Essential Tackle For Alaska

[IN2DEEP]

Inquiring minds need to know... since we're going there.

What are the essentials for fishing around Anchorage, Alaska?

Pete?

[spoiled one]

Scott,

I fish chrome buzz bombs a lot. I have caught all 5 salmon species on them as well as rock fish, halibut, and ling cod. I also use several different different types of rubber jigs. Mojo brought up a Salas PL 68 Jig in Glow Pattern and this jig kicked butt! For bait I use herring and octopus. We will make a pit stop at a local tackle shop the morning you guys get in. I am looking forward to this trip.

Pete

[IN2DEEP]

Good info Pete.
Tell me more about the rubber lures that work good
I always hear about the magnum sizes working better up there.

How much weight(lure wise) is normally used for what we will be going after?

PL68- weighs 9.5ozs.

[spoiled one]

For the rubber tails think grouper jigs. I run with 12- 24 ounce lead heads.

This is what I use when I can get a hold of them: http://www.boneyardbaits.com/Big_Bone_Grubs_s/1.htm

I have jig heads and an assortment of rubber tails.



The PL68 worked perfect for a metal jig. I will see if I can pick up a few locally.

[IN2DEEP]

The PL 68 is available locally around here. I'll get a hold of some
Do "Megabait" , "Dart" or "Crippled Herring" lures work?
And what weight Buzz Bombs do you mostly use?
Thanks for the info!

[spoiled one]

All of the above will work great. I try to buy the heaviest buzz bombs I can find and I only go with chrome.

We are going to mix it up a bit this year. I am going to exercise the right of being captain to anchor up and soak some bait off at least a couple of rods. We can still jig, but we need to "call" the fat bottom girls in with some fresh herring. We never fished off the hook last trip and I think we missed out on some good opportunities of putting some big fish on deck. I think we will spend the first day or two hanging on the hook while we wait for the shrimp pots to fill up.

[IN2DEEP]

Sounds good to me!

[IN2DEEP]

Do you ever use this type of lure?
I can make these using a cannon ball weight mold


6oz.,8oz.,12 & 16oz.

[spoiled one]

I never have, but I suspect that they would work mooching for salmon. If you have a couple pre-made, bring them up and we can give them a shot.

[welder]

I'm bringing Vodka and Orange Juice and a Camera.

[paulh]

How near to Anchorage and what species? My tackle starts at 1/4 oz spoons and goes up to 24 oz leadheads.

These are a few of my favorites for bottom fishing, and the lighter jigs are great for salmon.

[spoiled one]

Hey Paul. Welcome to AAB. We did this trip last July and had a blast. I posted the videos of the trip that IN2DEEP edited over on AOD the other day. Check them out there if you have a chance. They can also be seen here: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=4321

[paulh]

Pete,

Thanks for the welcome, this seems like a great forum, especially as it seems to be devoid of a paticular homeroid

I feel like I'm at the drinking through the firehose stage looking at all the features that people are incorporating on their boats. It's good I'm at least a year away from beginning construction so when I have the plans drawn up and plate cut I'll get what I'm after, or at least as close as possible.

[goatram]

Pete ever try the copper pipe jig with a 9" white B2 Squid about 2' above the jig. #12 treble hook on the jig and a 10/0 hook and a couple of spacer beads in the squids belly to keep the hook in the tenicales.The Jig hitting the bottom calls the lings and Butts and they will hit the B2 that is waving at them. Kills them down here

[paulh]

You'd have to work hard to find a jig a ling won't hit!

Can't wait until July 1st!

This jig



took this ling



But I've taken lings on just about every type of jig I showed in the previous post.

[spoiled one]

Pete ever try the copper pipe jig with a 9" white B2 Squid about 2' above the jig. #12 treble hook on the jig and a 10/0 hook and a couple of spacer beads in the squids belly to keep the hook in the tenicales.The Jig hitting the bottom calls the lings and Butts and they will hit the B2 that is waving at them. Kills them down here

I haven't tried the pipe jigs before, but that setup sounds interesting. Like Paul mentioned, the ling up here are not picky. I do like those B2 squids. We have caught many triple digit flatties on those.

[goatram]

Jigs would not stay on the bottom down here without a bunch of line out. Good ling fishing is 30 miles out in 550 foot of water. 2 to 3lb copper jigs work

[paulh]

The spot I took that ling was maybe 40 miles from port, but a few hundred yards from shore. The shallowest point of the ridge is 50' but it drops down to 2000' I've taken lings anywhere from 50' to 450' but prefer fishing in under 200' when possible. It just comes down to structure and current. Just as we have mountains rising out of the ocean, we have underwater mountains and deep canyons not far from shore. Find the point of an island that has good current carrying baitfish past it and and a rocky ridge running from the tip of the island or pinnacles and you'll find lings, and rockfish, and if the salmon are running, salmon. Then again there are some pinnacles seeming in the middle of nowhere that hold some monster lings.

An 8-16 oz jig gets the most use, though if you happen to hit slack tide and no wind blowing you off your spot you can get away with a 4-6 oz jig. When things pick up out comes the 24 oz lead head.

[mojomizer]

My favorite Lingcod picture: