Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to?

I have a job opportunity for one year in either Juneau or Sitka. I've been to Juneau in the winter once for a few days but never Sitka. Again, I'd only be there for one year so sadly I would not have resident status so no brown bear hunting or anything like that. Just the opportunities open to a non-res. If you could pick one of those (as a non-resident) to move to which would it be and why?

The fishing near Sitka is FAR better than the Juneau area. Sitka is much smaller than Juneau. No idea about trapping opportunity in Sitka, if you were to spring for a n.r. licence.

Even though Sitka is on the outer coast, there are more protected little waterways around there that you could easily and safely access with a little skiff. The water around Juneau is pretty exposed.

I've never been to Sitka in the winter, but I would imagine the temperatures are warmer there in the winter than in Juneau.

I think you'll be able to do more in Sitka, and find that the things you'd like to do will be closer and easier to do than in Juneau, along with a lot less people.

I lived in Sitka for 20 years, graduated from college there, worked as a fishing and assistant hunting guide, and trapped Baranof area. I have been to most communities in SE.
IMO Sitka way better than Juneau. If you have any questions about the area feel free to PM me.

Much depends on your age, interests, income, marital status, etc.

With work and only having a year, your time will be limited. Lots of rain in both places and you are land locked without a boat.

Juneau has more people if you are single, more trails, entertainment/activities and over all options. Both are expensive - Sitka is more quaint, slower pace and less stress.

Either place would be a good experience, but a big factor in the choice is your personality. Whatever choice you make, get out and experience all the area has to offer, you may never be back.

Its a tough choice. If your wife is fine with a smaller town and less amenities, then, Sitka, hands down.

lots of good advice here...

first thing: get a skiff or make friends with someone that has a boat.

Sitka, Sitka Sitka......did I say Sitka??? I know a real savvy outdoorsman, trapper there that could help you out locally PM me if you want his contact info.

Think of if this way; both towns are on the edge of the water with mountains behind the town. Each town has only two roads out of town; one road runs north and one road runs south along the water few miles out of town.

Juneau has a population of about 34,000, Sitka has a population of about 9,000. So, do you want to share the two roads out of town with 34,000 people, or 9,000 people? Just one other thing to consider.

Well, nearly every trail here has trapping restrictions, for what it's worth.

Can you tell, we’re VERY proud of our capital??

Juneau is probably the most liberal town, by capita, in Alaska. AV hinted at that. He could tell you much more about it, but it’s not limited to just trapping restrictions. Sitka would be a no-brainer decision for me.

I lived in Sitka for 5 years (1998-2003). No way would I live in Juneau; not my kind of town. With that said, someone should note the downsides of Sitka (I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic). Sitka is on an island. On Baranof and Chichagof Islands, you have basically three species of furbearers to trap. Otters, marten, mink. Period. The protected water north of town is relatively crowded with trappers. If you have a big boat and like big water, there are still some good trapping areas to the south, but it is not protected water. On the other hand, you have Juneau, on the mainland. You have otter, marten, mink readily available. You also have limited areas relatively close with possibilities of fisher, wolves, coyotes, wolverine, red fox, beaver, and, potentially, lynx.

Jack

Sitka is not exactly the world wide headquarters of the John Birch Society and I think Breitbart News is banned from the library there...!

Pete

Sitka has a nice brewery. Get yourself a skiff they are also deer to hunt on different islands.

Boy-Howdy, Pete. Sitka (and most of SE Alaska, in my opinion), is a bit too far to the left for my tastes. I always fit in better in Sleetmute or Takotna.

Jack

On the other hand - does anybody fit in Sleetmute - better or otherwise ?

As for you J - ignore all the noise and flip a coin. It's doubtful you will be doing much trapping anyway, when you figure all the variables.

I was leaning toward Sitka before and I definitely am now ha. Thanks for the helpful replies! I know neither of these places are "wilderness" but I figured if anyone knows the lay of it up there you all would.

I'll look into a skiff but I don't know how to navigate coastal waters. Maybe after I've gone out some with other folks and learn a bit. I have some connections that could get me out on big water for fishing. As far as trapping goes I don't count on doing much if any. I'd love to catch a marten or two just for the experience but we'll see how it plays out. My main focus would probably be fishing and hiking. I've looked into reserving a forest service cabin and paying for a flight charter in and out to do some hunting or fishing. Plenty of options there if I'm willing to pay the price.

