Customer Reviews

Flyfishing Alaska

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This is an excellent how to book for the fly fisherman going to Alaska. Each species of salmon and trout is covered with details concerning best time of year to fish, best fly patterns and what tactics will produce strikes. This is a how to fish rather than where to fish book although it does mention many areas worth investigating. I would suggest buying both this book and the book, Alaska Fishing, by Limeres and Pedersen, which gives detailed info. on where to fish rather than how to fish. Both excellent books that when used together will prepare the angler for the trip of a lifetime. Tight Lines.

Admittedly, I am mostly a spin fisherman by nature, but reading this book had me practice casting in the backyard in 10 degree weather. The book is very readable and filled with anecdotes and information that obviously resulted from years of field experience.

This is not a location guide, it is a species guide. The author does give general information about where to find a certain species but does not give up any secret holes or mention any locations that might be sensitive to overfishing. What he does give in abundance is his knowledge of each fish species; it's life cycle, the proper flies and equipment to use and most importantly, the presentation for each species. Throughout the book, he gives a sense of mastery gained from countless hours in the field. The chapter on flyfishing for Sockeyes alone is worth the price of the book. He debunks the myth that Sockeyes don't bite flies and lets you know how to present the fly to elicit a strike. I have never wanted to fish the Russian River like I did after reading that chapter.

I'd recommend it to anyone going up from the lower 48. Even if you are an experienced flyfisherman, this will help jump start your success with new species.

excellent description of fly fishing opportunities in Alaska, here in Alaska the fly fisherman must adopt his lower 48 perception of salmonides in fertile life saturated streams to the stark reality of the anadromous nature of the Alaska eco system
typical salmonides in Alaska return to the ocean to eat and return to the fresh water to bread the behavior is food driven one only has to see the bottom of a grey water glacial stream to comprehend the adaption.

I took a Flyfishing class and this book was highly recommended. Worth the read and great tool to have.