SILVER YEAR IN GEAR
 Clear Creek Rush Creek Gear Bag $149 www.clearcreek.net
This gear bag allows for you to bring a mountain of gear to the water to tackle any situation that faces you. The large main compartment comes with an adjustable (and removable) divider system. Ten interior pockets are accompanied with 13 exterior pockets to allow an angler to store a wide range of items by category. A rod tube holder and two water bottle holders add to the functionality of this impressive gear storage system.
 Kershaw Adjustable Fillet Knife $27.95 www.kershawknives.com
From one of the more recognized knife makers in the industry, this 7-step fillet knife offers a blade that adjusts from 5 1/2 to 9 inches. This allows for an angler to clean a gamut of different-sized fish with the proper tool. The handle is injection molded and contoured to provide a better grip. The high-carbon, stainless steel blade stayed sharp and provided an appropriate amount of flex needed in filleting Alaska’s fish.
 Carhartt PVC Raincoat w/Detachable Hood $45 www.carhartt.com
This is one of those raincoats to bring with you on the open ocean. Made with 50mm polyester-backed PVC, the seams of the coat are electronically welded and the sleeves boast neoprene cuffs. This impenetrable top layer closes with double-front storm flaps with inside and outside snaps.
 Fly H20 flies, poppers, streamers $2–$6 www.flyh2o.com
We used a variety of patterns to entice salmon, trout and pike in 2007. The flies proved durable, with good lifelike action and were easy to cast. The company builds many models of salt- and freshwater fly, with 165 salmon/steelhead options on the website.
 Adventure Products EGO Net Large $32.99 www.adventureproducts.com
This net is lightweight, floats and incorporates an innovative grip design that allows an angler to put a hand just below the basket when subduing large fish. At only 1.4 pounds, it is easy to wield and strong. The large model we tested has a hoop of 19x21 inches and a handle of 36 inches.
 Columbia Omni-Dry Venture II Convertible Cargo Pant $59.99 www.columbia.com
These quick-drying convertible cargo pants are lightweight, wick moisture and switch from pants to shorts with one zipper on each leg. Multiple pockets and belt loops are other features that make these pants a must-have for a fishing trip in Alaska
 Flying Fishermen Abaco Sun Glasses Black Frame, Vermillion Lenses $54.95
www.flyingfisherman.com
With the addition of the Abaco-style frame in 2007 to the already model-rich line of Master Angler sunglasses by Flying Fisherman, Alaskans have another choice of value-packed product at a reasonable price. We enjoyed these glasses for their light weight, style, fit and utility. The polycarbonate RhinoLens we tested in vermillion worked well in a variety of light conditions and seemed strong enough to handle the rigors of travel and fishing in Alaska.
 Alpine Innovations Spudz Classic Black 6X6 Cloth $4.99 www.alpineproducts.com
Micro-fiber cleaning cloths meant for your polarized sunglasses, digital cameras, electronics and more. Convenient in a small neoprene pouch that attaches to yourself or your electronics.
 Frabill PowerCatch Kwik Kradle Landing Net Model 8465 $179.99 www.frabill.com
This beast of a net is a useful tool for the angler on rivers like the Kenai who like to pursue trophy king salmon with the intention of releasing their catch. The net combines a cradle opening and a large mesh basket with larger holes that move through the water easily. A 48-inch handle allows for the nets-man to get to large fish on boats with ample freeboard.
 Danner Coolmax Siskiyou Socks $15 www.danner.com
These socks just feel good and they work well when you are hiking and your feet get warm. There is a lot of support built into the sock which is a major benefit.
 Penn Silverado SV 5000 $34.99 www.pennreels.com
This reel performed when catching silvers in the Susitna River system. It picked up and played line out smoothly. Some features include five stainless steel ball bearings, infinite anti-reverse, and a graphite frame. Top of Page
 Mountain Hardware Women’s Hyperdry V Neck $35 www.mountain-hardware.com
This top is quite versatile in Alaska and is very smooth and comfortable. It fits nicely as a base layer and is perfect for an active Alaskan angler.
 Muck Boots Wetland Premium Field Boot $98.99 www.muckbootcompany.com
When it comes to staying warm and dry in wet and cold conditions, these boots worked well. The molded rubber sole was stable and dampened any shock to the foot. The upper 5mm foam bootie was warm and lightweight in order to provide further protection from the elements all the way up the calf. We could see these working well in boat conditions, in addition to their proven performance in the field.
 Patagonia Women’s Capilene 2 V Neck $38 www.patagonia.com
Patagonia has time and again impressed with the quality of their products and this is another for the must-have list. Whether you’re planning for day-trips, a weeklong lodge stay or for an extended float, be sure to layer-up with these great Capilene garments.
NRS Chinook Fishing Mesh Back PFD $75 www.nrsweb.com
This product combines a Type III life jacket with a fishing vest. Storage for fly and tackle, leader and tippet, weights and tools is all easily accomplished in the eight pockets. Several other cool features, including rod-holder loops and a plastic pin-on tool-retractor tab add to the vest’s functionality.
