FIELD FAVORITES
 AFTCO Bluefever Wiremax Glove $69.99 www.aftco.com
When handling leaders attached to any big fish, it’s a wise decision to wear a good pair of gloves to protect your precious hands. These gloves were designed with the thoughts of leadering big billfish and can be relied upon to protect you when grabbing a leader attached to a big halibut, king salmon or lingcod, or a steel cable attached to a salmon shark. The gloves are fully machine-washable and available in M, L, XL and XXL.
 Dutch Harbor Rain Gear Quinault Long Rain Coat $31.98 www.dutchharborgear.com
As the name of the company suggests, Dutch Harbor rain gear is made to stand up to the harsh elements and keep you dry. This coat is quite long, reducing the need to wear rain pants or bibs. It is fairly light and is designed with a front zipper and weather flap with snap closure. It is available in forest green in sizes S-XXXL.
 Buck Ulti-Mate Ocean Fillet Knife $24 www.buckknives.com
We found this to be decent fillet knife for cleaning up a day’s catch on the water, which would include salmon, halibut, rockfish and cod. There is enough flex in the knife for halibut filleting and its non-slip handle is useful in a salty, slippery environment.
 Adventure Medical Kits HeatSheet Emergency Bivvy $15 www.adventuremedicalkits.com
Staying warm in Alaska is one of the problems in a survival situation. Carry this emergency bivvy to keep yourself warm and dry. It weighs so little at 3.5 ounces and is small enough to keep on your person or stuffed inside your gear pack.  Heddon Lucky 13 $5.39 www.heddonlures.com
This topwater plug was effective in luring pike out of the brush. Its flashy paint job and concave face make for a lure that is irresistible to ambushing piscatorial predators. When retrieving this lure with a twitch, it will make a loud chug that acts as a dinner bell. If you retrieve it steadily, it will run just below the surface with a wounded baitfish action. The lure has been around for an amazing 75 years and comes in six color combinations.
 Float Tech Inflatable PFD Coat $279 www.floattech.com
This USCG Type V PFD is a coat designed to keep you warm in the elements and to automatically inflate in 3 to 5 seconds when hitting the water. It’s comprised of a jacket with zip off sleeves with the PFD liner that can be worn on its own. It’s far more advanced than the ordinary PFD, more versatile and can be counted on as another layer in the harsh Alaskan climate.
 Cortland Precision Taper Trout Western Drifter WF8F $62 www.cortlandline.com
We tested this fly line on the big water of the Naknek and Togiak rivers and it performed well in casting and in mending. It is designed to load quickly so that an angler can hit near water easily or comb through fast water. The line exhibited little memory and its mango color made it easy to see on the water. When we stretched out for longer casts, the weight forward aspect of this floating line took hold, and we were able to throw large flies with minimal effort.
 Tilley LTM8 Mesh Hat $76 www.tilley.com
This good-looking mesh hat provides excellent protection from UV radiation. Its mesh design allows for airflow on the head and it is light enough (4 oz.) that you forget it is even there. The hat is water-repellent and breathable, and has a cord that goes around the chin in windy conditions. The company guarantees for life that the hat will not wear out. Top of Page
 American Fishing Wire Surflon Micro Ultra Knottable Leader $6.45 www.americanfishingwire.com
This 16.4-foot (5-meter) length of leader material was just the trick for some Susitna Valley pike fishing during the 2007 season. It is flexible, knottable, and resists kinks. We connected it to fly line using a nail knot and caught many toothy northerns. We tested the 11-pound version, though the product is also available in sizes from 6- to 61 pounds in either 5 or 1000-meter lengths.
 Dee’s Diamond Flasher $12–$15 www.deesdiamondflashers.com
While trolling for salmon in the saltwater these flashers drew attention from nearby silvers. We used the flashers off a downrigger in front of cut-plug herring, spoons and hoochies (with cut-plug herring), and found them to flash and spin reliably. They come in mini, small, large and a new micro (counter-rotating double flasher) in several color options.
 Fish Pond Drift Boat Cooler $59 www.fishpondusa.com
This boat cooler is a soft bag that fits easily under the rowing seat on our Clackacraft drift boat and is more than ample for a day on the water. It has a molded waterproof bottom, heavy PVC liner in the cooler to enhance insulation, sturdy handles and oversized zippers.
