What is the deepest lake in Alaska?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Iliamna Lake is the deepest at about 988 ft.

Deepest lakes in Alaska: 8 lakes ranked by depth

The deepest lakes in Alaska with a published depth, deepest first. Deep lakes stay cold below the surface all summer, which is what trout and big predators want.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Iliamna Lake	about 988 ft	648,000 acres
2	Tustumena Lake	about 950 ft	73,400 acres
3	Skilak Lake	about 632 ft	about 24,400 acres
4	Kenai Lake	about 569 ft	13,800 acres
5	Eklutna Lake	about 300 ft	3,520 acres
6	Harding Lake	about 141 ft	2,190 acres
7	Quartz Lake	about 40 ft	1,500 acres
8	Imuruk Basin	about 20 ft	57,600 acres

1. Iliamna Lake

Iliamna Lake is a natural lake of 648,000 acres. You will find it in Lake and Peninsula. The fish here are trout, lake trout and northern pike. It goes down to about 988 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Iliamna Lake is the largest lake in Alaska and home to one of the world's few populations of freshwater seals.

Iliamna Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Tustumena Lake

Tustumena Lake spreads over 73,400 acres. You will find it about 9.3 miles northwest of Cohoe. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout, lake trout and northern pike. At about 950 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Tustumena Lake is the largest lake entirely within the Kenai Peninsula.

Tustumena Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Skilak Lake

Skilak Lake covers about 24,400 acres. It lies about 8.9 miles west of Funny River. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout, lake trout and northern pike. At about 632 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Skilak Lake is a glacially fed lake within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge known for its exceptional clarity. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Skilak Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Kenai Lake

Kenai Lake covers 13,800 acres of water. The lake is near Bear Creek. Like most lakes its size in Alaska, it should hold trout, lake trout and northern pike. It goes down to about 569 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a steep ledge worth a first look. Kenai Lake forms the headwaters of the Kenai River.

Kenai Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Eklutna Lake

Eklutna Lake is a natural lake of 3,520 acres. It lies about 9.6 miles north of Butte. Expect kokanee salmon. It goes down to about 300 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Eklutna Lake is a turquoise, glacially fed lake near Anchorage popular with paddlers and anglers.

Eklutna Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Harding Lake

Harding Lake is a natural lake of 2,190 acres. The lake is near Salcha. It holds northern pike and trout. It goes down to about 141 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Harding Lake is one of interior Alaska's most popular road-accessible fishing and swimming lakes.

Harding Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Quartz Lake

Quartz Lake spreads over 1,500 acres of water. The lake is near Deltana. Expect trout. At about 40 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Quartz Lake near Delta Junction is a popular stocked fishing lake in interior Alaska.

Quartz Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Imuruk Basin

Imuruk Basin spreads over 57,600 acres. It lies about 38 miles south of Nome. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout and northern pike. It goes down to about 20 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Imuruk Basin is a shallow estuary on the Seward Peninsula where several rivers meet tidal water.

Imuruk Basin today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

The clearest of them

Skilak Lake is known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

Deep lakes reward slow, vertical fishing: drop a jig or a spoon to the depth where fish show on the sonar and work it right there. In spring and fall the fish come shallow and any method works.