Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Paxson Lake
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Paxson Lake: what the data says
3,880-acre lake near Paxson. a big Richardson Highway lake famous for lake trout, Arctic grayling and burbot, with a June king-salmon run up the Gulkana. The lake tops out around 89 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Lake Trout fishing at Paxson Lake
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 27 to 89 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 76 ft, rated prime for summer lake trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 27 to 89 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 |
Arctic Grayling fishing at Paxson Lake
In spring, arctic grayling run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. Gulkana River inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring arctic grayling. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner and you're in the game.
| 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) |
Burbot fishing at Paxson Lake
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 25 to 70 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 27 to 89 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 76 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 27 to 89 ft | night & midday | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Paxson Lake
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 15 to 45 ft. They move out to 27 to 89 ft in summer and finish the year down in 25 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 76 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 27 to 89 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Paxson Lake
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 5 to 40 ft that time of year. They move out to 27 to 89 ft in summer and finish the year down in 27 to 89 ft. Gulkana River inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 27 to 89 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 27 to 89 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 76 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 45 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 40 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 38.234131585271534 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 33.78539458116971 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 27.235517399550005 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 22 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 22 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 21.209658979800807 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 17.96911829474109 ft
- Gulkana River inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 8 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 7.2886979085043455 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Paxson Lake?
Paxson Lake is about 89 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 Paxson Lake?
Anglers target chinook salmon, lake trout, lake whitefish, burbot, arctic grayling on Paxson Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Paxson Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 76 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 Paxson Lake?
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Summit Lake · Crosswind Lake · Klutina Lake · Tonsina Lake · Thompson Lake · Blueberry Lake
See how Paxson Lake stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in Alaska · best lake trout lakes in Alaska · best lake whitefish lakes in Alaska · best burbot lakes in Alaska
Browse all Alaska fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.