Floatplane base
Thorne Bay Seaplane Base
State floatplane dock at Thorne Bay with scheduled Taquan Air service to Ketchikan.
3.6 mi
Fishing spot
Thorne River
The island's biggest road-accessible river for steelhead, coho and trout, reached at Gravelly Creek.
Tongass National Forest · USFS
- Water kind
- River
- Species
- Steelhead · Coho salmon · Cutthroat trout · Rainbow trout
- Run timing
- {"coho":"late August to September, peak September","steelhead (fall)":"late October to mid-January, peak late November and December","steelhead (spring)":"early March to May, peak early April to mid-May"}
- Methods
- Artificial lures · Fly
- Shore access
- Yes
- Access modes
- Road
- Regulations summary
- Unbaited artificial lures or flies only, year-round (includes Control Lake drainage). Cutthroat and rainbow combined 2 per day, 14 to 22 inches. Steelhead catch-and-release only.
- Regulations url
- adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/fishregulations/PDFs/southeast/2026se_sfregs_princeofwalesisland.pdf
- Reg year
- 2026
Road
ADF&G names the Thorne River one of the best road-accessible steelhead streams on the island, with spring and fall runs. Fall coho arrive in late August and peak in September, and cutthroat and rainbow trout are in the river year-round. The Gravelly Creek day-use area, 3 miles west of Thorne Bay, has a shelter, outhouses and a short accessible trail to the water.
Run timing
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| coho | ||||||||||||
| steelhead (fall) | ||||||||||||
| steelhead (spring) |
Approximate timing; conditions and openings vary.
Location
In pictures
Fishing · Fly fishing · Canoeing
Sources
- Gravelly Creek Fishing SiteUSDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest · Accessed 2026-11-05
- ADF&G Southeast sport fishingADF&G · Accessed 2026-11-09
- 2026 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations: Prince of Wales IslandAlaska Department of Fish and Game · Accessed 2026-11-05
- Prince of Wales Island Fishing InformationAlaska Department of Fish and Game · Accessed 2026-11-05
Last updated 2026-11-05
Nearby within 25 miles
Floatplane bases
Lodges
Lodge
Boardwalk Lodge
An all-inclusive freshwater and saltwater fishing lodge at Cook's Cove in Thorne Bay on eastern Prince of Wales Island. Guests fish for all five Pacific salmon species, steelhead, halibut and black cod.
5.2 mi
Lodge
Fireweed Lodge
A lodge owned by the Anderson family since 1990, overlooking the Klawock estuary on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island. Guests fish for king and coho salmon, halibut, lingcod and steelhead.
21.7 mi
Lodge
Sportsman's Cove Lodge
An all-inclusive saltwater fishing lodge on Prince of Wales Island near Ketchikan, reached by floatplane. Guests fish for salmon, halibut and cod, and the lodge also hosts corporate retreats.
24.0 mi
Campgrounds
Campground
Lake No. 3 Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site lakeside camp near the Salt Chuck mine trail, west of Thorne Bay.
5.3 mi
Campground
Eagles Nest Campground
Forest campground above Balls Lake in the center of the island, with a canoe launch and lakeside walk-in sites.
8.9 mi
Campground
Harris River Campground
Quiet 14-site USFS campground beside the Harris River on the Hollis–Klawock highway.
19.6 mi
Campground
Staney Bridge Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site camp at the Staney Creek bridge on Forest Road 2050.
20.8 mi
Campground
Horseshoe Hole Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site forest camp near Staney Creek on the island's west side.
21.2 mi
Viewpoints
Trails
Public use cabins
Public-use cabin
Control Lake Cabin
Road-access lake cabin a short row from the Control Lake junction.
9.8 mi
Public-use cabin
Karta Lake Cabin
Lake cabin in the Karta River country, 1.5 miles by trail from Karta Bay or by floatplane.
10.7 mi
Public-use cabin
Karta River Cabin
Cedar cabin at Karta Bay, at the start of the Karta River Trail.
10.8 mi
Public-use cabin
Honker Lake Cabin
Small cabin on the Honker Divide canoe route, by floatplane or a 6-mile paddle.
13.4 mi
Public-use cabin
Black Bear Lake Cabin
Fly-in lake cabin below Patricia Peak, reachable only by floatplane.
15.3 mi
Public-use cabin
Sweetwater Lake Cabin
Lake cabin 10 road miles from Coffman Cove, then a short hike and skiff ride.
20.6 mi
Public-use cabin
Staney Creek Cabin
Easy-access cabin a half mile by boardwalk from Forest Road 2054, near Staney Creek's salmon and steelhead.
22.1 mi
Public-use cabin
Twelvemile Cabin
Fully accessible road cabin off the Hydaburg road.
24.5 mi
Public-use cabin
Barnes Lake Cabin
Cedar cabin on a saltwater lagoon with crabbing and some of the island's best silver salmon fishing.
24.9 mi
Bear viewing sites
Fishing spots
Fishing spot
Karta River
Wilderness steelhead and trout river reached by boat or floatplane to Karta Bay.
10.8 mi
Fishing spot
Luck Lake and Eagle Creek
Trout lake with a road access site, draining to Eagle Creek's steelhead run.
17.4 mi
Fishing spot
Harris River
Roadside coho river beside Harris River Campground.
19.6 mi
Fishing spot
Staney Creek
Road-accessible west-side creek for coho and steelhead, with free campsites and a cabin.
20.8 mi
Fishing spot
Klawock River
Hatchery-boosted river with the island's largest coho return, right at Klawock.
21.4 mi
