Top 5 Must-Know Tips For Fishing in Alaska

Glaciers, national parks, the immense wilderness, Northern lights, midnight sun, and cruises are just a few of Alaska's well-known attractions. Being home to more than three million lakes, more than twelve thousand rivers and thousands of streams filled with various fishes, Alaska offers innumerable opportunities to catch a fish from the 627 species that inhabit its waters. Fishing in Alaska is not limited to catching fish in freshwater; the place also provides fishing fans with ice fishing and saltwater fishing. This blog will tell you the top 5 crucial tips to know to fish in Alaska. Read ahead to get all the information.

Equipment needed for fishing in Alaska

You may need some pre-requisite equipment before heading off to go fishing in Alaska. You can get an idea of what to carry with you from the list below.

• A basic fishing rod
• A basic fishing reel
• Fish hooks
• Fishing weights
• A monofilament fishing line
• A bobber - can be made up of plastic or wood
• Fishing lures or live baits
• A casting plug
• An Alaska Fishing License

What's an Alaska Fishing License? 

An Alaska Fishing License is necessary before you go off with your rod to fish in Alaska. You can get a license depending upon your age and state, and the license states how many and what kind of fish you can catch in the Alaska waters. You can easily get your license from a local shop in Alaska or apply online for one. In Alaska, you may buy a non-resident fishing license almost anywhere, even at the local grocery store and occasionally straight aboard the charter boat.

Best time to fish in Alaska

Although Alaska provides meticulous fishing opportunities throughout the year, you must remember certain facts about when you can catch particular species.

• If you want to catch any of the five major species of salmon, the summer season is when you would want to plan your trip to Alaska. The months from May to September provide excellent opportunities to fish for salmon. If you are looking to catch Silver salmon, you have all the months up to November, whereas to catch the King salmon, you will have to try your hands in May. Nevertheless, the whole summer season brings you an opportunity to catch any one species of salmon.
• The more adventurous tourists who prefer enjoying ice water fishing plan their fishing trip to Alaska during the winter season when the whole land is covered by snow and ice.

Tips for Fishing in Alaska

1. Correct equipment

Before fishing in Alaska, ensure you carry all the necessary equipment to catch the fish you desire. Tie your lines to hooks and baits neatly and tightly. Do not forget to sharpen your hooks so the bait sits better on them. Otherwise, you will be unable to catch a fish and lose your bait to the fish. This happens because most fish in Alaska have wide jawlines and take off the bait from duller hooks rather than being caught in one.

2. Attractive bait and correct lures

It would help if you used lures depending on the environment of the water you are fishing in and its depth. Which color you want to use as your lure depends on how deep you are going. If you plan to stay and fish shallow, you can opt for yellow, orange, and red. If you want to go fishing deeper than 50 feet in the water, you can opt for colors like blue, green, purple, or a lure that glows with it. You are advised to use a red line on your rod because the red color dissolves more and more as you go deeper into the water. This ensures that the fish can only see the bait and not the line of your fishing rod, making it easier to lure the fish to your bait. While at it, use the correct bait according to which fish you are targeting. You can also use a reflective and attractive line or hook to appeal to the fish's mind. All you need to consider is that your setup should look natural so that the bait easily lures into fish.

3. Get a guide

Even if you are a pro at fishing, it is always better to take an experienced and good guide when fishing in Alaska. They know better about some of the best fishing spots in Alaska and are also aware of the dangerous ones you should avoid. Alaska is a wild and unpredictable place that makes it quite a tunnel to travel alone. Thus, having a guide by your side helps you catch good fish easily and ensures your security and safety in the wilderness.

4. Clothing and other basics

Even though you might find the afternoons in Alaska with the good sun in the sky and warm weather, you will still need to layer woolens and synthetic fabrics for the chilly weather at dusk and dawn. Keeping a raincoat and other rain accessories with yourself is a must as the weather is unpredictable, and it can start to pour anytime. Apart from clothing must-haves, other basic amenities you should carry with you at all times; includes medicines, sunglasses, sunscreens, insect repellant, and waterproof plastic bags to keep valuable items secure.

5. Plan with a margin

Being a state possessing one of the most fluctuating and unpredictable weather charts, Alaska promises no one that it will let you catch a fish in its waters in the two days you are going to stay there. Rather, plan your trip by accommodating a reasonable margin owing to the weather conditions that can deteriorate anytime and put a halt to your fishing expedition. 

Fishing techniques

Once you have everything ready, it is time to go fishing. Here are some easy techniques to fish in Alaska and catch your desired fish.

1. Bobber Fishing

This is done by clipping blubber or a float on your line at a distance from the hook. When the hook is lured down into the waters, and the fish comes to get the bait, the float moves the angler up, and the fish gets caught.

2. Drift Fishing

This technique is generally used while fishing in a river. When fishing by the drift, you have to drift yourself at the same speed as the current in the water. Along with you, the fish beneath you is also drifting simultaneously.

3. Fly Fishing

Instead of using heavier baits on your lure to attract fish, the fly fishing technique lures fish into the bait by the weight of the line you are using. Various fly fishing lines are available, including sinking, floating, and sinking tip types, and you can opt for the one suitable for the species of fish you are targeting.

4. Jigging 

This technique is generally used in the season of ice fishing to angling for panfish and trout. Lures especially designed for jigging are available in the market.

5. Lining

This is one of the best methods to use if you want to catch a sockeye salmon. This technique involves going deeper and deeper with the line until your line goes through a fish's open mouth. Once the line reaches the mouth of the salmon, the fish is pulled up and hence caught. Hooks used in this technique are usually sharpened in more detail to make getting stuck into the fish's mouth easier. This method of fishing is also commonly referred to as 'flossing.'

Wrapping up

Alaska is one of the best spots for fishing, and if you enjoy it, you need to plan a fishing trip to Alaska as soon as possible. Alaska is your place for rejuvenation; it's more than just a gorgeous sight. Whether you want freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, or ice water fishing, you can have it all in Alaska. All you have to take care of is to plan your trip according to the season and ensure that the species you are targeting are easily available to catch during the months you want to plan your trip. The country is also home to exquisite scenery, which you can enjoy while fishing on a quiet lakeside. We have listed above every basic detail and fishing tip you need to know before fishing in Alaska. For more such informational content on your favorite activities and places, follow leisure.com!