Gear Talk – Jackets

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Your fly fishing jacket is more important than beer or duct tape. Welcome to gear talk about jackets worn in the Bristol Bay, Alaska.  You can cut corners to save money to make your fly fishing trip affordable, but there are three places you don’t scrimp. 1. Do not hire an inexperienced floatplane pilot. 2. Don’t bring worn out waders. And, 3. . . . don’t bring a cruddy jacket!

We depend more on good jackets for our angling success, comfort, and potentially our survival than all the other gear we pack along. Our waterproof jacket combined with breathable waders is more critical than our choice of fly rods or fly selection – more important than which river we select. Our jacket is more important than whether we chose a lodge, a do it yourself trip, or a guided float trip. Our outer layer is our new best friend.

Gore-Tex or equivalent waterproof-breathable jackets define Bristol Bay comfort and safety. Your jacket must absolutely repel wind driven rain, withstand some abrasion, be wind proof, be durable, not leak, and the cuffs and hood must be adjustable. You can use commercial fishermen’s rain jackets to accomplish this with some loss of comfort.

I get asked, “Can Gore-Tex be depended on?” The better manufacturers of waterproof outerwear finally achieved in the 1990’s the promise of “Light & Dry & Breathable” that they began promoting in the 70’s, and failed under field conditions until the 90’s. Yes, Gore-Tex and a few other waterproof-breathable brands (H2NO, eVent) work incredibly well! Bristol Bay guides wear these materials week after week.

Bring the best hooded jacket that you can afford, preferably built of 3-layer fabric. If you are willing to fork out the cash, then consider the Gore Tex or H2NO guide jackets by Simms and Patagonia. They are incredibly well designed to keep you comfortable while casting and have details that restrict rainwater from running into your sleeves. I have personally had positive experiences with the following jackets of 3-layer waterproof-breathables: Simms, Patagonia, Orvis, L.L. Bean, Cabelas, Arcteryx, Cloudveil, Moonstone, Marmot, Mtn Hardwear, & Northface.
These 3 layer Gore-Tex jackets are not cheap but you can expect to wear one for 5 years for rain/wind. And, those jackets marketed as “Mountain Hard Shells” double for winter sports like snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, etc. I currently wear Patagonia River Salt, Patagonia SST, or the Simms G-4 jackets. They are well designed for fishing in variable weather. The 1 or 2 layer waterproof back packing jackets designed primarily for light-weight and packability do not hold up well in Alaskan field conditions.

Economically there is an argument to be made re: 100% waterproof “commercial duty” rainwear vs. Gore-Tex. A 100% waterproof “commercial fisherman style” rainwear “slicker” by Helly Hansen, Grunden, or similar is highly serviceable costing less than $150 compared to $250+ for Gore Tex. Many Alaskans have proudly worn “Helly Hansen Rainwear” for years and snickered at the fancy Gore-Tex. Try to get a model with adjustable cuffs to keep water from running up your sleeve and a drawstring hood. Whatever you choose – It must absolutely keep you dry! Shop carefully.

If you are bringing a Gore Tex jacket that you’ve worn previously, no matter whether it kept you perfectly dry make sure to re-vitalize its repellency just prior to the trip. The fabric needs to be re treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellant) finish. It makes a huge difference to how efficiently your jacket performs. You are going to be fishing close to the Bering Sea. Think about it. Use ReviveX to restore and enhance repellency. http://www.mcnett.com/ReviveX-Spray-On-Water-Repellent-P316.aspx. See you out there with a smile in rain or shine.

Bristol Bay Alaska trophy salmon, crystal clear rivers, rainbows as long as your arm.

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Act now to join me this summer in Bristol Bay Alaska, your lifetime fly fishing destination. Fully guided trips for trophy salmon on crystal clear rivers, rainbows as long as your arm, adventure, sea run char by the thousands, wildlife. We’ll Raft and camp along wilderness rivers in solitude. Fly fish in 20 hours of daylight.

The days are getting longer and your family’s summer vacation plans might be a discussion item around the dining room table. It’s time to call me. There are just a few prime slots available and I want them to go to you anglers who have dreamed about this for years.

In a few short weeks I’ll load thousands of pounds of grocery staples and new fly-fishing gear onto a barge headed north from Seattle bound for Bristol Bay. Its “crunch time” if you want to make this dream come true call me or email me now! 1-206-617-9799.

Fly fishing for Bristol Bay’s spectacular Char in July

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Not Saying “Give Up Chasing Trophy Rainbow Trout” when you fly fish and raft down a spectacular tundra river. But you should know why Sea run Dolly Varden Char are spectacular and why anglers travel to Bristol Bay Alaska specifically for huge pre-spawn males in mid-late July.

 

Here’s the beta: There are more than 50,000 Sea Run Dolly Varden returning to the 5 primary rivers we fish. The peak of the run is July 15-30. The July fish are the largest adults and are returning to the river where they were born to stake a headwater territory and spawn. An 18- 24” adult is a great fish and is the backbone of the trophy fishery. The most memorable fish push 28”. They are often highly pigmented in pre-spawn colors and considered by many to be more beautiful than the Leopard Spotted Rainbow. Plus the return of the largest Dolly Varden Char coincides with the lowest water levels and best weather of the summer.

