Update Alaska: News From The Front
Update Alaska: News From The Front
Stopped into The Fishin' Hole the other day, which happens to be one of my favorite fishing tackle/outfitter/sandwich shops. (Talk about your one stop shopping!!)I was looking for a good 8 weight line to take to Alaska.What I came away with was an update from about four different people who had just returned from Alaska.Now, for those of you that have been following my upcoming maiden trip to The Last Frontier -you know that I am headed up there in a week from now. So it was nice to hear some first hand reports on what is going on, and how the fishing is doing.Of course I am a little concerned that right there in the tiny town of Shady Cove, Oregon--there were four people who have recently been to Alaska right there at that given moment in that fishing tackle/outfitter/sandwich shop! If you take the ratio of those four people at that given time and the odds that they had been to Alaska and multply that out over the entire nation.... well..... you come up with a pretty dang high number!And to think I was worried about the mosquitoes.Anyway, one fella happened to have a photo album and all I had to say was that I was headed up to Alaska--and of course he pulled out that album and showed me some rather dandy Halibut that weighed in at 178 pounds. He also said if he didn't have one of those belts that you strap on to fight Marlin, he would probably be recovering from hernia surgery. I of course said the fish was nice-- but I was more concerned with the mosquitoes.He told me they didn't bother him.Hmmmm now that sounds fishy to me.Another person reported that the Kenai--the LOWLY Kenai--- fished well and they caught some really nice King Salmon. They weren't bragging about size so they were either really big or really small.Not sure.They also went Halibut fishing and caught some 20 pounders, certainly not big by Alaskan standards. They also reported that every person on the boat puked their guts out.Now there is something to look forward to. I hope I am fishing out of a Princess Cruiseliner--but I doubt it.I also asked them how the mosquitoes were?To quote them: " OH MY GOD- THEY WERE BIG AS BIRDS!!"Nice. Puking, scratching, and hernia surgery!!We discussed the various options of Deet and netting, but it sounded like that only made it more challenging for the skeeters to find a way to make your life miserable.They described the mosquitoes approaching, 'like a black cloud' and then enveloping them in a blood sucking frenzy.Sounds like a Stephen King novel.One gal produced a bottle of some " natural" deet free repellant, and offered up a very weak, "our friends used this up at Diamond Lake last week and said this stuff is 'the bomb'."Unless she meant "bug bomb"--I wasn't about to start experimenting with anything unproven. Besides, the difference between Diamond Lake mosquitoes and the Kenai Peninsula mosquitoes is probably like the difference between Peoria and Yankee Stadium. I told her I'd try it but I would need her cell number so I could be sure to call her at midnight if her"natural" spray was ineffective.She pulled that bottle off the counter faster than a Ford truck recall goes out.So it sounded like fishing was going about as expected, and the mosquitoes were going as expected also.I also received a call from another buddy who wanted to go fishing on the Klamath River, in California, the week after I get back. He is an Alaskan fishing veteran so he had all sorts of good information to offer up about catching Silvers, including a "special" fly pattern that he developed and ties himself. I am now going to be his official "field tester" --because I suspect he thinks- if I can catch a fish with it...then it has real marketing potential. So look for it's appearance on the "two guys with flys" website if it works. If not... well... you can always look for my swollen festering mosquito welts.I have also checked in with my good friend Tom, who if you remember, floated the Kisaralik River last month. He is back and reported a successful trip, in the respect that no one was eaten by a Bear, and they returned with same number of people they left with.Oh, and the fishing was great for BIG TROUT, and of course--Deet had little or no effect at stopping the onslaught of mosquitoes.As evidenced by his scabbed over arm full of bites and "Calamine lotioned" skin color.Also received a phone call from Ranger Kurt--and he pretty much just laughed maniacally and kept saying things like: "August in Alaska" "August in Alaska" "HA HA HA ha......."Perhaps a few to many bites from his last trip??Well, that is about it from the front.I'll be busy this week getting ready-and soaking my clothes in Deet...A.J. Klott is a writer of fishing humor and the people and events surrounding the fishing world. He also can be found selling "fly tacks" and other various fishing supplies at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com
There Is Bass In The Grass
There Is Bass In The Grass
