Deciding how to pack for an Alaska fishing trip can be a challenge. The diversity of weather you may encounter requires you to come prepared for anything.
Below is a fairly comprehensive Alaska packing list of clothing items to ensure you’ll be well prepared for whatever Alaska has in store for you.
When fishing with us, we provide rods, reels, tackle, bait, flies, waders, and hip boots.
1.Long underwear, top and bottom! Cotton works fine, but polypropylene is the best. Wear this everyday, no matter what; you won’t regret it.
Wear something over your long underwear that will be warm, comfortable, and durable. Make sure pants are loose-fitting to accommodate the extra layer underneath. Fleece is tough to beat. It is very warm, comfortable, and it wicks away moisture. If you don’t have fleece pants, jeans work fine. Alaska fishing can be a bit messy, so don’t wear your best slacks!
For your upper half, pack plenty of warm shirts, hooded sweatshirts, lined flannels, fleece pull-overs, etc…A warm, long-sleeve shirt and a warm, hooded sweatshirt are a definite priority for your Alaska packing list.
3.A warm jacket is a must for your Alaska packing list. A lined parka is recommended, like a hunting or ski jacket, preferably water-resistant. This may not be necessary on many days, but when you do need it, you’ll be very happy to have it.
4.RAIN GEAR! Unlike other portions of the country where summer and sun go hand-in-hand, Alaska is different. In fact, there’s more likely to be clouds and rain than sunshine. They say if you don’t like the current weather in Alaska, wait ten minutes. This means rain gear is always a must for any Alaska packing list and a good, well-fitting pair of tops and bottoms will keep you dry and warm for the duration of your Alaska fishing trip. Some prefer to wear their rain gear, raining or not, just to break the wind and protect their clothing.
5.Heads, Eyes, Hands, and Feet! Keeping your head warm is the key to a comfortable day, so make sure you have a hood on your sweatshirt and/or jacket, as well as your rain gear. A full brimmed cap is also nice for shading your eyes from the sun.
A quality pair of polarized sunglasses will be worth its weight in gold here in Alaska. The glare from the water, even on overcast days, is constant and damaging to your eyes. With glasses, your eyes will relax, stay warm and focus on the sights! A warm pair of gloves is equally important. I recommend the fleece pairs with cut-off fingers for fishing. Any gloves you have should work fine.
Finally, warm footwear is crucial! Insulated rubber knee boots are nice as they allow you to step into the water without getting your feet wet. You will be in a dry boat, but you might want to get out on a shore break and waterproof boots are nice. A warm pair of hiking boots with wool socks is more than adequate to keep your feet warm. Good luck with your Alaska packing list and we’ll see you on the water, dry and warm!
6. Other useful items to pack are mosquito repellent (and/or bug net) and sunscreen.
All residents aged 18 or older, and non-residents aged 16 or older must possess a sport-fishing license to participate in sport and personal use fisheries in Alaska. In addition a King Salmon stamp is required to fish for King Salmon. Licenses can be purchased online from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG), and are also available at local tackle shops.
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