The "Gear List" has 2 parts.
"Essentials list" & "Gear discussion." The "Essentials
list" is pretty much just an annotated list. This is ideally what
you will pack. The "Gear Discussion" might help guide
purchases of new "Essentials" gear. The gear list works for visitors
& guides on 5-10 day backcountry Alaskan float trips in June-July -Aug.
All the clothing & gear would be appropriate for trips ranging from
Patagonia, Argentina to the Alaskan arctic and most of the clothing doubles
as 4-season backpacking-ski-snowboard clothing.
"Essentials List" 7-10 day Alaska Float
Trip:
- 1 Rain jacket with hood for wind / rain / hiking
/ fishing *
- 1 Pair chest high waders **
- 1 Pair Polaroid sunglasses. Don’t leave home
without them!
- 1 Med-Heavy polyester polar fleece sweater ***
- 1 Set med. wt. Poly-pro long underwear ***
- 1 Pair polyester polar fleece pile wading pants
or "expedition" wt. long-john bottoms ***
- 1 Pair "river or flats or trekking /travel"
pants (brushed nylon very quick drying) ****
- 1 Long sleeve shirt (synthetic quick drying, can
be used as a cover up layer to put mosquito repellent on) BuzzOff seems
to work. Light colors such as tan, yellow preffered. Dark blue attracts
mosquitos.
- 1 T-shirt
- 1 pair lt. synthetic gloves to fish in if weather
or mosquitoes are "inclement"
- 1 pr. per day, med-heavy, wool-blend or polypro
socks (hint "Smartwool" or socks labeled expedition-trekking)
- 1 Cap w/bill for sunshade
- 1 "Fuzzy" light/mid weight polar fleece
ski hat or "Bomber" style earflap hat for wind.
- 1 Small bottle mosquito repellant w/ "deet"
ingredient
- 1 Pocket or belt knife, Swiss army etc
- 1 Pocket butane lighter / campfire starter
- 1 Toiletries kit, toothbrush, comb, fem hygiene,
boxers, underwear etc
- Prescription glasses as needed w/ spare pair
- Prescription medications
* 3 layer Gore-Tex for "Extreme" rain
gear by Simms, Patagonia, Mtn. Hardwear, Arcteryx, Cloudveil, Northface,
Marmot, Moonstone, etc. Alternatively a high quality 100% waterproof rain
slicker for commercial fishermen / construction trades by Helly Hansen,
Grunden etc.
** Gore-Tex for "Immersion" waders by Simms,
Patagonia, and similar. High quality 3-5ml neoprene waders are only recommended
for mid-August / Oct.
*** Generic polar fleece or Patagonia, REI, Northface,
Simms, Mtn Hardwear etc
**** Ex-officio, Northface, Patagonia etc
"Essentials" Fishing gear suggestions:
- 1 Fishing vest, nylon or synthetic, or a fishing
jacket. (cotton stays damp) I rely soley on my jacket to manage fly boxes.
- 1-2 travel rods per person. Guides, partner, spouse
can provide "backup" gear.
- 2 Fly rods: A 5-7 and a 7-9 wt. (make one a 9-11
wt if targeting Kings in June-July)
- Spinning or casting rods & reels: med-lt. 6-10#
& med-hvy. 12-20#
- Fly leaders & leader material 5-6# tippet for
trout, 8-12# for salmon, 15-25# for kings
- 3 Fly lines: Floating weight forward for Trout,
Char, and Greylings. Floating weight forward 7-9 for Salmon. Sinking for
large Trout / Salmon.
- Flies, * floatant, split-shot, pliers, line nipper/cutter,
strike indicators, hemostat or sm. needle-nose pliers
- Lures,** single hook only, spinners, spoons, plugs,
drift gear 1/8oz to 5/8+oz
- Single hook restrictions in our waters. Change trebles
to single before you come!
- Mark provides backup Sage fly rods in 5-7-9-11 wt.
& Sage / Shimano spinning combinations.
- Insect head net
* Read Anthony Route’s "Flies for Alaska".
Rutherford’s custom flies are $3.00 on the river.
** See books published by Frank Amato for info on Salmon/Steelhead/Trout
lure selection About weight limits:
Mark’s trips will take you far beyond where the lodge jet boats operate.
To get there we will load a high performance float plane with the correct
type of gear and the proper amount of supplies. We weigh each angler and
piece of gear on electronic scales before loading the airplane. You can
bring a maximum of fifty pounds #50. This includes your clothing, waders,
boots, rods & reels, Gore-tex rain jacket, spare tackle, camera etc.
Virtually all the experienced anglers returning with me are traveling
with less than 40#. Wilderness travel is defined by what we leave behind
and not by what we haul along.
Optional within weight limits:
- Journal, Art supplies, Cameras & film, Memory Cards, Batteries,
Small flashlight in August or Sept.
- Binoculars, Spotting scope, Field guides, Insect head-net / jacket
.
- Wading staff, Treking staff, Gloves, Bathing suit, shorts.
Contact me re. hunting firearms, heavy, fragile, electronic or
bulky items, your own tents, sleeping bags, dry bags, your own rafts, &
canoes, kayaks
>GEAR
DISCUSSION
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