Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Crescent Lake
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Crescent Lake: what the data says
4,077-acre lake near Port Alsworth. a turquoise lake in Lake Clark National Park west of Cook Inlet, known for rainbow trout, grayling, Dolly Varden and a famous bear-viewing sockeye run. The lake tops out around 100 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Crescent Lake
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 8.70791758588936 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Arctic Grayling fishing at Crescent Lake
Start shallow in spring: arctic grayling sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 3 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 9.521357306228342 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. A dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | 1/16 oz spinner (silver), Small dry fly (Adams, Griffith's) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Dry fly (parachute Adams, elk hair caddis), Small inline spinner |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Small spoon, Beadhead nymph under indicator |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + waxworm, Small jigging spoon (gold) |
Arctic Char fishing at Crescent Lake
Start shallow in spring: arctic char sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 20 to 60 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 9.521357306228342 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Lake Trout fishing at Crescent Lake
Spring lake trout on Crescent Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 30 to 100 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 85 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 30 to 100 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Coho Salmon fishing at Crescent Lake
Spring coho salmon on Crescent Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 30 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 45 ft, rated prime for summer coho salmon. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 85 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 45 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 25 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 25 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 13.731649645744316 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 9.521357306228342 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 8.70791758588936 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 8.340287032441328 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 8.270352494509437 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Crescent Lake?
Crescent Lake is about 100 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Crescent Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, coho salmon, lake trout, arctic grayling, arctic char on Crescent Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Crescent Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 85 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Crescent Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Kasilof River · Upper Lilly Lake · Tustumena Lake · Shell Lake · Iliamna Lake · Silver Lake
See how Crescent Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alaska · best coho salmon lakes in Alaska · best lake trout lakes in Alaska · best arctic grayling lakes in Alaska
Browse all Alaska fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.