Paperback - 160 pages Spiral edition (October 1991) Johnson Books; ISBN: 1555660878 Dimensions (in inches): 0.74 x 9.02 x 6.41 Color & B&W photos 188 pgs 

(Review by Dwight Phillips) "Matching the hatch" takes on a whole new meaning as the lower 48 angler travels to Alaska.  As you plan what may be a once-in-a-lifetime trek to this beautiful state, first pick up a copy of Anthony Route's, "Flies For Alaska." I believe if you've either bought or tied an arsenal of at least several of his recommended patterns you're almost guaranteed not to go fishless. This is the companion book to the popular "Flyfishing Alaska," also by Route.

Mr. Route lives in Anchorage and makes his living as a writer and photographer where he also is teaching flyfishing at the University of Alaska. This book contains 46 proven flies based on his experience gleaned over the years of fly fishing Alaska's many rivers, lakes and saltwater. You will find his writing style to be entertaining as well as informative.

I've personally used many of Route's patterns in my 18 years of fly fishing Alaska's interior. Some of these patterns are simple yet extremely effective. I spend many of my long Alaskan winter nights restocking my boxes with these drys, nymphs, streamers and egg patterns.

Much of my fishing is for Arctic Grayling. In one of his chapters Route describes a particular fly as being irresistible to grayling. "Worth a try," l thought, as I tied up a half dozen. A week later as I was fishing a Denali highway area lake with a local guide, l could see some healthy spring ice-out grayling cruising the depths. To shorten a long story, one after another 18"+ fish inhaled the flies as they descended to the bottom. The knowledge of just that one deadly fly was enough to justify this book for me.

Route has included information on the latest synthetic materials proven to be very effective on Alaska's salmon.  For the Alaskan angler many of the materials employed in these flies can be readily obtained from local animals such as moose, grouse and rabbit.  These patterns should also be available from a local Alaska fly shop or your favorite fly catalog.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Eggs to Flesh
Chapter 2 Flash and Fluorescence
Chapter 3 Subsurface Uglies
Chapter 4 A Streamer Selection
Chapter 5 Topwater Model
Chapter 6 Stillwater Specialties

Appendix A Saltwater Flies