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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
832-acre lake near Sterling. A hub of the Swan Lake canoe route in the Kenai NWR, holding rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and coho salmon. The lake tops out around 44 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 820 acres wrapped in 7.4 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.8) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 12% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 1.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.4 mi at the beam. Kenai Peninsula Borough claims this one. Paddle Lake sits 7 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
Early season coho salmon use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 13 to 44 ft, then a winter hold in 13 to 44 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 40 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 13 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 13 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (40 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 25 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 | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring puts arctic char in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 13 to 44 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 40 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 40 ft, rated prime for summer arctic char. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 13 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (40 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Early season sockeye salmon use the shallows, holding in 3 to 44 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 44 ft; winter keeps them in 10 to 44 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 40 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small red or pink fly behind a flasher or a compact squid or hoochie and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (40 ft) | Small red or pink hoochie, Compact plankton-profile fly |
| Summer | 2 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small red or pink fly behind a flasher, Compact squid or hoochie |
| Fall | 2 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small bright fly, Compact spinner where legal |
| Winter | 10 to 44 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 110 ft | midday | Deep basin (40 ft) |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Swan Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 40 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 Swan Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alaska fishing regulations →
Swan Lake is about 44 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target coho salmon, rainbow trout, arctic char, sockeye salmon on Swan Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for coho salmon in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For coho salmon, 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 Swan 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.
Paddle Lake 7 mi · Silver Lake 9 mi · Watson Lake 9 mi · Egumen Lake 11 mi · Kelly Lake 12 mi · Pepper Lake 12 mi · Kenai River (Middle) 14 mi · Engineer Lake 15 mi · Hidden Lake 16 mi · Jean Lake 17 mi · Skilak Lake 18 mi · Bird Lake 21 mi
See how Swan Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alaska · best coho salmon lakes in Alaska · best arctic char lakes in Alaska
More water nearby: Kenai Peninsula Borough fishing maps (23 charts). Browse all Alaska fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.