An Alaska fishing trip can be a lifetime dream for many anglers. And forget that “once-in-a-lifetime” bit, because once an angler wets his or her line in the waters of The Great Land, return trips are a must.
The best way for visitors to fish successfully in Alaska is to hire a fishing guide. While it might seem safe and accessible, Alaska is also one of the last great wildernesses left on earth. Having a local guide who knows the area and has connections to great fishing and local services in the event of an emergency is having the best of both worlds.
The first step to planning a trip is to choose a species for fishing. Many anglers go for Alaska’s great salmon, but fishing for some of the incredibly big halibut is another saltwater thrill. Freshwater fishermen will enjoy hooking into Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, Grayling and many others in rivers and streams.
Certain species are best fished for in one of Alaska’s five regions: Arctic, Western, Interior, Southcentral and Southeast. Many guides combine the westernmost areas together into one region. Here are some of their characteristics:
Southeast Alaska streams etc.
Southcentral Alaska boasts some of the state’s most well-known fishing spots, such as the Kenai River where the salmon roam. You can drop lines here also for halibut off the coasts and for Pike, Trout and Grayling in the streams.
Interior/Arctic/Western Alaska. The westernmost parts of this region feature treeless plains, while the Interior is covered in forests. Salmon make long runs up the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers. Grayling tops the freshwater species, along with trout, char, pike and burbot.
With species and region selected, choose a guide carefully for your fishing trip in Alaska.
1. Ask for at least two references from the guide. Contact these references and ask detailed questions about their experience. If they were 100 percent satisfied with their trip, move on to another prospect.
2. Ask the guide for a full itinerary for the trip, especially for travel time. If you spend too much time traveling to the site, there’s be much less time for fishing.
3. Guides’ prices differ considerably. Often there’s a reason that one guide’s prices are much lower than others, and that reason could be the difference between having a terrific fishing trip and blowing your money on an incompetent guide.
4. Ask the guide about their length of experience in Alaska, since fish runs there go in seven-year cycles. The longer, the better.
5. Get a complete itemized listing of what’s included in the guide’s price. Check for specifics such as rain gear, fishing tacle, water, food, and so on.
6. Ask about any special concerns before you leave for the water. It’s too late once the boat’s at sea or the plane’s in the air.
The final piece of advice is to book an Alaska fishing trip as early as possible. The fishing season is short and guides’ datebooks fill up fast!
To get more detailed informtaion and resources for a great Alaska fishing trip be sure to visit: www.lureofalaska.com/
