If you are a beginning, low mileage, or intermediate fly-fisher you will be transformed after a week-long fly fishing experience with Guide Mark Rutherford. Mark has a Masters in Education from Antioch University, which he earned teaching youngsters Alaskan aquatic ecology and sport fishing! You and your friends / family members will have lots of "hands-on fishing & catching" experience in a week spent fishing, camping & floating on one of Alaska’s Bristol Bay region clear rivers.

The entry-level angler should progress from beginner to intermediate in both dry fly and wet fly presentation. Success, and lots of it, will come first while fishing for Grayling. We will help the beginner sharpen casting, playing, & releasing skills dozens of times per day. Wet fly fishing with egg patterns and purple egg sucking leeches is next and generally by day 2 and 3 the novice is successfully sight casting to Salmon, hooking many & landing several per day. The Rainbows & Char, especially the larger fish, are the "frosting" on the cake for the novice and due to the quantity of Salmon which are eager to take the fly it turns out that Rainbows & Char are not as easy to entice for the beginner as they appear!

A portion of each day is spent on aquatic ecology emphasizing the feeding preferences for Rainbow Trout, Pacific Salmon, and Char. We explore river geography and fish habitat through hands on experience & discussion while we float. The entry-level fly-fisher masters the essential knots, overhead, and roll casts, line mending and presentation of the wet & dry fly. She or he learns the essential flies for Alaska fly fishing, as well as the universally appealing flies to take to one’s home waters, plus fly fishing ethics and etiquette.

Trip Timing & Location
Low mileage & Novice fly-fishers should try for a July trip if their schedules allow. Alternatively, June would be a good time to check out the smolt migration when Char & Rainbows are concentrated at the outlets of the major spawning rivers such as the Agulawak in Alaska’s extraordinary Wood-Tikchik, the largest state park in the nation with 1.6 million acres. Late August and early September is thrilling for older or more mature entry-level fly-fishers. Mature in the sense that we will fish & raft through some autumnal rain shower periods and a positive attitude is great. I have had youngsters from 10 years and up who were fine in autumn weather. It depends upon the individual.

In August & September the Coho Salmon is super eager to take a fly and presents an incredible opportunity for the intermediate fly-caster to hone wet fly presentation skills. We like to fish for them chrome bright. There is also unbelievable Char and Rainbow fishing in late August.

Alaska’s Best Fly Fishing Experience
Mark and staff are patient, experienced camping and fishing guides. Meals are exceptional and fresh salmon dinners, the norm. Corners are not cut and safety is paramount. We camp in superb gear (provided) and time will be allocated to tune-up camp skills or for some to develop new wilderness travel skills. All of the camp, boat, and fishing gear is the best (NorthFace, Patagonia, Aire, Simms, Sage etc. see gear list section).

If you are left wondering if you are entry level or low mileage / intermediate, feel free to call me at (877) 628-6796. The only requirement is to bring a smile and a willing attitude. If you do your part then the fish, the Alaskan wilderness setting, your companions, and Mark’s team will do the rest.