Suggested Salmon Patterns? Alagnak R. AK 7/24 - 31

[Jim Speaker]

Hi all.   I’ve never fished salmon on a fly in my life, but I’ll be getting my feet wet with it on the Alagnak from 7/24 – 31.  Okay, well there was the time when I was a kid down at the Redondo pier (WA) stripping a Mickey Finn to a school of silvers that would follow it but not strike…  I don’t think that really counts.  I know there’s a wealth of knowledge on this list in the area of salmon/steelhead flyfishing.  Unfortunately, I’ve tended to ignore a lot of this information over the years since I have always been a trout-only kinda’ guy.  Now I’m hoping to solicit your help :)   From what I’ve read there should be sockeye, chum and Chinook in the Alagnak system at that time.  I’ll be with guides that, of course, will offer up flies including local patterns, but I’m a very independent sorta’ fisherman and have never fished with a guide.  I’ll want to have my own box of salmon patterns when I get there so I can try my own stuff and not feel like I owe success solely to the guides.   I have a list of suggested patterns that I got from the lodge’s website (www.alaskatrophyadventures.com), and am hoping that y’all can supplement this list with suggested patterns and suggest how the flies are to be fished.  I have a lot to learn…  Here’s what I’m planning to buy/tie in advance so far: - Fat Freddie - Popsicle - Yarn fly - Flashabou - Teeny Nymph - Marabou Wiggler   * What else should I take?  * How do you fish them (dead-drift, swing, strip [strip how])?  * Know of some websites I should visit that tell me all of this and more?  * How about sites that explain how to tie them?  Tying some of these beautiful patterns appears to be a whole new ballgame, but one I think will be really satisfying once I acquire some skill.   I know that’s a lot to ask – I appreciate very much any help.   Thanks in advance. Jim Speaker