Recommended Gear
Our guides come fully equipped with everything needed to get you on the water. If you'd rather skip hauling extra luggage across the country, show up ready to fish and we'll handle the rest. Everything here is optional if you'd like to bring your own setup.
Clothing
Weather conditions in Alaska are constantly shifting, and being cold or wet is the fastest way to cut a fishing day short. We strongly recommend layering, which allows you to adjust throughout the day as conditions change.
Layering
- Light to heavy layers — no cotton.
- Last 2 weeks of September or 1st week of October: lighter layers.
- Last 3 weeks of October: heavier layers in addition to lighter ones.
- Light/mid jacket (fleece, Primaloft, synthetic down, wool).
- Heavier mid-layer jacket (down, synthetic down, wool).
- A good rain jacket is a must — make sure yours doesn't leak.
Waders & Boots
- Waders: Breathable waders ideal. Must not leak.
- Boots: Rubber or Vibram soles only.
- NO FELT SOLES — banned in AK.
- NO non-removable studs.
- Studded boots help with traction but can't be worn in boats. We recommend Korkers with Alumnatrax or similar.
- Break in new boots — we hike to some smaller rivers. Bring moleskin for blisters.
Accessories
- Billed hat for sun and eye protection
- Beanie and buff or neck gaiter
- Gloves — fingerless if you fish in gloves
- Comfortable pants under waders
- Medium-to-thick wool socks
- Polarized sunglasses — bring low-light and everyday pair if you have both
- Slip-on shoes for the lodge — Crocs, XtraTufs, Bogs, Muck
Personal Items
- •Medications
- •Ibuprofen and pain meds
- •Toiletries
- •Camera, battery charger, SD cards, GoPro + cord
- •Cell phone, charger, waterproof case
- •Hand sanitizer and wipes
- •Headlamp or flashlight
- •Sunscreen
- •Cash for gratuities (guides and chef)
Essential Gear
These you'll want regardless of rigging preferences. Bring them even if you fish our guide-provided setups.
- ✓Small waterproof backpack, sling, or waist pack to keep layers dry
- ✓Water bottle
- ✓Basic fishing tools: hemostats and nippers
- ✓Wading staff
Swinging for Steelhead
Big River Setup (Spey)
- Rod
- 12'6”–14' Spey rods in 7–8 wt
- Reel
- Large arbor with solid drag, balanced to your rod
- Backing
- 100–150 yards of 20–30 lb braided backing
- Running Line
- Rio SlickShooter (35–50 lb) for maximum distance, or Rio GripShooter / integrated shooting heads for extra finger grip
- Shooting Head
- Skagit heads matched to rod grain window (20–25 ft). Rio Skagit Max Launch or Max Power
- Sink Tips
- T8, T11, T14 in lengths of 7.5'–12.5'. MOW tips (floating/sinking combinations) for shallower water
Small River Setup (Switch / Single-Hand)
Full-length Spey rods still work on tighter systems, but switch and single-hand Spey rods bring a “fun factor” our guests love.
- •11'6” 7 wt switch rod with 18 ft shooting head
- •10'3” 7 wt single-hand Spey (Echo OHS with OPST Commando Smooth integrated Skagit head)
Flies for Swinging
We organize our flies into four practical categories. Whether tied on a tube, hook, or intruder style is angler preference.
- •Dark, unweighted (black, blue, purple)
- •Dark, weighted
- •Bright, unweighted (pink, orange, red)
- •Bright, weighted
- •Black & olive trout streamers for smaller rivers
Hooks & Leader for Swinging
- Hooks
- Barbless only. Tube flies: straight-eye tube hooks (#2–4). Intruders: octopus-style trailer hooks (#2–4)
- Leader
- Straight section of 12–15 lb fluorocarbon or Maxima Ultragreen
Nymphing for Steelhead
Walking & Wading Setup
When fishing from the bank, longer rods make life easier. A switch rod casts the heavy nymphing rig with ease, allowing further casts and longer drifts with less effort.
- Rod
- 10'–11'6” 7 wt switch rod
- Line
- Rio Indicator or Rio Switch Indicator line
Drift Boat Setup
From the boat, long casts aren't as necessary. A shorter, lighter rod won't wear your arm out and can be slightly better at hooksets from the boat.
- Rod
- 9' 8 wt
- Line
- Most weight-forward floating lines work. We recommend Rio Indicator or SA Anadro
Nymphing Gear
- Reel & Backing
- Large arbor 8 wt reel with 100–150 yards of 20–30 lb backing
- Leader
- 25 lb Maxima butt section, 15 lb fluorocarbon, 12 lb fluorocarbon
- Beads
- 10–18 mm (hard or soft) in a range of colors. Sizes 10, 12, and 14 mm in Tangerine and Light Roe are go-to choices
- Hooks
- #2–4 barbless bead hooks — Owner works great. Octopus, straight-eye, or bead-specific styles all work
- Split Shot
- Removable split shot in sizes BB–3/0
- Indicators
- Jaydacators (preferred) or Oros indicators