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73,432-acre lake near Kasilof. The largest lake on the Kenai Peninsula and one of Alaska's deepest, a vast glacier-fed lake in the Kenai NWR with big lake trout, rainbows, Dolly Varden and salmon. The lake tops out around 942 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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Tustumena Lake runs 73,030 acres with 74.5 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2) — enough points and pockets to pattern. 0% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 22.4 mi, about 9 mi across. You'll find it in Kenai Peninsula Borough. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Kasilof River, 14 mi northwest of here.
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 50 to 120 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. Summer lake trout concentrate at Offshore hump, a prime-rated offshore hump around 76 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (31 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (76 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (44 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (44 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (31 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (140 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring arctic char on Tustumena Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 20 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. Put Offshore hump first on the milk run — an offshore hump near 44 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Bear Creek inflow (66 ft) | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (44 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Offshore hump (37 ft) | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Offshore hump (37 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Start shallow in spring: coho salmon sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 30 to 70 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 20 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (44 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (31 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (806 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Count 18 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 806 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 Tustumena Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Alaska fishing regulations →
Tustumena Lake is about 942 ft (287 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target lake trout, rainbow trout, arctic char, coho salmon on Tustumena Lake.
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: an offshore hump in about 76 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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.
Fishing on Tustumena 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.
Kasilof River 14 mi · Kenai River (Middle) 23 mi · Skilak Lake 27 mi · Engineer Lake 29 mi · Egumen Lake 29 mi · Watson Lake 29 mi · Kelly Lake 30 mi · Hidden Lake 31 mi · Silver Lake 33 mi · Jean Lake 34 mi · Lower Russian Lake 36 mi · Upper Russian Lake 37 mi
See how Tustumena Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Alaska · best coho salmon lakes in Alaska · best lake trout lakes in Alaska · best arctic char lakes in Alaska
More water nearby: Kenai Peninsula Borough fishing maps (23 charts). Browse all Alaska fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.