©John L. Beath

Pacific Northwest fisheries biologists imprint juvenile salmon and steelhead to segments of river to protect native stocks or create population diversity within the river, especially with hatchery fish. They know through science and experience that these anadromous fish, planted in pre-determined pools of the river will permanently imprint the location on their brains. After spending months in the river foraging for food in their relocated segment of river, they head out to sea to grow into adulthood.

As adults, the urge to spawn brings them back to their natal river, and if artificially imprinted, right back to the pre-determined pool fisheries managers released them. This imprinting technique helps control where fish return and can help foster new sport fisheries too, because they know a percentage of fish will return to a certain area.

Our kids are like these juvenile fish and need imprinting too, if we expect them to appreciate the outdoors, nature, conservation and the values and enjoyment of fishing. A recent study from Cornell University suggests that environmentalism is born into children exposed to nature before the age of 11. Getting our youth outdoors could be the key to our nation’s environmental health as well as the future of sport fishing.

© John L. Beath

Thousands of productive salmon fishing areas dot the Pacific Coast and inland waters like a gigantic connect-the-dots painting. Anglers who connect the dots with hook and line, and spend time discovering and exploring the West Coast’s vast salmon fishing areas will eventually learn about one of the most productive saltwater salmon fisheries on Earth – Sitka Alaska.

A quick glance of a map or chart reveals why Sitka ranks high on the must-fish list for hard-core salmon anglers from around the world.  Sitka sits strategically facing the bountiful Pacific Ocean, and has the protection of Kruzof Island, which gives Sitka anglers the ability to find lee waters when the ocean becomes wave torn.  Remoteness from “mainland civilization” also plays a key roll in Sitka. Inaccessibility by road to the mainland keeps cars and large amounts of people from traveling to the quaint port that helps Sitka remain unspoiled from mass development.

For Centuries Sitka Alaska has been one of the Pacific Coast’s major salmon feeding areas. The nutrient-rich, super fertile Pacific Ocean waters in front of Sitka attract baitfish of epic proportions. The vast shoreline surrounding Kruzof Island, to the west of Sitka, also offers a healthy kelp forest for baitfish and in turn attracts salmon by the tens of thousands. Sitka Sound’s protected waters also attract numerous baitfish including herring, candlefish, squid and shrimp. Add this all together and you end up with a massive baitfish buffet combined with a massive customer base of salmon, halibut, lingcod and rockfish – that all want to gorge themselves with an easy, free meal.

1. Barometer

Weather plays a huge roll in an angler’s success or failure. Anglers who watch the weather and pay close attention to the barometer can usually predict the level of their success. Generally, when the barometer rises you can expect the best fishing. When the barometer falls rapidly, fishing success diminishes as it falls. A rapidly fluctuating barometer is usually good fishing, regardless of the direction of fluctuation. A static barometer indicates poor fishing. If the barometer is unusually low, the fishing will usually be terrible, as if the fish have lockjaw.

Every angler should own at least one barometer, preferably two – one for home or office and one for their boat. In addition to knowing how the fishing will be, a barometer can identify rapid, dangerous changes in weather. Knowing how to interpret these changes could save your life – especially when fishing offshore – but that is a topic for another article.

Barometers fall into several price points ranging from just $16.99 for a portable model to $199.95 for a fancy instrument that mounts on the wall. While researching for this article I found a terrific portable barometer at Bass Pro Shops for just $16.95. The unit, item # 38-423-354-00 can be worn around your neck and easily shows an untrained eye when the fishing is great, good or poor. I liked it so much I ordered one.

For more info visit:

www.basspro.com