PRE-TRIP PACKING LIST
The preferred bag for all your equipment is a large duffel bag. Hard cases can easily become damaged, and are sometimes difficult to load into the planes.
CLOTHING: The atmosphere at the camp is informal and casual clothes are encouraged. We recommend the layer method of dressing. As the day's temperatures change, you can peel off a layer or add one. It is very important to bring good quality, durable raingear with a large fit to allow layer dressing underneath. Your rain parka should have a hood or you should bring a separate rain hat. Neoprene or fleece gloves will be useful on the rainy colder days. If you plan on wearing hip boots, you should bring rain pants to keep your bottom dry.
CHEST WADERS: The most important item you will bring will be your waders. Bring only good quality waders and make sure you have a comfortable fit.
Our recommendation is for the stocking foot chest waders with a pair of wading boots. They are easy and light to pack while traveling and provide the best foot and ankle support while wading. (Hip boots limit your wading and do not keep you dry when it rains. Chest waders will allow you to cover more water while wading and will keep you dryer and warmer.)
Neoprene waders are just fine, but if you do a lot of fishing, you might want to invest in a pair of breathable waders, which we have found to be the ultimate in comfort with the versatility of layering for cold or hot days. When wearing waders, it is imperative to wear a wader belt. The belt will keep your waders from filling with water should you wade too deeply. Special note: Personal flotation devices are provided.
PACKING LIST: The following list is to be used as a guideline. You will want to add what works best for you. Note: We provide all linens (bedding, towels, washcloths) for you.
- Rods, reels, lines, tackle, etc.
- Waders & Wading Boots
- Good Raingear, jacket (& pants if you have hip boots)
- Hat (for sun and rain)
- Long Underwear
- Several layers of clothing: long sleeve shirts, sweaters, fleece tops & pants, sweatpants, etc.
- Warm Jacket, Hat and Gloves
- Socks & Underwear
- Day Pack (waterproof if possible) for carrying things you might need during the day while you are out
- Needle nose pliers
- Water Bottle
- Camera and film
- Flashlight & batteries (Aug. & Sept.)
- Polarized sunglasses
- Sunscreen, lip balm & insect repellent
- Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)
- Medications, personal items
- Remember you must bring your own alcoholic beverages and/or tobacco products
FISHING EQUIPMENT
This is a general overview of equipment to bring to the Togiak. You may wish to contact Brad to get more specific information for the particular week you have booked.
SPINNING AND BAIT CASTING
During a week's fishing, you will catch many different species of fish in a large variety of water. You will be catching fish from 2 to 20 pounds. (Kings will average 25 pounds and can weigh over 50 pounds.) Two outfits are recommended, and for King Salmon a third outfit.
RODS YOU SHOULD BRING:
- A light rod with 6 to 8 pound test line. For fish from 2 to 8 pounds: Grayling, Rainbows, Arctic Char, Dolly Varden and Pink Salmon.
- A medium weight rod with 12 to 14 pound test line. For fish from 8 to 20 pounds: Sockeye, Chum, Silver Salmon.
EQUIPMENT FOR KING SALMON (June-July):
- RODS: A heavy rod for 20 to 25 pound test line. This rod should be strong enough to fight a large fish, long enough to cast a large lure a long way and light enough to "feel" the lure working and to feel a King strike the lure, which is quite soft, much of the time. The heavy graphite steelhead rods work very well.
- REELS: For Spinning, make sure that your reel has an accurate, dependable drag system and can hold 150 yards of 20 pound test line. For Bait Casting, your reel should hold at least 150 yards of 20 pound test line and have a strong, smooth drag system.
LURES YOU SHOULD BRING:
- Spinners - Mepps, Vibrax, Bolo, etc. Sizes 3, 4, & 5 in all colors especially fluorescent oranges, pinks, greens, and don't forget black. Kings especially like fluorescent colored Teespoon spinners in sizes 6 - 7.
- Spoons - Pixies in 3/8oz - 5/8oz sizes in orange, green, red and any other spoon in the heavier sizes.
- Plugs (for Kings) - Magnum wiggle warts in fluorescent colors and Quickfish in the K14 - K16 sizes in chrome with fluorescent and all fluorescent styles are hard to beat.
If in doubt, don't buy. We have a good selection of the proper sizes and colors of all the above lures in our Tackle Shop. We can also outfit you with the proper gear and all tackle for your week (see Fishing Equipment Rental).
FLY FISHING
The key to fully enjoying Alaska fly fishing is to be versatile, utilizing the correct equipment along with floating and fast sinking tip fly lines. Two rods are recommended for the serious fly fisher and a medium outfit will be adequate for beginners.
A LIGHT-WEIGHT FLYROD: For Grayling, Char, Dolly Varden, Rainbows, and Pink Salmon
- ROD: 5 or 6 weight system
- LINES: One floating and an extra spool of 10' fast sinking tip line
- LEADERS: 9' 4x, 3x tippets
A MEDIUM-WEIGHT FLYROD: For Silver, Chum, and Sockeye Salmon along with all the freshwater species. This outfit will give you the versatility to fight larger fish, cast larger flies, and to fight the wind if necessary.
- ROD: 7 or 8 weight system
- LINES: Floating fly line and an extra fast sinking tip fly line
- LEADERS: 7' 1X, 2X tippets
A HEAVY-WEIGHT FLYROD: For King Salmon
- ROD & REEL: A strong 9 or 10 weight system with an adjustable drag reel made for salt water species. The rod has to be stiff enough to set a large hook yet light enough to cast all day. A rod that is too heavy will wear your arm out.
- LINES: Bring 1 extra fast sink tip fly line with a 10' to 15' sinking tip at a rate of 2" to 4" sink per second rate. Bring a second sink tip fly line with a 15' to 20' sinking tip with a 5" to 6" sink per second rate.
FLIES
- NYMPHS: Bitch Creek, Stone flies sizes 8 and 10. Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, sizes 8-12
- STREAMERS: Sizes 2, 4 and 6. Black, Brown and Olive Crystal Flash Wooly Buggers, and Bunny Hair Flesh Flies
- SALMON FLIES AND EGG PATTERNS: Hook sizes 1/0 through 6. Fuschia Bunny, Purple and/or Black Egg Sucking Leech, Babine Special, Single Eggs (glo bugs) in champagne, peach, flame and fuchsia colors, egg color Yarn Flies, Polar Shrimp
Any weighted Streamer that has fuchsia, pink, flame or orange marabous and hackles with lots of flashabou or crystal flash will work well.