When you hook into a Coho Salmon for the first time, before it gets to the boat, you may think that the fish is much larger than it actually is. While being excellent fighters, they also taste great on the dinner table. Cohos are a Pacific salmon that are stocked in the Great Lakes. Let's look at some factors that will help you catch more and bigger Cohos.

Coho Salmon, as with most salmon, are usually associated with large bodies of water. This generally means you must comb through a lot of water to catch good amounts. For most anglers, this means trolling. Trollers apply a variety of tactics and tools to give them the advantage. Depth finders are a must for locating schools of bait fish and thus, Cohos. Some depth finders will also display the water temperature; a key factor when fishing for any species. However, water temps greatly vary depending on the depth of water you are fishing. In other words, the temp may be much cooler 50 feet down than on the surface. Sensors can be placed on a downrigger cable, which is, of course, in the fish's zone.

Every autumn, you can count on the Cohos to congregate in and around tributaries. Depending on the size of the tributary, this calls for a major change in techniques. Small, stream size tributaries call for gear you can easily cast and drift with. Casting spoons, minnow plugs, and crankbaits are popular lures. Real salmon or trout eggs, as well as artificial, are extremely effective when naturally drifted downstream. Waders are very convenient for reaching otherwise inaccessible spots. For larger tributaries, the same techniques can be employed from either the bank or a boat. Trolling can also be an affective method, usually within the parameters of the tributary mouth.

Until next time, have fun fishing, and remember - unless your line is wet, you ain't gonna catch no fish!

Sincerely,

Nicholas Cudzilo

Anyone who has spent any time fishing knows that the state of Alaska is not only know as "the last frontier", it's also an incredible fishing destination. The state could easily be called "the last fishing frontier", and I don't think anyone would complain. Although Alaska is a difficult and fairly expensive place to travel to, the fishing is absolutely world class. Some of the best salmon runs in the world happen in Alaska, and the chance of a bear encounter while fishing is never out of the question in the great state of Alaska.

Did you know that Alaska is twice the size of Texas and has fewer roads than Delaware? How's that for a trivia question or two? The point is that it's true and with this much 'untouched' land, it leaves a ton of fishing opportunities. From Southeast Alaska, to the world famous Kenai River on the Cook Inlet, and into Alaska's interior - Alaska offers some of the best fishing in the world. Enjoy fighting to land monster halibut or a king salmon, or try your hand at fly-fishing for rainbow trout on a secluded Alaska stream. You can fish Alaska from an ocean charter boat, take to a river by jet or drift boat, or fly in by bush plane to a remote Alaska lake or stream. The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to fishing in the state of Alaska.

Salmon and Halibut are two of the most popular fish to try to catch in the great state of Alaska, but are by no means the only species of fish that are fished for. If you are a trophy hunter, Alaska is the place for you. King Salmon can easily exceed 50 pounds and Halibut are not only enormous, but delicious as well. Halibut easily reach weights of well over 150 pounds! Halibut are world renowned for their "steak like" meat, and are a true delicacy.

When fishing for Alaska's salmon, you may have to compete with the bears. Salmon are not only sought after by people, but in Alaska bears need to catch them as well. The difference is bears need salmon for survival and humans' just think they do. The point is that when wade fishing on rivers and streams in Alaska, bear spray should be carried. Better safe than sorry, right?

There are distinct regions within Alaska, with rules for each. Once you decide on which region you intend on fishing, simply check the regulations for that area. If you're going on a fishing vacation, your outfitter will obviously help with this. Having an outfitter when visiting places such as Alaska is never a bad idea, in fact it's a very good idea. Luckily in this day and age a simple search on the internet will yield more Alaska guides and outfitters than you can shake a stick at, literally! The bottom line is that if you're looking for a true fishing adventure and some huge fish, Alaska is the place for you.