 After Cut and Scrapes Spray $2.75 www.tendercorp.com
We used this product on several cuts and found the cut to heal more quickly than when untreated. Containing Aloe Vera and Lidocaine, the first-aid spray helps sooth the wound and clean and disinfect the area while reducing the time needed to mend.
 EGB Salmon Lures $5.05–$8.70 www.egblures.com
These spinners and blinkers (spoons) are handmade in Switzerland and come in many sizes and shapes that Alaska’s salmon find irresistible. On an outing on the Rocky River in fall 2007, we arrived to find the river jam-packed with pink salmon, and with a healthy population of fresh coho beginning to enter. I tied on a pattern 350 (3/4 oz. spoon) and it was large enough to split the school of pinks so that a 15-pound buck coho could smash the spoon. On a different trip on the Susitna River, fishing one of the slower-moving tributaries, a tandem pattern 204 (3/8 oz. double-bladed spinner), drove the salmon bananas after working through the usually successful lures. Both the shimmer and action of these lures seem to turn the salmon aggressive and you should consider adding them to the lure selection.
 Fish Crisp $5.95 www.fishcrisp.com
This tasty, seasoned coating is really good on a fresh piece of halibut, rockfish, lingcod, whitefish or burbot. We especially enjoyed the Cajun variety, and interested parties have the option of Original, Garlic & Butter, Italian or Beer Batter. Simply roll the fish in the coating and pan fry until crisp and golden. The company also makes a gourmet grill product in four options.
 Ande Monofilament Premium Extra Strong High-Vis Monster Yellow 6800-yard Spool, 30-pound test $89.99 www.andemonofilament.com
Ande Monofilament remains the gold standard of tough and reliable monofilament. We spooled up a range of baitcasting and spinning reels on a recent trip to the Togiak River to fish for king salmon. The line was supple enough to cast spinners and strong enough to handle the abuse of many fresh Chinook from 10 to 40 pounds. We appreciate the stretch in the line when experiencing the initial savage strike of an angry king. This is where monofilament provides more forgiveness and can result in more solid hook-sets over other anglers using non-stretch lines.
GSI Outdoors Adventure Travel Bar $39.95 www.gsioutdoors.com
Take the spirits of adventure along in this convenient, 7-piece travel bar. Made of virtually-unbreakable Lexan resin, and packed in an attractive closed-cell foam case, it has just about every tool you need to mix and serve delicious cocktails anywhere, anytime. Top of Page
 HeatMax Hothands $7.95/Pack of 10 pair www.heatmax.com
When it comes to fishing in the spring and fall, an angler can count on pretty cold and damp weather across Alaska. If its ice fishing that you crave, then cold weather is the norm. Why not increase the comfort level, and the blood flow to your fingers, with some portable hand warmers by HeatMax? These air-activated hand warmers quickly reach 130F and give up to ten hours of heat.
 Cloudveil Flat Creek Jacket $235 www.cloudveil.com
This is a warm jacket with a Windstopper layer that keeps the bitterness of Alaska’s worst days away. It’s ideal as an outer layer for dry days in August and September, and in the wind or chill, the high neck on the coat is especially nice. Zippered side pockets are a benefit to keep your personal items safe while wading.
 UDAP Magnum Bear Spray with Chest Holder $59.95 www.udap.com
While we didn’t need to spray this at a bear during the 2007 season, we routinely brought this bottle in its chest holster to the river. We found it to be comfortable to fish in and easy to access the spray, and in unloading one of the canisters, we saw that it put out strong plume of pepper spray. The product is available in a 225g, 260g (the one we tested) and a new super-sized 380g container.
 Berge Tackle Scent Dispenser $8-$11 www.bergetackle.com
The concept behind this device is to draw more fish to the bait through scent, sight and sound. First, the scent dispenser distributes a consistent amount of scent into the water and allows for the angler to increase the size of the dispenser hole to increase output. Next, the dispenser spins in the water creating a flash and can be customized (by cutting fins) to spin slower or irregularly. Finally, this fish-catching aid creates a sound as it moves through the water. This product comes in two sizes and several (including 2-color) options.
