Alaska Fishing

Frozen fishing

The water dripping off the eaves has thickened into crystal stalactites, and outside my window snowflakes swirl before settling into a fine dust on the frozen ground -- a welcome sign that winter, with its slower pace, is once again upon us.

Fishing with a spear

For two years now, Howard Tieden has been flying clients out to temporary ice houses with portable heaters on nearly two dozen Mat-Su lakes, cutting big holes and waiting for pike to swim by and meet death delivered from above.

Northern pike

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Ultimate sport fish

When snow coats riverbanks, ice forms on the fishing rod eyelets and water turns slushy in the shallows, casual anglers are long gone.

Photos: Nice Catch

Forum: The Fishing Hole

Charter hauls in pair of 200-pound halibut

On Sept. 24, during the final week of Homer's halibut derby when fishing is often difficult, captain Josh Brooks of Bob's Trophy Charters returned to port with two halibut weighing more than 200 pounds each aboard his boat, the Huntress.

Two fleets battle over allocation of halibut catch

Federal fishery regulators meeting this week in Anchorage are trying again to end a 15-year battle between two competing fleets that hook halibut for a living.

Homer halibut earns Californian $45,000

The richest Alaska fishing derby in three years has made Jeff Pardi of San Rafael, Calif., a successful and wealthy angler. Pardi on Wednesday was officially declared winner of the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby for the 348-pound monster he landed July 9.

Homer derby enters final week of halibut fishing

The summer-long Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby is down to its final week, with California angler Jeff Pardi comfortably in first with his 348-pound barn-door halibut.

Chugiak angler owns biggest fish of September

California fisherman Jeff Pardi continued to wait out his likely victory in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby last week, while Chugiak angler Paul Standifer took over the monthly lead with a 154-pounder.

Late silvers hit Kodiak's Buskin River

A late rush of silver salmon into Kodiak's Buskin River has prompted the state to raise the daily bag limit.

Stocked silver salmon opened for snagging

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game on Tuesday issued an emergency order opening the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon to snagging beginning at noon Friday in an effort to catch the remaining stocked silver salmon.

Lure of catching a salmon shark dwindles

Mat Rude was hoping for a hefty halibut late last month on a charter fishing expedition to Montague Island when his pole suddenly bent double.

Photos: Nice Catch

Forum: The Fishing Hole

Fewer big halibut landed in Homer derby

A rainy September has kept California angler Jeff Pardi feeling comfortable with the heaviest flatfish of the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby.

FISHING DERBIES

Giant silver, small halibut win in Valdez

The biggest and littlest fish helped two Southcentral anglers pick up $15,000 first place prizes when the 2008 Valdez Fish Derbies ended Sunday.

Southcentral fishing forecast

Where they're biting and where they aren't

Valdez is the place to be for silvers

With silver salmon waning on the Deshka and Little Su rivers, anglers might consider a trip to Valdez for Labor Day weekend.

Southcentral fishing forecast

Forum: The Fishing Hole

Photos: Nice Catch

Area students get taste of fly-fish guiding

Wealthy anglers flying into Bristol Bay fishing lodges to sample its world- renowned trout and salmon fishing are often guided by men and women from the Lower 48 who venture north to work during the summer.

Runt of a halibut nets angler $10,000 in Homer derby

After a summer's worth of missed opportunities, someone finally got it right in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, turning $10 into $10,000.

Photos: Nice Catch

Southcentral fishing forecast

Where they're biting and where they aren't

Bird Creek another option for urban anglers

After a summer of combat fishing along the mud-caked banks of Ship Creek, with Anchorage high-rises as the backdrop, this stream 25 miles south of town offers something different for urban anglers.

Video: Fishing Dude on Bird Creek

Southcentral fishing forecast

Photos: Nice Catch