 Outcast Fish Cat 10-IR $650 www.outcastboats.com
The one-man raft market is full of models and continues to prosper as options increase and demand swells. The Outcast Fish Cat 10-IR is an economical model that worked equally well for an easy ride from Sportsman’s to Jim’s Landing on the Kenai River or a technical row on upper Willow Creek from Shirleytown Road Bridge to the Parks Highway. At 75 pounds, including the six-piece steel frame, cargo rack and 10-foot pontoons, it’s easy for one person to portage as well as load and offload the boat from a truck or trailer. There was adequate storage within the attached pockets and on the cargo rack as well.
 Redington Steelhead casting rod Model# CPX 868C2 $179 www.redington.com
This 8-foot, 6-inch medium-power casting rod is a nice all-around tool for medium-sized salmon and steelhead. The rod was long but stiff enough to throw 5/8- and 3/4-ounce lures, and sensitive enough to feel the subtle pickup of a silver mouthing roe. AAA grade cork handles, Pac Bay TiOX blue guides and Fuji reel seats comprise some of the components of these well-crafted rods.
 Redington Skeena River Jacket $150 www.redington.com
This good-looking jacket is the right mid-layer for cold and wet days and a fine top layer during sunnier skies. It’s built to give the angler freedom of motion when casting, as this soft shell is constructed of Redstorm stretch material that is bonded to fleece. Two side and one chest pocket complete the jacket.
 Pro-Line Waders Summit 42002 Breathable Chest Waders $179.95 www.prolineboots.com
These waders are a good value, combining features like a front hand-warmer pocket, inside utility pocket, accessory D-rings, built-in gravel guards and a reinforced knee and seat, all at a fair price. With the beating that any waders will take when occupied by a typical diehard Alaska angler, it bears considering buying a backup set and these are a good bet.
 St. Croix Triumph Fly Rods $90–$120 www.stcroixrods.com
Basically a smooth, moderate-fast-action rod for anyone who’s ready to learn the right way—including kids. Smooth, versatile, moderate-fast actions, tailored from premium-quality SCII graphite, with aluminum-oxide stripper guides and stainless-steel snake guides are primary features.
 WoolPower Sweater Mid Layer full zipper 600g/m $125.95 www.gransfors.us
This fine sweater is elegant and functional. It is made from 2/3 Australian Merino wool and 1/3 synthetic fibers. The material, called Ullfrotte Original, retains the properties of wool, with increased durability from the synthetics. Its unique construction of terry loops keeps heat in and wicks moisture. We found the sweater to be very warm, soft, and form-fitting, allowing our testers to comfortably fish. One of the benefits of the wool is that it will keep you warm when wet (unlike many other materials). The packaging of the sweater indicated that each sweater is sewn by one particular seamstress who signs her name on the tag. Top of Page
 Silver Horde Fishing Supplies
Top Cat Spoon $5.30
Coho Killer Spoon $4.35
KF5H Spoon $5.05
www.silverhorde.net
Silver Horde makes a variety of useful fishing products from dodgers to flashers to bait holders. We especially like the range of spoons and found them very effective in attracting strikes when trolling for coho. Each one of these spoons is shaped a little differently than the other, which provides for a range of action when trolled at the same speed. They are available in a wide range of colors and patterns.
 Vision Hook and Tackle
#7 Rolling Drop Swivel $4.28/25
Reel Diamond $6.75
www.visionhooksandtackle.com
This swivel allows for a number of applications from trolling to drifting to back-bouncing. We used it to drift for salmon and attached the mainline to one end of the swivel, the leader to the other end and the weight to the swivel. We also experimented with a Vision Hook and Tackle Reel Diamond jig in the 4-ounce green mackerel variety and were able to entice several species. Vision Hook and Tackle also makes many styles of hooks that have performed impressively over the years.
 William Joseph Exodus Backpack $159.95 www.williamjoseph.net
The William Joseph Exodus is an excellent way to combine the storage and load-carrying capabilities of a back pack with the organization possibilities of a vest. And when one or the other is not needed you can split the two with the click of a few buckles. In Alaska, with limited space on floatplanes and river skiffs, it’s essential that anglers can carry all their gear in one convenient bundle, and the Exodus Backpack certainly fits that bill.
 Vasque Boots Hiking Ranger 2 -7218 GTX $100 www.vasque.com
This model is well suited to the rigors of hiking in Alaska and provides superior comfort, traction and support. A waterproof split-leather upper is integrated with cross-weave nylon to achieve breathability with water repellency. The insole combines a Texon board with steel shank to increase the strength of the boot and for added protection on rough terrain.
 Plano Fly Boxes
Medium Model #3283 $8.47
Large Model #3284 $9.97
www.planomolding.com
The large model is capable of storing a sizable amount of large flies as witnessed in this tasty smorgasbord of articulated leeches, streamers, flesh flies and topwater tantalizers. With a belt clip on the back of the fly box that clamps nicely onto a wading belt, an angler could downsize to weights and tippet in the pockets of his waders and leave behind the wading jacket or vest on a nice day. Note to clumsy anglers, these boxes float.
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