Alaska trip

[Bofire]

I am looking at a trip to Alaska, fishing. Maybe some Halibut but I prefer river fishing, spinning or casting gear, I am not coordinated enough to flyfish!!
Questions: Is there a 'best' time of year, for fish, bugs, weather?
Do you have a favorite spot or guide? Take your own gear or use the house gear?
Any input is appreciated.
Carl

[washingtonmuley]

Go to Kodiak!!!!!!!!!

[russ]

ive heard good things about Captain Blighs on the Kenai River...

[Houndhunter]

i know a good alaskan guide, he guides alot on the kenia river. let me know if your interested and i send you his contact info and all

[rougheye]

If you go to the kenai,expect big fish but crowded.Puts blue creek,cowlitz to shame.not for me.

[M_ray]

What do you want to fish for? The time depends much on what you wish to target ... Kings.silvers,sockeye or steelhead? some are in the rivers at the same time but usually there is a best time for the species you want to target. I am not sure if I am going to have time to go back this year for Steelhead but I was thinking I may post a story of last years trip anyway since I wasn't a member of this board then.

[Bofire]

thanks so far!

Ok, I dont really care too much about which fish, I want decent weather and not too buggy, I was told Sept. or late august is good. I want to drift rivers or jet boat, I want to see some sights on the trip everyday, so crowds are out even if that means smaller fish, I am thinking 3 or 4 days fishing. Taking pictures, a relaxed trip, I am not out to set any records, just have a ton of fun.

Carl

[FISHBOY]

Is their any particular reason why you want to river fish?  Most areas up there are fairly crowded whereever you go if you want to fish rivers when their is a run of fish.  My first 2 trips up there we fished the Deshka RIver near Palmer and halibut fished out of Seward and Homer.  Last year I went to Sitka.  It doesnt even compare to river fishing on the mainland, its different fishing because you are fishing the sound/ocean instead of the rivers.  But the fishing was much better, the quality of fish doesnt even compare and when you get your salmon you just take a little boat ride and you can catch all the halibut, lings and other bottom fish that you can reel up.  Not to mention the scenary is unbelievable.  Its a little more spendy, but you get what you pay for.

[Bofire]

that is great input fishboy, I may totally rethink this.
Carl

[Antlershed]

Never done the Kenai thing, but have walked in and fished a smaller combat river (can't remember the name). My most enjoyable time was when we went to Sitka and fished out in the salt. 4-5' lings, halibut and Kings all over the place, and for the most part, we were the only boat around. 

[rougheye]

Sitka is great but remember,your in the ocean so weather is a big part of it.I have run a charter fishing boat out of juneau for the past 6 years and I know were I would go. I would rent a boat ,get some charts and go explore. There is so much that is un touched up there.I can tell you how to find halibut and what to use.

[bowelkin]

If you want no bugs fish the saltwater.  If you want rivers fly in somewhere to get away.  Any flight will give you great views.  There are fish all summer long.  It varies for each when they have runs of what kind of fish.  I lived in Sitka for 13 years.  You could get Kings all year but best in May-July.  Silvers a little later. Sockeyes July-Aug. Halibut June-July.  When you decide what you want start looking for Guides and they will let you know best times for what where they fish.
Good Luck!

[FISHBOY]

Good thing about Sitka is even if the weather comes up you can fish fairly close to town and still get into great salmon and chicken halibut.  PM me if you want info as far as where I stayed and went out of last yr.

[M_ray]

Bofire,
If I had 4 or 5 days and what you are describing I would do what I did last year. Go in late April or early May to the Situk ... stay at the Glacier Bear Lodge and rent a drift boat one day and hike in the others. I landed over 50 Steelies in 3 days! 



Oh and BTW check the weather and be prepared to bring snowshoes and you wont see a soul on the upper river, Just grizz tracks ... bring your spray!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Now thats a nice looking fish right their!