  The Creek Company
Nipper and Zinger $9.99
Pelican Stripping Apron $19.99
www.creekcompany.com
The Creek Company makes a wide variety of useful tools for anglers. We especially enjoyed the portable stripping apron, which weighed virtually nothing, took little space, was an effective tool, and folds up to ride in the small of the back when walking to a new hole. This is a great product for the traveling fly angler. The Nipper Zinger is an essential tool, and increases time fishing rather than rigging to fish when you aren’t fumbling around looking for clippers.
 Gear Keeper
Net Retractor $24.99
Small Tool Retractors $19.99
www.gearkeeper.com
These products are designed to allow an angler usage of tools and net on a retractable tether. It is nice to have pliers on a tether, so that when you drop them, you are not forced to plunge an arm to the shoulder into the frigid water to retrieve them. During situations when you need another hand, like netting a fish by yourself, the net retractor is a handy tool. It also allows a wading angler to attach the net to the back of one’s vest or wading jacket and to be able to use the net to land a fish without unclipping it from its mooring.
 Hareline Dubbin Fly tying materials www.hareline.com
For hair, fur, feathers, synthetics and threads, Hareline Dubbin is a good choice for everything you need to tie Alaska’s most ubiquitous flies. Hareline bucktails are large, come in every color in the rainbow, and contain straight, top quality hair you can rely on. Hareline Krystal Flash is an indelible ingredient to most of Alaska’s most successful salmon flies, while the company’s cactus chenille is starting to match it in use and effectiveness. We’ll be using these materials for years to come and in coming issues hope to share some innovative patterns from our tiers like Scott Sanchez.
 Flambeau Zerust Marine Box $20.69 www.flambeauoutdoors.com
We used the 14-inch Zerust Marine Box while exploring the many coves of Prince William Sound. It remained watertight throughout 2007 and was used frequently. Zerust technology is built right into the plastic of the box, which means protection from rust and corrosion on your lures. Flambeau states that Zerust protection should last for five years, and this should result in many less lures in the garbage from rust and corrosion.
 Ex Officio Exo Dri Gill Long-Sleeve Shirt $75 www.exofficio.com
These lightweight shirts offer Ex-Officio’s touted bug-resistant material and in a state so full of hungry insects, any extra protection helps. Combine sun protection and a moisture-wicking system and you have a good multi-purpose fishing shirt. The long-sleeve Gill shirt offers several good design features from ventilated side panels to roll-up sleeves to multiple layered pocketing. It is available in 4 colors and sizes M-XXL. Top of Page
 Spirit River Boss Tin Lead free splitshot Stream Thermometer www.spiritriverflies.com
We used and enjoyed a variety of handy field tools from Spirit River Inc. in 2007 and were pleased with their performance. The Boss Tin lead free spit shot variety pack that we used included AAA, AB, #1, #4, #6 and #8 sized shot and worked well as a small case of assorted sized lead free shot. The stream thermometer was a useful tool in determining water temperature in an attempt to correlate this to fish activity.
 Hardigg Storm Case iM2750 $187 www.stormcase.com
Another good option in gear protection systems is the Hardigg Storm Case. We tested model iM2750 with interior dimensions of 22 inches-long x 17 inches-wide x 12.7 inches-high and an empty weight of 18.5 pounds. It was sturdy and proved air and watertight in ugly conditions on Prince William Sound. We liked the wheels and handles (three) on this hard case and found it rolled like a good piece of luggage complete with a retractable handle. With four press and pull latches, this case locks down tight. It comes in multiple colors and many sizes.
 Izorline Brutally Strong Spectra 80-pound, 500 yards $69.99 www.izorline.com
For deepwater jigging and bottom fishing, we enjoy using a non-stretch line like Izorline Brutally Strong Spectra. This line had little memory and was limp right off the spool, and gave us no problems in binding on the reel. It transmitted subtle taps of rockfish at depths of 450-plus feet and continues Izorline’s reputation of making tough line. We also happened to use Izorline monofilament when king fishing in Lake Creek and were simply amazed at the strength of the line, which translated to the ability to turn big fish out of log jams.
