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Longing to catch a halibut you can brag about? They're out there. Listen to the locals, bring lots of bait - and patience.

What's the secret to catching fish in Alaska?

Local professionals recommend fishing deep. Go at least 90 to 100 feet, and fish tide rips using whole herring. Look for clouds or balls of feed on the depth finder and birds feeding on the water. If birds are on top, fish are below.

Don't use less than 40-pound test line with 30-pound test leader‹those kings take some line. You might think the reel will explode, but reel in as fast as you can, and when the fish swims toward you keep the slack out of the line. They'll try to swing their head sideways. If you've got any slack, there goes your fish.

For visitors apt to say, "We've been in Alaska five minutes already. Where's the fish?" fishing pros give this Triple P advice: "Patience and persistence pay."

Despite all the electronic gizmos and artificial gewgaws, experts say a big juicy herring is the right food to lure a wise old king, not junk food or synthetic stuff.

To catch salmon, take a lot of bait. Keep it in the water, keep it clean, and put in your time. Don't try bait for 10 minutes, and then switch to lures and add flashers. You'll lose half of your fishing time.

Use medium to heavy weight tackle for nearly all saltwater fishing (line strength from 20-100 lbs).

Use light to medium tackle (line strength 8-20 lbs.) for most freshwater fishing, except in crowded spots.

When you're shoulder to shoulder in some of our more crowded sport fisheries, everyone should use stronger than normal tackle (line strength 20-40 lbs.) to control the catch more quickly and let other anglers get their lines back in the water faster.

If you plan on releasing part of your catch, fishing slightly heavier tackle allows you to land your catch more quickly and release it faster, which causes the fish less stress.

Avid fishermen also say it's good to experiment. Record water temperatures, air temperature, depth and tides when you catch a fish. Experiment with hoochies and bait. Silvers like a faster speed, herring that rolls more, while kings like a slow roll.

Try your luck at the Public Fishing Pier on Channel Drive; the Ketch-A-Bunch Shack beside the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery; Montana Creek off Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei Trail; or go out to sea with one of the local sport fishing charters.

Sport fishing licenses and king salmon stamps can be purchased from licensed vendors or online at www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license.

In general, king salmon fishing begins in the spring and ends by mid-summer; sockeye, pink, and chum fishing follows; and silver salmon fishing happens during the late summer and fall. Halibut and other species are available at assorted times in different areas.

For online, in-depth information on fishing local waters, visit http://juneaualaska.com/fishing.