Best fishing tackle for Alaska fishing adventures is carefully selected to match the diverse fish species and challenging conditions found in the state’s rugged wilderness. These selections are among the favorites chosen by the editors at Fish Alaska.
Best Fishing Tackle
Southcentral Bead Company Beads
Resident fish in Alaska that live in waterways that support salmon runs become ultra focused on eating salmon eggs when salmon begin to spawn. Salmon eggs range from 6- to 10 mm depending on the salmon species. The most effective artificial representation of a salmon egg is a simple plastic bead. Over the last 35 or so years, savvy anglers have really upped their bead game. Top-end guides and anglers take it to new levels, using nail polish and application techniques to achieve an egg that looks just like what’s in the water. From day to day, sometimes even throughout the day, the hot bead can constantly change. Also take into consideration that eggs change color the longer they are in the water, and that as different salmon species take main stage in the spawning party, size and coloration is a moving target. This year Southcentral Bead Company put together a custom case of 6- through 10 mm beads for us and they worked very, very well.
Scent Striker Magnum Halibut Rig
Another new product recently added to Scent Striker’s potent arsenal is the Magnum Halibut Rig. Built using 300-pound-test monofilament, this leader is 15 inches long, and features a 14/0 VMC circle hook, glow line-protecting thimbles, and a trio of Scent Striker Untrimmed Singles threaded onto the leader. Add some of their DBS-Striker Formula to the Singles, and you’ll be fishing even if your bait gets robbed. We employed this rig in Kodiak last summer and caught a range of species on it.
Brad’s Killer Fishing Gear Super Bait Skinny Mini
This stuffer bait is a scaled-down version of the Original Super Bait for days when a smaller profile is advantageous. This lure has the same action as the Original Super Bait. It can be rigged in many ways, and is available either in rigged single lures, or unrigged 2-packs. This lure is effective for both Chinook and coho, especially when fished behind a flasher. Other species will eat it too: pink salmon, steelhead in some locations, chum salmon, and lake trout. Fill it with gel scent or tuna in oil, or your favorite tuna/oil/scent concoction, and you’re in business. With the Skinny Mini, you can mix and match the belly piece to create new color combinations.
BnR Tackle SlideLock with Tip Saver
For those trolling heavy lead weights, like those Pro-Trolling (using “360” flashers), this is the best slider made. It features a silicone tip to prevent damage to fishing rod tip-tops, and the EZ-Clip-style weight attachment is much less likely to tangle than a duo-lock snap, plus you can attach or remove the weight without having to unsnap anything. Available in Kelly green or black/orange.
Silver Horde Coho Killer Herring Aide
The Coho Killer from Silver Horde is a 3-inch spoon that mimics the baitfish that coho and Chinook feed on in the wild. But heck, like we have seen time and again, everything eats the Coho Killer. This spoon is available in a staggering array of colors and patterns. We really like the Herring Aide pattern and used it to catch salmon around Kodiak Island and Sitka. Keep your eyes out for a new way to rig your Coho Killers, a new product that Silver Horde is calling Slide Hammer. When the fish bites the lure, it slides up the line, allowing you to fight the fish without it having the leverage of the spoon to try to throw the hook. Furthermore, it prolongs the life of the spoon because the fish can’t bite or bend it during the battle.