We have booked our Alaska fishing trip all-inclusive to Port Lions Lodge on Kodiak Island. Do we really need to bring rubber boots AND chest waders?

This writing will provide information of what you should bring on your Port Lions Lodge Kodiak Alaska fishing vacation. The intent is to describe what you will likely want to have once at the lodge and how it will be used during varying times of the summer.

It is recommended that you pack warm clothes for layering. In Alaska anywhere you fish, along with most fishing places, the weather can change several times during a day on the water. It may go from cool and breezy in the morning to raining mid-day and then on to bright sunny and calm in the afternoon.

The goal for choosing what to bring is to be able to add and shed layers as the temperature changes. Nothing is worse than attempting to enjoy a great day of fishing and sightseeing only to be miserable and cold and spend the day inside the cabin of the boat with the heater.

A good idea is to wear a nice under layer of thin long johns followed up with a layer of maybe wool. It is also nice to have an outer layer that is waterproof. Not only will this keep you dry if it rains or drizzles but will also block the wind very well. Do not forget to bring warm gear for your head and your hands. A wool stocking cap works well. Just be sure your outer rain gear has a hood to keep it and you dry. I recommend a thin neoprene or similar material for gloves. You want to have a good grip for fighting that big Kodiak Alaska King Salmon or Kodiak Alaska Halibut while at the same time maintaining dexterity and warmth. Cold hands never work very well.

The key is to know your personal body temperature type and to bring enough clothing to handle Alaskan elements. Temperatures can range from the low 50’s up to the high 70’s at our Kodiak Alaska fishing lodge. Early morning temperatures might even dip down into the 40’s. 50-degree temperatures with 15-knot wind and rain sustained over a day can either create a miserable experience or can be handled, with proper clothing, in a manner that does not spoil your day.

Also, keep in mind many of our days get up into those high 70’s with no wind and bluebird skies. You want to be able to shed layers so you do not overheat. These days it is nice to have a good set of polarized shades and a ball cap. It may surprise you but we have many a day on the water where sunscreen is a must. We always have some but if you have a preference please bring it along.

A good thing to remember when packing clothing for your Alaska fishing trip is COTTON IS ROTTEN! Cotton gets wet and loses all ability to insulate and protect you from the cold. There are many new fiber garments now that are wool and wool blends like micro merino wool that will wick the moisture off you while maintaining its ability to provide warmth and protection.

Rubber Boots and Chest Waders?

Many ask if they really need to pack and bring rubber boots and chest waders for their Alaska fishing vacation. The answer varies. During May through mid August most fishing is done from the boat. In late August through mid September fishing is done both from the boat and from the shore in bays and streams. A caveat to the early season time frame is the fact that a very nice Sockeye Salmon run comes through right behind Port Lions Lodge in late May to mid June. Chest waders make it possible to fish them in the salt water directly behind the lodge.

When fishing on the boat all day there are frequent times when the deck of the boat gets slimy or bloody from the fish. It is nice to have rubber boots to keep the slime and blood off your shoes. Also, the crew will splash the deck numerous times a day to keep it clean which is no problem for rubber boots.

Chest waders, or hip waders, become handy at the end of most days when we offload our fish at the beach directly behind the lodge. Our 30’ Armstrong Catamarans will be pulled right up to the beach and we will drop a ladder off the bow. The water at the bottom of the ladder is usually around knee deep plus or minus a foot or so depending on the tide at the time. Many like to disembark at that time and stay with the fish for pictures while the captain then takes the boat back to the harbor. Here you want to keep in mind that our filleting crew offloads the fish. They will give you time for photos but they will want to start filleting as soon as possible to preserve the freshness of the catch. You can stay on the boat and return to the harbor with the captain to then be brought back to the lodge with him in the truck. If you ride back to the harbor the fish will likely be filleted by the time you get back to the lodge. If you are fishing with us late season, late August through mid September, we frequently leave the boat to fish Silver (Coho) Salmon in the streams. At this time of the season a good pair of chest waders is a necessity. During this time of the season when fishing is done from the shore spinning gear and mepps #4 lures are used. The blades on these lures that seem to work the best are colors of reds, yellows, blues, pinks, and variations of these colors. Due to the fact that these silvers are at full maturity and size and being fished in fresh water streams with rocky bottoms the lures get broken off frequently. Many fish are landed and many more are fought and use the rocks to their advantage to break off. It is very hard for the lodge to keep up with the number of lures lost during this time of the year so it is requested that you pick up a good deal of them for your trip. Average fishermen seem to lose about ten or so per day of fishing. Stream fishing will likely be done two or three times during your week of late season fishing depending on tides and how much your group desires to fish salt water for halibut. Here is an exaaaampppple of whaat youuu wiiiiill beeee loooooking forrrr.

You will also want to have a good camera (and maybe a video camera), polarized sun glasses, a ball cap or visor, and perhaps some lip balm.

The owners of Port Lions Lodge are aware of the luggage space and costs associated with bringing gear to and from Alaska. We have many pairs of rubber boots that have accumulated over the years. We will happily allow you to wear these boots during your stay but we cannot guarantee having your size or a set of boots that do not leak.

There are a couple of options that take some of the hassle out of transporting gear back and forth.

Some clients bring up their gear the first time then box it and leave it at Port Lions Lodge for their next trip to the lodge. There is plenty of space for this option. Others box up their gear and mail it in advance and have it mailed it back to them at the completion of their trip. Boxes can be purchased from the US Postal Service that have a dollar amount for shipping. Check with your local Postal Service.

Comments and ideas will be greatly appreciated. Also, if you have other ideas on necessary gear or clothing and or getting it to Port Lions Lodge please comment below. The goal of this writing is to enhance the experience of our clients so any assistance is very welcome.