There are very few places left in the world that are left mostly untouched. Nature reigns supreme in those places which makes it a very powerful draw for people who like to fish on their own terms. Which is why a fishing trip to Alaska is a must for nature lovers and fishing fanatics. It has everything you could want on a trip. Spectacular coastline. Raging rivers. Thick first and rugged terrain. And best of all, there are so many varieties of fish in abundance that you are almost guaranteed the catch of a lifetime.
In this article, I will go over some of the things you need to know before you head up to the wilds of Alaska.
1 – Be very mindful when packing
You’re going to have to determine what time of year you will be heading up and plan your packing list accordingly.
Your attire is going to vary depending on the season and type of fishing you are going to be doing so check out what the experts say you should wear. Keep in mind that if you plan to fish in summer in parts of Alaska, it is going to be swarming with mosquitoes. And in winter, clearly you have to be ready for any kind of weather.
As far as tools go, you should have a good hunting/fishing knife that folds in case you find yourself in any kind of trouble. And then make sure to have a radio that will work where your cell phone doesn’t in case you get separated from your group.
2 – Plan according to your target species
There is pretty much year round fishing technically in Alaska. The weather might be too dangerous to fish in the winter, but there are fish to be caught even then. Before you buy your ticket or book with an outfitter, make sure you decide on your target species before anything. If you want to catch a monster halibut or a king salmon, you may need to be there during different times of year.
Once you have decided on your fish of choice, book your trip and then get in contact with an outfitter.
3 – Hire an outfitter or guide
There are two ways of going about your trip. You can go it alone with just you and your buddies, or you can hire a local guide to take you out.
There are pros and cons to doing either one, so you have to figure out which to go with based on your budget and what you want to get out of your trip.
A guide can be quite expensive and there is the potential that there is a personality clash in which your group and him just don’t jibe. Going out on your own can have you wasting a lot of time as you don’t know the area.
If you do go on your own make sure you first hire an outfitter. Have them draw up an itinerary for you to stick with. And always drop in to the local bait shops to ask the local professional opinions on where to go.
