Recent Threads on the Alaska Fishing Forum

• AKCAPT instructs how to deflate fish the right way.
  
• Ripface inquires about deflating swim bladders on throw-back fish caught deep in saltwater.
  
• kfcbb7 would like to fish and do some gold panning when visiting Alaska this year, any suggestions?
  
• pedro needs some information on floating Byers Creek.
  
• Tracker wants to know the best place in Alaska to live where one can fish both salt water and the rivers?
  
• cggoldens is floating for 12 days in August on the Kwethluk River and would like any information about fishing opportunities there.

Recent Threads from the Alaska Fishing Forum

• mikeb is looking for feedback on fishing charters in Seward and Homer.
• alcmaeon wants to know how many reds can fit in a standard on-top of the fridge freezer.
• flyfishwilly is planning a long float trip and needs some suggestions for remote rivers full of rainbows.
• olsby needs some advice about waders for a Kenai Peninsula trip this July.
• MBB asks what is the best way to get your hard caught fish back home via airlines.
• Alaska Gray needs recommendations for a good filet knife.
• Ripface wants to know what the largest halibut is you've landed.
• Alaska Gray needs help with outfitting his boat with lures or jigs for halibut, lingcod, yelloweye, and king/silver salmon.
• cggoldens would like to hear about your experience floating the Aniak River.
• maine207 is looking for any information about catching sheefish.
  

Southeast Alaska spring 2006 king regulations set

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced in a news release that the sport fishing bag and possession limits for king salmon in Southeast Alaska and Yakutat will remain in effect through spring, 2006. These regulations are:

• Alaska residents: bag and possession limit of two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; no annual limit.
• Nonresidents: bag and possession limit of one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; annual limit of three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.

The aforementioned apply in all marine waters of Southeast Alaska unless otherwise announced. The nonresident annual limit of three fish also applies in all freshwaters between Cape Suckling and Cape Fairweather.

These regulations are based on the 2005 preseason abundance index, determined by the Pacific Salmon Commission’s Chinook Technical Committee, as directed by the Southeast Alaska king salmon management plan. Under the plan, bag and possession limits and other measures for the coming year are based on the prior year’s abundance index until the following year’s index is formalized. The 2006 index is expected by May 1, 2006. At that time, management measures for the remainder of the year will be announced.

Additional information about SE Alaska fisheries can be found on the ADFG website.

New fishing DVD: Predator fishing and more

We have added some new books in the Outdoors Alaska Online Store that will be of interest to anglers:

1. A Cruising Guide to Prince William Sound This book combines two previous volumes into one book, covering all of Prince William Sound. Everything is in this book, climate, wildlife, emergency tips, boating procedures, camping, and extremely detailed information on the coves, anchorages, and harbors of the area. Packed with photos and maps, this book will be interesting to anyone who loves Prince William Sound.
2. Predator Fishing. The combination of hard hitting Alaska Northern Pike and the unmatchable power of the Salmon Shark make the perfect combination for this incredible fishing DVD. The quality of the action makes this the perfect gift or center piece to your home video collection.
3. Kayaking and Camping in Prince William Sound This guide will not only help you to plan and enjoy a safe trip in Prince William Sound but, most of all, will teach you camping techniques which will help preserve this remarkable and pristine area.

A couple others of general Alaska outdoors interest: Alaska Backcountry Skiing and Alaska's Accessible Wilderness

There are dozens of outdoors books in the store. Nearly all are in stock and can be shipped within a day or two by priority mail.

Fishing regulation changes for SE Alaska posted

The Alaska Board of Game made a number of important changes to SE Alaska sport fishing regulations. The new regulations book will be available by late April, but the agency has posted a listing of significant changes on its website. Among important changes: regulations have not allowed sport fishermen to fully utilize their allotment of king salmon abundance given the above average abundance of the species in recent years; a new regulation redresses that.

Bears: Play dead or fight back?

For years the conventional wisdom was that in the event of a bear attack, one should play dead. Not necessarily, says ADFG's John Hechtel, who says ideally one should know more about the bear's intentions in a Juneau Empire story.

ADFG posts Chitina information for 2006

Personal use and subsistence use fishermen can find revised information about the 2006 Chitina salmon fishery on line at the ADFG website.

Winter fly tying

Tying flies is one of the very best parts of fly fishing in my opinion. Certainly, not everyone who fishes with a fly rod also ties, but a surprising number do. Many start tying as way to save money, but for most it quickly becomes a great hobby that enhances their favorite sport.

Creating and producing fishing flies is something that fly anglers do a lot of in the winter. We figure that if we can’t fish, at least we can devote our time to something that will pay off for us next summer. We spend hours going through our fly boxes beefing up our supply of those patterns that we used most during past fishing seasons. And, when we finish that, we start tying up some of the new flies that constantly appear.

So how can novice fly fishers get started in this great pastime? Well, to start with those of you who are in Anchorage can hook up with the Alaska Fly Fishers club for their monthly, free fly tying clinics. Held the third Sunday of each winter month from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Municipal Animal Shelter conference room off of Tudor Road, the clinics offer hands-on help with tying flies. Members of the club help both first timers and more experienced tyers to tie. All the equipment is provided and clinics are open to the public.

Although not free, all of the fly shops in Anchorage offer fly tying classes in the fall and winter as do we here at Women’s Flyfishing® (and ours aren’t limited to women, either.) All you have to do is call to sign up.

If you don’t live in Anchorage, you’re not out of luck. Your local fly shop will also be offering classes right now because it’s what we all do in the winter. Or, go on the Internet to either the Federation of Fly Fishers’ web site or to Trout Unlimited and locate an affiliate club in your neck of the woods. They offer casting and fly tying clinics all the time. If none of that works try contacting a local fly fishing guide and asking about private lessons.

And, don’t think that if you’re not already a fly fisher you have to start there before you can start tying flies. Not true. Create the flies now and then you’ll have some ready when you take up fly fishing next summer!

Pudge Kleinkauf has owned and operated Women’s Flyfishing ® her instruction and guide service, for nineteen of the thirty-six years she has lived and fished in Alaska. She is also the author of a recent book, Fly Fishing Women Explore Alaska. This tip and photo are © 2005 Women's Flyfishing.