Yearly Trip (ALASKA)

[NorcalBob]

<<< So I have a 7wt which is too light>>>
UMMMM, no it's not too light. My most used rod on the KP is a 10' 7 WT. About 90% of my fishing on the KP is with a 6 or 7 wt rod. I rarely use the 8 wt (but I always bring one, especially if there are a lot of salmon you'll be targeting, but I've landed silvers on a 5 wt plenty of times). I would recommend bringing the following rods (if you have them); 5,6, 7, & 8 Wt rods. Floating lines is all you really need, but if you have some sink tips that would be great.
<<<If the Rate goes up, Great Alaskan Holidays will keep my Rate at the lowest Rate that was available between the date and time I made my reservation and my Pickup day. There is a $49.95 service fee for this option. more"
Do you reccomend this?>>>
That used to be Great Alaska's standard policy without any fee. Don't know if I'd recommend it or use it in the future.
<<<If I recall correctly his name is Mike?>>>
Matt was his name. He went "rogue" and ripped off a lot of people (me included) a few years ago and now has two felony charges pending against him. He is no longer guiding, and I obviously can't recommend him. A crying shame, as he was one of the most brilliant guides I've ever fished with. Contact Mike Brown at Mossy's Fly Shop if you are searching for a guide. WARNING, Kenai guide usually fish 4 to a boat and rates are $250-350 a day per person! Another warning, the good Kenai guides get booked up real fast so better start looking now!

[Artin]

I'm a Johnny come lately to this thread, but if it's tranquility without crowds, I'd recommend a self guided float trip. We did one using Tri River Charters out of Talkeetna.

I looked into that from a tip I got from Brains, It is definitley something I will do, but I think I'd need more time in Alaska for me to feel comfortable doing a float like that. The outfitter you mentioned is one I stumbled upon online while looking into AK initially. I thought they were more of a local jet boat operation in the Anchorage area for some reason.
A self guided float sounds so good. I'm not too big on fish when it comes to food. I like my meats red. So if it took you 4 days to get sick of salmon.... Boy am I in trouble on one of those trips.
Some of the old timers in the family ask me why I fish.
This is how it usually goes.
"How many fish did you catch?"
"Didn't keep count but a few. It was a good trip"
"Did you bring any home?"
"Naw, I don't like to eat fish"
"WHAT?!?!?!, YOU WENT FISHING AND DIDN'T BRING ANY HOME TO EAT? WHY DO YOU GO FISHIN?"
They usually are surprised. They're used to catching as much as they could back in the old country, bringing them back and sharing with the family, neighbors a cross the street, two streets over and their dog.
And when I ask them what the fishing was like by the time they left, they usually say it went south. Little or no fish. Then I start talking to them about the reasons other than pollution why the fish are virtually annihilated in their home waters. Sometimes, if if you look hard enough you see a light bulb lighting up over their heads. But you gotta look close and really pay attention. It's only there for a split second.
But that was the subsistence mentality there I guess, they would do things to eat most times.
Whoa I got a bit side tracked there....

Bob,
I have a 7 wt. Sage One I got as a gift, matching reel w/floating line and a spool with sinking line. (Gift from my best man) Still haven't used it. So this will be it's first trip to break it in. I also have a 10 wt. with a Tibor Riptide reel and again, spare spool with sinking line. Then I have my 2 5 wt's. I have floating and sinking lines on all reels and spools. I also have a 5 wt bamboo rod I built. I want to take it up with me. I really wanted to build a rod for this trip but I probably won't have the opportunity as all my rod building stuff is stored away for now. No room. I will be tying a helluva lot of flies.
I will contact Mike at Mossy as soon as we nail down the dates and I get my flight tickets. I don't have a problem with the 3 to 4 to a boat. Initially it was 3 of us. Now it looks like my Brother is also wanting to come. So it would be just us on the boat in that case. I spoke to the guys and we all agree, one day should be set aside for a guided trip.

If you guys have any recommendations on specific guides please let me know. I'd like to go with someone who is recommended by you guys if I can.

[NorcalBob]

<<<If you guys have any recommendations on specific guides please let me know>>>
I stopped giving recommendations on AK guides & lodges after I got burned by Matt two years ago, when he took my money and ran. I had dealt with him for eight years, knew him personally, and sent a ton of business his way. And he did to me (and a lot of others), a persistent AK problem, taking peoples money and bailing on them. What I found out is that is a very common problem in AK, and the State will not vigorously pursue criminal charges on individuals that have committed fraud if they believe they have fled the state. So it is a common cycle for AK guides and lodges, once they make the decision to leave the business, to still take deposit money and book trips, because they know the state will not chase them down if they flee AK. While personal recommendations are great (and I highly recommend them), AK has a few differences that need to be considered. Not trying to scare you, just trying to point out a consistent problem with AK guides and lodges. Be very careful!

[BrownBear]

I also have a 10 wt. with a Tibor Riptide reel and again, spare spool with sinking line.

If kings are on the agenda, your 10 will be welcome. In fall I've even used mine for silvers on very windy days. I'm more prone to floating lines with skilled line mending than sinktips, but lotsa guys find happiness with the sinkers. Only reason I raise the point, the choice will be reflected in how you tie your flies. Traveling unknown waters, I'd plan ahead and tie your king patterns for both styles of fishing.