Continuation of Alaska's high quality sport fishing will depend upon more anglers choosing to practice catch and release. Even though you will be fishing in a wild and remote area, nature has it's limits. Fisheries Biologists report that a 15" grayling may be 15-20 years old. To keep the catch rates high, we have elected to require catch and release fishing for all arctic grayling on our trips. For salmon, all females are to be released. Males may be kept in accordance with catch limits currently in effect.

The grayling in the systems you will be fishing for are wild. Grayling are tough when it comes to taking an Alaskan winter, but do not do well within a hatchery, plant-in-stream environment.

Our goal is to maximize your fishing opportunity while assuring the health of the stocks of these wild grayling. This benefits you the client by increasing the possible number of fish available for you to catch.

Truth be told; you would not have much to take home with you (in the way of grayling meat) and they do not freeze well at all. Grayling meat turns to mush when frozen then thawed. Another reason to go with catch and release.

Most responsible sport fishing guides and lodges in Alaska now practice or require catch and release fishing for rainbow trout, steelhead and even pike. Most now are bringing grayling into their catch and release practices.

Wise management (both officially and via self management) dictates that grayling will survive sustained catch and keep practices. This is why we are able to offer fishing trips where you will catch the maximum number of fish possible, yet return them to the stream to fight another day.

For salmon we promote catch and release. However if you do wish to keep your limit of salmon, you may keep the males. The females deposit their eggs in only one redd (nest). A male may service up to several redds. All the salmon in our fishing area, kings, silvers and chums, die after they spawn, following their return to the freshwater streams they were hatched in.

We understand that there may be a price to pay for this philosophy, in the way of lost business, however, we also believe that the underlying logic is sound.

After all, we believe you will agree that it is our job is to put you in contact with the highest number of fish possible. We have taken action to insure that occurs.

To Release a Fish

• Land the fish quickly
• Keep the fish in the water
• Keep hands away from the gills
• Handle the fish gently
• Back the hook out
• Cut the line if the fish is deeply hooked
• Support the fish facing into the current until it swims away