Alaska Fishing trip planning

[EddieWalker]

Ketchican is pretty far south in Alaska, and in the thick coastal jungle. If you are after a certain fish and want those fishing conditions, then that makes perfect sense. If you are looking for a cabin, then that might also make sense. If you are looking for the Alsaska Experience, then I'd keep my options open and look in other areas.

The wide open tundra and mountain views is what makes Alaska so unique and amazing. Staying in a cabin in heavey forest would be great, but it won't be any different then BC or even the Coastal Range in Washington. Thick woods have a way of looking the same no matter where you go.

Do you have a type of fish that you want to fish for? A style of fishing that you enjoy? How tite is the budge and how much time do you have? Are you afraid of bears or of being out in the middle of nowhere on your own? I mean really out there where if something happens, nobody will even know for days, and if a storm comes in, it might be a week or more?

Anchorage is going to be your cheapest place to fly into. Then you can either get on a float plane from there and go to camp, or you can take another hop to where you will fly out into the bush country. Every time you fly, it's more money. I would go to Orbitz and enter flights to see what kind of money you are looking at.

Anchorage has a big commercial airport. It's very busy and they handle just about all the major carriers. There is also a very big float plane pond there. The outfitter/guide or pilot will pick you up at the airport and take you to his plane. Then off to the woods. If the weather is good, that will happen in the same day. If the weather is bad, you wait for it to get better. I've waited three days before being able to get out on my sheep hunt. Then I spent a day out at a gravel runway along a river waiting on the super cub to bring me to camp. It is what it is, but knowing what you want and having it all planed out is the key to a successful trip.

Another thing is that if you go to the interior part of Alaska, like Mulchunta, you will see caribou and moose. You never know how many you will see, but they are always awesome to watch.

With so many air charters and air taxi services there, it's overwhelming how many you have to choose from. Again, I'd look for a reference from somebody local who you can go talk to like a fishing shop. Some of them are the most trustworthy, nicest people you will ever meet, but others are totally clueless about taking care of a client and making sure they have a good time.

Eddie

 

[Bird]

Anchorage has a big commercial airport. It's very busy and they handle just about all the major carriers. There is also a very big float plane pond there.

Yep, Lake Hood Seaplane Base is a busy lake. There are some interesting pictures here.

Of course there's huge amounts of water fowl that nest in various parts of Alaska, including right in town in Anchorage, and many of them build nests and raise their young right there at Lake Hood; kinda scary at times for planes coming and going. So several years ago, they turned some hogs loose at the lake in the Spring to fatten up by eating duck eggs and figured on slaughtering the hogs in the Fall. But I don't know how well that plan worked to reduce the duck population at the lake.

 

[Sackett2]

If time is available consider using the Marine Highway Ferries to get to Ketchican.

Might even consider taking the Ferry for a side trip or two. The route to Sitka or Juneau is pretty awesome.

Mom and Dad did the ferry trip, the Alcan highway, Denali all the key stuff. This is about Fishing!
We prefer freshwater, and often fish in the Cascades of Oregon. Are not afraid of being alone or outdoors-

Dad is Quirky. He did 4 years in the coast Guard and doesn't care to go on the ocean much. We live 1 hour from it and he has no interest in ocean fishing. He likes scenery, but more on the level of National Lampoon's Vacation at the Grand Canyon. He is most happy when he has a fishing pole in his hand. This trip is about him.
I'll come back to Alaska someday and do the sightseeing thing with the wife.

 

[Redbug]

Hi Steve,

I also used to live up there. Fairbanks and King Salmon. Before you commit too much, order/buy a Milepost magazine. It's a large magazine updated every year that has comprehensive information on the state. Includes good leads to outfitters, roads, ferries, etc.

The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Guide and Trip Planner - Home

 

[RedRocker]

I just got back from Ketchikan Saturday, my daughter lives there. Nice place and a lot cooler than Texas right now.

These guys found a lot of Salmon.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

If your gonna do the motorhome thing go up on the Denali Hiway(gravel hiway between Paxton and Cantwell not the park). You can rent from Fairbanks and get it cheaper, closer, and then just do the little loop. Lotsa small lakes, rivers, and creeks and relatively few people in the summer. (not like the Kenai pennsula) Not many lodges along it just lotsa wide open space. Check with Maclaren river lodge (907 822-5444) about best times for different fish species. Make sure you get your groceries ahead of time as nothing available on hiway and make sure you rent from a place that lets you go on gravel roads. I have never been there in the summer but take snowmobiles thru there every spring and it is my favorite part of the road system in Alaska.