Paperback. 176 pages 1st Ed edition 1998. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811727629 72 color photos. 17 drawings. 8 maps.(

(from the back cover)  "Fly-fish Alaska's Premier Rivers, Lakes, and Streams for Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, Arctic Char/Dolly Varden, Sheefish, Arctic Grayling, Lake Trout, King Salmon, Chum Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Cutthroat

Over the past decade Dan Heiner has fished more than 60 of Alaska's finest rivers and streams and visited more than 30 of its most highly rated fishing lodges.  In Fly-Fishing Alaska's Wild Rivers, he shares valuable information about the best regions, the abundant fish, and the unique, unforgettable fishing experience you'll find in The Great Land.

(reviews from the back cover)

"Few people I know have acquired such widespread Alaska fly-fishing experience as Dan Heiner.  I believe this book deserves a place in every Alaska fly fisher's library." -- GARY LOOMIS

Dan's passion for experiencing Alaska's rivers is exceeded by no one, and his ability to share that passion with you is a rewarding and refreshing discovering in outdoor writing." -- NANCI A. MORRIS, Katmai Fishing Adventures

"Many writers have successfully chronicled the magnitude of the fishery, but precious few have tellingly explained what it means to be both an Alaskan and a fly fisher.  Dan Heiner has succeeded on both accounts in Fly Fishing Alaska's Wild Rivers." -- TREY COMBS

Back coverReview by Dwight Phillips

I recently finished reading Dan Heiner's "Fly-Fishing Alaska's Wild Rivers." I was impressed. Being a fly-fishing "junkie" myself, I could easily relate to Heiner's enthusiasm for chasing Alaska's rainbows and salmon with the fly. He has managed to successfully merge his passion for flyfishing and his apparently substantial knowledge of Alaska's premier rivers, lakes, and streams into one complete volume.

Heiner covers his bases well. He begins with detailed discussions on rods, reels, lines and flies. He talks specific brands, models, and types. This is good, because there are important decisions to be made beforehand because tackle shops are somewhere between non-existent and real scarce in bush Alaska. The author has simplified the visiting flyfisher's need to amass and carry an arsenal of flies. He has divided them into ten categories of personal favorites that work for him.

Second, Heiner covers transportation to and from Alaska's bush, as well as what is to be expected in the weather department. As you might guess from the roadless nature of most of Alaska, traveling to these destinations is typically via bush plane. Heiner writes about specific outfitters and guides, as well as going prices, seating capacities and airplane types.

Alaska's fishing lodges range from tent camps to beautiful log lodges. They can cost from hundreds to several thousands per week. Heiner has visited more than twenty- five of these, and he shares some of his experiences to illustrate the possibilities. I found this especially interesting.

Heiner also includes a short chapter on Alaska bears. This is one fisherman everyone needs to be aware of in bush Alaska. He provides a list of tips to minimize encounters. I have had my share of run-ins with these guys, so l especially appreciated this section.

I believe the real "nugget" in this book is the abundance of information about actual "trophy" fishing. Much of this fishing is done in the Bristol Bay drainages, but he also covers several western Alaska rivers, the Alaska Peninsula, Kodiak Island and southeast Alaska. He gives detailed information for each of these areas in seven separate chapters.

This book is probably not best suited for the guy who wants to fly fish near Alaska's road system. While that may seem like wilderness to some, you just can't get to real Alaska wilderness in a road vehicle. On the other hand, for the reader who is ready for a taste of real wilderness fishing, it would be hard to avoid being smitten with the desire to test this magnificent country after a read of Heiner's book.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: GETTING READY
1  Rods, reels, clothing and cameras
2  Fly lines and leaders
3  Fly patterns for Alaska
PART TWO: THE ALASKA EXPERIENCE
4  Bush planes and fly-outs
5  Weather permitting
6  Alaska's Fishing Lodges
7  Alaska's bears
PART THREE: WHERE TO GO
8  Anchorage Outbound
9  Iliamna Country
10 Katmai Land
11 Wood River-Tikchik Lakes Region
12 Western Alaska Rivers
13 The Alaska Peninsula
14 Kenai River Country
15 Kodiak Island and Southeast Alaska
PART FOUR: THE FISH AND THE FISHING
16 Catch and release
17 Rainbow trout
18 Alaska's steelhead
19 Arctic grayling
20 Dolly Varden and Arctic Char
21 Lake Trout
22 King of Salmon
23 Silver Salmon
24 Chums
25 Sockeye Salmon
26 Pink Salmon
27 Northern Pike
28 Sheefish
Appendix: Alaska's premiere rivers, lakes, and streams