Archive for September, 2011
Trout Fishing Season Begins
Salmon fishing season is coming to its end as trout fishing picks up in Alaska. Chums, pinks, and silvers are still spawning down the river, but the reports in Anchorage are that rainbow fishing in the Matu-su has been increasingly impressive lately.
Water conditions are excellent for trout fishing, and the locals are suggesting that anybody looking to fish Alaska this time of year have a variety of fresh flies (pink, ginger, and off-white) on hand. You should also keep a few maggot flies with you to get better results with trout fishing.
The Upper Kenai is boasting active spawning and the rainbows and dollies are picking up. The same goes for the Parks streams.
The Prince William Sound has become a good source of silvers according to Mountain View crew and it is recommended that you be prepared with hoochies tipped with herring if you want to fish this particular area. The fish are generally fishing 25 to 50 feet deep. So be prepared to get your line a little deeper.
The Nancy Lake System seems to be improving with low water temperatures, and so far, South Rolly, Nancy, and Red Shirt Lakes seem to be the most promising for virtually any fisherman. Get there before the crowds roll in.
In Alaska, you can choose your season depending on what kind of fish you want to catch and the results you want to get. If you want trout, this is your season. However, if you want salmon specifically, you will have to wait til next year.
What to Do When Bears Attack
Maybe you haven’t thought about it before, but there are quite a few bears in Alaska, and we don’t always know what it is that we have done to offend them. We don’t always know what an animal is thinking, and while bear attacks are actually quite rare, people don’t always know what they have done to set them off. By nature, bears can be somewhat unpredictable. If there are multiple bear attacks associated with one bear, park rangers will typically deal with it, but there are a few things that you can do to help yourself.
1. DO NOT feed the bears
This may seem like common sense to some. We feed squirrels and other small, cute animals. However, some leave food for bears, thinking that they are helping. This is not a good idea. Just like with small animals, it makes them dependent, and it makes them expect food when they see or smell humans. You are helping everyone when you avoid doing this.
2. Hang Your Food In Trees
Whether you are actually at the camp or away, bears will try to steal things like fish. The best thing to do to prevent this problem is to hang your food in taller trees. Yes, it can be a little bit inconvenient for you, but it’s worth it when you think about that versus being attacked by a bear again for your food.
3. DO NOT Approach a Mother Bear
Whether you are simply trying to get a picture or you stumble upon them, a mother bear with small cubs can perceive your presence as an immediate threat, and she will charge. The best thing that you can possibly do is to avoid the problem.
4. Leave Your Fish Behind
As you might want to do if a mugger attacks you, just give up your fish. I know you have worked hard and spent hours looking for that fish, but if it’s the fish or your life and health….I don’t think of that as much of a choice.
5. DO NOT RUN, Stand Still
Yes, it seems like our first instinct to run like hell, but any bear, even the smaller ones, will outrun you and will take you down. If you stand still, arms at your side because it can be hard to hold them up for extended periods of time, the bear may push you a little bit, but it will perceive you to be more like a tree than a human threat. If you try to shoot a bear, chances are you don’t have the bullets to take it down. Your best bet is to stand still and allow the bear its time to feel you out and eventually leave you alone.