Emma Levez
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 13/98) - Wherever you go in the North during the summer, it is impossible to get away from the fishing frenzy that consumes residents and tourists alike.

Most communities have at least one store that carries fishing supplies -- anything from lures, leaders and rods to boats, motors, fish finders and that essential piece of gear, a bug jacket.

T.J. O'Connor Nepinak, the retail manager at the Northern Store in Fort Good Hope explains, "Our community outlet carries all fishing commodities. We have all the basic rods, reels and lures and we can order in anything else -- like boats and motors -- through the head company in Winnipeg."

It takes about two weeks for any special order item to arrive.

Anything new in fishing this year? "Lots of people are using three-and-a-half-inch nets for herring this year," says Nepinak.

"People are always trying different styles in lures -- different techniques and colors. But in my opinion a fish is a fish no matter where you go or what you use on it."

The most popular lures being sold at the Inuvik Sports and Leisure Centre this summer are red-backs and five of diamonds, according to employee Sheila Cuerrier. "They are general lures -- jack or pike and grayling are the most commonly caught fish in this area," she says.

The latest in fishing rod and reel equipment is fire line used with a graphite rod. "Fire line needs a different rod. It has very little stretch so normal rods get broken easily," says Dale Johnston of Wolverine Sports Shop. "It is the most powerful of all fishing lines right now -- it's made of micro dyneema - the world's strongest fibre."

Fire line is thin and when combined with a graphite rod it is "incredibly sensitive. You can actually feel fish nudging the line," says Johnston, "It gives you much better casting ability."

When it comes to lures, the Berkeley power baits have been particularly popular; they are composed of rubber and fortified with a fish scent. The scent is also available in liquid form for spraying onto other lures.

Berkeley fishing equipment is popular in Cambridge Bay. "Berkeley roughnecks are a good seller for us," says Murray Watt at Kitikmeot Supplies Limited. "Also Abo Garcia reels and pixies, a type of lure, are popular."

Cambridge Bay is a favorite fishing area for natives and visitors. Says Watt, "There have been lots of tourists through here in the last couple of years." Despite the fact that rods, reels and lures sell well, Watt remarks that nets are still favoured by Inuit living in the area.

The red devil hook is popular in Aklavik, says Noreen Smith of the Northern Store. "That's what people like to use here mostly."

It doesn't seem to matter where you go in the North, the love for fishing is ubiquitous.