Hey guys, I posted this in a couple other forums as well but I thought I would get your opinions.. I would like to take my dad and brother on a fishing trip next summer... I have looked at Canada and minnesota and a few other places... anyone have a suggestions on a fishing trip, I would like to try for a some big macs or walleye or pike... any suggestions are appreciated... thanks AJ
[signature]
Canada and Alaska are full of world-class fishing. It all depends on your budget. If money is no object, I know of a few places with fishing of a lifetime.
[signature]
Thanks for the reply jim... I guess I shouldnt say that money is no object... but I do plan on spending a few thousand a piece... any suggestions would be great....
[signature]
Hey Jim, where are your Alaska places? I'm planning a trip this coming summer and haven't got the foggiest where to go. Of course salmon will be part of the trip, but BIG halibut is what I really want to get.
I probably could just PM you but was also wondering what the options are for booking a trip, with it only being me? Not looking for a solo trip, I'm just wondering how booking for one works. All of my die hard fishing friends are out of state.
Thanks
[signature]
The biggest halibut are out of Homer. I'm not familiar with boats in that area, but did guide for halibut out of Ketchikan/Prince of Wales Island, which is in southeast Alaska. There, we got 'em up to around 200 pounds, though most were 40-120. Out of Homer, they get monsters over 200 regularly.
For Salmon and fresh water fishing, you want to be on the southwest peninsula (Bristol Bay). The areas around Dillingham, King Salmon, Katmai National Park. Lots of options. Best fishing trips are fly-out lodges, but also highly expensive.
As for booking a single person trip with me, you just do it, and pay the one person price.
[signature]
[cool][#0000ff]If you have not booked a trip by the end of February or first of March, hit the Sportsmans Show and visit the booths for the guides from around Soldotna, on the Kenai River. Many of them offer combo trips for both the big king salmon in that area and trips to Homer...on down the peninsula...for halibut.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The show is a good place to not only see all the purty pictures of dead fish, but to get a feel for the attitudes and services of the different guides. There can be a lot of difference and when you are putting out the big bucks for a week of fishing, you want the best for the dollars. Some are first class, with nice cabins and meals. Others are just "bare bones" fishing trips, with you taking care of your own lodging and meals, etc.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[black][size 3]One other option that you may want to check is Wolleston Lake. Located in Canada, this is a real fish factory. The Lodge there offers good fishing for Walleye, Lake Trout, Grayling, and Northern Pike. They have a first class operation, and attract fishermen from all over the world.[/size][/black]
[size 3]A visit to the web sites for the area is informative, and good to get your juices flowing.[/size]
[size 3]It's a location that can be driven to or you can fly into major cities, and be picked up. I checked a guiding operation there for fly fishing, and suffered a case of "sticker shock". But, a trip there would be one that would always be remembered.[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[signature]
Get on the internet, make some phone calls, do some research and bag the guides. You could do a trip to Canada, learn some new water, and enjoy it much more and save money...why hire a guide?
[signature]
[cool][#0000ff]That is not always a good policy. On many waters you can waste days trying to find the fish and a successful pattern. A guide can shorten the cycle and insure success. And, with older folks, having a guide to do the "heavy lifting" is often well worth the money.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Many of us have had bad experiences...with bad guides. But, if you do your homework and check references, you should be able to find a good one. It is false economy to try to do it all yourself in a new area for new species. At the very least you can retain a guide for a day or so, to learn the localology, and then go it alone.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
Part of what makes fishing new areas fun, in my opinion, is learning the ins and outs of it on my own. Hiring a guide may increase your catch rate and decrease the learning curve, but it also increases the cost and decreases the ultimate reward. And, if you have spent any time at all fishing for the species you are after, you should already have a good idea on tactics.
I have never hired a fishing guide...and never will. I think if you put in some research and do your homework, you can make yourself a much more rewarding trip that costs lest by foregoing the guide and learning the new area on your own.
[signature]
[cool][#0000ff]I gotta couple of "what if" questions for you.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]1. What if the fishing venue is thousands of miles away, and accessible only by "fly in"...and a boat is required to fish it. How to you trailer your boat that far behind an airplane?[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]2. What if there are requirements that all anglers be accompanied by licensed guides and/or experienced river runners? That is the case on many Canadian and Alaskan waters that are subject to tribal laws for the indigenous people of the area.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You are young and healthy, and a competent angler. Guides make more sense for those who are not well equipped in terms of knowledge, experience or tackle...or who do not have the strength to operate a boat all day...or do not have a boat where one is needed.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The Internet has made it possible to gather a great deal of information on many good new potential fishing spots, but there is no substitute for having someone show you the ropes on new waters. Guides make it possible for many of us to go to new places with the confidence that the investment we make in airfare, lodging and additional tackle are worth the money. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]On the other hand, if you are only driving a couple of hundred miles to fish a new river or lake, and have a good idea of the tackle and techniques necessary...and the gear to fish it...then a guide is definitely unnecessary.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
When your in your own backyard and trips are easy and frequent by all means enjoy digging things out a trip at a time. Development of you knowledge in this fashion is very satisfying and a good foundation to build on.
If your on that 9 day trip to Canada or Alaska and spending 4 of those days traveling, a trip you consider special and will not be likely to repeat. Do everyone a favor -GET A GUIDE- for the very first day- Try to learn everything the guide has to offer. You trip will have a much higher chance of being as special as it was expected to be. Believe it or not every fishing other places for the same or other species is not the same as Yuba or Starvation or Strawberry.
