Re: [VFB] Santa rules !

[Ken, Carolyn, Alex and Hershel]

Jake...   A couple flies that I forgot to mention.   I wouldn't be without some elk hair caddises -- size 12 to 16.   I'd also take along some black and golden stone fly nymphs, some peeking caddises (or wolly worms), klinkhammers, blue winged olives, doctor spratleys and carey specials.   This may sound like an awfully lot of different flies -- but you could be fishing for a wide variety of fish in a wide variety of conditions -- what works in Alaska may not work in the Yukon or BC.   Of all the flies I've mentioned -- my go-to flies are the blue smolt for salmon and dolly varden -- wool head sculpin for lake trout -- and peeking caddis, elk hair caddis or foam beetle for rainbows and grayling.   Good luck -- and make sure you fish the Kathleen River near Haines Junction -- it will be high and unfishable with runoff when you arrive -- but by mid-August you can catch lake trout, rainbow trout, huge grayling and whitefish one after another -- the best fishing I've ever had. It used to be my home river.   -Ken-         ----- Original Message ----- From: Jake Raketich To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 27, 2002 7:00 AM Subject: [VFB] Santa rules ! I guess I was good, because Santa brought me a 9ft 9wt rod kit for xmas.   But now I have an issue :  While browsing the local fly shop, I was wiggling a 9ft 9 wt and talking with one of the shop guys about it.  He said a 9ft 8 wt would be a better choice if I intended to use it for steelhead primarily and saltwater secondarily.  So I put the question of choice to you all - if you had to pick one, which would it be?    I anxiously await your opinions and debate.   regards,   Jake Raketich Pittsburgh.