Alaska "Self Guided"

[colo_junk]

Just signed up for a self guided Alaska fishing lodge trip this August where we will be fishing the Narrows. The lodge provides meals, tackle and proposed fishing locations and then we get to get after it.

It'll be my first trip to Alaska so I'm trying to keep my expectations in check. I plan on using this thread to document my trip once I get back from it and in the mean time looking for tips and tricks from those of you have done it before if you're willing to share.

We'll primarily be going after Salmon and Halibut, the first time I've ever fished for Halibut and first time in Alaska for Salmon. Any suggestions for gear, tactics or for first timers in Alaska would be appreciated

 

[Gellar]

Is the halibut self guided too?

 

[reallyoldman]

Just signed up for a self guided Alaska fishing lodge trip this August where we will be fishing the Narrows. The lodge provides meals, tackle and proposed fishing locations and then we get to get after it.

It'll be my first trip to Alaska so I'm trying to keep my expectations in check. I plan on using this thread to document my trip once I get back from it and in the mean time looking for tips and tricks from those of you have done it before if you're willing to share.

We'll primarily be going after Salmon and Halibut, the first time I've ever fished for Halibut and first time in Alaska for Salmon. Any suggestions for gear, tactics or for first timers in Alaska would be appreciated

Halibut: Really simple...very large (1/2# or better--up to 3#) white jig with big skirt, heavy jig with salmon belly strip...4-10" long. Right on bottom-up a crank on reel -Practice by reeling in a Volkswagen..2) salmon ..in August..most likey Coho ; troll with chrome spoon. Mepps spinners large size, cut plug herring (lodge will show you how to rig), salmon streamers in multi colors. Set your drag as per lodge instructions... most lodges do a good job some better than others. We have done this many times..with mostly good success. My biggest Salmon was caught on cut plug herring..68# King unguided, my wife's 61 # also unguided. My biggest halibut 239# wished later I had turned her loose. 20-40@ are best eating.

 

[colo_junk]

Is the halibut self guided too?

It is

 

[colo_junk]

Halibut: Really simple...very large (1/2# or better--up to 3#) white jig with big skirt, heavy jig with salmon belly strip...4-10" long. Right on bottom-up a crank on reel -Practice by reeling in a Volkswagen..2) salmon ..in August..most likey Coho ; troll with chrome spoon. Mepps spinners large size, cut plug herring (lodge will show you how to rig), salmon streamers in multi colors. Set your drag as per lodge instructions... most lodges do a good job some better than others. We have done this many times..with mostly good success. My biggest Salmon was caught on cut plug herring..68# King unguided, my wife's 61 # also unguided. My biggest halibut 239# wished later I had turned her loose. 20-40@ are best eating.

Thank you. In some of the reviews I've read they've talked about bringing your own terminating tackle. Is that something you have done in the past when doing something like this?

 

[reallyoldman]

Thank you. In some of the reviews I've read they've talked about bringing your own terminating tackle. Is that something you have done in the past when doing something like this?

We have done both BUT I would use theirs due to your lack of experience and this being your first trip. After you see what they have and knowing you want to do it again then maybe. Which Narrows are you going to?

 

[colo_junk]

We have done both BUT I would use theirs due to your lack of experience and this being your first trip. After you see what they have and knowing you want to do it again then maybe. Which Narrows are you going to?

Wrangell Narrows

 

[reallyoldman]

Wrangell Narrows

You have picked a very good lodge. We have fished the Queen Charley's many times. West Coast Fishing Club on Langara Island. Let us know how your trip went. Good luck. I'm from CO also.

 

[RiskyWhiskey]

Just signed up for a self guided Alaska fishing lodge trip this August where we will be fishing the Narrows. The lodge provides meals, tackle and proposed fishing locations and then we get to get after it.

It'll be my first trip to Alaska so I'm trying to keep my expectations in check. I plan on using this thread to document my trip once I get back from it and in the mean time looking for tips and tricks from those of you have done it before if you're willing to share.

We'll primarily be going after Salmon and Halibut, the first time I've ever fished for Halibut and first time in Alaska for Salmon. Any suggestions for gear, tactics or for first timers in Alaska would be appreciated

Rocky points for halibut. It’s going to probably be crappy weather. Quality rain gear is a must.

 

[Salmonchaser]

You should be on silvers by August. Flash and pink, blue, green and black work well. If you’re fly fishing Dolly LLamas in white and the above spinner colors work well.

 

[Deleted member 56225]

You should be on silvers by August. Flash and pink, blue, green and black work well. If you’re fly fishing Dolly LLamas in white and the above spinner colors work well.

only one more week for kings for nonresidents. So it will be silvers. Halibut we have been using a heavy weight 12to 18 oz with hook and a plastic "jig" with a treble hook and herring (with all the "juices") on all hooks. Yesterday in the sound 6 miles north of Petersburg, thirty minutes we three of us had six halibut, 25 to 40 lbs. (plus a a few pacific cod for our crab and shrimp pods). Until Mid may I have never fished for salt water fish. When I head home to Fairbanks in the fall I will have a lot fish. I understand how excited you should be to fish here. (I am staying 2 miles south of of the blind slough.)

 

[Jnasa]

I’ve never fished for silvers in the salt. However, fishing streams and small rivers in Price William Sound I’ve done well with Pink/Silver and Orange/Silver spinners and Spoons.

At times bouncing roe on the bottom has worked well to. Not sure if that’s effective where you would be at.

First time I went in August I was shocked at the amount of rain. Good rain gear is a must. Mosquitos are bad in some spots but worse were the no see ums. High deet bug spray has been what has helped me. Might not be an issue if you’re off coast but better prepared than not.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I’ve never fished for silvers in the salt. However, fishing streams and small rivers in Price William Sound I’ve done well with Pink/Silver and Orange/Silver spinners and Spoons.

At times bouncing roe on the bottom has worked well to. Not sure if that’s effective where you would be at.

First time I went in August I was shocked at the amount of rain. Good rain gear is a must. Mosquitos are bad in some spots but worse were the no see ums. High deet bug spray has been what has helped me. Might not be an issue if you’re off coast but better prepared than not.

Shoot, one year it rained on me 85 or 86 days straight up there. Always plan on rain and no see-ums. If those arnt’ bad enough the white socks will make up for it.

 

[BuzzH]

If silvers are in good numbers in the salt, I can't think of any fishing more fun than mooching herring...its a riot.

It's fun watching them grab herring about a foot under the surface.

 

[colo_junk]

Rocky points for halibut. It’s going to probably be crappy weather. Quality rain gear is a must.

Any suggestions on brand of rain gear? Also, I appreciate all the replies. My flight north is a month away so I'll be sure to report back how things went

 

[Muskeez]

Maybe the resort supplies the rain gear?? If not take "rubber" raingear, the type that you can hose off constantly. Don't take the "guidewear" type of goretex. It never seems to dry off and absorbs odors all week long.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I think my Simms wading jacket is the single best piece of outdoor equipment I own. I went through four of them in my career. I keep a rubberized canvas rain coat in my boat. If it’s raining hard I put it over my simms gear when I’m running, back to fishing I’ll typically take it off again. There is a reason you see most of the guides, hunting or fishing wearing rubberized canvas rain gear. Alaska rain is wetter than rain anywhere else in the world. Think Grundens Hercules, probably what most the com fish guys use.

 

[Badknees104]

helly hanson rain gear...mosquito headnet

 

[atlas]

Let us know how you do!

 

[Muskeez]

Sent you a PM. We did a very similar trip as AK rookies.