As Les Gara writes in his article later in this issue, the float trip is one of the best ways for anglers to access some of Alaska’s most beautiful and productive waters. And for many of the more remote locations, it can be the only way.

However, the task of gearing up for a wilderness float trip can seem overwhelming. Or, if you can picture yourself hundreds of miles from the nearest speck of civilization, days away from scheduled pickup, and without an essential piece of gear, it can seem downright scary. This is one time when packing absolutely cannot become a last-minute exercise. Lists should be made well in advance of a trip, and referred to constantly. Worst-case scenarios should be expected and planned for.

To aid in this endeavor, we decided to consult a few veterans of Alaska wilderness travel to see what items they consider essential. Knowing we’d get an eclectic range of answers in return and hoping those answers would give each of us something to think about the next time we sat down to compile our own packing list, we asked each for the five items they’d not want to undertake a wilderness float without. Here are their answers, equally good for that long weekend jaunt down the Talachulitna or a more intensive two-week foray into a lower Kuskokwim system.

René Limeres
Owner & Operator, Ultimate Rivers; Author

Packing for a float trip always requires balancing personal preferences against needs. Plus, today, weight is always a consideration when considering a remote trip, as everything you choose to bring along must at some point go on a floatplane. Considering today’s air taxi rates, we shave ounces on gear whenever we can.

Raft No float trip discussion can start without beginning at the raft, and with that includes all the accoutrement (patch kit, quality oars, etc.). Just about all modern-day rafts are light years ahead of where they were ten years ago in terms of portability and performance. There is a wide array of models available to today’s consumer, each with its own application: kayaks, canoes, catarafts, river rafts. For professional float trip use, the river raft with inflatable floor is the best choice, primarily because the floors of rafts lessen the chance that stowed gear (and clients!) will fall in and be swept away. For all around use, a 13 to 14-foot size is hard to beat, for portability, weight, and maneuverability in difficult water.

Waterproof River Bag Here you’re looking for a bag that’s durable, roomy, and totally waterproof. If stuff gets wet on the trip, it can be completely worthless for the duration, threatening your very survival. Today, some of the better models have additional functionality, like backpack straps, which can aid greatly when portaging or packing in. Some of the best I’ve found are made by the same companies that make quality river rafts: SOTAR, NRS, AIRE, and others (Cascade Designs).

Personal Shelter One of the key pieces of equipment for survival in the Alaska Bush, no matter how you go. For remote floats, where everything gets packed in a small plane, a tent must be lightweight. To that end, we’ve been using mountaineering tents professionally, but they’re really designed for mountain snowfields, not the conditions on the gravel bars of southwest Alaska or Far East Russia, where it rains all the time and that fine sand and grit gets into everything. In engineering for lighter weights, they’ve made many compromises, particularly in floor design/materials and in the doors and structural components, so you must really shop around and possibly improvise to find/make one that’ll fit your needs best. Some of the best quality mountaineering tents that we have used professionally are made by Kelty, Eureka, Mountain Hardwear, and North Face. For really hardcore use, you can always have a tent made to your specs by Alaska Tent and Tarp or other tentmakers.

Sleeping Bag Personally, I have a different bag for each phase of the Alaska fishing season. I prefer premium goose down bags for early spring and late fall, when temperatures can drop into or below the freezing zone. During the warmest part of summer, I use a synthetic bag, which better handles the damp conditions associated with this time of year (particularly in Southwest). There are many quality makers of synthetic and premium goose down bags—North Face, Marmot, REI, and others.

Waders, Footwear On a remote float trip, your waders better be comfortable, and work, because you’ll inevitably spend the greater part of every day in them. (In some of the worst conditions, you may have to literally sleep in them.) I like to bring a combination of breathable chest waders for on the water use and some type of rubber breakup boot or lightweight sandal for navigating around camp. I’ve tried three or four of the popular brands, including SIMMS, and each has its merits. Features like built-in gravel guards and wading belts, reinforced bottoms, and truly functional straps go a long way in the rigors of professional use. Wading boots are another issue, as you’ll have to decide how much foot support you need versus the amount of weight you want to slog around in all day long. I personally prefer very lightweight shoes, for jumping in and out of boats all day long, but durability is important, too.

