Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Ketchikan Salmon Fishing For Sport And More

By Krystal Branch


Ketchikan salmon fishing and other natural resources have attracted people to this spot in Alaska for centuries. Today, it's not only the fish that bring visitors to this historic and picturesque town. History, arts and crafts, wildlife, hiking, vibrant community life, and first-class resorts combine to make this a vacation destination for the whole family.

Charter guides will direct the anglers to the best spots. The others can choose between museums of history, culture, or wildlife. They can go hiking in state or national forests, take guided excursions through the rainforest or along the waterfronts, or enjoy the amenities of first-class resorts and lodges. There are shopping, galleries of paintings, carvings, and photography from local artists, and great restaurants in the historic town center.

It's an adventure just getting around in this wilderness. There are places guests can access by vehicle, but many places require a boat or plane ride or a long hike along a forest trail. Black and brown bears, mountain goats, deer, and moose are often seen on land, while sea lions, seals, porpoises, and whales frolic in the water. Bird watchers will find many sea birds and land birds from hummingbirds to Bald Eagles.

Back to fish: there are five species of salmon that fight their way upstream from the open ocean to spawn. They are the King or Chinook, the Silver or Coho, the red or Sockeye, the pink or Humpy, and the Churn or Dog species. The town used to be known as the salmon capital of the world, and canneries were the main industry.

There are also five species of trout in the lakes and streams, including Rainbow, Cutthroat, and Steelhead. Those who want even more can go after halibut, cod, and Red Snapper. The town, once known as 'the salmon capital of the world', was an ancient fishing camp for the Tingit natives, who spent their summers there collecting food for the long winters. The town was founded in 1900 by commercial fishermen and canneries once were the main industry.

While the fish take some members of the party away for half a day, a whole day, or many days, the non-fishers will find many exciting options. They can schedule a tour of a vintage cannery, a visit to the tribal hatchery to see baby fish and rehabilitated raptors, a hike in a national or state forest, a tour of the rainforest or the unspoiled waterfront, or a whale watch. The museums and visitor's center have exciting video presentations that explain local history, culture, and attractions.

Even very young children will love the vintage totem poles collected from abandoned native villages and preserved at the Totem Heritage Center. They will like the restaurants, gift shops, art and photography galleries, and museums of Creek Street, the wooden boardwalk at the heart of the town. There are workshops in local crafts and live music and theater, as well.

Fish may have made the Ketchikan salmon fishing grounds famous, but today this town is one of the top ten places to visit for vacationers. Go for the fish and enjoy all the rest: wildlife sightings, the native culture, the wilderness areas all around, and the first-class resorts and lodges waiting to welcome visitors to Alaska.




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