Josh's Question:

I am planning a trip to Alaska this summer and I am looking to buy a new fly rod. The question is what size should I get for a general all-around rod that can handle large kings and scrappy sockeye?

Josh

Mark's Answer:

David,

I am hesitant to recommend just one"all-around" rod for Alaska.

For one thing, you're a long way from a tackle store if you break a rod tip or a big salmon snaps the rod in two pieces.

I would think about taking at least two rods, one lighter and one heavier. And if you can, borrow a fishing buddy's rod as a backup (an all-around backup would be an eight-weight).

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Alaska offers the angler too many choices to only take one rod.

If things are slow one day, you might want to fish for grayling, a lovely, lightly-fished species which requires no more than a four-weight rod.

To fish for char or dolly varden, you'll want a five or six weight rod in hand.

For salmon, like chum and sockeye, you will need at least an eight-weight. For King Salmon, you'll want all the rod you can handle, meaning at least a nine- or ten-weight rod.

If I were limited to only two rods on a trip of a lifetime like the one you are about to take, I'd pack a six-weight and a nine-weight so I could cover most conditions, and all species.