Starting Homework for Visit, Advise Please

[JTF]

Four of us are trying to begin planning for a fishing trip. Need to get some helpful starting suggestions as none of us have visited there.

1) Want to fish smaller out-of-the-way waters. We trout fish both spin and fly. We like to walk in and get away from the crowds. We all do this on trips to the western US, and here at home.

2) Would like to rent cabin, rooms, or lodge as our jumping off place, and drive or hike to streams from there. We don't mind driving an hour or two to a different fishing location, or walking for that matter.

3) We don't care if the trout are big or small. Just want to feel the pull and have a good time in Alaska before we are too old to visit. We will not be bringing fish home to NC. We will plan a summer or early fall visit.

4) We know so little about the state that we haven't chosen an area. We are open on this but would rather be fishing than traveling to a distant location from the airport upon arrival.

5) We are budget minded and would rather fish a stream or lake fish, on our own.

Is this feasible? Where should we start doing our homework?

Any suggestions of reading material or travel planning will be greatly appreciated.

JTF

 

[alaskalouie]

See My

See My

Website LEWISCHARTERS.COM

 

[Cast Iron]

N.C. to Alaska

N.C. to Alaska

I returned from my first trip to Alaska last Sunday. Fishing was great, the state of Alaska can not be described with words or pictures! If possible I would go back tomorrow. If you can get me an email adress I will try to answer any questions I can About the things we found when we got there we were not expecting. Bring rain gear, and warm clothes, waterproof boots. Food, drinks, eats,tobacco products, lodgeing was a little pricy. Gas and fishing tackle was close to the same price as here in North Carolina. One option I would look into would be to rent a motor home to stay in and travel in. Check fishing regulations close. N.C. regulations are set for at least one year at a time. Alaska can change from one day to the next, and it might be only a small portion of a stream that changes. I hope you do as well as I and have the trip of a lifetime.

 

[Ripface]

One thing I would suggest is to go after salmon rather than trout. They fight like Mike Tysons of all weight classes, they're tasty and abundant. Maybe hit trout one day, but you can get them down South pretty easy. If you decide to go for salmon, off the beaten path, try Kodiak Island (as one example).

 

[Tomcat]

I Agree with Ripface...

I Agree with Ripface...

If you're going to travel all the way to Alaska on a "fishing trip of a lifetime," you would be short-changing yourself by not spending at least some time targeting salmon in addition to the trout that you hold in such high-esteem.

You mentioned that you're not interested in bringing a cooler of fillets home. That mindset meshes well with the catch-and-release regulations that are in place for many of the fisheries that offer large rainbow trout around the state.

One point worth mentioning is that salmon are much more abundant than trout for the most part. The key to catching lots of fish is timing your visit to coincide with the salmon runs. If salmon are in a stream, then rainbows and dolly varden will most likely be shadowing them to snatch up eggs and flesh that float by.

You mentioned that you would prefer to avoid the crowds. I'm sure there are plenty of places where you can find solitude and plenty of fish. However, wanted to bring to your attention the best place I know for catching big rainbows and lots of salmon. The Kenai River and it's tributary, the Russian River, are tops on my list.

Right now, the fishing is pretty good for salmon and most people aren't interested in catching the rainbows that are hovering around. You could find plenty of action on a fly rod below the fish cleaning tables.

Good luck and tight lines!

 

[700efi]

cabin locations

cabin locations

Try going to the Alaska DNR website or the state park website. They have cabins that you can rent for a small fee. I use one in southern Alaska each spring and a few up here in the interior for my quad trips. Have a two nighter planned in two weeks that cost 20 bucks a night and we have 5 guys. Have to take own camping gear but is nice way to get away from the people and relax either hike or quad in to them about 5-7 miles up here and some southern can be riven up to.

 

[Paul H]

If you target species other then salmon, then you can find many spots to get away from the crowds on the road system. When I say the road system I'm talking about the rivers that are accessible by vehicle from Anchorage. There are many lakes that have wonderful rainbow trout and see almost no fisherman during the fishing season.

If you want to fish rivers, then you should think of locations that are only accessibly via float plane. This comes at a bit of a rub to the budget minded angler as most of the remote lodges are from expensive to very expensive. That is mostly due to the fact that everything out there was transported via small plane.

Spend alot of time researching about Alaska fishing, there are many good books out there, and they'll help break up the state for you.

You'd really be missing out if you did plan on at least one day of salmon fishing.

 

[smwwoody]

How Will you be getting here. Will you be flying in or driveing?

 

[shipbum]

Trout Fishing

Trout Fishing

I would have to respectfully disagree with the prior e-mails. there is outstanding flyfishing on the road sytem on lakes and rivers. The Kenai is world class torut fishing as is its tributary, the russian river. Willow creek 100 miles North of Anchorage can be fantastic. The Russian is easier for starters since the Kenai is such big water. Within 1/2 hour of anchorage many streams have good trout fishing and few crowds.

I have flown rural from Kodiak to the YK delta to Barrow to Juneau. These are great second trip fishing vacations-and yes, better fishing. On your first trip you will have fun without unloading your cash. Information is more important. Go to the fly shops in Anchorage or and they will gladly give you advice.

You will be back, and may choose to fish for Salmon on those later trips.

 

[Derek Rex]

I have planned 5 fishing trips to Alaska from California, each with at least 4 guys. We normally stay at a forest service cabin for the bulk of our trip. I can give you loads of info on the logistics of planning such a trip. Email me [email protected].

 

[JTF]

Planning

Planning

Thanks for the comments. Have experience with the fly-in wilderness trips on the Kanektok, but wanted a different trip this time. Two of us do some guiding out of drift boats,(not fulltimers), so we are equipped. Will fly in from NC.

I omitted that we will salmon fish, and if we pick the right area, we would most likely be able to book a sound or near-shore trip too.

We thought of the RV trip, but are cautious of spending more time driving than fishing. At this stage of planning, we are open. We will be happy just being there and fishing in Alaska!

Just wanted to make a different type of fishing trip this time around. One that might offer more possibilities.

Thanks for the comments, we will be following up on several of the suggestions. This is a helpful starting point. The first thing for us to do is choose an area. Then consider access via road or foot. (Will most likely forgo the drift boat and plane this time). And of course lodging... RV, cabin, etc.

JTF

 

[JTF]

Thanks, will follow up

Thanks, will follow up

Thanks for the comments. Have experience with the fly-in wilderness trips on the Kanektok, but wanted a different trip this time. Two of us do some guiding out of drift boats,(not fulltimers), so we are equipped. Will fly in from NC.

I omitted that we will salmon fish, and if we pick the right area, we would most likely be able to book a sound or near-shore trip too.

We thought of the RV trip, but are cautious of spending more time driving than fishing. At this stage of planning, we are open. We will be happy just being there and fishing in Alaska!

Just wanted to make a different type of fishing trip this time around. One that might offer more possibilities.

Thanks for the comments, we will be following up on several of the suggestions. This is a helpful starting point. The first thing for us to do is choose an area. Then consider access via road or foot. (Will most likely forgo the drift boat and plane this time). And of course lodging... RV, cabin, etc.

JTF

 

[smwwoody]

Have you thought about the south east?