Fly Fishing Wardrobe and Packing for Alaska
Alaska's potentially unforgiving weather
conditions calls for great care in wardrobe selection and packing. While
the weather in the Alaskan summer can be warm, bordering on hot, it can also
snow at any time and one should also expect a few days of rain every week.
Planning and packing for these conditions, however, isn't as difficult as it
sounds. Like you have heard before - "Dress in Layers". By mixing
and matching these layers, one can put together a wardrobe that doesn't break
the bank to buy or require a Boeing 747 to get it there. Space and weight
is often a real issues since some of the small commuter aircraft taking
you from Anchorage have lower baggage restrictions than the commercial airliners
that take you into anchorage. The following suggestions are based on
traveling during the July-to-September time-frame to the South-Eastern Alaska.
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Base Layer -
Please leave your cotton and other absorbent fabrics in the lodge or at home.
Having garments that collect and hold moisture can be uncomfortable and
dangerous.
Bottoms - Select silk or lightweight long
underwear for hiking and small stream fishing which requires a lot of
activity. Medium weight long underwear or a lightweight under wader
pants are better for deeper more stationary fishing in larger waters.
These silk an lightweight synthetics dry very quickly,
so it is easy to rinse out garments and have them dry overnight.
Tops - The base layer for your top is
more weather dependant than the bottoms since you bottoms are encased in
waders. A base layer for the top can range from a Coolmax® T-shirt,
silk turtleneck, microfleece middlewieght shirt, to Patagonia's heavy weight
long underwear. The key is to match the base layer to the middle
(insulative) layer to give to give you the level of warmth and flexibility
required.
Middle (insulative) Layer
Bottoms - Not normally required with waders,
but extreme conditions may dictate heavier long underwear or lightweight
long underwear in tandem with lightweight underwader pants.
Tops - Fleece is now the most common
insulative fabric. Polartec®, one of the most popular suppliers of
fleece, offers the fleece weights: 100, 200, and 300. Polartec® 100 is
a lightweight fabric that is excellent for cool days. Polartec® 200 is
a near perfect insulative layer for colder days and can be worn with or
without and shell layer. Polartec® 300, with a shell layer, offers
high levels of protection even in the coldest weather - this level of
protection is probably not necessary for summer trips to South-Eastern
Alaska. For non-rainy cool days, I like the protection offered by a
windproof fleece vest (always have your rain jacket nearby). Vests are
light weight and are an excellent way to manage body temperature.
Another consideration for the second layer is
insect bite protection. On warmer days when jackets and an
insulative layer may not be required, a second thin layer (i.e an Ex Officio
or Columbia Sportswear fishing shirt) really helps protect against a rather
determined group of insects.
Shell (exterior) Layer
Bottoms - Breathable waders are the way
to go. You have better mobility, they dry out faster, they are lighter
weight to pack and wear, and with proper layering underneath, the insulative
properties of neoprene are no longer required.
Tops - There a many manufacturers of
quality wind and waterproof, breathable jackets. Gore-Tex® is one of the
most popular fabrics as it offers the level of windproof and water protection
desired. Jackets specifically designed for fishing offer features like
neoprene cuffs, large pockets for fly boxes, a net ring, a shorter cut for
wading, and many other specific features. Manufacturers include LL Bean,
Patagonia, Simms, Hodgeman, and Redington.
Miscellaneous
Feet - For the feet, we like the sock
liner option to help manage moisture and protect the feet. Silk or
synthetic sock liners with a light to medium weight merino wool or
fleece sock.
Hands
- Fleece gloves and wool or fleece fishing gloves are recommended
Head - A wide-brim fishing hat is ideal
for Alaskan fishing as it keeps the rain off of your glasses and from
running down your neck, some people wear a hood. A ball-cap and knit hat are
also a good idea.
Eyes -
Polarized fishing glasses are a must. Amber is a good color as there a
many days that are not that bright. If you have a prescription -
Action Optics will take care of
you. Don't skimp on the glasses - if you are going to spend $5,000 to
be there, you should be able to spend $200 to see it.
A Sample Packing List for an Alaska
Six Day Lodge Stay
Silk Long underwear bottoms (2)
Lightweight under-wader pants (1)
Coolmax T-Shirt (2)
Coolmax turtleneck(2)
Middleweight microfleece shirt (1)
Polartec® 100 tops (2)
Polartec® 200 tops (1)
Gore-Tex® waders
Gore-Tex® fishing Jacket
Sock liners (2)
Medium weight merino wool hiking socks (2)
Fleece gloves
Knit hat
Wide-brim fishing hat
This list will cover you - depending on weather
you may wear only the lightweight stuff or only the heavy weight stuff, but
you are covered.
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