Friday, August 24, 2012

Travel and Vacation in AlaskaMany people travel to Alaska each year for a vacation. Some just want a trip to see the sights and to experience some of those the great Alaskan attractions while others are looking for a specific get-away from everyday life such as an Alaskan cruise or to try the great Alaskan fishing.

It used to be that travel to Alaska for a vacation was a once-in-a-lifetime trip but it is now becoming more common for people now to return over and over as they get a taste of the greatness of the attractions that Alaska has to offer. People sample the beauty of nature in Alaska, with its bountiful wildlife and beautiful views and they get a sense of freedom as they realize just how much empty space Alaska has to offer and how few people there are to take it in.

Let’s face it, Alaska has many views and many experiences that cannot be had anywhere else in the world. I refer to things like humpback killer whales that make a game of putting on displays for the visitors and hundreds of glaciers that seem to calve on demand just to show off their stuff to those who come to see. I refer to the thousands of bears who just want to eat salmon and don’t care who is watching and photographing them while they do it. Even the plentiful presence of the thousands bald eagles everywhere seems to further ingrain this beauty and sense of freedom into our subconscious minds.

Alaska is one of the last frontiers. The reality of things is that it likely will remain so. There aren’t all that many people who are willing to endure the harsh, dark winters there to make it a permanent home and so for the most part, Alaska becomes a summer playground for those who are attracted to its beauty, its grandeur, its freedom, and its bounty.

According to Alaska’s Resource Development Council statistics, 1 out of every 3 visitors to Alaska now is a repeat visitor. They say that almost all of these visitors came first on a cruise ship but are now coming on their own to see and do all of the things that they first saw from a distance on their cruise. They came once and got hooked by what they saw and now want and are taking the opportunity to explore and to experience more in-depth, the things that interest them.

So, whether your tastes are for wild and exciting, or even if they run to tame and quiet, Alaskan travel is definitely something that should be on your list of things to do. You too may be hooked by what you see.

For more information on travel, vacationing, or especially fishing in Alaska, visit www.fishingtriptoalaska.com and read some of their great tips.There are literally dozens of articles on Alaskan attractions and travel.


Friday, July 13, 2012

Some of the Fish in Alaska...

Fish in Alaska
Alaska has many different types of fish and shellfish that are desirable to the average fisherman. Alaska is of course famous for the five species of salmon that frequent her shores and rivers and for the halibut that are found along her coast. Many people don't have any idea about all of the other species of fish that can be found, caught and eaten from Alaska.

Alaska has some of the best trout and steelhead fishing that can be found anywhere. Trout and steelhead are excellent for eating and can provide a fight that will thrill even the world's most experienced fishermen. They are found in many of Alaska's 3000 rivers and 3 million lakes. The steelhead, of course, are also found along the coast in the saltwater.

Also found in the rivers and lakes or in the saltwater of Alaska are Char, both arctic char and dolly varden. These are very similar to and are often confused with trout. They fight like trout and are caught with the same bait and equipment.

One of the prettiest freshwater fish and also very popular with the locals is the Arctic Grayling. They come in various shades and range from trout colored to very dark, almost black with iridescent colors along the edges of their fins. They are great eating.

In the saltwater, try your hand at ling-cod, pollock, Pacific cod, and numerous types of rock-fish. All of these are found at or near the bottom of the ocean and you never know which may be on your hook when you reel it in.  They are all caught with the same deep-water gear and bait. All of them fight hard and will provide you with many fresh fillets on your plate.

And, we cannot forget to mention the crabs and shrimp that are so plentiful in Alaskan waters. These are caught by dropping a baited "pot" or trap to the ocean floor, letting it stay a few hours or overnight, and then pulling it back up to retrieve your catch. There is nothing better to eat than fresh-caught shellfish right from the boat.

I have come to look forward to and immensely enjoy the time that I get to spend fishing in Alaska. I have a website dedicated to educating, helping, and preparing people for a fishing trip to Alaska. Come on over and see if I can help you at www.fishingtriptoalaska.com. I also am giving away a free ebook titled Alaskan Fishing Tips for Beginners as a free download. Come and get your copy.



Thursday, July 12, 2012

Why Fish in Alaska?

Many people might ask "Why Alaska? Why not some where closer, cheaper, easier, etc,?"

Personally, I believe that Alaska is one of the best locations to fish in the entire world. I went fishing to Alaska just to try it, to say that I had been there. I ended up getting hooked!

I think that fishing in Alaska is a goal that many fishermen have. It something that they would like to try once in their lifetime. An item on their "bucket list" if you will.

I believe that Alaska has some of the best (most successful) fishing in the world. The fish are there in enough quantities and with enough different species that there will always be fish to be caught. Alaska boasts of having 3,000 rivers, 3 million lakes and 6,640 miles of coastline and that they are all full of fish. My experience with fishing in Alaska makes me inclined to believe this figure, put out by the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game.

I also have to suggest that Alaska has some of the most gorgeous scenery in the whole world. The sheer, tall mountains completely smothered in greenery and capped with snow, running right off into the sea just has a way of grabbing you. I live surrounded by mountains but they don't have the same exquisite beauty that is to be found in Alaska. I couldn't even capture the beauty with a camera. The pictures just don't bring out the way that the Alaskan scenery made me feel.

I feel that Alaska was created rugged, wild, mean, and harsh to be a home for some of the animals and, yes, fish that wouldn't ever be colonized or urbanized to a big enough extent that the animals and fish would be squeezed out. Most of Alaska is virtually uninhabitable my anything other than fish and wildlife. Most people would never be able to want to live there year-round.

So, yes, there are closer, cheaper, easier places to fish. I am just glad that I can go on a short trip to fish in Alaska from time to time.

My interest in Alaskan fishing is such that I have built a website dedicated to fishing in Alaska. I have spared no effort to collect all of the tips, tricks, and information possible into a single location. My goal is to help anyone and everyone have the opportunity to try fishing in Alaska.  Drop on over and check it out at www.fishingtriptoalaska.com. I would invite your comments and opinions on my efforts.

I remember going on my first fishing trip to Alaska very unprepared.I didn't know what  to expect. I didn't know what  to take along. I didn't know how it would turn out. FishingTripToAlaska.com is my answer to that.