Description

Departments

4   Fish Alaska Online

6   Alaska Traveler

8   Creel

10  Fishing for a Compliment

12  Salmon Sense

14  Fly

16  Saltwater

18  Coho Chronicles

20  Flyfishing

22  Conservation

86  Recipe

89  Ad Index

90  Final Drift

 

The Annual Gear Guide showcases products worthy of Editors’ Choice Awards as well as new gear to hit the market. © George Krumm

 

24

2024 Editors’ Choice Awards by Fish Alaska Staff

Fish Alaska editors test gear throughout the year in a variety of fisheries to identify the cream of the crop in a wide range of categories including: Rods; Reels; Tackle; Line; Field Accessories; Knives and Cutting Tools; Watercraft and Accessories; Wading Gear,  Apparel: Jackets and Pants; Apparel: Layering; Apparel: Accessories; Apparel: Footwear; Polarized Sunglasses; Kids’ Gear; Luggage, Packs and Cases; Camping; and Cooking. If you’re in the market for items in these categories, be sure to review this year’s Editors’ Choice Awards before you buy.

 

54

2024 New Gear by Fish Alaska Staff

Every year, a wide variety of new products are launched. We’ve gathered information on some of the most promising new products to hit the market in the last several months and some that will be available soon. Some of these will likely garner ECAs in next year’s gear review issue. Be sure to check them out!

 

66

The Perfect Peninsula Plan by Melissa Norris

Publishers Melissa Norris and Marcus Weiner, along with their cameraman, Brian Woobank, left Anchorage one fine June day for a 7-day road trip of guided fishing stretching from Big River Lakes to Homer, Ninilchik, Soldotna, and more, fishing for halibut, Pacific cod, sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden. This story paints a good picture of how many things you can do on a weeklong road trip on the Kenai Peninsula.

 

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Tying Your Own Assist Rigs by Josh Leach

Assist rigs have been around for years, but with the recent surge in the popularity of the slow-pitch jigging technique, they’ve become more mainstream. Many anglers now tie their own assist rigs, and you can, too. Josh Leach has been tying and fishing assist rigs for the Kodiak salmon and bottomfishing he does for a few years and shares how to tie them in this article.