For a person who’s finally decided to see one of the last unspoiled wilderness regions in the United States, and maybe partake in all the wondrous fishing activities up there, hiring an Alaska fishing guide will be a necessary action to take. For some really fantastic fishing, almost every angler believes the Kenai River and the Kenai Peninsula area is the best, and there are many guides who work that region.

So what are some of the things to look for when contemplating engaging the services of a fishing guide? The first thing to remember is that guides of this sort aren’t required to be licensed in the state to carry on such activities. Basically, a person up there can proclaim they’re a guide and get to it. Still, all the good guides try to maintain certain standards and possess certain skills and credentials.

It would be a mistake to assume that everybody acting as a guide up in Alaska has liability or hazard insurances, because some don’t. In fact, acting as a guide can be something somebody does in between deep-sea fishing jobs or some other seasonal activity, so check to see if guiding is a full-time job. Also, there can be a lot of miles in between a fishing camp and a doctor, so find out if the guide has first aid and CPR training and a good first aid kit.

Since guides themselves aren’t going to be doing the fishing, they’re not required to have any of the several kinds of licenses to fish somebody might need, depending on the type of fishing being done. But all the good guides take the time to stay licensed, and it could be a good indicator of the guide’s seriousness about his profession.

The kind of guide needed will also depend on the type of fishing to be done. There are many guides who don’t specialize in any one area or region in the state, but there are many who do take the time to learn the region in which they operate. Try to find out how long the guide has been in business and what areas he knows best. If time is taken to investigate a little, hiring an Alaska fishing guide will be a relatively simple matter.

When it’s finally time to go up to one of the last of the unspoiled wilderness areas in the United States, deciding on the best Alaska tours will become a necessary decision to make. One only needs, really, to make a choice between exploring this vast and beautiful state via a cruise ship or on land, and in the interior.

Remember, Alaska is a huge piece of real estate. There’s no possibility of ever seeing all of it, even over several lifetimes, so try to pick out the most memorable spots and go for them. Luckily enough, there are a number of quality tours on the market which serve to get people to the best locations and activities. Keep in mind a few things about Alaska tours, though.

To begin with, most sightseeing activity is by cruise ship these days, when time is limited or of a specific time frame. Not to worry, though; all cruises offer on-shore activities as well. In fact, the cruise lines all have access to shuttle bus or private bus transportation to get a passenger to some of the most popular tourist spots, like the state’s wildlife conservation areas and centers.

Those who want something a bit more involved, though, can take the time to set up what’s called a “land tour.” These activities tend to be a bit more costly than one of those all-inclusive, but slightly limited, cruise ship packages. Yet they all include discounts with air, hotel and land transportation partners, so overall costs in many cases can even out over the long run. And land tours are excellent choices when time constraints aren’t a factor.

Try to include as much as possible, but in a quality way, of the Alaska experience. Deciding on the best Alaska tours comes down to how a person would like to see all of the finest parts of the state. Whether that’s by ship or by land vehicle – or a combination of both – is a more a matter of personal preference and the time available to tour, than of anything else.

There are a variety of places to go fishing in Alaska. Making a decision can be difficult with all the choices. Well, one place to consider is Sitka, which is one of the premier fishing and tourist destinations in the state. Here are a few of the great reasons that you’ll want to make Sitka your destination for your next Alaska fishing trip.

Catch Fish Quickly – Catching fish quickly is a great reason to visit Sitka. This is the area that has the lowest rod hours per fish in Alaska, which is why it is one of the top fishing areas to visit. If you want to ensure you get a chance to catch a lot of fish on your vacation, then Sitka is an excellent destination to check out.

Used to be the Capital of Russian America – You’ll also be interested to know that Sitka used to be the capital of Russian American back when Alaska used to be owned by Russia. This means that not only will you have some great fishing available, but there are a variety of interesting historic sites that you can visit and enjoy while you are in the area as well.

Mild Currents and Tides – The mild currents and tides make it a great fishing spot in Alaska. Since they are so mild, you can get bottom fish no matter what time of day it happens to be. In many other Alaska fishing spots, you can only fish during certain parts of the day

Salmon and Halibut Fishing – Another excellent reason that this is a great destination for fishing is that you’ll be able to fish for both salmon and halibut within the same day. Usually this doesn’t occur in many of the other fishing spots within the state.

Bright Salmon – Most of the other fishing areas in Alaska will provide you with salmon, but they are usually dark because they are going to be spawning. However, in Sitka you’ll find that the salmon you catch are actually ocean bright. They feed here, and you’ll get beautiful salmon in this area.

