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I had the good fortune to guide up in AK for 8 summers in another life. Keep mind that there are a few rivers in AK where you can fish "real" flies, like big Wulffs and Humpys, and you can also fish dropper-dry. I think the Copper is one of those rivers. Check with the lodge you are with and see if the fish will be looking up at bugs. Where there are hatches the dry-fly fishing tends to be more of a June deal but it's worth checking.

Time of year plays a big role in what flies are working. Early season, sculpins are usually the ticket. Once the Kings get on their redds by mid-august, the big bows get in behind the kings and gorge on eggs. A size 6 or 8 clown egg is pretty hard to beat. Depending on water levels, the kings will start to croak mid-august, with the chums starting to take their place for an egg supply. If there is enough flesh in the system, a #8 flesh fly or cotton candy can be pretty deadly. If the socks are spawning you will want some smaller flies, perhaps about 6 mm and coral-colored beads with a white swirl can be about as good as they can get. Of course there is the ubiquitous egg sucking leech, in purple or olive, that will catch any specie of alaskan gamefish, you should take some of those. Articulated leeches in black, purple and hot orange and sculpins in black and olive will work all year but I would argue that in mid to late August the egg should be at least equally as productive, unless the King run was a total bust.

The drawback with the eggs and flesh is they fish best under an indicator. If you don't like fishing bobbers and lead, then consider fishing streamers and dries. You might not catch quite so many fish but you might enjoy it more. If you like chucking junk then go for it you will be in heaven.

Another fly you should bring is a mouse. They are a lot of fun. Fish it dead drift, like a humpy. It works better to dead drift them than skit them across the surface. If the fish are on them you can catch some nice ones.

Do not use regular "trout" tippet in AK like you would use in the lower '48. The fish generally don't care. Use 8 lb maxima, clear or ultragreen, for eggs and such, and if you're fishing leeches or mice, use 12 lb. You can use 15 or 20 lb but then you risk losing a fly line as 15 lb maxima is stronger than 20 lb micron backing. For dry flies like humpies and wulffs 2x or 3x tippet is fine, or 6 lb ultragreen.

Have a good time,

-John

It's on the Kvichack although I bet you'll probably fly out to some other streams that feed the Illiamna like Talarik creek or maybe the upper Nusugak or Mulchatna. Regardless, the advice I gave above holds, except that the kings will be long gone and I would be surprised if you have any dry fly fishing other than mice. Fly selections are pretty simple up there. It's a matter of deciding how you'll fish (on the swing, under a bobber, or on top with mice) and then going for it.

The no-see-ums can be pretty bad in September so can the rain. Bring some DEET (don't need 100% it's bad for you and fly line 25% or 40% formulas work fine) and a serious waterproof jacket.

Have a good time,

-John

16pmd that is great advice. On the Kvichak you could hook a 34" rainbow...then what would you do? An 8-wt graphite rod is not too big of a rod if trophy rainbows and silvers are lurking. That being said, I have landed a Silver on a 4-wt Scott glass rod fishing for pinks, so you do what you have to when the situation arises. Oh to have such troubles!!!