Outdoorsman Joe Barkoski has fished for King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Trout, Dolly Varden, Silver Salmon, and Chum, to name a few. 

These days, he fishes almost exclusively for these and other fish in Alaska with dry flies and various other baits, and spends his weekends wading the streams of the Kenai and the Kodiak Islands in search of silvers, rainbows and kings. Following is his packing list for clothing and fly fishing gear appropriate for a day of casting.

Attire for Spring

Capilene long underwear, top and bottom   Turtleneck   Heavy Shirt   Fleece Jacket   Neoprene Gloves   Hat   Wool Socks   Wading socks (with built-in gravel guards)   Waders (neoprene or breathable with fleece      pants)   Wading Shoes

Attire for Summer

Hat   Short sleeve microfiber shirt   Microfiber shorts   Wading Shoes   Wading socks (with built-in gravel guards)   Breathable waders (leave behind or "wet wade"      when really warm)

Fishing Gear

Rod   Reel   Line   Flies   Fly Boxes   Leaders   Leader Straightener   Tippet   Wading Staff (for rough rivers)   Wading Belt   Fishing Vest   Rain Jacket   Net   Quick Release lanyard for net   Polarized sunglasses   Flashlight   Clipper   Forceps   Floatant   Sunblock   Fisherman's backpack with waterproof     compartment

Essentials Links

              Clothes
              Waders & Boots
              Rods & Reels
              Flies & Lines
              Fly Boxes
              Sunglasses
              Flashlights
              Other Essentials

What basics should you make sure to pack for a backpacking fly-fishing trip? What you carry will be your home away from home, but you don't want to take everything (including the kitchen sink). 

Clothes 


What you wear depends a lot on the weather. For warmer weather, I bring along a comfortable pair of pants, a pair with a lot of pockets (to hold chapstick, licenses, etc.), plenty of leg room (to prevent chafing), and zip-off legs which turn the pants into shorts. This way, if it gets too hot, I am already wearing my shorts. 

I wear my fishing shirt, so I bring only one extra shirt. My clothes tend to be earth colors, because I don't want to take any chances that bright colors scare trout. This controversy has never been proven one way or another, but why take chances? 

I recommend packing warm clothes on almost any trip, for just about any place in the country can experience a nasty bout of frigid weather, even in the dead of summer. Definitely bring warm clothes if you plan to fish in higher elevations. Also pack rain gear. In most mountain country, rain is an everyday occurrence. If you are wet, you'll soon be miserable and cold. For this reason, many flyfishermen choose to wear synthetic materials instead of cotton. Synthetics insulate better than cotton (which is worthless against the cold when wet) and they are much lighter. They do cost more, but in the long run are worth it. Many old hands still prefer wool, which does retain heat when wet, but I see fewer and fewer anglers still wearing wool. I do swear by my wool gloves when fishing cold water. 

Regardless of the season or locale, I always carry a pair of warm gloves, a skull cap, a hat to fend off rain and sun, a fleece pullover, a rain poncho and rain pants. I have no time to be freezing cold when I could be fishing. I also wear wick-dry socks that dry quickly, and tuck one pair into my pack. 

Layer your clothes to regulate your body temperature. Layering allows you to carry fewer garments. As the day (or you) warms up, shed one or more layer of clothes. As things cool down, put more on. 

Waders and Boots


Most of the streams you'll fish won't require wading, and, I dare say, require that you not wade or you'll spook every trout in the river. You generally don't have to ford many streams, and when you do, they are typically narrow and shallow. This being said, I still usually bring some kind of wading shoes because some of the streams are awfully cold and the better trout lie is always on the other side of the stream. 

Some anglers use lightweight, stocking-foot nylon waders. These roll up and don't take much space. A disadvantage is that they aren't very durable, and could tear easily, since you'll likely be walking through brush and crawling on your knees to approach spooky trout. The lightweight neoprene waders don't roll up quite as tightly, but they are more durable and comfortable against the cold. If you like the convenience of these waders, it's a good idea to pack a repair kit (duct tape works to fix waders in a pinch). 