E. Donall Thomas Jr.
Outdoor Writer & Photographer

I practically grew up at the oars of a MacKenzie riverboat in the Pacific Northwest and have since made extended float trips in locations ranging from Siberia to southern Africa. But no venue beckons river rats like me quite like Alaska, where inflatable rafts transported by Bush planes offer adventurous anglers access to countless miles of prime water unreachable by any other means. But Alaska wilderness can be unforgiving country, so my list of essential gear has more to do with staying warm, dry, and functional than with the fine points of angling tackle.

Frogg Toggs rain gear The first time I ran into someone wearing this stuff, we were in a tropical flyfishing location. Made of 100% polypropylene, it seemed utterly insubstantial, and I dismissed it as inadequate for the Alaska environment. Intrigued by its convenience however, I acquired a set and have become a convert. Its principal advantage is weight and compressibility, always a factor on fly-out trips and heavily loaded rafts. Jacket and pants roll up into next to nothing and fit easily inside a daypack, where they will be readily available when you need them. Despite their crumpled newspaper feel, they prove remarkably resistant to snagging on brush, and three years of rough wear on my first set have yet to produce a leak. They are relatively quiet (an important consideration for those who combine hunting and fishing on their float trips) and very modestly priced.

Cabela’s Boundary Waters dry bags Water, water everywhere, as the Ancient Mariner said . . . that’s an Alaska float trip. Most angling gear will tolerate a bit of moisture, but it’s essential to keep sleeping bags and at least some clothing dry. In addition to being waterproof, a good dry bag should have a four-point buckle closure system to combine security with easy access. Shoulder straps are important when it comes time to transport gear from floatplane lakes to rivers, and they also allow the bag to double as a backpack. All straps and buckles should be tough and durable so you can use them to secure the bag to the raft frame. The Cabela’s model has all these features.

Pelican camera case The best cameras and lenses in the world won’t do you any good if they aren’t there when you need them, but even a tiny bit of moisture can ruin expensive photographic gear in a hurry. I protect mine with a Pelican 1500, which will hold two cameras with ordinary lenses, a large telephoto, and a flash in complete security. Tied off to the raft frame at the beginning of the trip, this case allows me to concentrate on the water and the fish rather than worrying about my camera gear.

Hemostat Handling fish from a moving raft can be difficult. Dragging them over the side subjects fish to unnecessary trauma, but nets are bulky and awkward. Clipped conveniently to your jacket, a good hemostat will allow you to release fish quickly and easily without removing them from the water. A hemostat is also a great tool for removing leak-causing debris from raft valves.

Leatherman tool No, not Fish Alaska’s editor . . . although he’s certainly welcome to come along! Extensive expeditions may justify the bulk and weight of a definitive tool kit, especially if there are multiple rafts among which to divide a lot of gear. More often, I simply rely on my Leatherman multi-purpose tool, which can be used for anything from repairing a raft frame to field dressing a caribou. Best of all, it fits easily in a pocket. (Don’t forget to take it out before you hit security at the airport!) This little gem has spawned a host of imitations over the years, but there’s still nothing quite like the original.
Don’t forget to throw in a roll of duct tape, watch for sweepers around every bend, and fish to your heart’s content.

Jeff Varvil
Co-Owner, Alaska Raft & Kayak

We have over 50 rafts in the rental pool now, making us Alaska’s largest supplier of rental rafts. We also sell hundreds of rafts every year and help people plan their Alaska adventures. Planning for float trips, either my own or customers’, is something I’ve been at for over twelve years now, and trust me, the questions about what is truly essential to bring along are always the same.

A great repair kit Besides this, though, a person must also have knowledge of how to use what’s in the kit. So many people come into our store and buy glue and a one-foot piece of material. That is worthless without the rest of the proper items. Most people are actually unaware of what their raft is made out of, and the Bush is definitely not a great place to learn that you have a rubber raft and a PVC repair kit. But the basic items one needs are an awl and thread, a roller rasp, an extra valve, and prep agent (Toulene for rubber and Mek for PVC). An emergency ram patch is also a must! It looks like a clamshell with a rubber gasket on one half. You simply place the rubber-sided patch on the inside of your hole and the other half on the outside and tighten down the wing nut. My advice is to go to a reputable raft store and talk to the guy who actually does the repairs. Have him build you a repair kit to take along on your next adventure.

