The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

No other flies needed!

Thanks Bob. Got 'em.

I've been collecting flies for the past 6 years. Seems like when I go on a fishing trip, I always come back with more than I left with. I think they mate while I'm sleeping.

Dang am I jealous. Of all my AK trips, Kodiak in September for silvers is my favorite. Done it 3 times now, and can't wait to get back again.

The great thing about silvers - you're not matching a hatch or any such nonsense. Just trying to get their attention. Big flashy flies in black, hot pink, chartreuse, and metallic silver are all gonna do fine on different days at different times in different spots. Personal faves include egg sucking leech, baker buster, kodiak flash fly (a must), pasagshak (purple and pink), and sometimes I'll keep a few spey-style flies like the fall favorite. Mostly pretty large - 2/0 to 2. I often use longer shank hooks for these flies.

One of the best things about AK silver fishing - you can take a simple travel vise, a handful of gaudy materials and hooks, and tie up just about anything on the spot.

Suggestion for when in Kodiak; rent a cheapo car and drive over the hill and along the coast. The Olds an American rivers can be really productive. And at least once go all the over to Pasagshak. There, especially at low tide, you can catch em right in the surf before they enter the stream ... like this one (who was yummy when cooked that very evening!)



Enjoy!

I didn't mean to imply that this is my first trip to Kodiak. I went there in Sept. of 2006, and fished the road system, just as you described. The American didn't work for us but we really enjoyed the Olds, although we sure weren't alone there.

My problem was I didn't experiment enough with different patterns, hence my posted question. I only used pink flies, based on what I read in "Alaska Fly Fishing". This time, I'll work it more and try to fish smarter.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Glad to hear it's a return trip, makes it a lot easier - you know exactly where to go.

I found that on any given day, any one of the rivers could be 'on' or 'off'. But there were usually people there regardless - but almost always only up by the bridge. Most folks are simply too lazy to hike a bit. On either the Olds or the American, it's about what, maybe a mile or less from the bridge to the rivers entry into the bay? If you hike down from the bridge at either river, there are good holes that you can usually have all to yourself.

The Pasagshak is just the opposite. Seems like most folks are at the various holes upstream, near to the road as you drive in, but very few people bother to fish at the beach - casting direct into the ocean. When that pic I posted before was taken, there was one other spincaster and myself, that's it.

Yea, ya can't take just one color fly - on any given day, at any given time, at whatever spot you're at, the fish may be hitting one color versus the other. And it can change. I find having three or four different patterns, and the different colors I mentioned - black, chartreuse, hot pink, and metallic silver - gives me all the options I'm likely to need.

Are you going to boat or fly elsewhere in the islands? If you do, and happen to be in the area, a favorite spot for me is Malina Creek. A tiny creek on Afognak Island that flows into the Raspberry straight (the narrow bit of water between Raspberry Island and Afognak). Malina is a difficult beach to get into - the weather and tides have to be just right - but if you can get in it is truly amazing. Big fish, almost zero fishing pressure. Again, we fished it mostly just by casting straight into the salt water where the fish were awaiting entry into the creek. It was recommended to me years ago by Renee Limeres - I had written and asked "where is the best silver fishing in the Kodiak Islands". Sure was a good answer.

Not sure how clear this pic is when I post it here - but look to the left of my rod arm, just above the little wave. That's another fish jumping in the surf. This is Malina Creek - and it literally is like that - silvers stack up at the creek mouth, you can see them in the waves and jumping around. Amazing place.





Good luck - looking forward to your reports from the trip!