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217-acre lake near Sterling. A stocked Kenai NWR lake in the Swanson River area managed for rainbow trout. The lake tops out around 27 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The outline encloses 228 acres, worked by 3.8 miles of shoreline — one island included. A middling shoreline index (1.8) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. End to end it runs roughly 1.1 mi, about 0.7 mi across. Kenai Peninsula Borough claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Pepper Lake, is 9 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 7 to 27 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 27 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 7 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 27 ft | dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 21 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Alaska waters are set by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game — and special regulations can apply to Bird Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alaska fishing regulations →
Bird Lake is about 27 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout on Bird Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Bird Lake is regulated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Check the official Alaska regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Pepper Lake 9 mi · Paddle Lake 15 mi · Campbell Point Lake 18 mi · Jewel Lake 19 mi · Sand Lake 19 mi · DeLong Lake 20 mi · Swan Lake 21 mi · Taku Lake 22 mi · Waldron Lake 24 mi · Lake Otis 24 mi · University Lake 25 mi · Silver Lake 26 mi
See how Bird Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alaska
More water nearby: Kenai Peninsula Borough fishing maps (23 charts). Browse all Alaska fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.