Packing for your Alaskan fishing trip can be a tricky endeavor. Alaskan weather can change quickly, so you have to be prepared for anything, from blistering sun to pouring rain, to freezing cold. Packing incorrectly can ruin any trip, no matter how big the fish are or how many salmon are running. If you haven’t been to Alaska before one way to get around this is to book a guide or charter. If you’re planning on going this route, make sure you ask them what gear they will be supplying and what you need to bring. Many times they will supply all of your fishing equipment and all you’ll have to bring is yourself and your clothes.
For you clothes, you should always pack items that can be layered and can dry easily if needed. This is necessary even in the summer months as the temperature in Alaska can fluctuate suddenly. Layering allows you to adjust your clothes to how hot or cold it is throughout a day without having to pack bulky jackets that will make your day either incredibly hot or cold. It’ll also help you recover more quickly if you happen to get stuck in a freak rainstorm in the middle of the afternoon. Make sure you bring a breathable rain jacket and also waders if you’re planning on doing any stream fishing.
Another essential item to remember when packing for your Alaskan trip is a survival kit. If the worst should happen and you get stranded or lost in the backcountry you’ll need some basic items to help you survive until help arrives. Some essential items to include in your survival kit are water purification pills, waterproof matches, a whistle, granola or candy bars, Ziploc bags, first aid kit, and a space blanket. Pack anything you might think you need to survive for a night outdoors that doesn’t take up too much room in your pack.
Alaska is also notorious for bad mosquitoes. However, they tend to cluster more in the woods than out on streams. Regardless, you’ll still need adequate protection from them. Strong bug spray (I prefer spray that contain deet although some will disagree) and a mosquito net to cover your face and neck is highly recommended.
Also make sure to bring a waterproof backpack to put your extra clothes, tackle, water, food, and other gear in while you’re out in the middle of the river. Other items that you should bring include lots of extra socks, garbage bags for our grimy clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, stringer, filet knife, hand warmers, gloves, and any toiletries you need.
Finally, if you’re not using a guide service, you’ll have to bring your own fishing equipment as well. Make sure to bring heavy tackle, but for bait and lures, you should be able to find several different places for discount fishing tackle while you are in Alaska. For fly-fishing, you’ll want a 9’ 8 weight travel rod that breaks down into 3-4 pieces. Adjust your rod size depending on which fish you’re going to go after. Bring a matching, quality reel for your rod as well. A high quality reel is definitely a necessity, especially if you plan on going after bigger fish, such as king salmon because it will be subject to a lot bigger and longer runs than you’re used to in your local stream. Make sure to bring an extra rod and reel as well, nothing shuts down your fishing trip faster than a broken rod or reel. You should also think about having your reel professionally spooled at a fish or fly shop to give you the best performance and minimize that chance that it breaks while you’re reeling in your trophy catch. What pound test you use will depend on the type of fish you’re going after. Here are some general guidelines:
- 8-12 lb for rainbows, steelhead, or pink salmon
- 15-20 for red or silver salmon
- 25-30 if you’re going after kings (possibly even more depending on where you’re fishing)
One final note, if you’re flying up to Alaska make sure you pack your fragile items, such as rods, in protective cases to make sure they aren’t damaged in transit. Also be careful with what you decide to carry on the flight with you, hooks, lures, and similar items may end up confiscated by your friendly, local TSA agent.
Packing properly for your Alaskan fishing trip will take a little bit of time, but it will make a huge difference in how much fun is possible when you finally arrive. You’ll find with the right gear and clothes your vacation will be more enjoyable and stress free.
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