If waders aren't your style, or you want to keep your pack weight down, try old tennis shoes to splash in the crystal-clear streams. Many anglers glue felt to the soles. Tennis shoes can be strapped onto the outside of the backpack. Disadvantages are that they get heavy when wet and do not provide any ankle support. 

Another alternative is the felt-soled sandal offered in most mail-order sporting goods catalogs. These are cheap, light, and don't hold water. But they do leave toes and ankles open to sharp rocks, and they provide no ankle support whatsoever. To keep the tootsies warm, buy neoprene socks to wear under the sandals. If you keep your toes warm, you'll hardly notice the numbing cold on your calves and knees. These socks also come in handy if you choose to ford a stream in your hiking boots. 

Whatever wading shoes or boots you wear in the backcountry, I highly suggest felt soles if you plan on wading rocky streams. Felt-soled bottoms won't last long if you wear them on the trail, but replacement felt is inexpensive and easy to glue on (even for a ten-thumbs like me). 

Rods & Reels


This is the reason you're going out there, right? So you need to be as judicious about what fishing equipment you bring as you are with the backpacking items. I always inspect my gear before packing. I look for nicks and cuts in my fly-line. I check the reel to make sure it functions smoothly. I give the rods the once-over to ensure guides are unbroken and smooth, and that the blank has no cracks. Here's what you should think about: 

Rods 

                

What kind of rod should you bring? Notice I didn't say"rods." There is no need to haul around a closetful of rods just because backcountry fishing has slightly different outfit requirements. No one rod is going to fit every situation, but in general, a longer rod will cover most conditions — an 8- to 9-foot rod in a 4 or 5 weight; either a two-piece or multipiece. I like the extra length an 8 1/2- or 9-foot rod gives me, since so much of backcountry stream fishing involves dapping the fly while hiding behind brush or trees. A longer rod gives you better line control, longer reach, and is better for nymph fishing. A longer rod also roll casts easier and loads well. 

For fishing most high lakes, a nine-foot, 6 weight rod is the best outfit. Though a shorter 4, 5, or 6 weight travel rod will work fine, a longer rod is better for the longer casts sometimes required when angling on remote lakes. A longer rod loads well and is best for taking line off the water, especially when casting from a float tube. 

Some fly-fishers use travel rods, which come in three or more pieces for compact packing. They used to feel like casting with a CB antenna, but they have come a long way since then. They are no longer whippy and no longer turn at the ferrules. Also, the manufacturers have managed to impart touch and softer action to these put-together rods. Travel rods pack down to less than thirty-two inches in most cases, fit in protective rod tubes, and are perfect for carrying on planes and strapping onto your backpack. 

But don't get pigeon-holed into bringing the latest, four-piece, seven-foot, 3-weight, space-age material pack rod if buying one doesn't fit your budget or your style. To be sure, a travel rod that packs down to twenty-seven inches has its place for many anglers, but just as many prefer a two-piece that fits into a fifty-inch rod tube, which can be used as a walking or wading staff. 

What about a short or light rod? Many anglers swear by their shorter rods (six-and-a-half to seven feet), and some have gone to the lightweight rods of 3, 2, and even 1 weight. A shorter rod is great for tight loops and casting into impossible lies. If conditions are windy or you need to cast big, bushy flies, a heavier line can be loaded on. In many cases, they cast better with the heavier line. However, unless you are a superb caster, you'd be better off avoiding these rods. But if a shorter, smaller rod fits your needs and feels comfortable, you'll fish better. 

Reels 

              

Reels are not as important in the backcountry since you will probably not go into the backing very often (though I hope you do). What you do want in a reel is dependability. Nothing ruins a trip quicker than a jammed or broken reel. 

There are a number of lightweight, serviceable, inexpensive models on the market today. A single-action reel is all you will need. I would spend a little extra money to get a mid-priced model that doesn't have plastic inner works, but don't blow your entire budget on a reel that stands a good chance of getting banged around in the backcountry. 

Flies & Lines


Most anglers have at least 5 or 6 fly-boxes, each strategically arranged by color, size, species, pattern or philosophy. The high country streams and lakes require a lot less thought about fly patterns than lower elevation trophy trout streams. A few basic patterns in a few basic sizes is all you'll need most of the time. Not having to dig through zillions of flies and several fly-boxes makes fly-fishing in the far reaches of the mountains refreshing. Keep it simple. Sometimes simplicity improves presentation, and I'll take perfect presentation over an exact hatch match any day. 

