Archive for November, 2008
New Barbour Country Clothing
Posted in Fly Fishing on the November 21, 2008
Barbour clothing line has everything to offer from gloves to full jump suits. You can buy these suits in different camouflage patterns, which is very handy to the dedicated deer hunter. Any fisherman would be excited to own any sort of the waterproof Barbour clothing.
If you are shopping for anything in the Barbour line of wears, the internet is a good place to start. There are online auctions that offer Barbour wears as well as wholesale websites and even discount websites. Bass Pro Shops have been known to offer Barbour wears as well if you are not keen about ordering things over the internet. There are several other fishing shops that offer the Barbour line of wears.
Fish Types For Fulfilling Fly Fishing Off Alaska
Posted in Fly Fishing Tips on the November 15, 2008
So, you’re planning on fishing in Alaska? Do you know the area’s different species? What types of fish you can expect to encounter? If not, keep reading for an overview of the area’s most abundant fish species during your next fishing vacation.
Pacific Salmon
There are four major species of Pacific salmon in Alaska: Chinook salmon (also known as king salmon), pink salmon, silver salmon and sockeye salmon or reds. They’re a great game fish, but usually less popular with cold water fly fishers than, say, trout or Arctic char.
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.
Steelhead Trout
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.
The steelhead is strong, large, high-leaping and long-running, making it highly prized among experience fly fishers. It’s also a great catch for the dinner table and an overall tasty fish. The fish averages between 4 and 12 pounds, but can often exceed 20 pounds, particularly in Alaska.
The Grayling (Trout Family)
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
As a trout, the Arctic char lives for the pure and cold waters of Alaskan lakes and streams. The fish makes a great catch that’s lively and strong, though willing to fall for more flies and slightly easier to trick than the rainbow trout. For fly fishing, Alaskan arctic char is an easy lure, but a fantastic catch on any fishing trip.