Alaska Arolik River (Mini Version)

"Willi" wrote in message
...
Tom Nakashima wrote:

The most exciting for me was the huge Leopard Rainbows, unlike any
California trout I've caught. At first I was using my 8wt rod with 9 1/2
ft 4x leaders and 6 lb tippets, and Zuddler Leeches to try, but towards
the end of our journey I was using my 5wt, with 9 1/2 ft 6x leaders and 3
lb tippet material, hooking 4 pounders on the dry flies. These huge
Alaskan rainbows are very aggressive and come out of the water 3 to 4
ft, shaking their heads violently, not one time, but at last 6 to 7
times. And they will take out 50 ft of line in seconds. I sure glad I had
a mid flex rod and used monofilament leaders and tippets, as my friend
had a hard time with his stiff rod and carbon leaders. You need that bend
in the rod and the stretch of the monofilament to not lose these
monsters. These rainbows do not want to come in, even after 20+ minutes
of fighting them, truly the highlight of my trip. In all I had a great
time and will repeat.


Great report. Post some more pix!


I agree about the fight in those Rainbows. Supercharged fish! The
largest Rainbows caught by our party last year were on "dries" (although
the most were caught on eggs). Chas caught one of them on a
traditional dry and I caught my biggest on a mouse pattern.

Why did you go to 6X tippet? It's not like those fish are leader shy.
A 20 minute fight is tough on a trout.

We're headed up to the same area in a few weeks. How bad were the bugs?

Willi


Bugs were pretty bad. I talked with some of the locals about the mosquitoes
after bring my recommended artillery juice from reading ROFF. I didn't want
to embarrass anyone here who suggested their best, I know they mean well,
but the locals basically laughed when I showed them what I had. They use
this stuff called "OFF" 100% Deet. And thank God for my OR Bug net & my
Cowboy hat. I sprayed the hat and wore the bugnet over that....saved me.
Bug shirts work great. It took me 2-days to get used to the buzzing, but
soon, I didn't even care, just a few minor bites. The worst was slapping a
mosquito in my tent and having blood splatter out of him.

Well Willi, I respect you as a great fly-fisherman, so I hope you can relate
to me using lightweight tackle. Throwing #4 Zuddlers and hooking up on big
leopard rainbows really doesn't do much for me. For one, you can't see the
strike, just feel it, and so what if you drag your prize in by using 8 lb
test line.
Last year I spent most of my time just working on presentation for Alaska,
using my 5wt., 5x leaders and 3 lb tippets. It's almost like a dare to see
how small I could go, and to test my dry-fly skills...to see if it could be
done.
I started using #18 Adams patterns, to #16, to #14 and finally ending up
with #12 Adams pattern, which the 4 -plus pounders seem interested in....if
presented right.
Yes, I was at my limit using 3 lb tippet with the #12, but I doubled the
loop in the eye when tying the clinch knot. I was making smooth cast at 60',
but still had sight of my fly. It's a thrill to see the swirl the rainbows
make as they take the fly down. A simple lifting of the rod and a gentle
pull with the line hand and I had them hooked.
Whoever said large Alaska Leopard Rainbows aren't smart, hasn't fished the
dry fly yet. The rainbows all seem to have the same thing in mind when
hooked. They dart toward you as if to think you lost them, and you're
reeling in like mad, then they instantly dart out, you have to have fast
reactions and your drag set loose. As I said before a mid-flex rod to keep
the bend, and monofilament line helps as a cushion because of the stretch.
I've seen trout come out of the water, but not 3 to 4 feet and so violently
shaking their heads...repeatedly 5 to 8 times. They also try to bury
themselves in the mud, I suppose that's a defense. I'll have to say I
stayed pretty relaxed throughout the battle. After about 30 minutes, it
seemed like taming a wild horse, but not without a great fight. The only
problem is that I think I got spoiled now...but I'll be back in Alaska in
two years or sooner.
sorry, got more then you wanted to hear, just got carried away.
-tom