Raingear for Alaska

Buzzy

Buzzy

I prefer to call them strike indicators.
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I'm heading to Alaska September 10th and am still acquiring a few necessities. I'll be wade fishing so my 'rain gear' question is limited to jacket outerwear. A friend of mine just got back from Cordova where I guess the rain came down horizontally and was very heavy. He told me to leave the Goretex at home and wear PVC coated Grundens (or equal). I have a very heavy (literally) PVC coated jacket that certainly stops rain but with a 40 pound luggage limit the jacket contributes bulk and weight.

You experienced Alaska anglers, can you please provide sage advice?
 
I have both…if your doing a bit of wade fishing with some decent walking/hiking, bring the Gortex…otherwise I’d bring the Gortex…
 
Take a look at this Patagonia (non-)PVC jacket that is half the weight of PVC. It got mixed reviews because of the lack of pockets, but it might be worth packing this for torrential rain and possibly also a lightweight breathable rain jacket for normal rain or use as a windproof layer. Oh, it’s also on sale.

www.patagonia.com

Patagonia Hose-Down Slicker Jacket

Our Patagonia® Hose-Down Slicker Jacket is built with 100% waterproof recycled nylon for industrial-strength protection from the wettest, muckiest jobs.
www.patagonia.com www.patagonia.com

If you won’t be busting through brush, you could also bring a disposable vinyl rain jacket to wear over your GoreTex when it gets really nasty. Just throw in a small bit of waterproof tape in case you rip it.
 
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Freestone said:
Take a look at this Patagonia (non-)PVC jacket that is half the weight of PVC. It got mixed reviews because of the lack of pockets, but it might be worth packing this for torrential rain and possibly also a lightweight breathable jacket for normal rain or use as a windproof layer. Oh, it’s also on sale.

www.patagonia.com

Patagonia Hose-Down Slicker Jacket

Our Patagonia® Hose-Down Slicker Jacket is built with 100% waterproof recycled nylon for industrial-strength protection from the wettest, muckiest jobs.
www.patagonia.com www.patagonia.com

If you won’t be busting through brush, you could also bring a disposable vinyl rain jacket to wear over your GoreTex when it gets really nasty. Just throw in a small bit of waterproof tape in case you rip it.
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Thanks, Sue! I saw those and wondered. Busting through brush? I don't know really what to expect. Part of the time we'll be wading the salt and part of the time river wading. I had planned to take my pant style waders but have changed my mind and will be taking chest waders.
 
If you have a good Gortex rain jacket already, I'd just t freshen up the thing with revive x or another of the water repllent sprays used fot doing so.
Everyone has an opinion on which one works best, wash in, dry in, spray on etc. ...so no recs on that but fishing in a heavy pvc jacket all day is no bueno for me.
A very light shell over your gortex would probably be fine for worse case scenario rains.
 
Mossback said:
If you have a good Gortex rain jacket already, I'd just t freshen up the thing with revive x or another of the water repllent sprays used fot doing so.
Everyone has an opinion on which one works best, wash in, dry in, spray on etc. ...so no recs on that but fishing in a heavy pvc jacket all day is no bueno for me.
A very light shell over your gortex would probably be fine for worse case scenario rains.
Click to expand...
Thanks Mossback -
I use the big heavy pvc coated jacket in BC when fishing from my pram; it's very heavy, not particularly comfortable but it certainly sheds rain all day long. The two guys I make the annual trip to BC with both wear Cabelas "Guidewear"; they're jackets are old and now leak (I don't think either of them has ever used revive-x on their jackets).
 
Grundens do make a lighter weight rain slicker. I have one of their pull overs I like to pack with me.

I do prefer Goretex, but, there are just times waterproof trumps waterproof/breathable.
 
Make sure your Goretex has covered zippers on chest and pits. If it doesn’t they’re worthless for the trip. 3 layer only none of the 2 or 2.5 layer “paclite” Goretex stuff for AK.
 
I had a Helley Hansen lightweight rain jacket I used in AK and it held up just fine against some major dumps. It was not gortex, not sure of material as HH claims to have/had their own proprietary material. This jacket was from the 90’s tho. It held up for many years and then it quickly became a sponge. I prefer gortex today and have a Marmot Midweight, but not the greatest fishing jacket.

But yes staying dry and keeping your tent/clothes dry as possible is a must. Keep the inside of your waders dry…. Hanging or drop on ground keep the opening from receiving any water/rain.
 
In Alaska, they're drunk in a bar when it rains, so how would they even know ?
;)
 
I spent days in pouring rain traveling the Alcan on a bicycle. My goretex worked fine. Equally important is what you have under it. I wore mostly Patagonia Capilene, some other synthetics, light wool, and not a stitch of cotton.
 
As an Alaskan who lives/works/plays in the rainforest and is in waders/raingear more days than not - my advice is to go with goretex, for a couple reasons. PVC raingear is great if you are standing still or it is in the 30s...any warmer, or with any exertion, and it will be wetter on the inside than outside. The other knock on PVC jackets for fishing is the cuffs usually suck, and any time your hand gets higher than your elbow (casting, anyone?), all the water runs down the inside of the jacket. Most PVC jackets are fairly bright colored, and if you are fishing deep saltwater or semi-glacial water that is ok...if you are fishing a small creek and look like a day-glo road cone, your fishing results may be less than satisfactory.

Wash yer goretex in some rejuvenator, add another coat of dwr, and you'll be fine.
 
G_Smolt said:
As an Alaskan who lives/works/plays in the rainforest and is in waders/raingear more days than not - my advice is to go with goretex, for a couple reasons. PVC raingear is great if you are standing still or it is in the 30s...any warmer, or with any exertion, and it will be wetter on the inside than outside. The other knock on PVC jackets for fishing is the cuffs usually suck, and any time your hand gets higher than your elbow (casting, anyone?), all the water runs down the inside of the jacket. Most PVC jackets are fairly bright colored, and if you are fishing deep saltwater or semi-glacial water that is ok...if you are fishing a small creek and look like a day-glo road cone, your fishing results may be less than satisfactory.

Wash yer goretex in some rejuvenator, add another coat of dwr, and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
I was hoping you'd weigh in! Merci'!
 
Used to work on a boat all summer for many summers and the jackets that keep you dry are made out PVC or polyurethane, i.e Helly Hansen, Grundens. A very good and expensive 3 layer goretex jacket will work if it is clean but will wet out eventually in heavy downpours. I would bring your gortex in case the weather is good and go to a commercial fishing store and purchase a waterproof PVC or polyurethane jacket. Don't forget about whether you want a hood or not. Hood is good but you loose peripheral vision and need to wear a baseball cap to keep the hood from sliding down in front of you face (bring several ball caps so you always have a dry one). Hope for cool/cold days when you are wearing the heavy rain jacket.
 
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