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Fishing Ptarmigan Lake: what the data says
741-acre lake near Moose Pass. a deep, clear Kenai lake reached by trail from Ptarmigan Creek near Moose Pass, holding Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. The lake tops out around 246 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.
Arctic Char fishing at Ptarmigan Lake
In spring, arctic char run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 20 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 209 ft, rated good for summer arctic char. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. 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 |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Ptarmigan Lake
Spring rainbow trout on Ptarmigan Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 111 ft, rated good for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| 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) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 209 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 111 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 62 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 62 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Ptarmigan Lake?
Ptarmigan Lake is about 246 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 Ptarmigan Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, arctic char on Ptarmigan Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Ptarmigan Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 209 ft of water that rates good for arctic char in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Ptarmigan Lake?
For arctic char, 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
Upper Trail Lake · Kenai Lake · Cooper Lake · Alder Pond · Airstrip Pond · Tangle Pond
See how Ptarmigan Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alaska · best arctic char lakes in Alaska
Browse all Alaska fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.