Itching to Fish - Equipment for AK?

Hello all,

Thanks to everyone who responded to my earlier post - appreciate the warm greetings. Having survived my first winter in AK since '88, I have never been happier to see thawing ice and dry pavement! That being said, I am looking forward to the first full summer I've been able to spend in AK in a long, long time and, of course, plan to fish a LOT.

I'm definitely down with the tightwads among you - starting a new biz has put a big dent in the cash flow, so it's going to be a lot of sleeping in the tent or cab of the truck. At 42, I'm not exactly looking forward to it, but being outdoors is one of the big reasons for moving back to AK, so I'll grin and bear it.

I would definitely appreciate advice regarding equipment necessary for fishing in AK. I gather a dry suit is a rather important piece of safety equipment - anything else a must?

99% of my fishing in FL was catch and release, so am not familiar with keeping fish while fishing from a kayak. Assume a stringer is really the only way to go - suggestions for types of stringers and rigging would be appreciated.

How necessary is a depth/fish finder? My Ocean Kayak Big Game is pre-rigged to accept a depth/fishfinder - believe Hummingbird - but will confirm.

I have quite a few fishing rods/reels, but may not have the right size/type for bottom fishing - please let me know if you have recommendations for a good setup - I prefer Penn or Shimano reels, but am open to another brand.

As you can likely tell, the depth of my ignorance knows almost no end, so please do not hesitate to make even basic recommendations and/or point me to any earlier postings that you think would be of interest.

I look forward to meeting all of you and hope we can get together to fish. As I mentioned in my earlier posting, I'm open to just about any kind of fishing and am willing to travel to find better fishing or better conditions.

Thanks again!

Lets see...

Last year I used cheap waders that were lame with a wading coat. This year I got a deal on a dry suit so am going that route but will invest in a quality pair of waders next year I think so I can change layers. I was always changing layers on my old boat. Dry suit I know will keep me warm tho for sure.

I'm too cheap to buy nice reels. I've got 2 trolling rods with used penn 320 GTIs I got off eBay for cheap. For halibut I've got a used penn 113H, again off eBay.

My biggest issue is I'm a bit of a freak. I carry VHF, PLB, and cell for safety sake. Of course at the same time (not this year I don't think) I want to do the 150ish NM trek from Whittier to Seward. I think most carry VHF and cell.

Hope it helps!

Dan

Dry suit isn't an option...it's a must.  I fell in last year without one, and if it weren't for the fact I was so close to shore I'm afraid I wouldn't be typing this.

Fish finder depends on what you fish for..don't spend a ton.  You just need it for marking fish and bottom contours.

Ugly stick tiger for bottom fishing.

Make sure your rods can be rotated around your yak, while seated, under tension.  You never know which direct the fish will swim when it's close to the yak.

Leash everything.

I use a milk crate behind my seat to store extra gear and dead fish.

In may you should make the trek down to deep creek or whiskey gulch for kings and buts.  Several of us will be there

On the safety side of things, there are a few things I'd include as must-haves. In addition to your dry suit, the VHF radio is important essential gear.  Cell phone is fine, but not a substitute for VHF.  Also, a light (preferably strobe). And a rescue knife that clips onto your PFD for ready access. 

Last year was the first season I fished from the kayak, and I didn't use a depth/fish finder at all. I studied the NOAA charts, and kept a detailed log, and got lucky on most trips. I figured that I was learning a lot and needed to gain proficiency at fundamentals before expanding into electronics. But by the end of the season, I was using a handheld GPS to control for trolling speed and recognized that consolidating GPS with a fish finder/ chart plotter would be the direction I'd go for 2013. I won't know if it was necessary until I fish with it for a season -- though I'm expecting it to benefit.

I liked my Penn Defiance as a halibut reel, and just added a Shimano Takota as a salmon reel. The Defiance was more than capable in tiring out a couple +40# halibut. I paired it with a Tiger Lite Ugly Stick. Last year I fished spinning gear for salmon, but since I was hardly ever casting or sight fishing, I thought it made more sense to find a medium sized conventional reel for salmon fishing. 

I hope you're able to come to the Anchor Point king derby in May -- as Kenai_Guy, RimfireMatt, Kardinal_84 and I were there last year (with a couple of our "better halfs") -- a good chance to get acquainted, learn from one another and make some plans. The weather didn't cooperate, but we had lots of fun despite wind and waves that made some landings wetter than normal. I probably won't make it this year, to my regret.

