Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - Index

“small” salmon, and a 10-weight for kings. There’s no place
that destroys gear—especially rods—faster than Alaska, so
it’s important to bring at least two rods of each line weight,
and plenty of spares for everything else. The first fish I ever
hooked in Alaska was a king—on a 7-weight, no less—and
30 seconds into the fight my backing knot ran through the
tip-top . . . and promptly parted. That was my only 7-weight
line, so I re-rigged with an 8-weight, which worked pretty
well for an hour or so until the rod took a split shot hit and
blew up in my hand!
Alaska doesn’t demand much in terms of fly lines and leaders.
Plain old coldwater floaters work fine, with 3- to 5-foot
loop-on lead heads for when you need to get down five or six
feet. These fish aren’t leader shy—even the big rainbows—so
leader length and tippet diameter are not critical. Just be sure
to have plenty of 12- to 20-pound tippet material on hand,
and err on the side of strong.
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The action on the Alagnak this year will start on June 7 with the rainbow trout opener. While the
river supports a large, resident population of rainbows, the spring spawning season (starting in
May) sees the monster ‘bows that winter over in Kukaklek and Nonvianuk lakes drop down to
spawn. Until about the first of July when the first salmon arrive, the Alagnak is rainbow heaven.
The current in the Alagnak is so fast—7 to 8 knots in
places—that reels get worked hard all day long. Don’t show up
with some “trout” reel equipped with a Mickey Mouse offset
drag system and expect to win. Over-size reels with rugged,
centerline disc drags are an absolute must, and you simply
can’t have too much 30-pound backing on board. In fact,
the current is such a significant factor here that the chances
of actually landing a king without chasing him downstream
in the boat for a mile or two is pretty remote.
Summer weather on the Alagnak can range from sunny
skies with 90 degree air temperatures, to gale-force winds
blowing sleet and snow sideways—sometimes on the same
day. Accordingly, the best clothing strategy is to think in layers—stuff
that can be put on or taken off easily as conditions
change. Breathable waders (bring two pair if you can) lend
themselves nicely here, as you can layer up under them and
still be comfortable in the coldest conditions.