| I have had the pleasure of fishing for
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| | and watch out for the slippery rocks!
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| salmon in Alaska. It was a thrilling
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| | The Bait:
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| experience!
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| | Ask the Pro's at the pro shop what works
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| To see 3 feet long Silver's in a stream
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| | best in your area or the area you are
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| surrounded by 10,000+ foot mountains is
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| | going to fish. They will most likely
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| something you dream about.
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| | suggest salmon eggs. They are cured in
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| If you have fished for salmon anywhere
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| | many different ways and everyone has
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| and they are spawning you know they
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| | their favorite.
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| aren't all that easy to catch as they
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| | You may wonder why you would want to use
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| aren't feeding only intent onrunning up
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| | salmon eggs. It's very simply really.
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| stream to their spawning spot. So it
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| | After salmon spawn, the parent fish stay
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| takes some patience and good timing as
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| | around the nest to protect the eggs from
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| well as knowing where and when they are
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| | predators like trout.
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| running.
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| | The currents will also carry the eggs
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| But for any fisherman, this is one of the
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| | away. When this happens the parent fish
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| ultimate experiences!
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| | gently pick the eggs in their mouth and
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| Here are a few tips:
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| | bring them back to the nest.
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| Your First Pole:
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| | So, when you dangle salmon eggs in the
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| The most important piece of equipment is
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| | water after the salmon have spawned, they
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| a fishing pole of course! The best place
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| | will see the eggs and assume that some
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| to purchase a pole is at a real pro shop
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| | have floated out of the nest. When they
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| or bait and tackle shop.
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| | go to retrieve them, they get hooked!
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| Pro shops usually have a generous return
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| | The Catch:
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| policy. If you get a pole that is not
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| | Take along an ice chest filled with ice
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| comfortable for you, too stiff or too
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| | to keep your catch fresh. You may want to
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| flexible, too long or too short, they
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| | have a couple of five gallon buckets as
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| will generally exchange it for a pole
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| | well. One bucket for cleaning your catch.
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| that will work better for you.
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| | Another bucket to keep the ready-to-eat
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| Bottom line, they want your return
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| | gutted and cleaned salmon in.
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| business for other things like bait and
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| | If you clean it before you take it home,
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| tackle.
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| | you avoid the smelly bloody mess in your
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| The Place:
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| | kitchen. Many rivers in Alaska, Kenai,
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| The best place to fish for salmon is in
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| | Russian, Montana, Bird...have fish
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| the river when they come up to spawn. The
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| | cleaning facilities.
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| local pro shop should be happy to provide
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| | A third bucket could be used to save
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| you with the best times for fishing
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| | salmon eggs gutted from a female. You can
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| salmon.
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| | save the egg sack and cure it later. You
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| Salmon spawn at different times and come
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| | can learn more about how to cure the
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| up the rivers at different intervals
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| | eggs, or roe, online or talk to someone
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| throughout the season. So, planning is
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| | in your local pro shop for suggestions.
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| important if you want toactually fish
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| | The Filleting:
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| when the salmon are spawning. You can get
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| | You can cut your fish in two ways, steaks
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| alot of good information with a
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| | or fillets. Salmon steaks are the easiest
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| subscription to Alaska magazine or do a
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| | way to cut them up. Filleting takes a
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| search online for the location you are
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| | little more practice. You willprobably
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| interested in.
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| | mangle the first few you try to fillet.
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| The Boat:
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| | Don't let that bother you. All those
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| Best case scenario is to have a flat
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| | little mangled pieces can be smoked and
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| bottom river boat, but those are
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| | turned into a salmon dip.
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| expensive. It may not be a good idea to
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| | Mmm good!
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| take a regular "V" hull lake boat into
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| | The Cooking:
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| the river because the depths can be too
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| | There are many ways to cook salmon. Pan
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| shallow and unpredictable.
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| | fry, BBQ, roasted or even smoked. If you
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| Another wonderful way to experience your
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| | do decide to smoke your salmon pieces, be
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| first salmon trip is by hiring a guide.
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| | sure not to over drythem.
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| You'll learn more from the guide then on
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| | Here's a simple recipe for salmon dip.
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| your own. It can be pricey, but it's
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| | One cup smoked salmon
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| worth it. Alaska guides generally charge
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| | Two 8 oz packages of cream cheese
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| $200/day per person.
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| | Half cup chopped onion
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| No boat? No worries. Fishing from shore
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| | Salt, pepper, garlic, to taste
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| is a wonderful way to experience this
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| | Now it's time to stop reading about it
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| fantastic hobby as well. Get some waders
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| | and go out there and catch some salmon!
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