Planning the upcoming season

The first outdoor show of the season is behind us, with one more local show to go. The drawing permit hunts have been awarded, with only the Governor’s hunt permit raffles still to be decided. The Big Lake gun show is coming up in April and is the last one I know of before we begin the “new” 2026 fishing and hunting season. The ADF&G Hunter Education classes are starting to happen for those who need the proper hunting certification to legally hunt.

It’s time to start seriously planning your 2026 fishing and hunting season trips. Since I’ve regained significant use of my left shoulder from surgical repair, I’ve scraped my plans to sell my riverboat and, once the weather breaks and the lakes open, I’ll be making sure it runs properly and start doing some lake fishing. I’ll also get my small motorhome ready for some trips down to the Ninilchik area for some surf fishing.

I need to get new braided line spooled onto my big surf fishing reels and go through the tackle box to make sure I’ve got the terminal tackle I need to fish. I still need to do some “finish” work on the custom rod holder Greatland Welding built for me to use on the back end of my UTV six-wheeler, which I also need to get in the shop for general service and maintenance.

Since ADF&G closed virtually all king salmon fishing in Southcentral, with only one or two hatchery-supported exceptions, my freshwater fishing will be centered around trout, Dolly Varden, and northern pike. I’m sure both the Eklutna and Ship Creek king salmon fisheries will become your basic “zoo” once the fish begin returning. I don’t like fishing in the middle of a crowd (aka combat fishing)!

Most of my freshwater fishing tackle is ready to go, needing only a quick review to make sure I didn’t forget something. I’ve got rod-and-reel setups (ultra-light gear) for the smaller species (trout, etc.) and a couple for rods already rigged for northern pike, complete with stainless steel leaders. I haven’t done a lot of open water lake fishing or chasing pike since, like almost everybody in the Valley, I was looking for salmon during the first half of the summer. This summer will be a learning experience for most of my freshwater fishing!

Fishing and hunting trips are the usual excuse for road trips with the motorhome, but my wife and I both enjoy just taking the occasional trip to see a new place. We don’t necessarily go for overnight trips but use the motorhome because of the bathroom and cooking facilities it provides. Plus, it’s big enough that taking our three small dogs along is much easier with more space, and it’s easier to leave them in the RV if we decide to do some shopping.

I don’t know how much hunting support use the RV will get, but at this point in time, it’s a central piece for our crane and goose hunt coming up in September. The plan is to drive up to the Delta Junction area towing a smaller vehicle on my flatbed trailer. This second vehicle allows us to park the RV and use the smaller vehicle to get around in the area. I may use the RV on some overnight moose hunts in the general area where we live, as opportunity presents itself.

I plan to do a lot more shooting this year and the RV will serve well if I decide to make a full day of the trip. The cooking and bathroom facilities present a pleasant alternative to cold sandwiches and trips into the bushes! Plus, the extra room means I can bring more firearms and even do the cleaning before going home.

We may also try some hooligan dipnetting around Memorial Day if the timing is right on the fish run returns. My wife loves fresh hooligan fried up crispy. They’re not my favorite fish but I will eat them given the chance, just not three nights every week!

I’ve thought about trying to do some bear baiting and may still, but I’ve got to find a spot accessible with my six-wheeler. I’ve got the gear, i.e., a ladder tree stand, but it’s too big to backpack in and set up. Plus, if I did get a bear, I’d need to get it out. Again, my backpacking days of heavy loads are over so the need for the UTV presents itself.

I still have a lot of planning to do!