Watch the Alaska board here, and as trip plans form the opportunity to fish with others will appear. I just heard from a pal today who checked out the condition of the beach at Deep Creek for early halibut. He reports that the beach is clear, but that there's still too much ice in the water. We're likely to try it anyway the third weekend of the month -- tides are very good, and we're itching to get fishing too.

Sweet one more addict in Alaska!

I have been putting together a website for SC Alaska.  Its really a lot of regurgitation of material you find here but with more specificity to our area.  www.alaskakayakfisher.com

There are all sorts of opinions out there.  Like Kenai_guy I survived an incident that places me firmly in the camp of "you MUST have a dry or semi-drysuit" to fish in Alaska.  I actually just wrote a small piece for Kayak Fishing magazine on this well discussed topic and why I think so for Alaska.
http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/139-kayak-fishing-how-to-articles/1676-qwaders-of-deathq-another-perspective.html

My go to outfit other than downrigging where I use a softer slower rod (ugly sticks) has been an Avet Sx two speed on a Shimano Trevala rod in medium Heavy and I picked up an extra heavy.  Loaded it up with 65 pound braid and it does everything for me from Halibut to rockfish to Salmon.  It's not "budget" oriented but given it handles about 4 rods worth of activity, I think its worth it.

I use a cheap Humming Bird 160 Pirhana max.  Works for everything I need it to do including setting shrimp pots in 500 feet of water.  I do plan on upgrading.  I am VERY interested in the side scan technology for scanning for baitfish and salmon up against the shore.  Down imaging doesn't seem to add any value for me other than eye appeal but I have never used one.

I know everyone has preferences but it is my belief and style that you don't need heavy gear for kayak fishing.  Its hard to fish with line much heavier than 30 pounds at some section since if you snag up, good luck tyring to break it from a kayak.  It's not like on a boat.  If you are fishing in 200 feet of water, you just lost all that line when you have to cut it off.  The average fish and 95% of your fish will be under 30 pounds for bottomfish.  A simple salmon set up will catch them with ease and you can fish all day.  One day I am going to hook that 150 pounder...I will worry about it then.  But I am set up with harpoon and buoy system to try and land one big one.

Well I'm in Adak Alaska today!  Halfway to Japan!  I've been drooling over a new tandem Island, but when I come to places like here, I lean towards the inflatable Hobies.  Casting from shore, in 30 minutes, I landed probably my largest black rockfish ever and my larges kelp greenling ever. 

Well good luck and I hope you can join us!!!!

Hi all - thanks for replies.

Been shopping for a drysuit. I knew they'd be expensive, but dang - I could easily spend as much as I did on for my kayak. Of course, won't do that - found a factory second that might be my size, we'll see. Any suggestions on brand and/or where to buy?

I'd say GPS is a must, especially in trying to relocate a good spot. Like the idea of a combo GPS/fish/depth finder - never tried on my last boat because the display I could actually afford was too small to run both simultaneously, but may be just the thing for a kayak.

LOVE the side view finders - buddy had one and is huge improvement over conventional sonar (learned a bit as to how a depth/fish finder works - you would be unpleasantly surprised how little of the bottom and/or water column you are actually seeing with the typical low end unit).

Regarding rods and reels - to further refine my earlier questions:

When bottom fishing, what is the typical depth range and how much weight do you need to use, assuming a bait appropriate for a fish up to 40lbs?

What is the usual technique for fishing in the ocean for salmon? And do you seek all salmon species in saltwater or only kings?

Last couple of questions - at least for now  - regarding fish handling:

I've seen pics of kayak fishermen/women using what looks to be a wire stringer with a very large loop for halibut. Is that something you guys use?

And landing fish - I typically used a Boga Grip, but is that appropriate for AK species? If not, I assume you would, depending on species, use a net, a gaff, or simply manhandle the fish - thoughts? Again, 99% of my previous fishing was catch and release - AK fish are just too tasty.

Appreciate your insights - thanks again...

Boga grips are fantastic for toothy bottom fish. Make sure and tie a float to it. Not only will it save it from sinking it helps when a big fish rips it from your hand.

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If you're an REI member, you can use the 20% discount coupon on Kokatat suits (online) until 4/7 -- no angler models among their inventory, however.

