The Best Fishing Spots in General
Any fisherman you ask will insist that only they know where the very best fishing spots can be found. However, what you will quickly find that the site probably has less to do with the type of fish you want to catch or the amount of available fish than the entire fishing event. Most would agree that a day spent fishing, even without a single catch, will always trump a day of work. Some folks would argue that they do their best work, thinking, while fishing.
Many fishermen would agree that the Kanai River in Alaska is the best place for fishing. If you are one to compete for boasting privileges, this would be the spot to be between May and July, when the two runs of wild king salmon occur. The Kanai is actually the site where the current world record salmon was caught in May of 1985, weighing an amazing 97 pounds and 4 ounces. The silver salmon are at their peak in late summer to early fall.
Insider's Tip:
Should you go on a fishing trip in Alaska and wish to bring your catch home along with you, don't attempt to transport it inside your luggage! Companies such as Alaska Sausage and Seafood will clean, vacuum-seal, and flash-freeze your seafood, then ship it to you where you can prepare it to your specifications at your leisure. For an additional fee, they will even process your prized catch into kippered fish, smoked fish strips, or lox prior to shipping it to you. If you are interested, just do a Google search for Alaska Sausage and Seafood and when you get to their site, there is a link near the bottom for custom game and fish processing ..
However, Alaska is not the only choice. The waters around Vancouver Island, British Columbia (less than a day's travel from Seattle), also provide some excellent salmon fishing. Fishing is a year-round sport in the small village of Ucluelet. Between March and May, king and silver salmon go from the Alaskan waters to the coastal streams and rivers of the west coast of Vancouver Island; and between May and September, halibut is the main attraction. Colder months are the time to fish for winter king salmon, crab and oysters. Should you opt for Fish Eye Charters ( http://www.salmoneye.net .), You will be guaranteed a minimum of 50 pounds of seafood each day (on outings of three or more days). They offer a variety of fishing packages which include all gear, seafood cleaning and packaging, a prepare-your-catch dinner, and lodging.
Between spring and fall, Lake Michigan is well stocked with salmon and trout, and those amounts are increased by natural reproduction within the streams and rivers that feed in to the lake. You will find numerous launch points in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois that yield excellent catches. Waukegan, Illinois, around the west side from the lake, is just about 40 minutes from Chicago, which makes it a simple trip for first-timers. If you head out between April and June, you'll find silver salmon and brown trout. Later in the summer, you'll come across the mighty king salmon.
Even though you might connect Los Angeles with deep-sea fishing, surprisingly, it also has a substantial lake fishing scene. Just north of Los Angeles is Castaic Lake, an excellent place for bass fishing, including many that weigh more than 10 pounds, and even some that weight over 20 pounds. Based on what's been stocked, you could encounter trout and catfish, but it's the largemouth bass that attracts most fishermen. Between October and March, the lake is filled with rainbow trout, which often send the bass right into a feeding frenzy – and imitation rainbow trout (also known as swimbait), is usually the very best lure for that valued seafood. Bass often hide around docks, immersed foliage and rock piles. Additionally they prefer mild temperatures, so in summer and winter, you will most likely find them in the deeper waters; whereas, in the spring and fall, they can be found in the more shallow areas.
Another option in Southern California is Lake Casitas in the Ojai Valley. It, too, is known for its bass population, and also the waters warm up rapidly in the spring. Early in the springtime, live swimbait or crawdads generally make the best lures. April is shad breeding season, so it becomes prime bait for the bass. While morning is often the best fishing time, springtime afternoons can also be rewarding because of the shad. You can contact Marc Mitrany, also known as the "Ojai Angler" if you prefer a tutorial (Google Ojai Angler to find him), who has caught record-size fish. He can take out on a guided excursion to Castaic in the fall, or Lake Casitas year-round. You'll learn the fundamentals of bass fishing and exercise catch-and-release techniques on largemouth bass. However, if you catch a trout, catfish, or sunfish worthy of bragging rights, you can request to bring it home.
Thailand's lakes and rivers are fantastic places for freshwater anglers searching for boasting privileges. If it is your first trip to Thailand, the best starting point is Bungsamran Lake in Bangkok. The site of countless fishing world records, this lake draws fanatics looking for monster-size Mekong catfish and Siamese giant carp. Once you've out an hour from Bangkok at the rural Boon Mar Ponds, where you will find the highly valued barramundi. Fishermen from all over the world gather here to catch this extremely challenging breed of 10-30 pound fish using both lures and fly-fishing methods
You've heard about wild game safaris, but what about a fishing safari? Africa's rivers and floodplains are paradise to fishermen. The great tiger fish is among the most prized catch of all. These fish present an enormous challenge with their razor-sharp teeth and bony jaws, which is what makes it such a trophy of a catch. These vicious creatures generally peak in August in upper Zambezi, and in September in the lower Zambezi. In Livingstone, Zambia, there are a variety of fishing lodges and operators that can set up charters or fly-fishing excursions.