Fishing Frenzy

Many anglers dream of an Alaska fishing trip. To make sure your Alaska fishing trip is perfect, follows these helpful guidelines.

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.

Start by choosing which species you'll fish for. Many anglers like the sport of fishing for one of Alaska's many varieties of salmon, such as Silver Salmon, Red Salmon or the great King Salmon, which can run as high as 50 pounds or more. Others like the fight in freshwater species such as Northern Pike and Rainbow Trout, among others. Don't overlook a saltwater fishing trip for Alaska Halibut, either. The Halibut in Alaska's coastal waters are some of the largest found anywhere.

Once you decide on which species you'd like to try for, you'll have a better idea to which region of the state your Alaska fishing trip can go. The Great Land has five distinct geographical areas: Arctic, Interior, Southcentral, Southeast, and Southwest. Some fishing guides group the Arctic/Interior/Southwest regions into one. Here's some idea about what you'll find in each region:

Southeast Alaska, also known as the panhandle, is where you'll find salmon in rushing streams and enormous halibut offshore. For scenery there are deep fjords and tall glaciers. Most of this area is part of the Tongass National Forest.

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.

The Arctic, Western Alaska and Interior regions differ greatly from the southern areas. The Arctic and Western areas are treeless plains, while forests blanket the Interior. The Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers are known for their salmon, while Grayling tops the freshwater species that include Pike, Char, Trout and Burbot.

After choosing your species and region, use these guidelines for selecting a guide for your Alaska fishing trip.

1. Get references from at least two of the guide's previous clients. If you find they weren't completely happy with the guide's performance, move on to another prospect.

2. Get a schedule for the trip and especially check the travel time. A lengthy travel time will cut back significantly on fishing time.

3. Guide rates vary widely, so compare prices carefully. The low bidder is not the best in this case.

4. Find out how long the guide has been working in Alaska. The state's fish runs tend to go in seven-year cycles, so the more experience the guide has, the better your trip will be.

5. Get an itemized list of what you're getting for your money, including things like fishing tackle, rain gear, bottled water, etc.

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.

Above all, start planning and scheduling your Alaska fishing trip as soon as possible. Because of the short fishing season, some experience anglers book their outings as much as a year in advance so they don't miss out on their favorite guides!