Thoughts on gear for Alaska
Flies: Bring size 2 and 6 Dolly Llamas. Lots of them. Enough to lose 4 or more each day and not run dry. Black and white and olive and white. The Dollys are the key. Bring the other typical flies and some salmon flies and DEFINITELY some mice patterns. Dollys are heavy so make sure to cast them and bring the appropriate rod - maybe a 7 or 8 with an integrated sink tip. As you float and cast to good looking water you need that fly to drop like a rock.
Rods: 6,7 and maybe 8. Put the mouse on the 6 and the Dolly on the bigger rod. Make sure to cast the big Dolly before you go to be sure your rod can handle it.
Lines: I think each rod should have a Rio versitip on it.
Leaders: 9 foot 12 lb mono and heavier for salmon. Also bring 12lb Maxima to make short straight leaders for the sink tips.
Jacket: The best jacket you can afford. Simms G3 or G4 or the Patagonia SST.
Waders: Same as above.
Boots: DO NOT BRING KORKERS. I've owned two pairs, the originals and the brand new Chrome model with the BOA lace system. Everyone promised me the problem of the soles falling off had been fixed. Well, as I was wading through the muck to one of the best holes of the trip this happened:
Twice burned and I'll never go back. Go with Simms.
Clothes: Pack light! Seriously, you don't need a lot out there. Go with two pairs of long underwear pants; one thin and one fleece. Two long sleeve merino wool base layers and three pairs of wool socks. Maybe a couple changes of underwear. A fleece layer under your wading jacket. Neoprene gloves. Wool hat and baseball hat.
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