TACKLE

To view flies for an Alagnak trip: June, July, August, September

For a packing list of all the gear  click here.

Every client will be supplied with a river/time specific equipment, fly  and clothing list when they book a trip with us.

  Suggested equipment:

(We can supply you with top quality rods and reels if you are missing any of the following equipment)

For Trout, & Char:

• 6-7 weight rods ( a 6 weight is a must for the trout - they go up to 15 pounds!)
• 150 yards 20 lb. backing
• 1 floating line   (3-6 weight)
• 1 - sinking tip (6-7 weight) line with 15- 20' sinking tip (5-6"; per second sink rate)

For Sockeye, Chum, Silver & Pink Salmon:

• 7-9 weight rod
• 200 yards 35 lb. backing
• 1 - sinking tip line with 15- 20' sinking tip (5-6"; per second sink rate)

For Kings:

• 10-12 weight rod
• 300 yards 35lb. backing
• 1 - sinking tip line with 15- 20' sinking tip (5-6" per second sink rate)

For Grayling:

• 3-5 weight rod
• 50 yards 20lb. backing
• 1 floating line

Leaders & accessories:

• 8' leader for floating lines (12 pound)
• 3' leaders  for sink tip lines(12 pound for trout - 15 -20 pound for salmon)
• Tippet: 1 spool each 8 lb., 20 lb. 2 spools each 10lb., 12lb., 15 lb. tippet
• Split shot size bb and slighty larger
• paste floatant
• strike indicators - big yarn ones
• nippers
• forceps
  

You might break a rod or lose a fly line on your trip - be prepared! We will always have extra  equipment on hand but its nice to have a backup to the backup!

THE GEAR

The following is a list of recommended gear. It’s short but sweet  so that our floatplane will get off the water!  These are wilderness camping trips that can encounter a series of very cold windy days or warm sunny days. Always choose materials that are warm when wet (wool - polar fleece etc. COTTON IS WORTHLESS UP HERE) . The idea is to layer.  Start with a thin layer next to your skin and  put slightly heavier layers over that to get to the warmth level needed for a particular day.  Please take this list to heart. There is limited amounts of space in the float plane and this list will get you through the week in warmth and comfort.  Great waders and Rain Jackets are a must. Fishing gear recommendations are on a separate list that varies according to season.

• 1 sleeping bag - synthetic fill - rated  20 degrees or colder
• 1 insulating pad to put on top of cots
• 1 rain jacket w/hood (top quality breathable )
• 1 rain pants (most important items)
• 1 heavy fleece top
• 2 medium weight fleece top
• 3 lightweight fleece or capeline tops or turtlenecks
• 2 long sleeve lightweight fishing shirt  
• 3-7 pair underwear  (even here synthetic is better than cotton)
• 4 pair wool/ blend insulating socks for under waders
• 1 wool or fleece hat (ski type)-
• 1 cap with brim
• 2 pair fleece pants (under waders) –
• 2 pair capeline long underwear bottoms
• 1 pair water proof boots for around camp
• 1 pair fishing gloves - fingered or fingerless
• 1 polarized sunglass - as good as you can get!
• Personal toiletries,
• Insect repellent,
• Bug head net
• Camera & film
• Reading & writing materials
• Gortex waders & repair kit  - neoprene is not a good choice
• Wading Shoes – no studs are needed and are not allowed  in any part of tents
• Camp towel (not cotton)
• Flashlight or headlamp with batteries in August and September
• Backup pair of eyeglasses for those who depend on them

 

The weather is usually 45-55 degrees at night and 55-75 in the day during most of the summer. It is more likely to rain than not so the most important item on the above list is the rain gear and waders. Most of the days in the summer are rainy (but hey the fishing is good) Bugs c an be a nuisance if there is no wind. If you have any questions about clothing or gear feel free to give me a call. For information on tackle, click here.





The Alagnak Fly Box for June

Type	Colors	Size	Qty
Elk hair Caddis	Tan, Olive, Brown	12,14	12
Royal Wulff		10,12,14	12
Caddis Nymphs	Tan, Olive	12,14	6
Egg sucking leech	Pink or peach/purple, pink/black	2,4,6	24
Woolly buggers	Black, Olive, purple	2,4,6	18
Wool head sculpin	Black, olive	2,4	24
Mice:	Grayish brown	2,4	4
Smolt imitations		2,4,6	8

We get great dry fly fishing in June for some large rainbows as well as grayling. They are either on top or they will grab Sculpins like mad on a swing near the bottom. If I brought 2 flies it would be the Royal Wulff and an Olive Sculpin! Bring your own creations or I can supply them for you (at cost) - all flies should be barbless, single hook (state reg.)

