Tips for Salmon Fishing in Alaska

If you want to fish for giant King salmon (Chinook), Alaska is the place to go. The King salmon is the largest of salmon, on average weighing in between 20 and 40 pounds and is the state fish. These giants can sometimes weigh over 100 pounds. You can fish for the King salmon year round, either saltwater or freshwater. It is the dream of most fisherman to land a King salmon.

The red salmon (Sockeye) is plentiful in Alaska in the North Pacific and Artic oceans and freshwater systems. The Sockeye is one of Alaska's most valuable commercial salmon species. It is very popular for its rich flavor and deep red color. The Sockeye can be distinguished from the Chinook and silver salmon by the lack of large black spots. In some areas the Sockeye salmon stay in fresh water all of their lives but are much smaller.

The silver salmon (Coho) are also great sport. They make the fishing exciting due to their wild maneuvers when hooked. These salmon average 8-12 pounds and prefer the small streams to spawn between July and November. The Coho have silver sides, a white belly with blue and greenish colors on the back and sides. To catch them you can use trolling or drifting near the shore in saltwater and cast and retrieve when in freshwater.

Saltwater fishing for salmon is best done by angling a baited line drawn into the water or through trolling. The best times of the day to fish for salmon is on cloudy days or when there is low light. On bright sunny days the salmon will keep to the deeper holes.

To fish for salmon you need to set the hook by yanking downstream with your rod three times. Using your free hand to pull on the line will help in getting a better set. If you lift the rod straight up, sometimes it will pull the fly out of the mouth of the salmon.

Staying in an Alaskan fishing lodge will give you the ultimate salmon fishing experience. These lodges offer affordable products and services that anyone can afford and there is a wide array of fishing activities. You can be sure you will meet many salmon fishing enthusiasts to share a good fishing time with.