Greetings from Alaska

[Phil Layer]

Welcome aboard, Dan!

[Sadie-Lynne]

Welcome..

[corrirod]

Welcome Dan!

Don't hesitate to jump in! I think I can speak for the entire group when I say we would love to hear about all the fish you catch, equipment you use, and all the experiences you have on the Big Blue!

Besides that, I might need a place to crash if I ever get to Alaska! :tongue: :tongue: Just kidding!

[Birdnest]

Hey Dan, it's me No Quater, aka Joe from the Hewescraft Owners Board. How's things in sunny Alaska?

This is a great group with some very knowledgable folks, you'll fit right in. Welcome.

Joe

[Reef Diver]

Dan in Alaska,
Welcome
We were in Juno ship wreck diving, Halibut and salmon fishing a couple years ago. We were very sucessful in all activities. I envey you where we only had 10 days of fun and you have all spring summer to play there.
Please send stories and pictures when available.
Welcome aboard
RD

Welcome aboard Dan,
Do you ever fish out of Whittier now that you don't have to take the train?

[ 03-03-2004, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[Bendman]

Welcom aboard Dan. How was silver fishin at Ship this year

[Bluefinn]

Welcome Dan I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YOUR TALL TALES.RR

[Silver Eagle]

Welcome Dan and your from Anchorage, what do you do, have a cousin up there doing Helo maint. Glad to see you hit the keys and come aboard......

[Dan in Alaska]

Wow, thanks for the warm welcome. I will be sure to scrounge up some Alaska photos for everyone.

Yes, I sometimes fish out of Whittier; it is a very pretty area and close to Anchorage. I have never really slayed the fish out of Whittier, but I am getting some helpful tips from the instructors of the Coast Guard class I am currently taking.

I gave up fishing at Ship Creek. I fished for kings a couple of times, but I never caught anything. The crowds of people and the muddy banks also deter me. Sometimes I'll drive by and watch, but I don't even try to fish there anymore.

My summer fishing schedule goes something like this:

April - I have never fished this early, but this year I am going to try shrimping and catching some early halibut & winter kings.

May - Halibut & King Salmon are plentiful in Cook Inlet. I launch from Deep Creek, Anchor Point or Homer, depending on the weather.

June - Halibut fishing in Cook Inlet gets even better, and the fish usually get bigger the later into June you get. The sea-run kings taper off in Early June, but the first run of sockeyes (reds) start heading up the Kenai River around Father's Day.

July - Ling cod season opens on July 1. Seward and Whittier have awesome ling cod and rockfish fishing. Big halibut are also also caught in July. The first silvers are usually caught in mid-July out in the salt, and the second run of reds comes into the Kenai in late July.

August - The silvers start coming in pretty hard. The Silver Salmon Derby in Seward draws lots of people. Halibut get harder to find in shallow water, but you can usually still get your limit if you are willing to fish at deeper depths (300+ feet).

September - Labor Day weekend is a great time to catch silvers in Valdez. We caught 66 over the weekend last year. It is quite a drive, but we plan to return again this year.

In Alaska there's lots of fish, so you need to plan your attack accordingly :grin: !

[Steelerdan]

Welcome aboard Dan. I've been to Alaska twice and love it. I for one would really like to hear of your adventures in Alaska. Keep the posts coming.

[corkyking]

Welcome aboard Dan,
Don’t know the rules but am wondering if you can fish early in the year for Kings in the lower Kenai? I know that the river is open to any motor from the Kenai bridge to the mouth. I read yesterday that the Seward Silver Derby winner was right at 17 lbs and paid $10,000 (I’m not sure of that) and that there was a $50,000 tagged fish caught. I’ve fished that derby a couple of times – great fun.

[Dan in Alaska]

After reading everyone's posts for the past month or so, I decided to join your forum. Hesitant at first to join because I do not live in your geographic area, but I soon realized that there are many similarities in our favorite fishing species and equipment of choice. I have already picked up a few tips from your posts, and though I plan to do more reading than posting, hopefully I can help out and share a photo every now and then.

As for equipment, I have a 22' Hewescraft Sea Runner Hard Top with a Yamaha 115-hp 4-stroke. I bought the boat new last summer, and owning the boat has made this winter seem exceptionally long. On-board, I have a Garmin 238 sounder with Blue Charts to help me get around and locate fish.

The majority of my rods are G. Loomis. I really like their Hot Shot rods; I have five of them (two 1021's, two 1023's, and a 1025). I also have a couple of their 6'6" muskie rods I use for jigging. I just bought some Ugly Sticks to use with my new Cannon downriggers.

As for favorite fish? I fish for whatever seems to be biting the best. I have never caught a triple-digit halibut, but I have caught several in the 70-pound range. I have caught a bunch of ling cod over 50 pounds, though. I also fish for king, red, and silver slamon.

[Spoiled Daddy]

Dan,

Welcome aboard!

SD

[Ragnar]

Welcome Dan,
I usually hang out with the "Homer-oids" at the end of the road.
As a matter of fact, I'm wearing one of my Kachemak Gear Shed pull over hoodies right now.
I'm sure you'll find many great people as I have on this board. We'll all look forward to your pictures.
Ragnar

[DriftR]

Welcome to the "Salty Dogs". Keep us posted on your success and share those pictures with us.

[Metal Manipulator]

Welcomb aboard Dan. Photo's are always apreciated.

[Metal Manipulator]

Welcome aboard Dan. Photo's are always apreciated.

[Willow Drifter]

Dan,

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME!

With you on the board that makes 4 of us that I know of living in Alaska full time. I am glad to see you have joined. It is tough for us this time of year especially since all of the guys from Washington and Oregon are knee deep in fish.

We trump them come May though. :grin:

[BUGLEMAN]

Welcome aboard, it is always nice to hear about Alaskan adventures.

[whaleraddict]

Welcome aboard Dan! I fish Alaska every year with my Dad and Brothers. We always have a ball. The guide we fish with is Perry Flotre out of Steward on the Kenai (Arctic Tern Charters). He actually starts fishing this time of year out of Homer for kings and does pretty well. I love the May King fishing out of Deep Creek or Anchor Point. The Halibut fishing is usually very good at that time as well. I will be there in August and look forward to silver fishing out of Seward (Pony Cove).

[Old Salty]

Welcome Aboard Dan,

Cant wait to see some pictures, and hear some
fish stories you'll have to share with us.
David
http://www.oldsaltytackle.com :smile:

[judyfish99]

Welcome Aboard!! My daughter lives in Anchor Point, thanks for letting me know when the best fishing is! [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] judyfish99

[Reel Creel]

Dan,

welcome, This is a great place to pick up some new tips.