 

Want to know more? Does the enigmatic Char intrigue you? Do you wonder why a fish tagged on the Togiak River, Goodnews, or Nushagak is later caught hundreds of miles away up the Yukon? Dollies intrigue me! Like so many others I was once enthralled only with large Rainbows but then I incidentally took a few really notable Char. The whole deal is changed now. The big Char are treasured, they are not easy, yet are sublimely beautiful like a brook trout is beautiful. We cast as they bust balls of smelt in the brackish estuary or while herding salmon fry in the headwaters. We throw the biggest streamers in the box in deep channels or sometimes must make perfect matches to the salmon egg “hatch” on the flats. This is a fish you want to spend some time with and it doesn’t hurt that the Rainbow and Salmon fishing is spectacular at the same time.

Exclusive use permit for Togiak River fly fishing

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Exciting news for Alaska bound fly casters. Wild River Guide Company was awarded an exclusive use permit for Togiak River fly fishing trips on the Togiak Wildlife Refuge west of Dillingham, Alaska. The Togiak is an exceptional wilderness river for King Salmon and Sockeye in July and Dolly Varden Char and Coho Salmon in August. There are some legendary Rainbow Trout. The July King Salmon run averages well in excess of 10,000 fish and more than 100,000 Sockeye return. The August Coho run is close to 10,000 and the July and August return of Dolly Varden Char is staggering. In the coming weeks look for the 2012 Season Report where we’ll report on a week long raft trip with wounded warriors fly fishing down the Togiak. Share a camp with me on the Togiak next summer!

2012 Bristol Bay fly-fishing season wrap up

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The 2012 Bristol Bay Fly Fishing season was positively stellar for Wild River Guides with one exception. We took “One Tough Trip Through Paradise” when Erik Oster, Steve Call, Olly Merrill and I attempted the first rafting descent of Moose creek into Lake Beverly and that is an adventure story that you will want to wait to read about when the season reports are published. Continue reading →

August Fly Patterns for Bristol Bay, Alaska

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August days hold the potential to catch the largest wild rainbow trout of your life on a mouse pattern in the morning, Char on the flats at mid day, followed by absolute mayhem with Coho in the afternoon. August is defined by the absurdly aggressive Coho / Silver Salmon sharing the river with Leopard Spotted Rainbows and shoals of Dolly Varden Char in their full pre spawn coloration. There can be a brief window in early August where all 5 Salmon are present yielding the Pacific salmon “Grand Slam” for those who keep track of that sort of thing. When the factors of run timing and fair weather align themselves well, then the fishing experience in the Bristol Bay in August is properly regarded as among the greatest experiences of a fly fishers life. You should join me on a trip! Meanwhile read on.

Here is a multi species list of flies for 1 person for 1 week, with an emphasis on resident Rainbow Trout, pre-spawn Dolly Varden Char, Arctic Grayling, a strong focus on Coho / Silver Salmon, plus incidental Salmon, Arctic Char, and Lake Trout. The list was developed for my fully guided trips down the longer and wilder and more remote rivers of the western Bristol Bay but seems equally well suited to the Katmai / Naknek region and the Alaska Peninsula. I enjoy feedback and I’m curious what works for you. Continue reading →

July Fly Patterns for Bristol Bay, Alaska.

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It is so much more complex to stock your Alaska fly box for July than for June or August! A great deal more total feed is available to resident fish in July than in June including fry of salmon, trout, char, and Grayling. There are Caddis, stone, & mayfly nymphs, plus salmon spawn and a bit of flesh late in July. While I have not seen stickleback in July, occasionally small Lamprey are present and Sculpin are pounced upon with enthusiasm. In July forage diversity is at the seasonal apex.

In mid July, adult sea run Dolly Varden Char begin to return to the rivers. In the last week of July a weather transition can begin bringing autumn storms. Finally you need Coho / Silver fly patterns in late July. All 5 Salmon can be present after Coho arrive yielding the Pacific salmon “Grand Slam”. Continue reading →

A Fly Selection for the greatest Trout and Salmon fishery in the world, Bristol Bay, Alaska.

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Flies for 1 person for 1 week on a float trip or fishing with the region’s best lodges.

This is a multi species list, with an emphasis on June Rainbow Trout and Arctic Grayling, plus all of the other sport-fish in the Bristol Bay watersheds including Arctic Char, Lake Trout, early Kings, Sockeye, and Northern Pike. A short discussion follows.

First, don’t leave home without these 5 items in your carry on luggage.

  1. Your best Polaroid glasses.
  2. Your Rx medications.
  3. Your favorite waterproof/breathable wading or fully waterproof rain jacket with retractors for hemostat and line nipper and 2 large pockets for fly boxes.
  4. Waders you completely trust which will get the equivalent of a full year of normal use during your AK trip.
  5. Wading boots that fit. Felt soles were outlawed in AK in 2012. The sticky rubber soles are now quite good. No “cleated, nailed, or studded” boots in rafts or cabins.

Why? In case Alaska Airlines loses you’re checked bags with your clothing, rods, reels, and flies. You came a long way! Improvise and go fish! Continue reading →