Before we dive into a conversation discussing the variables in different Dolly Varden populations, let’s resolve to answer an earlier posed question: are Dolly Varden and Arctic Char the same thing? The answer is no, they’re not.

Suddenly it burst into a fit of short erratic runs before abruptly stopping again to resume its arrhythmic convulsions. Finally I saw it writhing below us, a brilliant streak of silver flashing in the black tea stained water. It was a Dolly Varden! And it was big.

This is the epitome of fly fishing distilled down to its finest form. To use light tackle, to fish a dry on the water’s surface, sighting fish, making a precise cast to the one you want and watching as it comes willingly to your fly.

I have a hundred memories of rainbow trout that were fooled by the mouse, so many now that it is hard to select one that stands out in my mind. I’ve seen days when the trout fishing was so good we all lost count before breaking for lunch.

Chum salmon are truly bare-knuckle brawlers when hooked, testing the limits of any rod in the 6 – 8wt range. I’ve seen more rods snap when the unwitting angler underestimated just how powerful these fish are, the second largest of all Pacific Salmon.

Important information for anyone fishing the Kenai Peninsula this summer: “A poor return of king salmon on the Anchor River will shut down all sport fishing on the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers and Deep Creek drainages beginning Saturday morning, the …

By this time of year our prime silver weeks (with 2 days of heli-fishing) are generally full. Heck, sometimes they’re booked 2 seasons out. But luck is in favor for those who want to experience some of the best fly …

A sign of what’s to come this Alaska fishing season…

There are numerous productive patterns that work well fly fishing in Alaska for the various species of salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and grayling. And by no means are we going to get into this one is better than that …

There are many productive fly options at this tent camp – mice, dries, nymphs, eggs and streamers. What you use that day will depend on your target fish species – trout, grayling, dollies or salmon.