Fishing in Alaska is like fishing in The Garden of Eden; with vast rolling hills and mountains, crystal clear rivers and streams - it's easy to start to see why fishing in Alaska is such an amazing and once in a lifetime experience (unless of course you happen to live in Alaska).

So just why do so many anglers head up to the frozen North every year? What makes Alaska fishing so damn popular? Salmon - Alaska has some of the most intense salmon fishing in the world. Alaska is also home to the mighty King Salmon - the largest species of salmon in the world.

King Salmon average between twenty to forty pounds with the biggest is a whopping one hundred and twelve pounds; that's a 112 lbs salmon! See, I told you that Alaska had the best salmon fishing in the world.

Apart from king salmon, there are also a couple of other salmon types to fish for - Silver Salmon the smallest of all the salmon species which can be found in streams between July and November and Sockeye salmon which is the most popular salmon type to fish due to its colour and the fact that it is the best fish to eat.

As you might imagine fishing in Alaska isn't like fishing the warm lakes of Michigan in summer, even on the warmest Alaskan days you are going to make sure that you have the correct clothing with you as the day can change in the space of half an hour; I myself have witnessed the most pleasant of Alaskan spring days change to conditions where you start thinking about survival in a matter of minutes.

When I am fishing in Alaska I always take and have stored close by - Warm, breathable clothing and fleece tops. A fishing bivvy, a cold weather jacket, boots and gloves. A spare change of the basics (pants, underwear, t-shirt, jumper).

While some people might think that this is going a little too far, personally I know that no matter what happens when I am fishing in Alaska I can cope with it because I am prepared.

The Alaskan wilderness is a beautiful place, but like all wildernesses it must be treated with respect. Respect the wilderness and you will be fishing in Alaska time and time again.