survey depth data · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Wrangell Harbor — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Crescent Bay — 63 ft max · survey depth data · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Dolly VardenWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Bald Headed Cove — 44 ft max · survey depth data · Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific HalibutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Clam Cove — 38 ft max · survey depth data · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Alaska waters with public access data
When to fish lingcod in Alaska
- Spring 25–140 ft — Probe measured charted rock and steep breaks, but verify whether the fishery is open before targeting or retaining lingcod.
- Summer 20–180 ft — Work the up-current edge of rock with a heavy jig or large bait; immediately move a fish away from cover.
- Fall 30–200 ft — Shift down the ledge as water cools and recheck the current regional season and size rules before fishing.
- Winter 60–240 ft — Generally a deep and regulation-sensitive winter target; do not infer an open season from this map.
Also in Alaska: best northern pike lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best coho salmon lakes · best lake trout lakes · best lake whitefish lakes · best burbot lakes · best arctic grayling lakes · best arctic char lakes · best pink salmon lakes · best chum salmon lakes · best pacific halibut lakes · best black rockfish lakes
Lingcod elsewhere: Washington · California