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Best pink salmon lakes in Alaska

14 Alaska waters list pink salmon (official records or labelled estimates), 12 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A schooling Southeast Alaska salmon that follows nearshore forage before returning to coastal streams, with run strength varying sharply by year and drainage.

1. Iliamna Lake — 988 ft · Approximated contours · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Lake TroutWhy #1: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · 2 public access sites
2. Skilak Lake — 633 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Lake Trout, Arctic CharWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
3. Silver Bay — 400 ft · Survey depth data · 81% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Ketchikan Harbor Anchorage Area — 162 ft · Survey depth data · 99% measured · real survey depth contours · Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific HalibutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Hoonah Harbor — 275 ft · Survey depth data · 82% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Ward Cove — 171 ft · Survey depth data · 98% measured · real survey depth contours · Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Cutthroat Trout, Pink SalmonWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Ryus Bay — 92 ft · Survey depth data · 70% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Halibut Cove Lagoon — 223 ft · Survey depth data · 97% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Wrangell Harbor — 43 ft · Survey depth data · 97% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Crescent Bay — 63 ft · Survey depth data · 93% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Dolly VardenWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Bald Headed Cove — 44 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific HalibutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Clam Cove — 38 ft · Survey depth data · 100% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Seal Cove — 51 ft · Survey depth data · 54% measured · real survey depth contours · Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 1 more Alaska waters holding pink salmon.

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When to fish pink salmon in Alaska

• Spring 8–60 ft — Mostly a broad nearshore search period; confirm bait and local reports before committing.
• Summer 3–70 ft — Follow visible schools along shoreline points, rock-lined travel lanes and stream approaches; run timing varies sharply by year and drainage.
• Fall 2–60 ft — Late fish concentrate near freshwater influence and shoreline travel structure; release dark spawning fish and observe local closures.
• Winter 20–90 ft — Not a dependable winter bay target; treat any encounter as incidental.

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 chum salmon lakes · best pacific halibut lakes · best lingcod lakes · best black rockfish lakes

Pink Salmon elsewhere: British Columbia · Washington