One question about Sitka: How are the freshwater fly fishing opportunities?

I don't know anything about the fly fishing opportunities there, but I don't know why you couldn't fly fish for anything that you might find in the creeks around Sitka, I don't know about stealhead, but you shouldn't have trouble finding cutthroat, dollies and various salmon species depending on the time of year.

Don't be intimidated by taking a skiff out on the saltwater, just take it a step at a time. One of the main things you want to always consider is the tides; not just that the water level goes up and down four times a day (you will get your skiff stuck on the beach on an outgoing tide, but it will only happen once), but you also have to keep in mind the direction and speed of the current. When the current goes the opposite direction of even a slight wind it can cause the waves to stack up really quickly.

One thing you don't want to catch is "get-home-itis", that will kill you faster than just about anything. In addition to a personal locator beacon (PLB), and a VHF radio, you always want to have on your skiff a small tarp and some line to construct a quick shelter on the beach. The time will arise when the prudent thing to do is to pull your skiff up on the beach and wait-out the weather. Many times all you have to do is wait for the tide to change direction, which happens every five and a half hours or so.

Don't worry, you'll figure it out pretty fast. You're going to have a great year.

Paying the price is key, everything is expensive - especially Air charters, so use those boat connections. Harris Air is a flight option and there are a few pilots that cater to stream fisherman if you venture out a bit further.

Steelhead fly fishing - season dependent and mostly by air - plus some Dollies and lake trout.

I suspect you will be happy with your choice - have fun.

Gulo, less than 10 fisher ever taken in the Juneau area. I only know of 2 fox, and a handful of lynx, in 30 years.
The rest is accurate.

AV, that's why I said "possibilities of fisher, wolves, coyotes" etc. On the ABC Islands, a trapper doesn't even have those possibilities.

I was in the library in Haines many years ago and they did in fact have Trapperman blocked !

Sitka freshwater in town is very low. Indian has dollies and a rare steelie. The first 100 yds below the small ‘dam’ is a fun spot for dollies. Spring dollies in the salt is a blast. . We had a spot on hpr we liked fishing in the salt close to the sea mart .

Steelies are fly out. Sitkoh is or was a pretty sweet steelie fisherie. Its up in hoona sound, chatham side on chichagof Theres a cabin. But you teally need to venture up river. Its not the situk numbers wise but it has been good. That said numbers are dropping.

Theres fish out by the old sawmill. I was told steelies, but never turned or stuck one

Theres some sweet saltwater sight fishing kings in the back of sawmill. When i was done skippering (or had the rare day off) i would go back and have some fun on the 10wt. Destroyed a system 2 10/11 one summer lots of fun!!!

You can have a serious good time fly rodding black rockfish. They taste good fried up as well!

I would prepare for saltwater!!!!

Oh there is blue sharks in august! They will eagerly eat a fly!!!! Or anything else haha! You'll have to get off the cape (edgcumb or pt amelia were good as was behind biorka) for them though. If u go for halibut try and chum a shark in. There is salmon sharks as well. Youll want a lot more than a 10wt lol. Heck i dont know if a salmon shark would take a fly or not. They do like stinky pinkies haha. Theres nothing in this state that pulls like a salmon shark (other than maybe a humpback)!!!! I caught them on halibut sticks.

I was just looking at charter pics a few nights ago. Dang those were good days!!

If you ever get the chance to fish cape omni or run to port alexander. Jump all over it. The cape is an amazing fishery! Its where chatham dumps into the ocean. Watch the tides, she moves bigtime here. But fish are shallow and biiiiiig!!

The farlons? are another must do. Look at the islands west of coronation island. Its way out there. But the fishings unreal!!!! I spent a summer guiding in port alexander. Absolutely amazing in every way!!!!

Well, they ARE possible....

Just FYI, Sitka float plane charters are not something I would count on for recreation. That realm is in flux with no accurate outlook. Juneau flight services seem to have it together.

Can't count on them for lodge charter or e.a.s. either. As you say - no accurate outlook. The new state wide conservative flight philosophy ( justified or not ) adds a new wrinkle as well.

Yeah, that just a guess. Heck I share this peninsula with Homer and Girdwood! Of course there are good eggs in every basket too, but the rotten ones often seem to gravitate toward the illusion of power- i.e. the capital.

I would choose sitka hands down....