This month I took a break from my usual motorcycle trips to do something that I have always wanted to do…go fishing in Alaska. What a great experience! If you are thinking about taking a similar trip, here is a bit of advice on what to bring.
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First and foremost, pack light!
I carried one duffel bag that I checked for my flights, and one small personal item. The total weight of my duffel bag was 28 pounds, including waders and boots. You don’t need a big wardrobe or lots of “stuff” to fish for a week. The duffel bag I used was a simple lightweight duffel bag of around 60L similar to this one…
I used a combination of trash bags and large compression bags like these to keep my gear organized and dry…
Alternatively, you could pack a waterproof duffel bag like this one…
For my personal item, I brought a small waterproof backpack like this one that I have recommended before. It was great on the boat when I needed to add or remove layers.
Don’t bring cotton! Pack clothes made of synthetic materials.
When cotton gets wet, it holds water and takes a long time to dry. It is also heavier than other materials like polyester. Packing synthetic material helps keep the weight of your baggage down. All of the clothing I brought on my trip was made of synthetics. Among the items I was really glad to have the following…
- Fleece Pullover
- I bought this fleece pullover about a year or two ago, and it is the best one I have ever owned. I have had it on several trips, and it has been a lifesaver. It is light, yet warm and dries fast if it gets wet…
- Lightweight, long sleeve fishing shirts with sun protection
- I have a few of these in different brands. I brought 3 to Alaska. This one by Huk is one of my favorites…
- Travel/Hiking Pants
- I have several pairs of pants like these. I brought 2 pair to Alaska. They are much lighter to pack than jeans and dry quickly when you get them wet or do laundry.
- Softshell Pants
- In addition to my lightweight pants, I packed one pair of softshell pants. These are great for wearing around camp, they’re warm and they’re comfortable under waders.
- Fleece Pants
- I brought one pair of these. They are also comfortable and very lightweight.
- Fleece cap
- I ended up wearing this in the morning when it was cool, and even slept in it some nights when it got pretty cold. It is super lightweight and easy to pack, but gives you good warmth…
- Polyester T-shirts
- I always try to dress in layers. I usually start with T-shirts like these…
- Wool Socks
- Wool socks will keep your feet dry and are comfortable inside your waders. I supplemented my existing stock with these before I left…
Pack a quality Rain Jacket
- A good rain jacket is super important in Alaska, where the weather can be sunny one minute and rainy and windy the next. I was looking for a new jacket before my trip and ended up buying this one that I really ended up liking…
Bring Lightweight Stockingfoot Waders
- Unless your outfitter is providing you with waders, you will need to bring your own. I have been meaning to get some lightweight waders for a while. The only ones I had were heavy ones with built-in boots. After doing some research, I decided that these offered the best bang for the buck. They worked great for my week in Alaska, and I will probably only wear them a few times a year.
- Wader Boots
- I needed wader boots to go with my new waders and settled on these that were affordable, lightweight and durable.
Waterproof Boots
- When I wasn’t wearing waders, I was wearing waterproof duck boots. I brought running shoes, but never wore them. I even flew back in them. These are not the exact ones I have, but very similar.
Get Some Fishing Gloves
- I brought one pair of these. They get wet and don’t dry right away, so next time I might bring 2 pairs.
What You Don’t Need
Here are a few of the things I brought that I did not need and would not bring again.
- Long underwear- the pants I brought were more than fine for everything
- Button down shirt- no need to impress anyone on the river
- Walking/running shoes- I brought a lightweight pair but didn’t use them. The duck boots I brought were fine when I wasn’t wearing my waders
- GoPro- I took a couple underwater shots, and then used my cellphone for the rest of the trip
- Fishing pliers- the guides had all the fishing gear we needed
Other Tips
- Definitely bring a cord/strap for your sunglasses
- Make sure you have polarized sunglasses (they make it much easier to see the fish)
- Bring a water bottle
- Wear a neck gaiter for extra protection against the sun and mosquitos
- Bring mosquito repellent. I had very good luck with this one for my clothes and this one for my face/neck/hands
- Take some extra time before and/or after your fishing charter to explore
- See if your outfitter has a recommended packing list
- Plan on bringing home some fish!