Resources for your affordable Alaska fishing trip

Need resources? I've got them for you. Without a doubt, you’ll be doing a ton of research as you begin planning for your affordable Alaska fishing vacation. There are a ton of resources that will help assist you in this endeavor. Most are free…some are not.

Start with your local travel agent and/or auto club. Here you can get all kinds of maps, tour books, brochures and guides for free. If you are not a member, find a friend or family member who is and ask them to get this information for you. This will be your basis for much additional information. In these guides, you’ll find so much additional information from advertisers and other directory listings complete with addresses and phone numbers and sometimes even email addresses. You’ll find information on vehicle rentals, camping and campgrounds, flights, fishing, sightseeing, etc. Simply send an email or pick up the phone and call them and request additional information.

Before we continue, let’s quickly discuss how to file all of these resources. You will quickly amass more information than you know what to do with. For this reason it is important that you organize this information in a manner that is easily retrievable. The way I like to file is by category. I have a hanging file folder called Alaska resources and then manilla folders inside labeled with such categories as Air travel; Rental vehicles; Camping/Campgrounds; Fishing Guides; Lodging; and the list goes on. Do what works for you. Now you’ll be able to keep everything in one place and will be able to pull out any brochure very easily. It’s a very simple system but it works.

Additional free information is available via your computer and the Internet. This is a vast area of research that can really drive you crazy if you let it. There are so many resources on the Internet dealing with fishing in Alaska. The key is to be really specific and focused on your searches. Search for things like “affordable Alaska fishing trips” or “Alaska RV rentals” or “Alaska salmon” or “fishing guides on the Kenai Peninsula”. Don’t do general searches like “fishing trips” or “fishing guides” or “salmon”.

The one site that you absolutely must spend time on is the Alaska Department of Fish and Game site. At this site you’ll find fishing reports, stocking information, regulations, emergency orders (sometimes they close fishing on a certain river or stream), salmon run timing charts and much more.

Another website that will definitely be beneficial will be the Anchorage Daily News site. Although it is not specifically dedicated to fishing, it’s amazing how much you’ll learn about life in Alaska by spending a few minutes here and there reading articles of interest on this website. Your searches will yield many more websites on fishing in Alaska but if I’ve done my job, you shouldn’t need to search many additional fishing related sites.

So far all information has been free. Now we come to an item that you’ll need to purchase. It is called The Milepost 2005. Referred to as the bible of Alaska travel, it is quite simply THE MOST IMPORTANT piece of information you need to own to traverse the highways and byways of Alaska. It talks about every major city in Alaska. It discusses every means of transportation. It breaks down every highway, back road, dirt and/or gravel road mile by mile and lists all attractions, available services, fishing opportunities and so much more. The Milepost 2005 is an absolute must for your travel library.

The next paid item is a magazine subscription. Fish Alaska magazine is referred to as “The magazine of fishing the Greatland” and it does its job well. Fish Alaska covers all of Alaska’s sport fish. There are articles on spin fishing, fly fishing, guided fishing, highway fishing, saltwater fishing, fly out fishing and drift fishing. Whatever kind of fishing you’re into, you’ll find it here. I love the “how-to” articles, the tips and techniques and the professional photography that just makes me dream of my next trip. Although not a must, this subscription will go a long way toward your education of fishing in Alaska.

The last item on your list of resources is a subscription to Alaska’s premier magazine, aptly named Alaska Magazine. It is not a must by any means but it is an AWESOME addition to your Alaska collection if you can afford a few extra dollars each month. Again, it is not specifically geared toward fishing but it will go the distance in teaching you everything you need to know about Alaskans and the Alaskan culture. They tout, “This is the world's only general interest magazine about Alaska and only Alaska. From bears to sea otters to caribou and moose, from salmon to halibut to rainbow trout and whales, from bald eagles to puffins - to ducks of every feather, from biking to hiking to camping and Rv'ing, from birding to wildlife viewing to mountain climbing and unique festivals, Alaska covers it all with award-winning depth, color and action. From spectacular landscape photography to native Alaskan life; from stories about the most remote villages to the hottest political issues affecting our priceless wilderness; from skiing to mushing to flightseeing and glacier cruising, Alaska magazine explores life on the Last Frontier as no other publication does or can.” Please consider a subscription to Alaska Magazine whether you decide to make your trip now or not. I promise you will NOT be disappointed.

For all you fly fisherman that are spending time with me here, a book that I highly recommend that you read is Flyfishing Alaska by Anthony J. Route. As Marty Sherman, editor of Flyfishing magazine, says, Tony's experiences and background as a biologist, guide, commercial fly tier and in retail tackle sales coupled with his skill as a writer and photographer have allowed him to produce a masterpiece on fly fishing in Alaska. The only negative I've been able to produce is that many times he doesn't give you the specific location where you should fish. Tony is quite aware of that fact though and stated that this is because he does not want to increase angling pressure on streams and rivers that may not be able to handle the additional pressure. Overall, I give Flyfishing Alaska two thumbs up.