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Fishing Tonsina Lake: what the data says
3,385-acre lake near Tonsina. a deep lake in the Copper River drainage at the head of the Tonsina River, with Dolly Varden, grayling, burbot, lake trout and salmon. The lake tops out around 295 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.
Arctic Char fishing at Tonsina Lake
Start shallow in spring: arctic char sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Tonsina River inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for arctic char in spring. 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 | 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 |
Arctic Grayling fishing at Tonsina 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. Tonsina 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 Tonsina Lake
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 25 to 70 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 60 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 251 ft, rated good for spring burbot. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 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 Trout fishing at Tonsina Lake
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 133 ft of water that rates good for lake trout in summer. 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 | 50 to 120 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 |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Tonsina Lake
Spring chinook salmon on Tonsina Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 40 ft. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 90 ft. The spot to know is Tonsina River inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Tonsina Lake
Spring coho salmon on Tonsina Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 30 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. Tonsina River inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring coho salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| 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 251 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 148 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 133 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 74 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 74 ft
- Tonsina River inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 8 ft
- Greyling Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Tonsina Lake?
Tonsina Lake is about 295 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 Tonsina Lake?
Anglers target chinook salmon, coho salmon, lake trout, burbot, arctic grayling, arctic char on Tonsina Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Tonsina Lake?
Tonsina River inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for arctic grayling in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Tonsina 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
Thompson Lake · Blueberry Lake · Klutina Lake · Crosswind Lake · Paxson Lake · Summit Lake
See how Tonsina Lake stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in Alaska · best coho salmon lakes in Alaska · best lake trout lakes in Alaska · best burbot lakes in Alaska
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