So you know the saying in Texas, right? About how everything is bigger in Texas or something like that? Well, let’s introduce you to Alaska. You can fit the state of Texas twice within Alaska. Alaska has 99% more inland water than Texas with 3 million lakes over 20 acres! Alaska also has 6,640 miles of coastline. That’s more than 50% of the entire United States’coastline. So it’s no surprise at all that when it comes to Alaska, fishing is life. When you think fishing in Alaska, what do you think of? Salmon and halibut fishing? Fly fishing for rainbow trout? Ice fishing? Yes, yes, and yes! But there is so much more when it comes to fishing the great state of Alaska. Let’s wet a line and check out all the types of fishing that Alaska has to offer.
Accessing your honey hole. Alaska is remote. So when it comes to finding your next fishing spot, half the fun is getting there. Whether you’re fly fishing, ice fishing, or jigging the depths for monster halibut, everyone knows that the best places to fish are the ones not easily accessible. Of course there are some great areas to fish that are available by taking just a short drive, but where’s the fun in that? What about that stream nestled in the valley that requires a few mile hike-in? Sure, there’s moose, bear, coyotes and wolves to contend with, but man, the fish are big and plentiful there. Or how about that lake up on the mountain top that has trophy sized grayling swimming in it? A float plane can get you there. Or say you’re looking for a 30lb northern pike to reel up through a small hole in the ice. A snow machine can put you right on top of it—literally. So as you can see, there is much more to the experience of fishing Alaska than just the actual fishing. Sometimes the journey to your dream catch makes the fish just that much more memorable.
No matter your type of fishing, Alaska has a bit of everything when it comes to targeting fish. As in most places, you can find a number of edible and fun-to-catch fish within the depths of the surrounding ocean. Here in Alaska, halibut, rockfish, lingcod, salmon and much more can be targeted. Although halibut can get quite large (400lb. halibut!), you don’t necessarily need a large vessel to catch them. I personally have caught halibut, rockfish and lingcod from a small zodiac and even a kayak, nothing near 400 pounds however from the kayak.
As we move inland, you will find rivers and streams coming down from the mountains and emptying into the ocean. This is where you start finding the annual salmon runs. King (Chinook), Silver (Coho), Red (Sockeye), Pink and Chum salmon all make their way into freshwater for spawning. Salmon migrate to their original birthplace within a freshwater stream to spawn the next generation of salmon. However, these fish die shortly after spawning. But when they make that run up river, they come in hordes, so anglers flock to the banks to get their fill of fresh, wild caught Alaskan salmon. In larger rivers, drift boats are often used to target these fish. Salmon aren’t the only fish that call these rivers home. Rainbow trout, steelhead (sea-run rainbow trout), Grayling, Dolly Varden and more can be found within these waters year round.
Moving even further in and up, we start finding lakes. Some lakes can be quite large—in size and depth. Others are just small potholes. Regardless, like the rest of Alaska, there is opportunity to catch fish. Large lake trout, northern pike and burbot are popular species to target within Alaska’s lakes. These fish are known to get quite large. The trout and pike can get upwards of 40 pounds and the burbot nearing 20 pounds. There are also landlocked salmon, rainbow trout and whitefish. For a truly Alaskan experience, try targeting these larger fish through the ice. Pulling a large laker or pike through a 10 inch hole is an adrenaline pumping good time!
These types of waterways can be found throughout the state, but there are only so many places in which you can find all of them. Check out Ketchikan, Alaska for your next fishing excursion. Ketchikan has all the bodies of water and species of fish that you crave with the entire thrill in getting there. Hike, paddle, float, and fly your way through Ketchikan in search of your next trophy catch. But remember, be bear aware!
This is a guest post by a traveling writer