On the next two pages is a cross-section of the most effective fly patterns for backpacking anglers. This selection includes all the basic and best flies for fishing the backcountry as well as high country lakes. I often carry these flies, and a few more, when I leave the trailhead for upstream fishing. They easily fit into one or two fly-boxes. Talk with your local fly-shop, or ones near the areas you plan to fish, for advice on fly choices. 

Trout in the remote backcountry respond to any number of well-presented flies. If you like to fish with a particular pattern and have good success with it, bring several sizes. Make sure your selection includes attractor patterns for imitating both mayflies and caddisflies (a few Royal Wulffs and Elk Hair Caddis would do the trick). I would always bring along a handful of ant, beetle, and grasshopper patterns. 

For those finicky fish in still pools, beaver ponds, and backwater, I include the best searching pattern ever invented, the Adams, although I prefer an Adams Parachute variation for the visibility of the white tuft. Also include a few streamers and nymphs for those instances when topwater prospecting isn't working. 

Fly-lines 

                   

As for fly-lines, this is again a matter of personal choice. A 4, 5, or 6 weight line, either double taper or weight forward, will cover most conditions on backcountry lakes and streams. A double taper line is useful because fishing rocky streams eventually wears down the end of the fly-line, and you can reverse the line on the reel when this happens. The extra distance one gets with a weight forward line is useful for lake fly-fishing, but this benefit is often negated on the small streams. 

Try a few fly-lines at your local fly-shop, and see what feels best to you. You might try a heavier line on your rod, too — you might like it and it gives you versatility in fighting windy conditions. I recommend looking into sink tip lines if you plan on angling for trout in lakes. One way to economize on gear is to purchase a cassette reel and bring both a floating line and a floating line with a sink-tip, or a full sinking line if you will be float tubing. 

Other Essentials

Fly-boxes

                
Anglers have individual preferences for every piece of equipment, fly-boxes included. I never have been able to convince myself I can afford to purchase a Wheatley-type box, the fancy, aluminum kind with all the little window compartments. I use plastic foam boxes for my normal fly-fishing trips, but when backpacking, I shrink my fly collection down to fit into a couple of clear plastic, hinged boxes with large compartments. I pack all my dry flies, and some of my nymphs and wets into one plastic box, and all the other bigger streamers and nymphs into another. Other choices for the angler include magnetic boxes which pin down your flies, and the new system-style foam wallets which have interchangeable pads. 

Sunglasses

                        

Don’t Ruin Your Fishing Experience with Inferior Sunglasses.
In many situations you can’t catch what you can’t see. And you’ll never catch anything if you can’t see the water clearly–the eddies, the seams, the bubble line or the way your fly or indicator is behaving.

                     
I always wear polarized sunglasses for two reasons: the polarization cuts through the glare and helps me see underwater, and wearing eye protection makes it tougher for a wayward backcast to hook my eye. I consider my sunglasses to be as important to catching trout as my rod, reel or flies. I also suggest you bring along Croakies or eyeglasses lanyards. These will help you keep up with your glasses if you take them off, or keep them on if the wind is gusting, as it often does in higher elevations. 

Flashlight

                                

Many times I have stayed on the water past dark, fishing to rising trout I could not see. Having a small flashlight allowed me to tie on new flies without spooking the fish and also lit the way back to camp after staying out late. Anglers can choose between conventional flashlights, or the newer, neater models made for anglers and backpackers which hang around your neck, clip to your cap, or wrap around your head. 

Other Equipment


I always carry a survival kit and a first aid kit. I carry a lighter, Aqua-pot tablets (and sometimes my water purifier), a knife, a good compass, a camera, and film. I also carry a lightweight sleeping bag and a foam pad. Finally, I bring along food I don't plan on catching and a camp stove to cook it on.

Home
Welcome
About Alaska Joe
Fishing
Adventures
Location
Rates
Photos
Links
Contact Us
Internal