Bait Fish Pushed In and Around Sitka Sound – Because of the way that Sitka is located, the currents push in the bait fish in to the area. This leads to a lot of other fish coming to the area to feed on the bait fish, making it a wonderful area for fishing.

Plenty of Wildlife – Sure, you will see a whole lot of fish, but that is not the only wildlife in the area that you can enjoy. Many types of wildlife are around that you’ll get to see. A few of the wildlife you’ll lay eyes on at Sitka include humpback whales, sea otters, albatross, eagles, porpoises, puffins, and a whole lot more.

A New Sport Fishery – Sitka offers a new sport fishery. Since it is fairly new, you won’t experience the overcrowding that many other areas for fishing do in the state of Alaska. Everyone is sure to get plenty of fish, which makes fishing fun.

Great Fishing in Storms and Nice Days – Whether the weather is beautiful or it’s a stormy day, you can still enjoy great fishing in Sitka. If it is storming, the inside waters are still calm enough for fishing. Then on days that are nice, you can enjoy fishing on the outside waters too.

King Salmon Fishing is Great – Sitka is recognized as a premier spot for fishing because the king salmon are biting all through the summer. It doesn’t matter what time of summer it is, you can still catch the king salmon that you want. The outer coast of Sitka is where they come to feed. This means that they are available all the time instead of just during spawning as they are many other places.

Even 12-year old boys can catch big fish in Alaska. The example of Daniel Thorsness who managed to catch a 47 lb. trout at Lake Clarence in Alaska in 1970.

The more than 320 lakes to fish in make Alaska one of the most desirable fishing locations in the world. While Lake Trout is the most common type it is also home to Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike and Salmon.

Alaska houses some of the largest Lake Trout around. It is believed that their massive size is due to the difficulty in catching them. Local anglers focus more on the for sure catch leaving a lake trout for anyone who enjoys a bit more of a challenge.

Lake Trout, which is a member of the char family of fish, is residing in the deeper parts of Alaska’s lakes.

The Alaska Range, Brook Range, Bristol Bay watershed, the Alaska Peninsula, Lake Clark National Park, areas of the Kenai Peninsula, and lakes on the north side of the Chugach Mountains are great locations for lake fishing in Alaska. Some of these locations are very remote and require the use of ATVs, snowmobiles, or foot hiking to reach the lakes.

Insight on the habitat and behavior of the Lake Trout gives the angler an advantage over the novice angler. Some tips:

1. Lake trout can be found near the top of the lakes and shorelines in spring and then gradually further in the deeper cooler waters as the temperature rises.

2. When fishing in shallower water or near inlets or outlets of streams off lakes, use small crank baits, gigs, fly streamers, spoons or spinners.

3. It is a good practice to keep the baits away from the boat to lower the vibration and sound that could divert the lake trout from the bait.

4. During early summer the best fishing grounds are located in the deep cool waters while the shallower waters are best in late fall.

5. Lake trout spawn during September through November.

6. A water temperature of 52 degrees Fahrenheit or less is preferred by Lake Trouts.

7. Best bait is the preferred diet of the Lake Trout.

8. Killing the catch immediately and letting it bleed in the water is a good way of reducing the possibility of attracting bears. – 14089

Doris Ballamore operates here own fishing website called (http://fishinginalaskaguide.com/) Alaska Fishing where she writes regularly articles like (http://fishinginalaskaguide.com/fly-fishing-in-alaska/) Fly Fishing Alaska.

by Doris Ballamore

Alaska, too, has festivals of its own. Every state does have one. Alaska has its Alaska Folk Festival which is held every spring, in the good month of April, when the air has warmed up a bit.

The event is practically free; there is no admission fee, any charge for concerts, the dances or any of the other events. It’s an event of humanity for the folks around the state. Everyone is encouraged to join and be a part of the event. Novices, amateurs, professionals and experts are openly welcomed, and there are no auditions whatsoever. Just the submission of applications and its done.

The Alaska Folk Festival is an open event for people of any age. It is usually visited by most people from around the country and around the world. It is a very extensive festival, with its audience of varying demographics, culture, location, age and interest. But the festival caters to everyone and anyone.

The history of the AFF started around 1975, with the title of the First Annual Southeast Alaska Folk Festival. The first event was proven to be a success, thus it had continued on to become a yearly event.

It had went on until the event became a well-rooted tradition for the people of Alaska. The main theme isn’t really of the modern times but the style and culture of the Alaskan musicians. Contrasted with a guest artist, it displays the varying differences and the similarities of each and everyone.

Even then and now, the festival continues to be a non-profit endeavor that continuously brings in crowd upon crowd of performers and culture-enthusiasts. It is a meeting place, a venue for people of one heart; for those who want to preserve and discover the subtlety and art of the Alaskan way.