 US Swivels 2-pack $8.69–$8.89 www.usswivel.com
Another good choice for swivels are those made by US Swivel. We experimented with size 3 (60#), size 4 (90#) and size 5 (110#) ball bearing swivels and enjoyed their performance. The company also makes a duo lock PowerSnap model, which allows you to lock the swivel if you change to a lure like a plug that you don’t want to swivel. This saves time and effort when you don’t have to retie.
 Larson Lures #4–#6 Dinnerbell $3.50–$3.75 www.randblures.com
The concept with Larson lures products is to add a scent chamber to a lure. This makes it easy to add scent to the offering without the mess and hassle of bait. Small sponges are available through Larson lures and these can be cut into small sections so that they can be soaked with scent and inserted into the chamber. We used the #4–#6 sizes and caught salmon with them. These lures come in ten different scent chamber/spinner blade color combinations.
  Hot Spot Apex UV Series $4.49–$5.29 www.hotspotlures.com
These deadly lures are available in 40-plus finishes in seven sizes from 1 to 6 1/4 inches. The UV expansion of the line added five models and we caught many nice salmon trolling the purple haze UV and pink haze UV. Other UV options include the jellyfish, orange haze and chartreuse haze.
 LaCrosse Super-Tuff Wading Sock $16 www.lacrossefootwear.com
When wading Alaska’s cold waters, it is essential to properly garb your feet or you’ll find yourself hopping up and down on the bank trying to revive those chunks of ice at the bottom of your legs. These socks made by LaCrosse are a Merino wool / synthetic blend for warm and performance. They stretch a full 23 inches tall and are heavy enough to be your sole pair of socks when wading. Top of Page
 Moulder Bank Ease Planer $34.95 www.sideplaner.com
Have you ever wanted to troll your lure from the bank or hold it steady in fast water without the use of a heavy weight? This product, designed by Robyn Moulder, is the answer. It allows you to set the lure in place and when a fish strikes, it is released from the planer. When used from a boat, it allows an angler to get the lure away from the boat. This planer supports up to a size K-16 Kwikfish.
  Mack’s Lure
Sledgehammer $5.99
Line Tamer $19.99
www.mackslure.com
The Line Tamer is a nice way to store and organize spools of leader that you most commonly use. We stowed it in the drift boat, and used it all season on the Kenai River to create leaders for salmon and trout fishing. There is a cutter on each of the two line tamer boxes that come in one unit and these boxes work well for spooling new line on reels. The Sledgehammer is one of those lures that works well on the troll for a variety of fish. The combination of the spinner blades and squid like body, with high-vis Flashabou and a scentable body cavity, make this an enticing lure to salmon, halibut and cod. We didn’t try it in a freshwater environment, but would expect it to perform well.
 Lindy Wave Tamer $78.74/40-inch www.lindyfishingtackle.com
When trolling or drifting, you sometimes want to slow the boat in order to more precisely hit the desired speed or to stay longer over a productive spot in the drift. The Lindy wave tamer worked well in slowing the boat while trolling for salmon. It is made from rugged fabric, and won’t sink or twist in the water. The Wave Tamer series comes in nine sizes from 30 to 168 inches.
 Shimano Bristol Bay Dry Tackle and Cooler Bags $59.99–$69.99 www.fish.shimano.com/
The Bristol Bay Bags are made with Shimano's exclusive water-drainage construction. Any water that gets in through the stitch holes of the zipper drops through the gap between inner and outer shell and drips out of the drain hole located at the bottom of the bag. The non-skid, non-slip PVC bottom material provides extra grip on wet surface and the top lid is heat-press processed to reject any water that gets in. The main compartment is made with insulated PVC material that will help keep your valuable items such as camera, cloth or fishing tackle dry.
 Pautzke Nectar $5.49/8oz. www.pautzke.com
Pautzke Nectar is made from cooked salmon eggs. Try dousing some of your lures in Nectar (in places where bait is legal) and it serves as a nice solution to having to mess with chunks of roe all day. We experienced higher catch rates when using the nectar on a lure versus a bare lure. It comes in three models and two sizes.
