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Fishing Sand Lake: what the data says
73-acre stocked lake in the Anchorage area. ADF&G sonar-surveyed water with stocked rainbow trout and 6 more species. The lake tops out around 39 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Sand Lake
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 39 ft. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 39 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Arctic Char fishing at Sand Lake
Start shallow in spring: arctic char sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 12 to 39 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 39 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 39 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Arctic Grayling fishing at Sand Lake
Spring arctic grayling on Sand Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Shallow feeding flat, a feeding flat in about 19 ft of water that rates good for arctic grayling in winter. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner gets it done.
| 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) |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Sand Lake
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 5 to 39 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 12 to 39 ft, and winter fish hold in 12 to 39 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Lake Trout fishing at Sand Lake
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 39 ft. Summer fish stay in 12 to 39 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 39 ft. 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 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 10 to 39 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Sand Lake
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shallow feeding flat, a feeding flat in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Sand Lake also holds coho salmon (12 to 39 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 19 ft
Common questions
How deep is Sand Lake?
Sand Lake is about 39 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Sand Lake?
Anglers target northern pike, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, lake trout, arctic grayling, arctic char on Sand Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Sand Lake?
Shallow feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Sand 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
Jewel Lake · DeLong Lake · Campbell Point Lake · Taku Lake · Waldron Lake · Lake Otis
See how Sand Lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in Alaska · best rainbow trout lakes in Alaska · best chinook salmon lakes in Alaska · best coho salmon lakes in Alaska
Browse all Alaska fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.