Customer Reviews

Alaska Fishing: The Ultimate Angler's Guide, Deluxe Third Edition

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have well over 20 books about fishing Alaska and none comes close to this one. If you are familiar with the earlier editions of this book, you know the depth of the content. The information is still there but you wouldn't recognize the book if you flipped through it. The maps are much improved and the whole book is crammed full of beautiful new illustrations and photos.

If you are planning your first fishing trip to Alaska, pick up a copy of this book. It costs more then some others, but it is money well spent. The chapters on the different species are great and complete with techniques, equipment, locations and naturual history so you understand the fish before heading out.

The location section has over 300 suggestions about where to fish. In reality, you will never be able to see any more than a fraction of these suggestions (even if you live in Alaska) but they will give you all the daydreaming and planning material you will ever need. The books subtitle is the Ultimate Guide for the state and it really is.

Note, don't buy this book just before heading out on your trip. It is densely packed with information. Buy it early and flip through it reading what catches your eye, then as your plans start solidifying, concentrate on the areas and species you will be targeting.

You won't go wrong with this book.

****** Update to the Review 8/11/08 ******

I still love this book but co-writer Gunnar Pedersen has put out a new book with the same design, but more focused on fishing the road system, (which is most likely what you will be doing.) Check out The Alaska Roadside Angler's Guide. It is the only AK fishing guide that is on par with this book. If you had to pick just one, you won't go wrong either way, but the new book is more focus to the DIY fisherman who is fishing the road system.

What distinguishes this book from all other fishing books (actually, from most non-fiction books of any kind) is a combined excellence in state-of-the-art visuals and literary presentation. Every photograph, chart, chapter, and paragraph has been thoughtfully constructed and meticulously interwoven in a way that makes it very difficult to put the book down. Photos of rippling water that seems that it is moving, of sheefish that appear they would jump off the page, and a herd of caribou that is clustering from fright. Small lithographs of rafts and fish inserted into maps for interest. Pictures and accounts of state/world record fish, and the people who caught them. Alot is new in the 3rd edition with no sacrifices to content. For the skimming readers - there are two new rating systems (top star rating, and table) --- which include a fishing pressure rating. For the saltwater reader, there are now new or greatly improved chapters on rockfish, halibut, and salmon shark. More seasoned fishermen can learn, for example, about remote areas of the north and northwest regions, the peninsula area, or less traditional fly techniques such as the use of monofilament and slinky-weight to present to sockeyes. Many of the area descriptions have been updated or expanded, some new ones added, and all of the maps have been expanded with the right amount of detail (with additional coarse and finer scale inserts where needed for detail or reference). Not only is the book comprehensive, but very accurate in its accounts of fishing technique and right on the mark as to what to expect at the locations described, and where to go. With the hundreds of locations covered, there is not a huge amount of detail on any one site, but basic features of fish runs, water conditions, locations, and/or wildlife, are economically included.

The location accounts section is organized slightly differently than earlier editions (fishing timing information is at the beginning of chapters, and contact information is at the end of chapters, instead of included for each location). This takes just a little more patience to pull information together, but eliminates redundancy and allows more locations to be covered. What I enjoyed most about the book is how the visuals (maps, tackle) meshed almost seamlessly with the writing, and the nearly error-free publishing and editing.

Overall, this is one of the best fishing books ever published and certainly the best concerning Alaska. This is a must-buy book for every fisherman with an interest in Alaska or as a gift to them from their friends. The wait since the 1997 edition (which sold out about 5 years ago) has been well worth it.

Living in Alaska and being an avid fisherman, I have purchased and read every Alaskan fishing guide that has been published since the mid 80's.

This book is the best guide on Alaskan fishing in my collection. If you are going to buy one book for your Alaskan fishing trip, this is the one to get.

Now in a deluxe, updated third edition, Alaska Fishing: The Ultimate Angler's Guide is a thoroughly comprehensive tour of Alaskan fishing by the state's top fishing experts. Featuring full color photography throughout, Alaska Fishing covers all seventeen Alaska sport species (including both fresh and salt water fish), all fishing methods (fly, spin, and bait), and all six regions of the state, with in-depth details on over 300 of the most productive fishing locations. Tips on regional climate and conditions, run timing, visitor service costs, trophy and record fishes, USGS map references, fishing regulations, flies for Alaskan fish, a cross-referenced index and more make Alaska Fishing as friendly to novice fishers as it is valuable to seasoned experts. An absolute "must-have" for anyone intrigued by the Alaskan fishing experience.

I read all of the books on Alaska Fishing, and this is best and most comprehensive. It covers all the regions in Alaska, and all species of fish with detailed information on each. The book provides everything you need to know in planning your Alaska fishing vacation. Includes run timing of the various types of fish, tackle requirements, access, and services including flyout options, and lodging. This is the Alaska fishing bible.

This fishing guide to Alaska is in the "Must Have" for an angler visiting Alaska. It is comprehensive and is an excellent starting point whether you plan on hiring a guide or exploring the waterways on your own.

This is the best fishing book about Alaska I have ever read. It beats 99% of all fishing books I have seen.

Charles

I was very pleased with this purchase. The book covers all of the major sport fish that can be expected in Alaska. Each species gets a detailed treatment including biology, tackle, fishing techniques, and some of the best places to go for each species. The authors also provide a detailed discussion of the various geographic regions of the state (including contact information for guides and air taxis) making it easy to plan a fishing trip by region or by species. The book is filled with photography that beautifully illustrates the fish and places of Alaska.

I now live in rural Alaska and my husband has fished all summer - fresh salmon can't be beat! This book was spot on and I look forward to using it to surprise my husband with a cool fishing trip. The pictures were excellant and look just like what I live in!

Any fisherman planning a trip to Alaska should check out this reference. There are tips on hiring a guide and exploring the waterways on your own.