Given that you don’t get to choose your neighbours, the Yukon doesn’t have it so bad.
Politics aside, the Yukon has a large, welcoming neighbour inviting us over for dinner a few times a year.
Alaska is a majestic place with an abundance of salmon and wildlife accessible to the majority of Yukoners. A few years ago, things got even more affordable when we benefited from reciprocal resident license fees between our two governments.
I have been fishing the Chilkat and Chilkoot Rivers in Haines for close to 10 years and have enjoyed every minute of it. The need to stand in a cool Alaskan river in the fall with a few buddies is now hard-wired in my DNA.
Not every year produces fish, but it is always a nice visit. There are three major runs bringing Yukoners in droves. Pink salmon in July and August, the Sockeye run around the same time and the October Coho run.
Virtually every coastal town in Southeast Alaska has fish runs worth travelling for. In addition to Haines, Yukoners frequent places like Skagway, Hoonah, Valdez and a few secret places in between.
In addition to being able to purchase a great cup of coffee, many of these locations offer great large, ocean halibut and King salmon fishing.
Before you venture off for the first time to visit our neighbour, make sure you are well prepared. Unfortunately, the same gear that works in the Yukon may not work well for Alaska.
Its best to take a trip to Sports North and ask Glenn what works best for where you intend to go. Another option is to book a charter with a reputable Alaskan captain and take all the guesswork out of it. Having never fished for Halibut in my life, I booked a charter this summer and was rewarded with a full freezer.
Our relationship with Alaska is also fragile and requires respect. Every Yukoner needs to review the regulations, such as daily catch limits, possession limits and size restrictions.
Most importantly there is a growing need to think about bear etiquette and safety. A few too many bears have been destroyed over the years as a result of ignorance on the part of anglers and tourists.
It is also healthy to focus on the experience and not set unrealistic expectations on the bounty. Some years, factors like the run size, run arrival date, weather and river conditions make it very difficult to catch fish. We only need to look at our own backyard, the Yukon River, to know that fish stocks are low to start with.
There is no doubt that we cherish this opportunity to fish Alaska so close to home. It is important we set a good example and don’t outstay our welcome.
A few online resources to prepare for your trip to Haines this fall include the Alaska Fish and Game report for Haines and Southeast Alaska located at www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region1/weekly/hns.cfm and the Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation at www.bearfoundation.org.
