What to tie?

I've booked a trip to Alaska for the last week of July/ first of
August, we are going to be staying at Big Dave's Alaskan Bush Lodge, near
the confluence of Lake Creek and the Yentna River (about 55 miles northwest
of Anchorage). The place is supposed to be good for Rainbow, Pike, and all
five species of Pacific Salmon. The outfitter says he will supply all of the
flies we need so don't worry about 'em, but I kinda prefer to fish with what
I tied myself. Anybody have a suggestion of what patterns and sizes I should
start tying?

"Charlie Wilson" wrote in message
. ..
I've booked a trip to Alaska for the last week of July/ first of
August, we are going to be staying at Big Dave's Alaskan Bush Lodge, near
the confluence of Lake Creek and the Yentna River (about 55 miles
northwest of Anchorage). The place is supposed to be good for Rainbow,
Pike, and all five species of Pacific Salmon. The outfitter says he will
supply all of the flies we need so don't worry about 'em, but I kinda
prefer to fish with what I tied myself. Anybody have a suggestion of what
patterns and sizes I should start tying?


That 2 foot potato caddis someone posted might be good for bears...

Charlie Wilson wrote:
I've booked a trip to Alaska for the last week of July/ first of
August, we are going to be staying at Big Dave's Alaskan Bush Lodge, near
the confluence of Lake Creek and the Yentna River (about 55 miles northwest
of Anchorage). The place is supposed to be good for Rainbow, Pike, and all
five species of Pacific Salmon. The outfitter says he will supply all of the
flies we need so don't worry about 'em, but I kinda prefer to fish with what
I tied myself. Anybody have a suggestion of what patterns and sizes I should
start tying?

I've never fished Alaska.

Many years ago, when I was doing some small scale commercial tying, I
was approached by an acquaintance who said that he was arranging to
send his aging father on a trip of a lifetime.......Alaska!

He wanted me to tie up the best possible selection of flies for the
expedition. I consulted all the references I could get my hands on as
well as the few people I knew who had been there. I narrowed the
possibilities down to about four dozen patterns and tied like a madman
for a couple of months, at the end of which I presented my acquaintance
with three large Plano boxes, stuffed with about three hundred
flies......and a hefty bill.....at which he did not so much as blink an
eye, let alone balk.

Some time later, I asked him how his father did on his trip. He waxed
rapturous about the old man's thrilling adventure.....the high point of
a full and satisfying life.

So, he caught fish?

Oh, yeah, tons of fish!

Ah, the flies were good, then?

Glo bugs.

Beg pardon?

He fished glo bugs......nothing else even came out of the boxes.

Well, I be go ta hell.

Wolfgang
but.......i've never fished alaska.

On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:41:50 -0600, "Charlie Wilson"
wrote:

I've booked a trip to Alaska for the last week of July/ first of
August, we are going to be staying at Big Dave's Alaskan Bush Lodge, near
the confluence of Lake Creek and the Yentna River (about 55 miles northwest
of Anchorage). The place is supposed to be good for Rainbow, Pike, and all
five species of Pacific Salmon. The outfitter says he will supply all of the
flies we need so don't worry about 'em, but I kinda prefer to fish with what
I tied myself. Anybody have a suggestion of what patterns and sizes I should
start tying?

Well, there's no way to say this without at least sounding like a
smartass, but I really don't want to sound like one...well, much,
anyway...why not just ask the outfitter what flies he plans to supply?

TC,
R

Charlie Wilson wrote:
I've booked a trip to Alaska for the last week of July/ first of
August, we are going to be staying at Big Dave's Alaskan Bush Lodge, near
the confluence of Lake Creek and the Yentna River (about 55 miles northwest
of Anchorage). The place is supposed to be good for Rainbow, Pike, and all
five species of Pacific Salmon. The outfitter says he will supply all of the
flies we need so don't worry about 'em, but I kinda prefer to fish with what
I tied myself. Anybody have a suggestion of what patterns and sizes I should
start tying?



From the charts Kings will be over, but Sockeyes & Chums should be in
with Silvers just starting. You MIGHT have a long shot of catching every
species.

I'm no expert but I didn't find it important to have the "right"
pattern. After you fish over a school, you may need to change flies to
get another strike. I felt that getting the fly to the right level was
often important.

For Rainbows and Dollies, egg flies were the most productive but a mouse
fly took the largest Rainbow for me.

I emailed you a bunch of links I accumulated that give patterns for the
different fishes.

Flies for Alaska by Route is a pretty good book. I'd be glad to lend it
to you if you'd like.


Willi

Willi wrote:

Flies for Alaska by Route is a pretty good book. I'd be glad to lend it
to you if you'd like.


Willi

Just tie about 1000 of the best flies before August 10th or so and
everything will be cool : -) I'm doing my best but my story will
probably be more like Wolfgangs : -)

bruce h

Thanks to all. Willi sent some great links and I tried what rdean suggested,
they said "Don't worry about it".

Charlie Wilson wrote:
Thanks to all. Willi sent some great links and I tried what rdean suggested,
they said "Don't worry about it".

The best fly for me for Silvers, by far, was the Bubba Bugger. You won't
find it in a book. Willi has the recipe and some photos.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:36:29 -0600, "Charlie Wilson"
wrote:

Thanks to all. Willi sent some great links and I tried what rdean suggested,
they said "Don't worry about it".

If I read this correctly, they are essentially refusing to tell you what
flies you might want to tie, which would increase your enjoyment (from
their standpoint, the "success") of the trip. I'd tell them to stick
their outfitting service up their asses, if that's the case.

TC,
R
....and before anyone goes there, yeah, they might tell themselves
something silly, like they have some super-duper secret weapon fly they
don't wanna talk about...what do they do, make sports/clients fish
blindfolded?

"Charlie Wilson" wrote in
:

I've booked a trip to Alaska for the last week of July/ first of
August, we are going to be staying at Big Dave's Alaskan Bush Lodge,
near the confluence of Lake Creek and the Yentna River (about 55 miles
northwest of Anchorage). The place is supposed to be good for Rainbow,
Pike, and all five species of Pacific Salmon. The outfitter says he
will supply all of the flies we need so don't worry about 'em, but I
kinda prefer to fish with what I tied myself. Anybody have a
suggestion of what patterns and sizes I should start tying?



If you plan to tie what the outfitter will provide, you might consider
tying up some pegged beads.

--
Scott
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