An extra inflation pump I never go into a float trip with only one pump. Pumps are like Bic lighters: You may get five years out of one and have the next last two days. I have broken the handles on my pumps and blown plenty of rubber gaskets and hoses. They cost anywhere from $35-$150 and are worth every penny. I use a Bravo 2 foot pump and a Wonder pump double-action hand pump sold by Northwest River Supply. Foot pumps and hand pumps both work well, and they come in a wide range of sizes. Take a small backup, or consider the alternative: what will another Beaver load at $800 an hour cost you, just to have the pilot drop one pump?

An extra oar This one cracks me up. “Up a creek without a paddle!” How many times have you heard that? Actually, this is the most frequent question my rental customers ask. “Do I need a third oar?” Yes! Today’s oars are made from either aluminum or composite shafts and they all have one thing in common—they have removable, breakable blades that are designed to snap before the oar does. It’s only a matter of time… The three major players in the oar business are Carlisle, Cataract, and Sawyer. Carlisle and Cataract have blades that will fit each other’s shafts and are what 90% of the Alaska public utilizes.

Life jackets If you are not going to wear them, however, I assure you they are not going to work. Only buy a life jacket that you will wear and then test it out on a lake or in a pool to see how it will float your body. Most of the new style PFDs are geared with most of the floatation near the front, which enables you to float on your back with your feet out in front of you, the theory being it is better to bounce off obstacles with your feet rather than your head. Good theory. They are also cut very short to keep the jacket from riding up under your chin once you sit down. We do not recommend the Co2 self-inflating jackets on the river because of the chance that they might not inflate. As remote as that chance may be, it’s your life we’re talking about. Extrasort and Lotus jackets run around $85-$100 for what is certainly a great life jacket.

A rescue bag A 75-foot spectra rope surrounded by a nylon bag filled with foam at one end can serve this need. This type of bag is designed so a rafter can hold onto the rope handle and toss the bag at an unlucky floater’s head. Once the bag hits the water, it floats next to the person, who can then grab it and be pulled towards shore. Rescue bags are normally yellow and orange and run around $50-$75. I have only had to use mine once in twelve years, but it saved a life. I also happened to be on the floater’s end once myself when my raft overturned in Class V whitewater. They work. Plus, a rescue bag can double as a bowline bag for lining through tough canyons.

Dave Doucet
Owner & Operator, Alaska Frontier Floats

There are any number of things you have to think about before preparing to undertake a float trip, and for me, first is whether it’s a personal or professional trip, as gear needs are decidedly different for each. However, for myself, here are five things I wouldn’t want to be without.

Quality raingear The number one thing I prepare for on a float trip is to stay dry. Therefore, quality raingear is a must. I wear a SIMMS Gore-Tex Guide jacket. Not only is it completely water/weatherproof, but it also features many design modifications with the angler in mind.

A good layering system Once again, I use SIMMS WaderWick underwear products to help keep me warm, dry, and comfortable. Float trips can be hard work, so it’s important to keep dry. Not only does the WaderWick underwear wick the sweat away from your skin, it’s comfortable and helps keep you warm as well.

Sleeping pad When you’re on a float trip, you willingly give up many of the comforts of home. One comfort you shouldn’t sacrifice is a good night’s sleep, however. To that end, a sleeping pad is cheap insurance. I personally use a Cascade Designs Therm-a-Rest LE Long. This pad is durable, insulating, and extremely comfortable. The downside is the price tag. At $100-plus, it’s probably not for the recreational camper.

Polarized sunglasses Seeing the fish can increase your chances of catching fish, seeing underwater snags can help prevent losing lots of fishing gear, and seeing water depth can help maneuver the boat into deeper water—all things the float-trip angler would want to have on his side. Not only is it beneficial to be able to see, wearing polarized sunglasses also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays or a fly or lure as it rockets towards you. They are a necessity when I’m on any river.

The egg-sucking leech If I had only one fly pattern to bring on a fishing trip, it would have to be the ubiquitous ESL. With a variety of sizes and colors, this pattern will catch nearly every species of gamefish in Alaska, and when you can’t bring the entire tackle shop along with you, make sure you’ve got the basics covered.