What are the popular flies/lures up in Alaska

globalfisher · 02-20-2004, 01:16 PM

I just moved up here to Anchorage, and the season starts pretty soon I think. I just want to get prepared and tie a bunch if I can get some advice.

I am guessing a lot of different things will work up here, because of the massive population of fish. I just need some input from fellow fly fisherman.

Do egg patterns work on most species uo here? I am not sure about pike, grayling, or char. But I know steelhead, salmon, and trout will be biting them. What are your picks for the MONSTER fish up here in the Great White North?

Thanks in advance!

Grantspastor · 02-20-2004, 05:32 PM

There's a book on Alaska Fly patterns that is very good. There is also a chapter of Alaska Fly fishermen. Probably be very helpful if you get to know them. The one thing I can tell you is the patterns will be larger and often more colorful than for trout fishing in the lower 48. A quick synopsis of flies that have produced for me
-Most small dark dry flies will p[roduce Grayling
-For Rainbows...egg patterns, streamers, leaches, sculpins, and flesh flies
-Salmon will take many flies if you get it in front of them. Silver salmon will even take dry flies (Pink Polywog) if you fish it like a Bass popper or gurgler

Mad Mikey · 02-20-2004, 06:16 PM

For Salmon, egg sucking leeches rule, especially with Silvers. Bunny leeches in chartreuse or flesh color work well.
You will find that all the salmon species will take these offerings with exception to Sockeye which is another discussion.
Silvers in AK are the most aggressive fish I have ever seen.
I worked at a lodge in 96' and it was just ridiculous. We got tired of sink-tips and caught the darned things on stripped skating flies.
When you fish for Bow's or Dollies behind spawning salmon, egg patterns are great but I did not enjoy doing that because you snag a lot of salmon and have to bust it off.
When the big trout are lurking behind the salmon throw a skating fly like a stimulator and keep doing it. Eventually the trout will get annoyed enough to smack it.
Take a drive, fish the Russian above the crowd for trout, watch out for brown bears. Try Deep Creek, hike up from the bridge on the highway away from the crowd.
The Anchor River is a great stream, especially when the Silvers are in. Watch the tides, the fish dig on that.
Have fun, you will get tired of catching fish.

globalfisher · 02-21-2004, 07:23 PM

Thanks for the info!

little hunter · 02-22-2004, 08:37 PM

my uncle goes up there with Bob Toman and they use wiggle warts and spinners

daveg · 02-24-2004, 11:57 PM

A river to try is the Little Susitsna (spelling?), not too far a drive from Anchorage. One thing about Alaska fishing is, if you can drive to it in less than an hour from Anchorage, you will not be alone. Ask at the local tackle stores how to get to the "Little Sue".

Steelie28 · 02-25-2004, 09:19 AM

Grantspastor nailed it. Flesh flies for bows early and mid-season, then switch to egg flies once the salmon start spawing. Alvins will also work for bows early in the season. I had success with silvers on large flashbuggers in purple and pink. Grayling are a fun deal for small rod dry fly fishing and they taste good also.

Steelie28

[ 02-25-2004, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: Steelie28 ]

reeldick · 02-25-2004, 12:37 PM

There is a good fly shop on about "C" street and Diamond. Stop in there and they can help you out and answer your questions. They are also good for tips on when and where the fish are active.

globalfisher · 02-27-2004, 01:38 PM

At the intersection of c and diamond? I can probably find it. I know where they both are, just havent seen the shop yet.

willametteriveroutlaw · 02-27-2004, 02:03 PM

Artic shrimp flies, Flesh patterns, bead flies.. Try the anchor in july for spectaular seas run dollie fishing.. The russian is really crowded (even with trout fishermen).

Ty · 03-02-2004, 10:49 AM

Rainbows:
Bunny leach anything for rainbows any time will work for bows...... June Alevin and large black and purple articulating leach patterns are good. So are surface rapala's in certain area's. In late June and July black stone patterns and scultpin paterns kill em. Some systems are good for top water too, and in general they are not overy picky on dry's... Fall beads and glo bugs rule, occationally flesh flies are good and u can never go wrong with steak and eggs (bead above flesh fly). Remember two beads can be dealier than one and never peg them! 6mm-10mm are the best bead sizes depending on speed and surface of water.

Coho Chinook:
Charise anything is great. Popcilces are very effective. Marabou and bunny combos are great too. Crystal flash, flashabou, and tinsle can certainly add to the action. My all time favorite for both species is a three strips of 4"-6" of bunny tied on double 3/0 gami's. Woggs are great too, and simple to tie with foam. My friends have a patern called a "pink Nasty" ugliest pink thing u have ever seen and it kills um'. Egg sucking leach is good.....but, pales in comparison to anything tyed in charise. Sometimes flashflies are more effective close to estaries and glo- in the dark material can certianly make these patterns more effective..

Willow Drifter · 03-04-2004, 03:23 PM

Global,

There is a great shop off of Tudor called Worldwide Angler. It is right across the street from Alaska Raft and Kayak so you can stop by there and check out all of the cool catarafts as well.

I have been tying flies for over 20 years now and I spend all sorts of time trying out new things. When those don't work I usually put on a bead and start nailing them.

Make sure you have lots of beads.

The Anchor is an amazing river when the dollies are running. You can catch 100 a day. Take that and throw in a couple of 10+ lb. chrome bright steelhead and you have a great trip.

The valley (where I am at) has tons of great spots. You will never run out of places to fish here.