Heading to Alaska this fall and will be drift
fishin' for the most part. Been there a few
years ago but needing help on riggin' spin-n-glo's, corky's or anything new these days.
Familar with pencil lead and about 18" of
leader for start, but how about hook size to
bait size, type of colors in various water
conditions and so on. Info on your choice of leader as well. Looking to land average
rainbow at 8-12 lbs. Hopefully a big bow with a little luck. Any help thanks!

...killing me dude. The Kvichak drains lake Illiamna-the biggest lake in Alaska-and consequently the largest sockeye producer of the Bristol bay region. All of those sockeye fry do not get a free pass to the saltchuck though. Large numbers of greyling, arctic char and huge resident rainbows (fat steelhead imitations with vivid coloration and spots up the ying-yang) grow rapidly feeding on sockeye fry and are caught by guide sleds boondogging on up to the Nehalem rapids. Depending opon the timing of your trip you could also find kings and silvers. The backwater areas of Illiamna around Porcupine island also hold northern pike to 20 pounds! Not to mention the moose, bear and caribou... I hope you can find some way to have fun. Dick nites and spinners for the greyling, streamer flies and egg patterns for the char and 'bows (unless you're boondogging), crankbaits behind steel leaders for the pike. Backtroll for the kings and take a .300 Win Mags for everything else. Are you self guided? if so let me know and I'll spill what's left of my guts.

[This message has been edited by TJN (edited 02-21-2000).]

[This message has been edited by TJN (edited 02-21-2000).]

Lucky guy.
I got to fish the Kvichak a couple years ago, had a great time. Landed my biggest bow, about 14 lbs. Did real good an egg patterns and egg sucking leaches. Got into the kings on pixies. Then the reds showed up, it was wild times then. I guess ill have to plan another trip soon. Let us know how you do.

HI SCOTT WAS UP AT LAKE ILLIAMNA THIS AUGUST OR SHOULD I SAY UP SIDE DOWN (INVERTED SEAPLANE)didn't fish the kvichak but did fish the alagnak lots of bows didn't seem to matter what you used find the salmon and and the trout followed did pull some lunkers out of some of holes and yes bring some protection big grizzley stalked us for 6 miles then came at us after setting up camp

Keep an eye out for the terns "smolting" as the locals call it. Just like gulls working a bait ball in Puget Sound. These noisy vagabonds come all the way from the southern hemisphere to feast on sockeye smolt leaving the Illiamna, Lake Clark drainages. If you happen on this, have a fly rod strung with a sink-tip and a smolt imitation. Cast and strip (trolling works also) and hang on for some of the most beautifull 'bows in the world. Don't overlook a quick trip on the Naknek for STELLAR rainbow fishing late in the year...well worth it if you travel through King Salmon. Have fun!