Ed Cumings Fish Cradle $24/34-inch www.cumingsnets.com
When fishing for monster rainbows, the staff at Fish Alaska magazine likes to be as careful as possible to handle these fish gently. We have found that a fish cradle is a low-impact means of landing a big ‘bow and that it makes it easier to unhook and release. This cradle rolls up into a small diameter and fits easily in the main compartments on the drift boat. The model that we tested has a handle length of 42 inches and a net size of 34 inch- long x 22 inches-wide. This company also makes a 52-inch-long x 22-inch-wide net with a 60-inch handle.
 Tender Corporation Easy Care First Aid Kit $19.99 www.easycarefirstaid.com
This first aid kit is small and portable, yet provides you with enough options to provide triage on many minor ailments. We used it to handle cuts, sprains and headaches. The kit was designed by an emergency room doctor and is organized into wound/burn/strain, bleeding, and medical instrument sections. The kit also includes useful items like antibiotic ointment, After Bite wipes, thermometer, bandage scissors, instant ice pack and medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and diphenhydramine (for allergic symptoms).
 Mountain Hardware Tegu Backpack $80 www.mountainhardware.com
This backpack is large enough to pack lunch, extra dry clothes, gear and your survival kit along with two large water bottles in the outside mesh pockets, which is our favorite feature. Like most of the Mountain Hardware products we’ve seen and used, it looks really nice and performs fantastically. Top of Page
 Sampo Ball Bearing Swivels $16.99–$51.99/12 www.sampoinc.com
Sampo ball bearing swivels work well to reduce line twist when trolling or casting. We experimented with the X3R, NBRX4C and X4C models and were impressed with their craftsmanship and performance. These stainless steel swivels are up to the test of the marine environment and come in black and nickel finish.
 Tomic Lures
5” Classic 700g $10.69 Canadian
5” Spoon 776reh $7.80 Canadian
www.tomiclures.com
These hand painted and assembled lures are quite effective in enticing strikes from saltwater salmon. The company boasts over 800 color combinations and several styles of plug and spoon. We tried versions of the 5- and 6-inch classic and especially liked the 700g (glow). Trolling the Tomic lures 5-inch 776reh spoon drove some silvers in Valdez crazy and we attribute this to the action of the spoon, the red eye and the honeycomb pattern on it. This was a brand new body type for the company last year and we believe it to be a success.
 3rd Grip Products Pole Holster $24.99 www.3rdgrip.com
If you are like us, you need a third hand to handle the rod when you are landing your own fish, tying on a new leader, lure or fly, or taking a photo. Many times, an expensive reel has been slammed into the rocks as a trophy fish was landed. A product that we enjoyed using in 2007 was the 3rd Grip Pole Holster. It can be attached to the lower leg, waist or float tube and gives you a place to stow your rod. We liked the way it felt when attached to the waist and also liked the pliers pocket. The company also makes a fly rod accessory insert that allows the holster to hold a fly rod.
 XPO Eyewear $139.95 www.xpoeyewear.com
We tested several models in the XPO line and liked their fit and looks. They allowed traveling anglers to see salmon in clear streams and this greatly aided in their ability to catch these fish. Of the three models that we tested–the Gator, Trooper and Golfer–it’s hard to choose which one we liked best. All three boast light and strong lenses and frames.
 Yakima Bait-Bob Toman Spinners
Thumper $9.61
Fatfish $7.20
www.yakimabait.com
Two useful lures in the Yakima Bait line are the Bob Toman Thumper and the Fatfish. Both drive Alaskan salmon wild. We found that down trolling the Thumper on a weighted line worked well to entice kings to strike. It comes in a variety of color options. The Fatfish is one of the plugs that entice strikes from Chinook and coho and should be in the plug box with Kwikfish and Wiggle Warts.
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Alaska Retail Locations
Many of the Editors’ Choice Items are available at these local retail outfitters. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good place to start.
