WHAT TO FISH AND WHERE

Alaska offers some of the most diverse and incredible fishing
opportunities in the world. You can drop a line into a roadside river and catch a nice size rainbow trout. Or charter a sport fishing boat and reel in one of Alaska's giant Pacific halibut. You also can treat yourself with a freshly caught shellfish- shrimp, crab, clam. There are almost 400 fish species in Alaska's fresh and salt waters including all five species of Pacific Salmon: King (chinook), Silver (coho), Red (sockeye), Chum (dog, keta), Pink (humpy). It is not uncommon to catch a 50-pound King salmon, the Alaska fishing record was set by a fish weighing 97 pounds. Arctic greyling, sheefish and northern pike are easy to find in many inland streams. Diverse Alaska geographic areas offer adventure for everyone, provide various choices for fishing:
Interior Alaska. From mountains and rolling hills, river valleys covered with forests to the vast spaces of treeless tundra at higher altitudes and in the far north. Temperaure in Alaska varies greatly throughout the year, from -50 Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit) in the winter months to +30 Celsius (+86 Fahrenheit) during summers. There are just a few highways in the interior part of Alaska. Most of the area can only be reached by plane, boat or by foot. Almost every settlement in Alaska has a good all weather airport served daily by small commercial air carriers. Alaskan summer is warm but short, it is the best time for fishing in the land of the midnight sun. Pacific salmon enter the Yukon River in early June and move almost 2,400 km (1,500miles) up the river. They spawn along the way, providing best Alaska fishing opportunity in June and July for king salmon, and in August and September for silver salmon. Chum salmon can be caught throughout summer and fall. Sheefish is available for fishing in interior Alaska in July and August, especially in the Kobuk River. Best Alaska fishing season for lake trout and arctic char is May and early June. Ice fishing fans can take pleasure in good fishing for Alaska trout and burbot.
Southeast (the narrow and long part between the Pacific ocean and Canada). Consists of mainland and many treed mountainous islands along the Alaskan coast. Inland waterways are well sheltered from the Pacific ocean. The main Alaska fishing trophies here are all the five species of Pacific salmon and the Pacific halibut.  Rainbow, cutthroat, brook and steelhead trout are easy to fish in some inland Alaska streams. We can add arctic grayling and Dolly Varden to the list. On the coast crab and lingcod are available for Alaska fishing fans.
South and Southwest (to the south and west of the Yukon river). Mountainous inland with many rivers and lakes, ragged coastal line dotted with numerous islands. This Alaska region offers the widest variety of saltwater sport fishing and inland fishing in the state. The Bristol Bay area is well known for outstanding rainbow trout fishing. Lake trout and northern pike are abundant in some lakes in the area. Arctic grayling, burbot, arctic char and Dolly Varden can be found in some waters. June and July in Alaska yield the best fishing results for Pacific salmon. You can catch Pacific halibut in the Gulf of Alaska and some inlets. Razor clams are best to dig from April to September, especially on the Kenai Peninsula.

ALASKA FISHING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

- An Alaska fishing license is required for all nonresidents 16 and over, and most residents from 16 to 59 (see below), to fish in all Alaskan fresh and salt waters. It is valid for a calendar year.
- Alaska fishing licenses and king salmon stamps may be purchased from a license vendor (most sporting goods stores), by mail from the ADF&G Licensing Section, P.O. Box 25525, Juneau, AK 99802-5525, phone:(907) 465-2376, or online. Fishing licenses, stamps, and tags are non-refundable.
- An Alaska fishing license permits you to take or attempt to take any finfish or shellfish in fresh or salt waters, except anadromous (sea-run) king salmon, for which you must also have a current year's king salmon stamp. In order for the stamp to be valid, anglers must sign their name, in ink, across the face of the king salmon stamp and stick the stamp onto the back of their current year's Alaska fishing license.

RESIDENT LICENSE FEES:		KING SALMON STAMP FEES:
Alaska resident sport fishing license	$ 15.00	Resident king salmon stamp	$ 10.00
NONRESIDENT LICENSE FEES:		Nonresident 1-day stamp	$ 10.00
1 -day sport fishing license	$ 10.00	Nonresident 3-day stamp	$ 20.00
3-day sport fishing license	$ 20.00	Nonresident 7-day stamp	$ 30.00
7-day sport fishing license	$ 30.00	Nonresident 14-day stamp	$ 50.00
14-day sport fishing license	$ 50.00	Nonresident annual stamp	$100.00
Annual nonresident sport fishing license	$ 100.00	Military annual stamp	$ 20.00

ALASKA CLIMATE

On the whole Alaskan summers are cool, the average temperature is +14 deg.C (58 F) in summer and -12 deg.C (11 F) in winter but it can vary greatly between different regions of the state. Winters are cold and dark. Early spring can be cold, but often days warm to above freezing with a lot of sunshine. It receives midnight sunshine during the part of summer and goes into 24-hour darkness during the part of winter. Summers are the wettest time of the year, south regions are well known for their dampness. Check next week's weather forecast for Anchorage.

GETTING THERE

There are direct or one-stop flights to Anchorage from many major US cities. Most of the Alaskan interior and coast are accessible by Alaska Aircraft Charters, Bush Pilots, Air Taxis. Many small villages and towns have all weather airports served daily.

ACCOMMODATION AND GETTING AROUND

You can rent a hotel in Anchorage from $65/night. Remote areas have a vast number of Fishing Lodges and Camps with fishing guides and necesary equipment. For those who prefer to fish offshore there are Alaska Saltwater Fishing Charters.

ALASKA FISHING TIPS

Northern weather can be unpredictable. When planning a sport fising trip to Alaska, consider taking with you and wearing multiple layers of clothes in response to a wide variety of temperatures and weather conditions. Marine weather conditions can change in minutes and a once calm sea can become a nightmare of an ordeal. Alaska coastal waters are also very cold and there is little hope for survival if your boat goes down in rough seas and you don't have the proper survival suits. For your Alaska fishing trip do not forget to pack first-aid and survival kits as well as bear repellents. It is always wise to consult the current conditions and predicted forecast for the area you will be boating in. Do not forget to obtain detailed maps of the area you plan to visit. TravelMake.com offers you a wide selection of travel books, destination guides, information booklets, atlases, travel appliances and first-aid kits available at our online travel store.

USEFUL LINKS

Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations - Alaska Department of Fish and Game official website.
Fishing Forecasts and Emergency Orders - updated weekly throughout the fishing season.
Bear Safety, also First-Aid and Survival Skills. Necessary if you plan an Alaska sport fishing trip.
Maps of Fish Stocked Lakes - information includes stocking histories, depth maps of most lakes and much more.
Salmon Identification Pictures - how to identify the five salmon species found in Alaska.
Alaska Regional Tide Tables - valuable information when preparing for your trip, especially if you plan clam digging on the coast.
Marine Weather Observations and Forecasts for Alaskan Coastal Waters - very useful for coastal boating.
Alaska's Fishing Derbies - Alaska is home to some of the most rewarding fishing derbies in the world.
Alaskan Wildlife Notebook - detailed descriptions of more than 100 of Alaska’s wild fish and game.
Fishing Village - latest Alaska sport fishing news and information. Continually updating fishing tips for all types of fishermen both freshwater and saltwater.
Fishing Helper - The best fishing spots are laid out for your. You'll get the latest fishing news for crappie, bass, and all saltwater fishing.