As Phil blogged, we are pretty much on our put together phase of the Alaska Float Fishing Trip. One note of caution here, we are kind of going to be a primer, but before you think of trying something like this reguardless of your physical conditioning, it would be a good idea to have some very exact information, and be aware this is pretty wild country you about to visit.

I guided raft trips for a couple of years in Alaska, and had most of our Alaska River Float Gear, but sold quite a bit of it to our friend Jim Johnson, at Naknek River Camp. So, I am regearing to a lesser extent, not so much the commercial equipment, but just way upper end extended camping gear.

I am a research fanatic when it comes to stuff like this and will usually as you should dig up every available scrap of information on any adventure like this you would like to do or our planning.

There are extended stay raft trips all over Alaska, and before renting a raft, or doing one on your own, it is always a good idea to take a float trip with a professional, not only to see their gear and setup, but to learn as much as you can about the rivers.

Phil and I are taking a very easy Class I river this year, with fishing being the key.

We will be fishing one of the rivers out of Kotzebue this year in the Noatak drainage. We are fishing for Andromous or Sea Run Char. The fish get to the largest size here and in the Tree River in Canada. The Alaska State Record comes from the Wulik River at 27.8. Most all these Northern Alaska Rivers, above the Arctic Circle, have Char visit them in the 5 to 25 pound range.

We are also looking at the Kelly River. We are leaving the river to our Bush Pilot that flys the area on a daily basis to provide the best fish and float conditions, for the river of his choice. To tell you the truth, most all the floatable Arctic rivers have Huge Char, and it really does not matter to us, which one we float.

I'll lay out the gear equipment and how we plan on going about getting it all there commin up.