Thoughts on Fishing Sockeye and Pinks in Haines

July 28, 2006 at 1:49 pm

Later Friday, I’ll be heading to what will by my third fishing trip to Haines, Alaska. In April, I went for Dollies on the Chilkat, in mid-July Sockeye and this weekend Pinks. I missed a few other options in there like Kings and Halibut, but until the kids are older and want to come, I can’t do it all. I am very excited about this weekends trip because we will be going as a family and are hooking up with another family with kids the same age. In addition to fishing, there is also the entertaining Southeast Alaskan State Fair and the incredible Haines Playground. Normally, I would not point out a playground, but this one was built by the community and a company called Leathers and Associates . They have this great program in the US where the community comes together and using renewable materials, customizes the playground to fit the culture of the community. Their theme is the ocean, with boats, fish, sea-life, First Nations, etc..

Back to fishing…my wife also picked up her first Alaskan fishing lisence, so it could be four of us on shore casting to Pinks (aka Humpies). Many people don’t fish for Pinks, but I would say next to Coho, it is my favourite run. If you get them fresh enough, they are great to smoke or can, they are easier to catch (there are lots of them), and they can get kind of freaky looking with humps and big old nasty teeth. In my opinion, the best run for young kids.

My expectations are realistic as fishing with the family will mean I may only fish about 10% of the time that I normally fish. The kids (and my wife) can only handle so much fishing and it does not benefit anyone in the long run if you push them too much. Besides, snacks, poopy bums, wet clothes, the SE Alaskan Fair and the playground seem to make fishing a second priority.

Whenever I go to Haines, I try to enjoy it without letting the amount of fish I catch (or don’t catch) dictate the quality of the experience. In other words, if you expect to catch nothing then your expectation will be met and probably exceeded.

I have been hearing some reports that Sockeye fishing this year on the Chilkoot has been a bust. Based on my one experience this year, I would agree. Not becuase the fish are not there, but because they are not biting. Sockeye fishing is generally tougher than other runs, but here is a run-down of the reasons I have heard from a variety of sources:

(1) Stocks are lower;

(2) The water is higher than normal so the Sockeye have more water to travel through without getting caught;

(3) The water is clearer than normal, meaning that they can see the lure coming, get spooked and move away from it;

(4) The fish weir is open more often and for longer periods, meaning that they can travel right up and through to the lake.

Personally, I vote for #4. In speaking with Glen at Sports North, he figures the Sockeye usually have to sit there waiting at the weir, pooling up, trying different channels and generally getting pissed off because they can’t get through, which can get them to strike.

The same could happen with Pinks, they may pass through uncontested as well. But that is why it is called “fishing” and not “catching”. As my Dad used to say, “it all builds character, Dennis, stop whining, get out there and mow the lawn”.

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