[signature]
Wollaston Lake in Canada IS world class! One of the best in the whole country. Huge pike and lakers. Lake Athabasca is in the same league. If you want the finest, 5-stars in every respect, check out Scott Lake Lodge.(A+) The biggest lakers on average are at Great Bear Lake (Not Great Slave). Tazin Lake is pretty good too, and less expensive. (fished there 3 times: C+). And there are others.
In Alaska, you couldn't pay me enough to go fish the Kenai. I'd avoid that at all cost, unless you like fishing conditions similar to fishing in Los Angeles at 5:30 pm, on the freeway, on the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend. For freshwater fishing, you want to be stepping out of an airplane to cast, not a vehicle. The Kenai on its productive king stretches can make Pineview on a summer weekend look like remote wilderness. (I still get reports from friends in June and July.)
And like TD said, if you want to go exploring for a week and catch a fish or two, do it yourself. If you want some world-class fishing, and a trip of a lifetime, stick with a lodge and reputable charters/guides. Catching lakers, or pike, or walleye, or salmon in far away places is nothing like fishing for them in your home waters. Not even close. In my opinion, it wouldn't be worth the air fare to go somewhere for a week without someone who knows a little (and preferably a lot) about the water and the fish. If you had a month, or a summer, then that's another story. A week is just long enough to get a feel for a place, barely.
I've guided at 6 different lodges in Alaska, (Kulik, Brooks, Whales Resort, Unalakleet, Good News River, Ekwok) and managed one in Canada. Have also fished at a few others as a guest. Have also done some do-it-yourself trips. The lodge/guide package is the best way to go for most folks, me included. (And I'm supposedly a "pro.")
[signature]
[cool][#0000ff]Right you are about the Kenai. It has degenerated into full contact combat fishing. There are DEFINITELY better places to go for a "wilderness" experience.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are other spots in the area though...like the Kasilof and some fly-in spots that are usually optional in your package plan. But, the prime days for the big kings are usually booked a year or more in advance and the guides are extremely "competitive" about getting their customers into the prime spots...even if it means gunshots and potty mouth conversation.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[reply][cool][#0000ff]I gotta couple of "what if" questions for you.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]1. What if the fishing venue is thousands of miles away, and accessible only by "fly in"...and a boat is required to fish it. How to you trailer your boat that far behind an airplane?[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]2. What if there are requirements that all anglers be accompanied by licensed guides and/or experienced river runners? That is the case on many Canadian and Alaskan waters that are subject to tribal laws for the indigenous people of the area.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You are young and healthy, and a competent angler. Guides make more sense for those who are not well equipped in terms of knowledge, experience or tackle...or who do not have the strength to operate a boat all day...or do not have a boat where one is needed.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The Internet has made it possible to gather a great deal of information on many good new potential fishing spots, but there is no substitute for having someone show you the ropes on new waters. Guides make it possible for many of us to go to new places with the confidence that the investment we make in airfare, lodging and additional tackle are worth the money. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]On the other hand, if you are only driving a couple of hundred miles to fish a new river or lake, and have a good idea of the tackle and techniques necessary...and the gear to fish it...then a guide is definitely unnecessary.[/#0000ff][/reply]
1) The original question did not give a specific venue. I would choose a venue that didn't require a guide...Canada is very large and offers numerous secluded fishing destinations that are exceptional. However, to answer your question, we do our "fly-in" trips with inflatable rafts...which are easily packed on planes. Now, though, to save money we search for places that are accessed by car...plane tickets are way expensive.
2) Again, the original question didn't mention specific venues...if the venue did require guide service, I would not consider it.
3) Agreed. But they also take much of the fun away from the experience and cost very much. I liken it to the big game hunters of today who pay good money for guides to take them to the big bull or deer...sure, the "hunter" gets to shoot a large animal, but has he really hunted? I think part of the rewarding experience is learning the ropes on your own...I have done this on all of my Canada trips!
4) I disagree. I think there is no substitute for learning something first hand. My own experience is much more valuable than the experience of others...what i have found is that species of fish remain relatively constant. That is I can catch trout in Canada using the same techniques that I use for trout in Utah...the same can be said about pike, walleye, and smallmouth bass as well as numerous other species. I believe people complicate what doesn't need to be complicated. Too often we are afraid of new places...when, in truth, we should be excited about the possibilities. What I have also found is that people are very willing to share information for free...my first trip to Canada was done completely on faith that I could learn how to catch fish by asking questions...it worked; people shared and gladly helped.
Also, I can't imagine paying the rates many of these Canadian/Alaskan guides charge. My last fishing trip to Canada cost less than $600...the trip was 10 days and I had 7 full days of fishing. The same summer a good friend of mine took a similar trip to Alaska...his trip cost around $7,000 and he had 5 "guide days" of fishing. The extra money I spent on tackle has been an investment that I continue to use in Utah for other species.
[signature]
[black][size 3]My response to the guide or no guide question is not a advertisement for Jim, but just read past posts, and see who has shown pictures of great success, and see who has complained about fishing the Gorge, many times, and coming back without hitting a fish.[/size][/black]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]I personally have caught several hundred macks from the Gorge, but the amount of time and money that I spent learning the water and fish would have paid for a guide many times over.[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]Over 5 years of trial and error, and many trips to the Gorge before I could feel that I was able to fish it successfully. (then it was just by a lucky, out of the box attempt that I found a method of hooking them)[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]On strange water, you can't gain the knowledge that you can get from a guide.[/size]
[size 3][/size]
[signature]
Thanks for the input guys... I definately have a few places to start... thanks again... AJ
[signature]