If You Bring Nothing Else — Bring This
These three cover 90% of situations on our rivers. Rainbows, Dollies, Grayling, and Silvers — handled.
Your Non-Negotiables
- Dolly Lama Coho Selection — the go-to streamer for Silvers and big Rainbows
- Mouse Fly Selection — essential mid-summer, especially July on the Kanektok
- Alaska Bead Selection — year-round producer for Rainbows, Dollies, and Grayling
Everything else below expands your options — but this is your foundation. A small, well-chosen box with backups will outfish a giant box missing the one pattern that’s working.
What We Provide
Every trip includes a working selection of the basics. But there is no fly shop within 100+ miles. If you want depth, backups, or specific patterns — you need to bring them.
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Dolly LamasIncludedBlack/white — the standard. We carry these on every float.
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Mouse PatternsIncludedPeak effectiveness mid-summer. If you’re on a July Kanektok trip, this is the fly.
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Beads — key sizes & colorsIncludedCore producers throughout the season.
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Flesh FliesIncluded when relevantLate season, when salmon are spawning and breaking down.
We cover the basics. Serious anglers show up with their own selection — and backups. Running out of what’s working matters more than variety.
Flies & Gear That Actually Work
Trout / Dolly Varden / Grayling
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BeadsEssentialYear-round producer on every river we float. Bring the Alaska Bead Selection and add late-season colors (August–September).
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Mouse PatternsEssentialEspecially mid-summer. One of the most exciting ways to fish for big Rainbows anywhere in the world.
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Dolly LamasAll-purpose streamer. Black/white is the standard; bring color variations.
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Sculpin & Leech PatternsBig fish food. Effective when nothing else is moving them.
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Flesh FliesLate season (August–September) when salmon are spawning. Can be the best thing going.
Salmon
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Dolly Lama — Coho ColorsEssential for SilversPink, purple, chartreuse, orange. Bring the full coho selection.
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Pink, Purple & Black/White PatternsLarger profile flies for visibility and aggression. Silvers respond to movement and color.
Indicators & Beads
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Alaska Bead SelectionMust-HaveAdd late-season colors if fishing August–September. Peach, coral, and natural orange become more important as salmon spawn.
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Strike Indicators — ½"–¾"Thingamabobber style. Bring more than you think you need — they get lost.
Tackle by Species
Fly fishing or spin casting — both work. Either can be exceptional. Here’s how to set up for the species you’re targeting.
| Species | Fly Rod | Spin Gear | Line / Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Salmon | 9–12 wt | Heavy action spinning | Sink-tip or full sink · 20–30 lb leader |
| Coho / Chum | 7–9 wt | Medium spinning | 12–15 lb |
| Sockeye | 7–8 wt | Medium spinning | 10–15 lb |
| Pink Salmon | 5–7 wt | Light spinning | 8–12 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 5–7 wt | Light–medium spinning | Floating (mouse/dry) · Intermediate (streamers) |
| Dolly Varden / Char | 5–7 wt | Light spinning | Beads, flesh, streamers |
| Arctic Grayling | 3–5 wt | Ultralight spinning | Dry flies, light tackle |
Spin Gear — Don’t Overlook It
Most guests fly fish — until they can’t reach the fish. Smart anglers bring both.
When spin gear wins: deep channels, fast water, and casts beyond fly range. It’s not a fallback — on some days and in some water it simply catches more fish.
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Blue Fox Pixee SpoonProven for CohoBring ½-ounce and ⅞-ounce spoons in orange and hot pink. These are proven coho lures, and carrying extras matters because rocky water claims tackle.Shop Blue Fox Pixee Spoons at Cabela’s →
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Blue Fox Classic Vibrax SpinnerProven for CohoBring sizes 3 and 4, with silver and pink blade or body combinations. These sizes are the practical coho choices for the rivers we fish.Shop Blue Fox Classic Vibrax Spinners at Cabela’s →
All hardware must be converted to single hook only before you arrive. Treble hooks are not permitted on our rivers. This is non-negotiable.
Where to Buy
Order before you leave home. There is no shopping opportunity between Bethel, King Salmon, or Dillingham and the rivers we float.
Every trip is different — river, timing, target species. If you want a straight answer on what to pack for your specific trip, ask Paul. No generic lists, no guesswork.