Brooks River, Alaska

I have an opportunity to fish the Brooks River at the end of June. I've read the literature from the lodge, but I hope I can get some advice from some of you who have been there.

I understand that I might expect rainbows, grayling and sockeye, but the info on the river is not very in-depth.

Is the river fast and shallow? Slow and deep?

Is it a top water deal for the rainbows? If not, is a long leader on a floater adequate, or what sort of sink tips are effective? I have an 8 wt, a 6 wt. and a 4 wt.

How about the correct sink-tip(s) for sockeye? Or again, is a long leader on a floater effective?

What patterns in what sizes have you found to be effective for rainbow? for sockeye?

We also have a fly-out, what are the options you've had fun with? Would like to go for kings if they are running somewhere within range. Otherwise, big rainbows get my blood up.

Lots of questions, but any comments from personal experience would be greatly apprecieated. If you like you could e-mail me. tdodge@rhhk.com. Thank you in advance for any help you could lend.

I haven't been to the Brooks, but have been to several other rivers in the area. My understanding is that the Brooks isn't that big a river. I have almost always used dry lines for rainbows, usually with egg patterns. I use about a 9 ft leader, and split shot ahead of the fly. However, you will be there before the egg laying is happening, so you'll most likely want to be ready to fish egg sucking leeches, sculpins, smolt imitations, and standard dry flies. I have done well on mice on other rivers, but, again, always later in the year. I'd plan on a sink tip line and streamer fishing, and maybe you'll get lucky and they'll look up.

If you tie flies, Alaska can be a great excuse to tie up some wild creations, because the fish can be pretty aggressive. I have a pattern that has a purple tail, a ball of orange chenille at the butt, purple chenille body, black plamered hackle, white rubber legs, and a gold tungsten cone head. That would be your one eyed egg sh*tting, rubber legged, cone headed leech.

For the sockeyes, I use nymphing techniques with small sparse steelhead like flies. You can use either a floater or sinker line. The key is get the fly down to the fish.

You should get Tony Route's book, Flyfishing Alaska. Also, check out http://www.akflyfishers.org/ Under the news and articles section is a story I wrote about fishing the Alagnak, which is very close to the Brooks. See also my site at www.oz.net/~andrewb/home2001.htm for another story on fishing up there. Also some pictures of some minor fish.

If you like, I've got a spreadsheet with a gear list that I could send you that has a list of tackle that works well. E-mail me at andrewbr@attbi.com if you want a copy. Hope this helps.

Brooks River eh, doubt you'll see any bears there. As you are probably aware, Brooks Falls is one of the two best carnivore viewing areas up there.

As far as gear goes, I would bring a 6wgt, an 8wgt, and a 12 guage. I've fished close by there, and like Andrew commented, alot of different, goofy flies will work. Bring egg sucking leeches in black and purple. Bring lots of them or, preferably, the gear to tie more in case you run out.

Might be a little early, but alot of the guide outfits around there run pegged beads also. I would come prepared to try that.