What Alaska and 50,000 Miles Taught Me About Fly Fishing Gear

I brought a couple of Poncho flannels with me to Alaska because — well, it’s Alaska. That’s what you wear up there.

My Shirt Held Up, I Didn't

On two of my guiding days, I rowed float trips — each day involved eight hours on the oars with two guests and gear. Being Alaska, it was warm, cold, rainy, and windy, all in the same day. I also had to pack a 75-pound raft across the tundra. The Poncho shirt held up way better than I did. These are outdoor/work shirts that clean up nicely. To seal the deal, they earned my wife's approval, which is rare for the clothing I choose.

Fishpond Nomad Nets - I Have Yet To Find Better

Fishpond Nomad Nets are the Rolls-Royce of nets. These things are bombproof, good-looking, and well-designed, with a lot of models to choose from.

The nets are made from a composite mix of carbon fiber + fiberglass. This combination of materials feels great in the hand and is both lightweight and sturdy. Solid would be a good word, too. The fact that they float is a big bonus.

More Than a Fishing Net

I've come to depend on my Fishpond as more than a net. I use it as a wading staff when crossing rivers, something to lean on to rest my legs, as a "helping hand" - reaching down with it so a client can grab the basket, and I'll pull them up a riverbank. I view mine more as a versatile guiding tool than just a basket to land a fish.

A Piece of Gear That Goes With Me Everywhere

Get a watch. Not a smartwatch, not something that needs charging. Get a mechanical, automatic, self-winding, old-school watch. Even better, get one that’s waterproof and can take a beating.

Being on Time Is a Serious Issue

I need to know the time when I’m guiding. Pilots have short patience with guides who arrive late for pickup. Sometimes a pilot's weather window is small, and they have it timed out to pick up clients and get out of there before that window closes — because if it does close, we are screwed. Being on time is mandatory.

Disconnecting From the Digital World

Another reason I prefer a mechanical watch is that it helps me stay off my phone as much as possible. Part of why I get outdoors is to disconnect — to focus on the world around me instead of that little digital devil that can suck the soul out of you.

Keeping it Old School and Classic

I look for the same traits in a watch that I do in a fly reel — simple, reliable, and built to last. I also prefer a classic look.

My Watch Travels With Me Everywhere

My EDC watch is the Oris Divers Date. It has been on my wrist for ten years and has seen the worst of abuse from Africa to Alaska. I’m not easy on watches, and I don’t baby them. They have to keep working regardless of the weather or the environment — I think of my Oris watch as a functional tool that I can count on when everything else quits.

A Rolling Duffel Made for Fly Fishing

Fishpond makes a rolling duffel big enough to carry standard 9-foot rods, with room for waders, boots, gear, and clothes. But it’s the rod storage that caught my attention. You can fit up to six fly rod tubes along the bottom, eliminating the need for a separate case and extra luggage fees.

Built For Hard Travel

The duffel is built from recycled polyester fabric coated with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) layer on the exterior. That’s a long way of saying the fabric is waterproof and tough. It shrugs off rain and the baggage handlers who toss your luggage around like a football.

The Best Luggage For Fly Fishing Travel

The Fishpond Stormshadow Large Rolling Duffel is the best fly-fishing travel bag I’ve used. I’ve logged around 50,000 miles this summer, and it’s been with me on every trip. I have no complaints or suggestions for improvement. I’ll never say a piece of gear is perfect—but I have yet to find a fault with my Fishpond Rolling Duffel.

The Smooth Fly Box Rule

I learned this lesson the hard way — standing waist-deep in the surf off Cape Cod, waves hammering my chest, fly line wrapped around my legs, and one hand holding a fly rod.

With my other hand, I was trying to get a fly box back into a zippered pocket on my sling pack. The pocket was crammed, the fly box had sharp corners, and the more I tried to jam the box into the pocket, the more it caught. I was rushing because there was a blitz going on, and I needed to tie on a sand eel pattern.

Oh, But Fly Fishing Is So Relaxing

Between trying to maintain my balance, getting in a yoga position to reach the sling pack, operating the zipper and fly box with one hand while waves are hitting me, and not dropping anything into the water, I was teetering on the edge of losing my sh–.!

A Simple Rule To Follow

Since that day, I’ve made one simple rule for myself: only use fly boxes with smooth, rounded corners. Boxes that don’t snag on zippers, seams, or fabric. My fly boxes need to slide in and out of pockets smoothly, even with one hand.

It's a simple adjustment, but it can help you stay in a flow instead of fighting your gear.

This Dry Bag’s Simplicity Is Its Strength

This piece of gear performed exceptionally well in Alaska, prompting me to write a full review on it here. The Yeti Sidekick Dry Bag is as simple as it gets — a waterproof pouch with a large opening that comes in three sizes: 1L, 3L, and 6L. It’s a versatile catch-all that can be worn on your belt or attached to a pack using loops or Velcro. That’s it. Simple, tough, and versatile. The guides at the lodge swear by them and have made them a part of their river EDC. It's a low-maintenance and simple piece of gear that you can count on.

Fly Fishing Gear That Proved Its Worth While Guiding in Alaska - Part 1 (the first article in this two-part series)

Dependable and Proven

Alaska is tough on gear and you have to be able to count on it. These pieces proved themselves, and have earned a spot in my everyday fly fishing kit. KB - Follow me on my Fly Fishing on SI's Facebook page.

"Slow down...listen to the hoppers...be patient with yer wife...eat sardines with hot sauce... catch “Gagger” trout!!!" –Flip Pallot

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