7/8wt rod for Alaska?

I'm making my first trip to Alaska at the end of Aug. We will be there
almost two weeks. We plan on fishing for Halibut for a couple of days
then jumping around on creeks, rivers and backwaters in the Anchorage
area.

From what I've been reading it seems fly fishing for Steelhead is
quite ambitious if not as difficult and time consuming as musky
fishing can be. If we are there at an appropriate time is a 7/8 weight
rod sufficient for steelhead? I'm not sure if our timing will be
right for steelhead as I havent checked flow data and such for waters
we will be on, plus I dont really know anything about the area or
steelhead for that matter. My father, who was there less than a year
ago, emailed me some creek names to check out online but I havent
gotten that far yet.

My gut tells me a 7/8wt. is ok but I'm just not sure. I bought the rod
to use for pike and carp fishing but havent gotten around to using it
yet. I usually use a 3-6wt. here in Colorado and back home in Wyoming.

Anyone got any suggestions for creek/river fishing around Anchorage?
How about Pike fishing?

Thanks,
Matt Mika

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:22:27 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

Forgot to mention, the 7/8 wt. rod I have is not a two hander, but
does have about a 1.5 cork butt plate. Also the reel I'd use if
possible is a flueger medalist 1495, rated for 7,8, & 9 wts. I
believe.

Thanks,
Matt Mika

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:31:58 -0600, MattMika wrote:

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:22:27 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

Forgot to mention, the 7/8 wt. rod I have is not a two hander, but
does have about a 1.5 cork butt plate. Also the reel I'd use if
possible is a flueger medalist 1495, rated for 7,8, & 9 wts. I
believe.

Thanks,
Matt Mika

You don't need a two hander. An 8 weight rod with a small fighting butt should
be fine. You're not going to be casting the budgies you throw at Muskies, and
there should be plenty of room to fight/chase down steelies.

Otherwise - and someone will torch me for this, for sure - but I suggest you
consider a better reel than the venerable 1495 where you're planning on going.

/daytripper (your reel-hand knuckles will thank you later....)

"MattMika" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:22:27 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

Forgot to mention, the 7/8 wt. rod I have is not a two hander, but
does have about a 1.5 cork butt plate. Also the reel I'd use if
possible is a flueger medalist 1495, rated for 7,8, & 9 wts. I
believe.

Your 7/8 wt. will probably do the job, however, I wouldn't consider a
Flueger Medalist 1495 a steelhead reel.
You have no drag and no way to palm the reel. Add plenty of backing if you
use that reel and be ready to do some
rock hoping.

Enjoy Alaska,
JT

"MattMika" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:22:27 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

Forgot to mention, the 7/8 wt. rod I have is not a two hander, but
does have about a 1.5 cork butt plate. Also the reel I'd use if
possible is a flueger medalist 1495, rated for 7,8, & 9 wts. I
believe.

Thanks,
Matt Mika

That may not be the best timing for steelhead in AK, but you should be into
prime time for Coho(Silver Salmon) then. A 7/8 weight should be plenty
adequate. I use a 7wt for steelhead in OR, WA, & ID, but prefer my 8 wt. for
Coho in AK, but that's due to the wind where I fish in AK, not because of
fish handling ability.
Although lots of steelhead and Coho have been landed with the reel you have,
its definately not very good equipment for use by a novice on steelhead and
Silvers.

Bob Weinberger La Grande, OR

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:31:58 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:22:27 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

Forgot to mention, the 7/8 wt. rod I have is not a two hander, but
does have about a 1.5 cork butt plate. Also the reel I'd use if
possible is a flueger medalist 1495, rated for 7,8, & 9 wts. I
believe.

Thanks,
Matt Mika

I've fished Alaska on several occasions for giant rainbows and 16
pound silvers. A *good* 7 weight should do the job. A fighting butt
is a plus, but not really needed.

