Traveling Angler 2011 TA_2011 | Page 17

ITINERARY k ni k m ar 6 7 9 1 anchorage 2 3 turnagain arm soldotna 5 4 cooper landing 8 The cost of fishing Less than $1,200 homer Round trip flight from Seattle alaska $450 (alasakair.com) Car rental $350 total / $175 per person (thrifty.com) Food/drinks need to dig a limit of 25. Highly recommend that you pay to have them cleaned and processed. Location Clam Gulch is 170 miles from Anchorage. Access Clam Gulch Road, ac- cessible from Hwy 1, leads you to Cook Inlet and massive clam beds on the beach. Species/Season Razor clams all summer during minus tides (2 feet or less). #8 Ninilchik River A small river, the Ninilchik has a king salmon run in June and they have some size to them. Do-It-Yourself Tips Silvers in August and September. Location 180 miles from Anchorage via Hwy 1. Access Hwy 1 will cross the river and frontage roads will ac- cess the lower river, and portions of the upper river. There are trails that follow the river. Species/Season Kings in June; Coho in August, September. #9 Anchor River The lower river, the section easiest accessed from the Sterling Highway, is popular king fishery in June. The Anchor receives a good coho run in late August and #1 Pack a carryon bag with your essentials. Travel as light as possible. #2 Use an ice chest as a piece of luggage. Pack fishing gear, fillet knives and enough Zip-Lok bags to bring home any salmon you harvest. #3 Buy your fishing licenses online before you leave. #4 Bring a Gazetteer or detailed map so you can explore undiscov- ered fishing spots. #5 When reserving your lodging, find a B&B or hotel that has a large freezer you can access should you harvest any salmon. through September. It also has a viable steelhead run in Septem- ber and October. Location 207 miles from Anchorage via Hwy 1. Access A frontage road crosses the lower river and gives you access to the lower mile of the river. A trail will access the upper river for several miles. Species/Season Kings in June; Coho in August, September; Steelhead in September and October. #10 Homer Best known for its off-shore halibut fishery you can find a king and coho fishery in June by cast- ing for “feeder” kings and coho in the lagoon on the Homer Spit. If you can afford it, budget $200 for a day charter so you can bring home some halibut fillets. Location 222 miles from Anchorage via Hwy 1. Access The Homer Spit is ac- cessible from downtown Homer. Species/Season Kings in June, July; Coho in August. $150 per person Gasoline $150 / $75 per person Out of state fishing license $55 (adfg.alaska.gov) B&B lodging $356 total for 4 nights, two-person occupancy, $178 per person (expedia.com) Fish packing $50 on return flight for added weight. Hotel Lodging $480 total for 4 nights, two-person occupancy, $120 for hotel (expedia.com) Misc. expenses $67 Total $1,200 traveling angler 2011 15