Tag Archives: salmon troller
Scaling back hatchery salmon could mean huge losses for fleet
Salmon hatcheries play a huge role in Alaska’s fishing industry. But what effect are all those hatchery salmon having on Alaska’s wild stocks, which are even more valuable? In Part 1 of this 2-part series, KCAW’s Stephanie Fischer looked at the Wild Hatchery Interaction Study, an 11-year project researching the genetic consequences of hatchery salmon straying into wild streams and cross-breeding with wild stocks. In this story, Fischer examines the economic consequences on the industry, should Alaska ever have to scale back its hatchery programs. click here to read the story 08:25
If you are tired of the morning commute and office life, watch this salmon troller working and start packing.
Almost everyone who has ever fished has wanted to make money fishing. Some of these people become guides, some fish tournaments, but a special breed become commercial fisherman. There are many different types of commercial fishing but some of the most skilled and unique are the salmon trollers. Instead of nets, trollers use an expanded version of the hook and line method. The type of troller in the video is a power troller. They use hydraulic power to raise and lower gurdies with steel wire that multiple hooks are attached to. Power trollers are allowed to use four lines total and as many hooks as they want. Trolling wire is marked at 1, 1 1/2, or 2 fathom intervals where the leaders are snapped on. The four lines will have a mixture of bait, metal spoons, plastic hoochies, and plugs attached depending on a myriad of factors including target species, depth, and the fisherman’s personal preference. I should note before everyone buys plane tickets, that you can’t just come up and start fishing. Video, read the rest here 12:49
