Yukon Fishing tips?

[Vic Harder]

One of the things I would like to do on our Yukon trip is to fish from my canoe. I'm no fisherman!!! Haven't cast a line since ... forever. I've read about what kind of fish they have, licencing, etc. Seems like people both fly fish and troll/cast up there. Any tips?

 

[CPT Davenport]

Sounds like an awesome time! I have not fished the Yukon, but I reckon if you throw something shinny at em, you will get hooked up. I'd fly fish the streams, but there is a learning curve there. From the canoe you can toss out spinners or cast masters. Paddle slow and try trolling with a ton of line out and a phoebe or a super duper. Always tie your line to a swivel, then a leader to your lure. I use a chain swivel for trolling and barrel swivel for casting. Silver lures in clear waters and gold in murky is my go to. If the fish seem to be hitting on the top, and you have no fly rod you can tie on a clear bobber then leader down to a small dry fly. A lot also depends on what species you are hunting. That said, most of the slimy little critters with hit something shinny. Check regulations on hook barbs, get a net and buy some long nose pliers for hook removal. I use hemostats to clamp on the hook while the fish is in the net to minimize touching the fish for catch and release. If you are gonna eat'em, make sure to cut the gills and bleed them out for a fresher tasting meal.

Good luck and enjoy!!!!!

 

[rjap]

One of the things I would like to do on our Yukon trip is to fish from my canoe. I'm no fisherman!!! Haven't cast a line since ... forever. I've read about what kind of fish they have, licencing, etc. Seems like people both fly fish and troll/cast up there. Any tips?

On a motorcycle trip to the Yukon I brought a Tenkara fly rod. I promptly broke the tip. So my tip would be to bring an extra tip!

I recall the rules were somewhat the opposite of what I am used to. You have to let the big ones go.

 

[Vic Harder]

Sounds like an awesome time! I have not fished the Yukon, but I reckon if you throw something shinny at em, you will get hooked up. I'd fly fish the streams, but there is a learning curve there. From the canoe you can toss out spinners or cast masters. Paddle slow and try trolling with a ton of line out and a phoebe or a super duper. Always tie your line to a swivel, then a leader to your lure. I use a chain swivel for trolling and barrel swivel for casting. Silver lures in clear waters and gold in murky is my go to. If the fish seem to be hitting on the top, and you have no fly rod you can tie on a clear bobber then leader down to a small dry fly. A lot also depends on what species you are hunting. That said, most of the slimy little critters with hit something shinny. Check regulations on hook barbs, get a net and buy some long nose pliers for hook removal. I use hemostats to clamp on the hook while the fish is in the net to minimize touching the fish for catch and release. If you are gonna eat'em, make sure to cut the gills and bleed them out for a fresher tasting meal.

Good luck and enjoy!!!!!

Thanks Cpt. LOTS of terms and words in your email that are just greek to me. I suppose that's how most folks feel when I speak solar/power tech stuff. Phoebe? Super Duper?

 

[CPT Davenport]

Haha! Indeed. They are common lures that mimic bait fish. Poke around the tackle shop and you will see many variations.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Vic, below is a video by one of the most skilled fishermen I’ve ever seen. Go through his videos on rainbows, cutthroat, bull trout, Dolly Varden, and Kokanee. Pay attention to gear and technique. Watching him is like getting a post graduate course in how to catch fish.

 

[CPT Davenport]

Vic, below is a video by one of the most skilled fishermen I’ve ever seen. Go through his videos on rainbows, cutthroat, bull trout, Dolly Varden, and Kokanee. Pay attention to gear and technique. Watching him is like getting a post graduate course in how to catch fish.

A quick glimpse looks like he is running hoochies. A good choice if you are running a blade/flasher.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks Cpt. LOTS of terms and words in your email that are just greek to me. I suppose that's how most folks feel when I speak solar/power tech stuff. Phoebe? Super Duper?

Vic when you get there an good source would be the locals.
On our 2011 Alaska trip as we came south through the Yukon
I did fish some small streams.More fun then luck.Although I did catch a few Arctic Grayling.
I am a fly fisher so I just enjoy being out on the water.If I catch some that just makes for a better day.I also would fish out of the canoe with both fly and spinner equipment.All light weight stuff though.
I am a simple fisher.Have a great time.
Frank

 

[Vic Harder]

Vic, below is a video by one of the most skilled fishermen I’ve ever seen. Go through his videos on rainbows, cutthroat, bull trout, Dolly Varden, and Kokanee. Pay attention to gear and technique. Watching him is like getting a post graduate course in how to catch fish.

