Fly Fishing Defined in the Desert Southwest
Fish Species For Ideal Fly Fishing in Alaskan Waterways
If you’re thinking of fly fishing in Alaska, you should recognize the fish species in the area, understand their preferred flies and know what to expect. So, read on for a general overview of the fish species in Alaska.
Pacific Salmon Varieties
The four most populous Pacific salmon varieties in Alaska are: silver salmon, reds or sockeyes, pinks, and Chinook or king salmons. Overall, the Pacific salmon is a great game fish that can put up a fantastic fight and pose an incredible challenge.
Pacific salmon only spawn once in their lifetime and then die. And though they don’t eat upon returning to fresh water, they will strike surface and subsurface flies. Fly fishers also need to be prepared to do battle with strong fighters. With sockeyes and chums weighing in at 3 to 10 pounds and king salmon tipping the scales at 12 to 100 pounds or more, fly fishers need to be ready.
The Steelhead (Trout Family)
The steelhead is actually a type of rainbow trout, named for its beautiful silver body and steely color. Like salmon, they like to swim in open ocean or bigger lakes, however they’ll spawn in nearby rivers. The steelhead will spawn multiple times in its lifetime.
Because the steelhead is rare, fast and hard to catch, it’s a prized fish and a respected catch. On average, the steelhead will weigh between 4 and 12 pounds, but can go much larger in size in the Alaskan waters. To catch the steelhead, fly fishers need to be patient and persevere.
Grayling
The graying is a unique fish, easily identifiable by its high and broad dorsal fin and almost neon blue color on its body and fins. For fly fishing, Alaska graylings are both prized and easy to catch. The fish aren’t very discriminating and tend to go for almost any fly.
That said, Alaska graylings do have a few preferences. They tend to like active, moving insects, smaller insects and also dry flies. The fish will also feed on minnows and crustaceans, though traditional light flies seem to be the most effective.
An Alaskan grayling will typically grow to about 4 pounds, but they’re a tasty catch and well suited to the dinner table.
Alaskan Arctic Char
The Arctic char is a member of the trout family that prefers clean, clear and cold lakes or streams to survive. They are strong, active and aggressive, but also a fantastic catch. They predominantly feed on insects, minnows, aquatic worms, fish eggs and crustaceans. Most fly fishers agree that the Arctic char is generally more gullible than its trout cousins. For fly fishing, Alaska arctic char are plentiful and easy.
Fishermen who are able to squeeze in the time to enjoy a fishing excursion off the Alaskan coastline will return home with some of their most fond lifetime memories. Not only are the fish themselves fascinating to both watch and catch (and eat!), but the beauty of the overall landscape and wildlife is breathtaking and could itself fill a picture album.
Lures In Ice Fishing – 3 Types Of Lures To Assist Your Fishing Style!
Lures used in Ice fishing are of different types and depending upon the type of fish species you wish to catch and the water conditions the lure type also varies. Normally the lures used for ice fishing can also be used during the summer; therefore you don’t need a spare of the basic lures that are used.
Almost all ice anglers have their own choice of lure which they use in all the lakes that they fish in. Here are a few common methods and lures that are used in ice fishing:
• Jigs-These lures come in different size and shape, they are usually heavy to bounce near of off the bottom. Lighter jigs attract the fishes by falling through the water at different rates. Jigs can be used along with baits or only the jigs can be used to lure the fish. They are usually shiny and are coloured brightly to attract the fishes with their movement in the water. They come in all sizes right from a dime size to large ones.
• Spoons- These lures are either thin or shaped or hard bodied or come in the common spoon shape. Their attractive colours and the way they move in water reassemble the bait and this attracts the fish to it. Normally the hard bodied spoons are twisted to look like minnows and are used for a slow fall in deep waters or in jigging rigs. The spoon shape makes it float it the water making it look like minnows moving slowly in the water.
• Plastic lures-as the name suggest it made out of coloured plastic and they come in different shape and size. They can perform as both bait and lure with pre-scenting or can be used in a combination of scent and vibrant colour. These plastic lures are usually shaped like worms, grubs, minnows or bugs and are used with jigging rig near the bottom of the water. These lures are long lasting and can help you catch quite a lot of fishes before having to replace them.
• Tails: You can either attach these to the spoons or spinners or use them as it is as lures. They are made out of plastic and they add action to slow drop fishing. These tails spread out when in water, therefore they slow down the rate at which the lure drops and at the same time they add movement to the water. They come in different colours, shapes, texture all depending upon the type of fish you wish to catch and the water conditions.
There are many types of special ice fishing lures that are available. You can find many new lures via internet and due to the low cost you can have a wide range of lures before you reach your fishing spot.
