Alaska Trips by Highway

This started as reply to Jeff's post from yesterday, moved it to a new post
as it got lengthy

I did a family/fishing trip several years ago and didn't find it hard to get
into fishing at all. Not sure what the barometer is, but with a little
research, you can find fish VERY EASILY. Yes, the ultimate guided trips
via the big lodges around Lake Iliamna, Lake Clark Preserve, and Katmai
preserves will be the best you can buy, but the option that Willi, Chas, RW
put together, or even a road trip are very feasible.

We wondered around a good part of the road system in Alaska, combining it
with a trip into Glacier Bay (part of the "Inner Passage"). With the
research in hand I plotted out several areas to fish including Juneau,
Glacier Bay, Cook Inlet feeders, Denali Highway, Richardson Highway, and
others. We definetly did much more sightseeing than fishing as my wife does
not fish, but I caught several varieties of fish including silvers, dolly
varden, large Rainbows, and grayling on the side. Skipped on the
opportunity for King Salmon as they do attract a crowd, but all areas I
fished were not populated with other fisherman at all.

If I go back just for fishing I would spend a little extra and hit the inner
passage more, up to Valdez (major stop in Yukatat). This would require use
of the ferry system and a few flights to get into the more inaccessible
locations, but I'd be looking more for the steelhead/giant rainbow fare,
with whatever salmon, trout, etc mixed in along the way.

One thing I would also check would be the Wrangell Mountain Area. If memory
serves they were expanding the road system in the Wrangell Mountain National
Park so may be some new opportunities there. Any area where they have put
in new roads I would think would offer more accessible fishing.

The float trip would be cool too, so if that worked out, to take it along
with a bunch of fellow Roffians, I would jump on that also,

Here is a quick link you could use used to start planning a road trip:
http://www.bellsalaska.com/denalihy.html

The Alaskan Milepost had much more information (a publication on all of the
roads and stops along the way). It a great detailed reference of the roads
system and all of the accommodations, eateries, spots for fishing, and
really every thing along the way. This link gives you a good summary of
what the milepost is about, but you need to purchase the publication to get
all of the detail.

http://www.themilepost.com/

There are several other books I also used for research, one specifically for
fishing by highway in Alaska, a few travel guides to find accommodations
and eateries. I can dig out more detail on the books and such if anyone is
interested.

Another good point for the road trip would be for those of us that may need
to include the family on the trip to justify the fishing...uh I mean would
like to get some fishing in while they explore Alaska with their families.
Could offer a few suggestion on the tour side of things also, but for me the
highlights were

- Whale watching in Glacier Bay (saw the largest friggin grizzly bear I
would ever want to see, from the security of the boat) along with Glaciers,
seals, Eagles and other birds, and tons of other wildlife.
- Glacier Bay Lodge...got a good deal on accommodation, not sure what they
are now, but you can walk to incredible wildlife viewing along the water,
and caught a run of fish (think they were sea run Dollies) that was
incredible.
- the city of Juneau - historic Alaska and a very interesting town. Access
to local fishing via roads in town.
- Glacier Landing on Denali (aka Mt McKinley) - this was the THE highlight
worth the $50 per person - make sure to bring the camera.
- Stay in Talkeetna - the Alaskan town you picture in your mind.
- Denali National Park - Tour into the park was an ultimate experience.
- Denali highway - Just a great way to see Alaska by car. Plan a stop where
you can as the gravel road can wear on you after a while.
- Seward - Wildlife/Whale tour was good (better in Glacier Bay). Got to see
a few Eagles dive on a run of Silvers.

Plan as much time as you can - so many places to see and fish. We took 2
weeks and it was not enough. An alternative would be to travel in pieces,
don't try to see it all the first time in.

The Finn