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The Alagnak Fly Box for July

Type	Colors	Size	Qty
Elk hair Caddis	Tan, Olive, Brown	12,14	12
Royal Wulff		12,14	12
Caddis Nymphs	Tan, Olive	12,14	6
Egg Patterns	Pink, peach, orange, plum	8	24
Egg sucking leech	Pink or peach/purple, pink/black	2,4,6	24
Woolly buggers	Black, Olive, purple	2,4,6	18
Wool head s culpin	Black, Olive	2,4	12
Mice:	Grayish brown	2,4	4
Flash Fly	Silver/orange, pink, purple, red	2,4	12
Bunny	Pink/purple, pink, purple	1/0, 2	12
Alaskabous	Pink/purple, purple/pink, chartr	1/0, 2	12
The Secret Sockeye	Red/black, orange/black	2,4,6	12

 

July means you need a little bit of everything ( or a lot of everything). There are all sorts of salmon in the river but up top by the lakes we still might get some dry flies happening, down river it will be mostly for Salmon, but if the salmon start dropping eggs the trout will be chowing again! The above selection is basic but complete - there are a zillion effective flies for Salmon so be creative. Bring your own creations or I can supply them for you (at cost) - all flies should be barbless, single hook (state reg.)

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The Alagnak Fly Box for August

12  

Type	Colors	Size	Qty
Elk hair Caddis	Tan, Dark Brown	14,16,	12
Egg Patterns	Pink, peach, orange, plum	8,10	40
Egg sucking leech	Pink or peach/purple, pink/black	2,4,6	24
Woolly buggers	Black, Olive, purple	2,4,6	12
Wool head sculpin	Black, Olive	2,4	12
Mice:	Grayish brown	2,4	4
Flash Fly	Silver/orange, pink, purple, red	2,4	6
Bunny	Pink/purple, pink, purple	1/0, 2	$2.00
Alaskabous	Pink/purple, purple/pink, chartr	1/0, 2	18

August means lots of egg patterns for trout. This means anything: basic globugs, krystal eggs, Dave's scrambled eggs, and bead flies The Sculpins will produce some large trout anytime of the season. The above selection is basic but complete - there are a zillion effective flies for Salmon so be creative Pink (Cerise) and purple are the big colors. Bring your own creations or I can supply them for you (at cost) - all flies should be barbless, single hook (state reg.)

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The Alagnak Fly Box for September

Type	Colors	Size	Qty
Elk hair Caddis	Tan, Dark Brown	14,16	6
Egg Patterns	Pink, peach, orange, plum	8	40
Flesh Fly	Ginger/white	4,6	12
Egg sucking leech	Pink or peach/purple, pink/black	2,4,6	24
Woolly buggers	Black, Olive, purple	2,4,6	12
Wool head sculpin	Black, Olive	2,4	12
Mice:	Grayish brown	2,4	4
Bunny	Pink/purple, pink, purple	1/0, 2	12
Alaskabous	Pink/purple, purple/pink, chartr	1/0, 2	12

The above selection is basic but complete - there are a zillion effective flies for Salmon so be creative. I can supply them for you (at cost) - all flies should be barbless, single hook (state reg.)

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Equipment and Gear Buying Guide

Rods:

Always buy 4 or 5 piece rods - they are so much easier to pack and the technology in making ferrules means you cant' feel the joints anymore. Whether it is the latest and greatest evolution of graphite or technology that is 5- 10 years old, modern rods are a pleasure to cast.

REELS:

I use large arbor reels for saltwater and fresh water. The retrieval rate is awesome and it helps the drag maintain a consistent pressure while a fish is running. ( The diameter doesn't change much as you lose line as it does on a standard arbor) There are some wonderful reels out there but the Mach Large Arbor is a great value, it is light, it is pretty, it is smooth and it doesn't cost a fortune!



FLY LINES:



Fly lines should be specific to the conditions - Broad categories include: Warm Water or Cold Water?, SaltWater or Fresh water? Lines can be full floating,  full sinking,  or partial sinking (sink tip). The tapers can vary infinite ways to help you throw different kinds of flies in different situations, or one taper may help you mend line easier than another.  Almost every manufacture of high quality lines will offer a line for the specific species  and purpose you are looking for.

LEADERS:

I prefer to use flouro carbon leaders for most of my fly fishing needs (salt or freshwater) as they have more abrasion resistance than standard monofilament.

I also always use flouro carbon tippets for fresh and saltwater applications for it's invisible nature. Most of our destinations have pretty stupid fish but it still makes sense to use the most invisible tippet.

FLIES :

If you need flies for one of our trips we can provide you with a selection specific for the time of year and destination you are traveling to.  This is a courtesy to our clients and we do not sell flies to anglers who have not booked a trip through us! ( We are not snobs we just are not set up to provide tons of flies!) The selections usually come in $100, $150, $200 selections.


 



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