Anchorage
6th Avenue Outfitters (907) 276-0233 www.6thavenueoutfitters.com
Adventures in Eye Care (907) 333-6040 www.adventuresineyecare.com
Alaska Mining and Diving (907) 277-1741 www.akmining.com
Army/Navy Store (907) 279-2401 www.army-navy-store.com
B&J Sporting Goods (907) 274-6113 www.bjsalaskaoutfitters.com
Barney’s Sports Chalet (907) 561-5242 www.barneyssports.com
Fred Meyer www.fredmeyer.com
1000 E. Northern Lights (907) 264-9600
7701 Debarr Road (907) 269-1700
2300 Abbott Road (907) 365-2000
2000 W. Dimond Blvd. (907) 267-6700
Mountain View Sporting Goods (907) 563-8600 www.mtviewsports.com
REI (907) 272-4565 www.rei.com
Sports Authority (907) 349- 6881 www.sportsauthority.com
Sportsman’s Warehouse (907) 644-1400 www.sportsmanswarehouse.com
WalMart www.walmart.com
3101 A Street (907) 563-5900
8900 Old Seward Hwy (907) 344-5300
World Wide Angler (907) 561-0662 www.akflyshop.com
Auke Bay
Fisherman’s Bend (907) 789-7312
CRAIG— Prince of Wales Island
Log Cabin Sporting Goods (907) 826-2205
Eagle River
Boondock Sporting Goods (907) 694-2229
Fred Meyer (907) 689-4000 www.fredmeyer.com
WalMart (907) 694-9780 www.walmart.com
Fairbanks
Alaska Fly Shop (907) 456-3010 www.fairbanksfly.com
All Weather Sports (907) 474-8184 www.allweathersports.com
Beaver Sports (907) 479-2494 www.beaversports.com
Big Ray’s (907) 452-3458 www.bigrays.com
Fred Meyer www.fredmeyer.com
930 Old Seward Hwy (907) 459-4200
3755 Airport Way (907) 474-1400
Greatland Sporting Goods (907) 456-5643
Mountain Sports (907) 474-4600
Sportsman’s Warehouse (907) 374-8800 www.sportsmanswarehouse.com
The Prospector (907) 457-7372 www.prospectoroutfitters.com
WalMart (907) 451-9900 www.walmart.com
Juneau
Juneau Flyfishing Goods (907) 586-3754 www.juneauflyfishinggoods.com
Juneau Western Auto & Marine (907) 780-4909
www.westernautojuneau.com
Fred Meyer (907) 789-6500 www.fredmeyer.com
Walmart (907) 789-5000 www.walmart.com
Ketchikan
Murray Pacific Supply Corp. (907) 225-3135 www.murraypacific.com
The Hook Up Fly Shop (907) 225-3260 www.hookupflyshop.com
Tongass trading Company (907) 225-5101 www.tongasstrading.com
Kodiak
Cy’s Sporting Goods (907) 486-3900 www.kodiak-outfitters.com
Mack’s Sport Shop (907) 486-4276 www.mackssportshop.com
Palmer
Fred Meyer (907) 761-4200 www.fredmeyer.com
Petersburg
Lee’s Clothing (907) 772-4229
The Trading Union (907) 772-3881
Seward
The Fish House (907) 224-3674 www.thefishhouse.net
Sitka
Fly Away Fly Shop (907) 747-7301 www.flyawayflyshop.com
Mac’s Sporting Goods (907) 747-6970
Murray Pacific Supply Corp. (907) 747-3171 www.murraypacific.com
Orion Sporting Goods (907) 747-3541
Soldotna
Fred Meyer (907) 260-2200 www.fredmeyer.com
Great Alaska Rod Shop (907) 262-2752
Ken’s Alaskan Tackle (907) 262-6870 www.kensalaskantackle.com
Red Line Sports (907) 262-5860
Sweeney’s Clothing and Footwear (907) 262-5916
Trustworthy Hardware & Fishing (907) 262-4655 www.soldotnahardware.com
Wilderness Way (907) 262-3880 www.wildernessway.com
Valdez
Hook Line and Sinker (907) 835-4410
The Prospector (907) 835-3858 www.prospectoroutfitters.com
Wasilla
3 Rivers Fly and Tackle (907) 373-5434 www.3riversflyandtackle.com
Fred Meyer (907) 352-5000 www.fredmeyer.com
Sportsman’s Warehouse (907) 864-8000 www.sportsmanswarehouse.com
WalMart (907) 376-9780 www.walmart.com
Yakutat
Yakutat Hardware (907) 784-3203
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