Why Not Go on an Ice Fishing Trip in Alaska?

Is there anything at all that’s more exciting, more freeing and more challenging than spending some time in the elements, ice fishing in Alaska? Using that auger to put a big hole in the ice, skimming off the thin ice at the top, baiting your hook with salmon eggs and dropping it in.

These days we do everything we can to make fishing easier, using mechanical downriggers, radar fish finders and everything else we can to change it from a sport into something almost as easy as shopping at the grocery store. Ice fishing isn’t like that—it’s a totally different type of fishing, and as you sit around the hole in the ice, you will notice just how much different it is.

Commune with nature

Ice fishing is a great way to commune with nature. There’s nothing quite as majestic as winter in Alaska. While you’re ice fishing, you’ll be out in the midst of it all, the snow, the beauty of the mountains all around—and at the same time, you’ll be able to do one of the things you love most in the world: fishing.

Easy fishing

There are a variety of great places for an ice fishing trip in Alaska. The lakes here are stocked with rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and salmon, all of which are delicious eating.

Ice fishing is a little different than your everyday fishing. One of the surprising side effects of fishing for salmon and trout in a landlocked and iced-over lake is that the fish are extremely active under the ice, and are also quite hungry. Many people find that it is much easier to catch fish while ice fishing than during normal lake fishing. Because it’s a little easier, that makes ice fishing a surprisingly great way to introduce newbies to fishing, especially children. And if we have any trouble catching salmon, the rainbow trout and the Dolly Varden are usually plentiful during the winter, and when using salmon eggs as bait, are quite easy to catch in high numbers. All of these fish are delicious and easy to cook, even if you’re just cooking around a campfire.

You don’t have to fight for your fishing spot

The best thing about going ice fishing is that there is not quite the abundance of tourists fishing here in the winter, which means that the fishing is not as competitive. Sometimes during peak fishing season, it seems like everyone’s boat is in the same spot, and you’re always having to fight for your place in line. Ice fishing is a great way to just relax while also catching as many fish as you could want to.

When is ice fishing season?

Fishing is open all year round here, which is to say there’s not a specific ice fishing season, but we generally ice fish from the end of November to the beginning of March, which is the time during which the ice is actually thick enough to be safe to spend the day on.

We’re lucky enough that we spend most of our lives here fishing in Alaska. It’s our job, and our hobby. If you’d like to experience ice fishing in Alaska, give us a call here at Phantom Tri-River Charters. We’d love to show you the beautiful Alaskan wilderness this winter, and help you and yours catch some fish. Who do you know that can say they’ve been on an ice fishing trip in Alaska? It’s a truly rare, and truly fun, experience. Call us today to learn more.