the end of a light line, although it 

 does not compare with any of the 

 other trout in fighting qualities. 



Fishermen in Alaska like to broil 

 trout or salmon by lashing the fish 

 to a split log and standing the log 

 before a fire until the fish is done. 



Grayling — Found in every major 

 river drainage north of the Gulf of 

 Alaska, and throughout the Alaska 

 Peninsula, this beautiful troutlike 

 fish has an insatiable appetite for 

 flies. Predominantly a surface 

 feeder, it takes anything, even 

 gaudy red-white-and-blue crea- 

 tions, and comes clear out of the 

 water to try for flies on a graceful 

 downward plunge. Wlien hooked, 

 it starts its fight with a quick run 

 downstream, follows with a cross- 

 current rush, and winds up with a 

 short series of acrobatics, then tries 

 again to take the fly to the bottom. 



This game sport fish has an apt 

 scientific name — Thymdllus signi- 

 fer. Thymallus refers to the sweet 

 odor of thyme that is noticeable in 

 freshly caught grayling. Signifer, 

 or standard bearer, describes the 

 enormous dorsal fin which readily 

 distinguishes it from trout. 



Grayling measure up to 23 inches 

 and weigh as much as 41/2 pounds. 

 Their coloration is unsurpassed, 

 seeming at first to be purple, then 

 changing to bluish-gray and sil- 

 ver — all beautifully iridescent. 

 Markings are pure white under- 

 parts, V-shaped black spots be- 

 tween head and middle dorsal fin, 

 and reddish stripes and several 

 rows of rosy circles along the sides. 



Northern pike — This fish, one 

 of the largest and most plenti- 

 ful of Alaska's fresh-water fishes, 

 is one of the least popular — not even 

 rated as a game fish under Alaska 



law. But with proper tackle, 

 anglers will find that pike fishing is 

 good in most of the backwaters, 

 sloughs, and bottomland lakes of 

 the Yukon and Kuskokwim valleys, 

 and north to the Arctic coast. 

 During July these fish spawn in 

 weedy shallows, and a plug or 

 streamer fly will produce instant 

 action. Though bony, the flesh is 

 firm and edible. 



Sheefish — One of the least known 

 of Alaska's sport fish is the unique 

 sheefish, or inconnu. Inconnu, 

 meaning "unknown," is quite ap- 

 propriate, for this fish is found no- 

 where else under the American flag, 

 and in Alaska is largely confined to 

 northern rivers. 



The sheefish has been loosely de- 

 scribed as a cross between a white- 

 fish and a salmon, though in action 

 and appearance it might well be 

 called an arctic tarpon. The aver- 

 age weight of shees is about 20 

 pounds, but occasionally one will 

 tip the scales at 85 pounds. This 

 great fish is a clear silvery white on 

 the sides and underparts and a 

 dusky olive on the back. Fins are 

 pale and colorless; scales are dime- 

 size. 



Sheefish make such excellent eat- 

 ing that there is a market for them 

 in Nome and other northern com- 

 munities. It is during the spawn- 

 ing season, in summer, when they 

 migrate from brackish or salt water 

 into certain freshwater streams, 

 that the sport fisherman can best try 

 his tackle on these big, still-unex- 

 ploited fish. A large, bright spoon 

 cast into a deep pool on one of the 

 northern streams would probably 

 be productive, though it often takes 

 skill and persistence to get a shee- 

 fish to strike. 



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