OK, that guy is a straight shooter. Nice.

 

[Vic Harder]

Another question... related to fish odors and bear safety. We have always been super careful about scents, not keeping any food in the camper, not cooking in the camper, not even keeping ANYthing scented in the camper. Trying to wrap my head around having stuff that smells like fish in and around my camper. How does one combine fishing/camping and bear safety?

 

[buckland]

Whilst camping in Maine (pretty much all fly fishing for me) If I caught one to eat I usually had a cooler with me. Water up there is pretty cool so we would fill a container of water and use evaporate cooling in a bag. Then pop that in the cooler. I would clean my fish on the other side of the water or along the shore a good distance. Birds took the guts. Then pop in cooler. Cooking on open fire helps to reduce smell as well. one can then burn paper napkins too. Tight lines!

 

[fish more]

Vic, try using a size 12 3x long shank hook, a copper bead head and some weighted wire wraps with Jay Fair cinnamon marabou feathers and a cystral flash ribbing, add some cystral flash to tail, Wooly Bugger. You can troll with long line from a canoe with 4-5 pound line. Try this and report

 

[Taku]

Camping in the camper and fishing is just like hiking or floating a river while fishing. Clean and cook the fish away from the camper and clean up well. Look up some of the river trip reports for the Yukon and other rivers up there. Lot's of folks fish and camp while floating. Do keep the bear spray handy!

 

[Vic Harder]

Thanks Taku. I was looking at where to store the fishing gear, which I doubt any amount of soap/water will not remove fish smells from. Do folks not keep their gear in the camper/truck at night?

 

[Taku]

oh I keep mine in the cab. along with other things that need a hard body protection pod

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks Taku. I was looking at where to store the fishing gear, which I doubt any amount of soap/water will not remove fish smells from. Do folks not keep their gear in the camper/truck at night?

Vic I guess I haven't worried/thought about it.I just clean up and store away.
Don't keep any fish so no worries about that fish guts smell.
Stay safe though.
Frank

 

[CPT Davenport]

Vic, I love the optimism that you are gonna hammer so many fish that the stink of the rods will be be soooo potent! I'm root'n for your success and can't wait to see some photos. In all seriousness though I pray for a safe and fruitful adventure!

I don't keep/store fish in bear country. Catch and release only. If I were to, it would be gilled, gutted and cleaned away from camp then seasoned and eaten asap. I only use artificial flies and lures so never had an issue with just leaving the rods outside leaning against a tree. I've had a number of bears wander through my camp over the years and never seen one that interested in the fishing gear. I run a super tight ship at camp with all my food and gear and any curious bear just keep on moving. When in campgrounds there is ALWAYS someone else that is an easier target.

Great topic! I'm interested to hear if anyone has experience with bears and fishing gear.

 

[Vic Harder]

these stories and advice are very welcome. I'd love to hear more as well!

 

[CPT Davenport]

Here's one. The reason I do not keep fish in bear country is this:

In my foolish and careless late teens I fished a lake stocked with BIG trout from Lassen. We set up camp above the lake in a CG that had metal "bear proof" trash cans. I cleaned the fish down by the water and brought them back for dinner. The trout were so big that I was able to actually get some nice fillets off of them. I whipped up an onion, beer batter and me and my buddies feasted on some epic trout tacos! I put the left over racks of the fish in a plastic bag, placed it in the metal can and made sure the lid was latched. In the middle of the night I was awaken by a big sow black bear violently trying to get in the trash can. She finally resorted to grabbing both sets of cans from the back and rocking them back and forth until she sheared off the bolts that secured the cans to the concrete slab. The cans fell backwards and the lids popped open. she put the bag of fish in her mouth and disappeared off into the woods. Her strength and determination gained my respect for life.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Here's my experience fishing with bears.
This is on a side stream of the Cambell River on Vancouver Island.
Myself and the bear were both "fishing" the same waters.
The bear wasn't a problem and I didn't have anywhere to go so I just watched what it was doing.All went well.I caught a few and tossed them back.The bear was mostly interested in the berries and not me.I wasn't a threat to it.
Frank