Alaska observations

[Joe Schwab]

Had some interesting experiences in Alaska this year. We spent some 13 days just looking around and doing a little fishing. Having spent 6 years up there in the business didnt allow much time for critiquing other operations. Here are a couple of things to be aware of.

1. Ask the charters if the trip is an all day. My wife and friends went out on one and did very well, limiting out. No problem there, however one other boat left at the same time, fished 5.5 hours, got five fish for 6 people and got called back in for a second trip. This is not right. those people deserved a full day of fishing for the price they paid. Ask questions!!

2. There are a number of illegal guiding operations especially on the Kenai. Do not hire unlicensed guides. Our guide pointed out several and over the last five years I was up there I would see the same boats every day with different "clients". Hard to prove but very risky. Accidents happen and they do not have insurance!
Some B&Bs offer free fishing with lodging and even go so far as to provide the boat operator. This is illegal under Alaska law.

3. When are they going to stop killing dark fsh on the Kenai. A prominent guide service right in the heart of Soldotna regularly displays dark and I mean DARK salmon taken from upriver. These fish have made it to the spawning grounds and are easy targets, agressive toward anything thrown at them. Political pressure from upriver property owners has foiled attempts to shut it down.

One other little incident I happened upon really set me off. Two young men were catching Dolly Varden at a boat ramp on the Kenai. One was cleaning one and I commented about the nice fish. He replied something about "halibut bait" then proceeded to cut up the fish and throw the pieces back into the river. When I challenged this he said he was chumming for more Dollies. I proceeded to inform him of the law and consequences of stupid acts like this. I found out later they were indeed catching Dolly Varden for Halibut Bait for the guide they worked for. No game wardens around unfortunately. And we wonder where the fish are going?
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[ 07-24-2001: Message edited by: Capt. Hook ]

[Krome Brite]

That sucks about the Dollies... [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]