However, your reel is NOT goot enough for big fish. Without a drag
and no way to palm it, you will have problems. I suggest you invest a
few bucks in a better reel, one that has a reliable drag and can hold
lots of backing. With a good reel you can keep the fish *on* the reel
and avoid stripping your line in (which is a sure way to break off a
big fish). Believe me, your knuckles will thank you for a better
reel.

You will be up there during the silver (coho) run, so you might want
to think about getting out of the Anchorage area and drive down the
penninsula and fish the Kenai River. Big (30+ inch) rainbows will
come out of the lakes to feed on the silver spawn.

Good luck. Couldn't make Alaska this year, but will be there again
next year. Have fun, and remember that grizzly scat smells like
pepper and has little bells in it. d;o)

Dave

OK, thanks for the replies guys.

I see a couple of you said the 1495 has 'no' drag. Dave said 'no' drag
then 'reliable' drag. I assume you guys are saying that the 1495
adjustable drag is insuffiecient. It does have adjustable drag, just
not rim control. In the past I've used my palm against the spool
handle to get some extra drag but that would probably get
painful/irritating with bigger fish.

I'm thinking about buying a new Medalist, the 1595 1/2 RC. I read an
article here about it:

http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com/stories/reels.htm

Dennis Dickson(steelhead guide) said "The Kudos for best buys go to:
1)Tioga 8 LA for (5-7 wt. rods Tioga 10 LA for 8-9 wt. rods).......for
under $200
2) Pfluger Medalist 1595 1/2 RC under $50. (I have one that is
responsible for over 200 alaska steelhead!"

Do you guys with experience agree? It has adjustable drag, counter
balanced spool and rim control. If you dont think this is a good
enough reel do you have any suggestions for a reel thats not too
expensive.

Fortunately, one of the areas my dad mentioned was the Kenai river, he
said it was a 'must stop,' so we'll be spending some time there...

Thanks again,
Matt Mika

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:43:13 -0600, MattMika
wrote:

Do you guys with experience agree? It has adjustable drag, counter
balanced spool and rim control. If you dont think this is a good
enough reel do you have any suggestions for a reel thats not too
expensive.


I started fly fishing in the mid 40s with cheap bamboo rods and
Pfluger reels. They are good reels, but for just a few dollars more
you can get a far better reel with a good and reliable drag. Believe
me, you will need a good drag on your reel if you latch onto a big
silver (they'll be running when you are there). Orvis has some good
reels for around $100 or less. I've had an Orvis Battenkill for years
and it has served me (and now my grandson) well. It's just as good
now as it was when new.

If you put you hand on the handle to add drag and it's a big silver,
you are gonna come away understanding what we've tried to tell you.
In short, forget Pflugers. Get a newly designed reel with disc drag
if possible

BTW, I used "no" to describe your present reel, and "reliable" to
describe a new reel. It's hard to beat Orvis' reels for the price.

You have received some very good advise from several people on this
ng. You should follow it.

Dave

"daytripper" wrote in message
...
Otherwise - and someone will torch me for this, for sure - but I suggest
you
consider a better reel than the venerable 1495 where you're planning on
going.

/daytripper (your reel-hand knuckles will thank you later....)

........no urge to torch you, but I have landed a few decent
fish over the years on a 1495. A little tinkering with the cork pads(someone
else did the job for me, or I would post better details), and the thing will
stop a train. Or, at
least it effectively stopped a running, 45 pound hound mix chasing a tennis
ball, when I tested the beefed-up drag
before a salmon/steelhead trip.g
Tom
p.s. what knuckle pain? Pfft!

I don't know where these guys are getting Medalist
1495's with "no drag". The thing, stock, has a more than
adequate drag for fish up to 8 or 10 pounds in running
water. Still, for the larger quarry and heavy use you
will see in Alaska, I would suggest beefing up the drag,
or as others have suggested, looking into a better reel.
And yes, that handle can nail you pretty painfully, in the
heat of the moment.

Tom