The Best alaska fishing vacation Articles on Wine
Ultra-Light Fishing Meets Ultra-Light Hiking

The image of a boy with his cane pole and a can of worms heading down a dirt path toward the "old fishing hole" has been burned into our minds by the likes of Norman Rockwell. That image, of the most basic of fishing tools, may warm our hearts but it is as far removed from the reality of fishing today as Neanderthal's spear is from a modern rocket launcher.

The keyword in modern fishing is specialization; the boy with the cane pole could catch all the sunfish and catfish he wanted, but his chances at a wild mountain Brookie or a Yellowstone Cutthroat were probably not that good. As a matter of fact, until recently to get at those remote fishing venues where you could find a Cutthroat or an Apache trout required a near expedition. Equipment, by modern standards, was heavy and bulky. To carry enough food, shelter, fishing gear, etc., required herculean efforts. An outdoorsman could hike, or he could fish. Doing both was problematic.

One of the biggest problems facing the hiker/fisherman was solved in the 1990s. A new class of hiking gear utilizing space-age polymers, ultra-light fabrics and metals and a new set of strategies for camping made long distance hiking a far more enjoyable experience than it had ever been. Using freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, tiny alcohol stoves, sil-nylon tents and internal frame packs the hiker could now roam far and free with a surpisingly light pack-load. Five to seven days in the wilderness can now be accomplished with under thirty-five pounds of equipment. Micro-filters treat water on the spot; new fabrics repel water and protect from weather extremes like those old wools and cottons never could. All these factors lead to the best of results: Extra space in your backpack!

What to do with that extra space? Once again it's technology to the rescue. For under 2 pounds the fisherman can now carry a variety of "Pack rods". Pack rods are usually made of graphite and appear at first to be impossibly thin and light. Don't let appearance fool you! Once assembled from their 4 to 6 component parts these pack rods are sturdy enough for most uses in the back country. Armed with open spin reels and 2 to 4 pound test line they open up a world of possibilities with very little space and weight impact.

Whatever your target, back-country etiquette should always be observed. Pack out what you pack in, practice leave no trace camping at all times. Also, when targeting wild (unstocked) trout it's best to catch and release at all times (and required by law in most places). Camp away from water sources and limit burning as much as possible. Tight lines!

About the Author

Jeffrey Gray, founder of TroutWorld, has been helping trout fishermen find their way to new and different fishing venues via the internet since 1999.

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Top 10 Fishing Vacation Destinations

Fishing was once the only way populations residing on the coastlines could survive. Even in today's age of technology, fishing activities provide livelihood for many people in developing nations. For those who no longer need to depend on fishing, the industry has become a lucrative lure for tourism.

Fishing vacations are holidays where majority of the time is spent out on the waters, hunting for fish and bringing the largest catch home. The entire tour can be arranged by tour operators and is designed to give the vacationers the best of fresh and saltwater fishing experience. Thus, an ideal fishing vacation takes individuals from the interiors to the deep sea, enabling them to indulge in fly-fishing, estuary fishing, and coastal fishing. The destinations can be arranged as per the choice of the vacationers and depending on it more time can be spent on fly-fishing or coastal fishing or any other fish-related activity that catches the fancy of the travelers.

In the places near the coastlines, fishing is not just an activity; it is the means of livelihood for many and a skillful art for others. The top fishing vacation destinations lie mainly in the tropics. Thus, places such as Los Cabos in Mexico, Quepos in Costa Rica, the Andaman Islands in India, or Canberra in Australia are some of the famous places for dream fishing vacations. In addition, tropical islands such as Mauritius, Java, Hawaii, Tahiti, and the Bahamas are excellent fishing spots that rank among the top in the world. Also on the saltwater trail for the top fishing in the world are Zanzibar in Tanzania with its high-speed sports fishing and Caamano Sound in Canada with some of the nest king salmon heists on offer. Marbella in Spain, and Turkey's coastal regions, are apt destinations for a bout of Mediterranean fishing. Equally exotic are the Guinea Islands, the Forra River Basin in Norway, and Phuket, Thailand.

Depending on traveler perspective and the kind of fishing available, a large number of destinations worldwide can try for a break in the list of the top ten fishing vacation destinations.

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