When you’re planning an Alaska float fishing trip, the focus should be on the planning. Alaska sees over a million tourists every year and that means popular lodges book up fast, charters get reserved and you could get stuck without a seat.

So, plan ahead, book early and know the best places to be. To find out more on how to make your Alaskan fishing trip a hit, keep reading for tips on what to bring, the best season and where to stay.

What to Pack

Ideally, you want to pack clothes that will layer easily – keeping you prepared for hot sun, rainy days and cold nights. Choose a fabric like performance wool or a high-tech fabric that will wick away sweat, dry quickly if it gets wet and keep you warm at night.

Before you start packing all your heavy float fishing gear, double check with your lodge or charter company to see what is and isn’t included in your package. Of course, pack your favorite floats and lures, but many charter companies include larger equipment and safety gear.

Finally, invest in high-quality rain gear. While Gore-Tex may seem like the best choice, it is actually only waterproof for about four to six hours. So, though PVC rain gear can be hot, clammy and uncomfortable, it will keep you dryer for a longer period of time on rainy days.

The Best Time to Go Float Fishing in Alaska

The peak season for float fishing in Alaska is the summer, so it’s between the months of June and September. You’ll likely have warm, if not rainy, weather, great fishing and easy pickings on the water. However, the summer is also prime tourism season, which is why it’s so important to book ahead.

Great Locales for Fishing

Some of the best places for Alaska angling are

* Bristol Bay, the world’s largest salmon fishery which is also home to a wide assortment of other fish
* The Copper River Delta, a fast-moving water rich with trout
* The Kenai River, a place known for its massive king salmon, and
* Kodiak Island, home to great roadside and remote fishing locations

It’s hard not to have a successful fishing vacation trip, but with a little planning you can make any trip a great one. Just remember to hit the best fishing spots, go at the right time and pack appropriately. Also, always check with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sport Fish Division before you book a lodge or charter company. Their website is available at sf.adfg.state.ak.us.

Barbour clothing range has everything to from socks to complete jump suits. You could purchase these suits in many camouflage compositions, which is also handy to the committed deer hunter. Any fisherman will be tickled to own any of the waterproof Barbour clothing.

When you are searching for something in the Barbour range of clothing range, the web is a great destination to begin. There are online sites that Barbour clothing range as well as wholesale stores and even home made stores. Bass Pro Shops are known to Barbour clothing range as well When you are not happy about searching for things over the web. There are plenty other fishing shops that the Barbour range of clothing range.

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.

For an exciting overview of some of Alaska’s most popular lodges and fishing tours, read on.

Ultima Thule Lodge (ultimathulelodge.com)

Remote and pristine, the Ultima Thule Lodge is situated in the middle of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the country’s largest, and has been listed by National Geographic as the area’s premiere luxury Alaska fly fishing trips company.

The lodge can arrange almost any type of day trip, but a lot of their focus is on fly fishing in Moose Valley. However, if your interest is fishing experiences, make sure you book in advance to get there during the peak salmon migration period.

By offering alternative day trips and other activities, Ultima Thule Lodge has set itself apart from the competition. Whether it’s a corporate retreat or family fishing trip, guests can choose between hiking remote glaciers, rafting the rapids or spending the day fishing.

That said, if you’re looking for a more rustic experience, you may want to look elsewhere as Ultima Thule provides a more pampered or luxury Alaskan experience.

Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge (sadiecove.com)

Featured on ESPN, the Discovery Channel, the Environmental Magazine, “E”, The Travel Channel, National Geographic and Forbes’ magazine, Sadie Cove is widely known as one of the continent’s best eco-lodges. The lodge is run completely off the grid on a non-polluting wind, solar and hydro energy system.

They arrange everything from photo safaris to fully customized Alaska fly fishing trips, while pampering guests with an in-house chef, on-site sauna and incredible scenery. Despite the amenities and commitment to sustainability, the rates at Sadie Cove are fairly reasonable. They start at about $400 per night per adult for an all-inclusive stay – meaning three meals a day, use of lodge facilities, a private cabin, and fishing equipment. However, private fishing charters or fly-ins do cost extra.

Drifter’s Lodge (907-595-5555)

If you want a more rooted, natural and rustic experience, Drifter’s Lodge can offer it. The lodge is well-known and still comfortable, but much closer to the true Alaskan experience. They’ve been featured in The Lonely Planet, Time magazine and on the Discovery Channel. The bulk of their fly fishing is during the fall trout season.

The lodge has on-staff guides who know the Kenai River, know the fish patterns and are able to assist you to find great fishing locations and choose the best flies and casting techniques to catch your fish. They focus on techniques for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden trout and Alaska salmon, and are able to plan some of the best Alaska fly fishing trips available.