Did you ever plan that fishing trip to the big lake, then when you got there you realized you had no idea where to start fishing? Too much ground to cover, right? Let's break it down a bit to simplify it.The first thing you want to look for is cover; something that 'looks' like a good place for a bass to hide. Depending on the time of day, they will probably be there.Quite often, you will see stumps and reeds sticking up out of the water. These are easy and obvious spots to fish, and you should definitely fish them. But you also want to look for something that is not always so obvious: grass.Sometimes you will see grass sticking up near the shore line, and it may extend out from the bank several feet, maybe even many yards. You want to fish these areas very thoroughly early in the morning and in the evening. Also, fish these areas as well on cloud covered days and cooler days when the bass may stay shallow.Don't pull your boat in at a high speed, just get close enough where you can drift in or use a trolling motor to quietly work your way to the cover. It's very easy to spook fish in grass near the shore.Be sure to look in the water around you and under you to see how far out the grass extends. You will likely find some other vegetation, like hydrilla, which is a good place for bass to hide. These areas need to be fished thoroughly.As the day goes on, the fish will usually start moving away from the shore to deeper waters. If the grass and hydrilla extend out quite a way from the bank, start backing away from the bank in search of the bass that are moving to deeper water.Don't get in a hurry. Use a good weedless lure and work it very, very slowly through the grass. Painfully slow. I suggest you use plastics that will sink slowly. This way you can come across the top of the grass slowly, and the bait will fall into holes in the vegetation. When this happens, hold on tight.Let the bait sink and don't move it for 10 or 15 seconds, or more. Then, when you do move it, just twitch it a little by jiggling the tip of your rod. The idea here is that you are trying to get your lure to imitate an injured bait fish. This is a deadly action that will entice even the most stubborn bass.You can also fish the edge of the grass with other lures that are not so weedless, as long as you be careful not to cast the lure into the grass. This will only frustrate you with hang ups and lost lures. For this, I would recommend spinnerbaits and crankbaits.So, next time you go the that 'big' lake, try this method as a starting point. It should help you get on the bass quickly and make for a much more enjoyable trip.Michael Russell
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The Joys of Trout Fishing
The Joys of Trout Fishing
The thrill of trout fishing! It is the best, isn't it? No matter where you plan to go trout fishing, you know you are more than likely going to enjoy your trip. The sport is a sport of its own, set aside from other types of fishing. Some believe trout fishing is the most difficult of any type of fishing. Regardless of if you believe this or not, there are many reasons to love trout fishing.To begin with, trout fishing is all about being smarter than the fish! You need to know how that fish is going to react long before it does. How do you know this and do this? For one, you need to know about the animal itself. Trout are very smart animals. They know that they are prey, so they will avoid anything they think is going to harm them. So, you, the fisherman, need to be smarter and catch the trout unaware. That is why when you are trout fishing, you will more then likely cast from quite a distance. Trout come up to the surface to feed. If they lay their eyes on you, they are gone. No hope of catching it. Instead, casting from a distance is important to keep you out of the picture.Trout fishing is also a demanding sport because it takes knowledge. It's not enough to know about how the trout react, but you have to know what equipment you need. When you go to your local sporting goods stores or tackle shop, you will find that there is often a large line of products designed for trout fishing. The lure that you use will need to be something that will enter the water unnoticeable and without causing a splash. The trout fishing line you use will need to be pretty much clear, but strong. There is much more equipment specific things you can invest in to help you with your trout fishing. Simply look around the store to see what jumps out at you!Some of the best things about trout fishing are the trips you can enjoy. You can plan a trout fishing trip to last a day, a weekend, or a week. You can book your trout fishing trip to be in a nearby lake or river. But, think about booking a trout fishing trip out of the country! If not, perhaps you would like to consider an out of state trout fishing trip. Not only are these the best ways to enjoy the sport and all types of trout fishing, but you get to see some of the most beautiful places in the world!It goes without saying that trout fishing is one of the best sports out there. If you are a beginner looking to learn, the best knowledge you can obtain is experience. Yes, you can purchase all that equipment, but nothing will teach and help you more then experience in trout fishing.Ken Austin Online Discount Shopping Guide
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