Outdoorplay.com and some other places have the angler model available, runs about 500 bucks...  I went to alaska raft and kayak to try it on then ordered it because they didnt have my size in the model I wanted.

I use a kokatat semy dry suit and LOVE it!  Half price of the high end gore tex dry suits but still 400 bucks plus in AK.

I haven't used GPS on the water.  No need for it where I fish.  The few times I've been curious, my iPhone in a ziplock bag with Navioncs app has sufficed.

I've fished depths to 600ft off my kayak.  But in Cook Inlet, from a kayak you will be fishing in less than 100ft for halibut. 90% are under 20 pounds. Unless you anchor, which I do NOT recommend in cook inlet, you can use as little as 2oz. I use 8-12 oz but that's because I use the exact same set up plus a flasher to troll or kings in the same spot.  Leave the traditional halibut gear  at home.

If you fish of of Whittier or Seward, I would say you need an outfit that can fish down to 250ft using weights or jigs upto 16oz. Though all my gear is 7oz to 10oz for deeper drops.  Once again since you aren't anchored, it doesn't take  as much to get down. 

Trolling is the technique you have to master to consistently catch salmon in the salt. But obviously when fish are found, mooching is a blast, especially for cohos.  I think the only salmon I have yet to target and catch from my kayak is red salmon and I have two different new options for that I I'll try this year.  EVERYTHING legal is fair game!!

Landing fish I use a net mainly though I ave gaffs and harpoon & buoy system to halibut that has yet to be tested since I haven't had the need. 

The fish keepers are a good idea.  I've lost fish more than once when it came alive and slipped off the boat after clubbing and bleeding.  Not good, I hate wasting fish. 

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OK, so found a drysuit - Kokatat Tropos T3 SuperNova ANGLER Suits w/ Relief Zipper and Drysocks. $500 plus shipping - it's a discontinued color, but right size (XXL). Sound about right?

Went ahead and ordered NRS Paddle Shoes as well. Should all be here by early next week, so who is going fishing when? 

I'm going to dig into all replies, so will likely have more questions. Again, THANK YOU for the great info!

To start, you should consider putting either May 11 or 18 on the calendar.  That's the Anchor point Calcutta King Derby.  A few us will definitely be there. 

Starting in Mid April the Herring will begin to show in Cook Inlet followed by the Hooligan.  PRIME TIME for kings and halibut close to shore.  Easy access but it requires some planning for wind and current.

This weekend I am shooting for Homer one last time I think.  Then Starting in late April and May, I will be launching mainly from Whiskey Gulch.  I may go look for the kelp beds of Anchor Point.

Other than the Upper and Middle Kenai River before they close it for rainbow protection on May 1, I think those are the two choices I know of in the early season to catch reasonablydecent fish. 

After April 15th, if the weekend marine foreacst is blown out for Cook Inlet, I wil try Whittier for some shrimp.  If you go to Whittier, you can play around with flounder and smaller rockfish close to the launch.

I'm planning on dropping pots for a couple weeks leading up to may 1 or so.  After that I'll be looking to hook up with folks down for halibut and kings.

This weekend I'll try for the Upper Kenai -- unless a blizzard keeps me off the roads. Seriously -- what's up with that? Didn't make it last weekend because of road conditions. Late this week looks like a great forecast for Cooper Landing though.  High 30's and sun -- spooky but ravenous big 'bows to find.

Weather permitting, I'll be after halibut on April 19, 20 and 21 from Deep Creek. Great tides even if it's a bit early. If nothing's showing there, I'll probably meander further south to Whiskey Gulch or Anchor Point. 

kardinal_84: great info. Is there a good resource for herring/hooligan reports? I'm completely down for nearshore kings/halibut. As I mentioned before, live in Kenai, so traveling south is not much of an issue. Please let me know if you want to get together to fish - would love to pick your brain regarding winds/tides/currents and techniques.

akfishergal: have read, heard, and seen nothing but good things about big springtime rainbows, but know next to nothing about fishing for them, nor navigating my kayak on a river (plenty of experience on rafts, but know that's a whole different ballgame).

Anyway, as mentioned, I can easily travel anywhere on the peninsula -  weather permitting - and weekdays are even good (upside to being self-employed  ). but do not want to be a burden to either of you, especially if your time is limited.