Alaska's salmon season is relentless. Whether you're running a set net site on the Naknek, picking sockeye on a Bristol Bay drifter, or processing fish at a hatchery in Southeast — you're going to get wet. The question isn't whether your raingear will be tested. It's whether it'll hold up when it is.

The Alaskan commercial fishing industry has been hard on raingear for generations. Grundéns built its reputation here. Guy Cotten earns its stripes here. The fishermen who work these waters know immediately if a jacket or pair of bibs isn't up to the job — and they talk. This guide covers what to look for, what to avoid, and which Stormline gear we'd put on deck in Alaska.

Why PVC Raingear Is the Standard in Alaska Commercial Fishing

There's a reason PVC jackets and bibs dominate the decks of Bristol Bay driftnetters and Southeast Alaska seiners, season after season. Breathable membranes are engineered for hikers and recreationists — people who need moisture to escape from the inside out during sustained aerobic activity. Commercial fishermen need something different.

On deck during a salmon opener, you're dealing with rain from above, sea spray and deck wash from below, and fish slime, blood, and oils from every direction. Breathable membranes — even good ones — struggle to remain fully waterproof when coated in fish oils and subjected to the constant abrasion of net work, gear handling, and rail contact. The membrane clogs, the DWR fails, and by mid-season you're wet.

PVC doesn't breathe — that's the trade-off. But it also doesn't fail. A good PVC jacket and bibs, properly maintained, will keep you dry through multiple Alaska seasons, hose off cleanly after every set, and resist the oils and organic matter that commercial fishing produces in quantity. For hatchery workers who spend entire shifts bending over raceways in constant water contact, the case for PVC is even stronger.

Alaska Salmon Fishing: What Your Raingear Is Up Against

Alaska isn't one place, and salmon fishing isn't one job. The conditions vary considerably across the state's major salmon fisheries — and your raingear needs to match the specific demands of where you're working.

What to Look for in Alaska Fishing Raingear

Full waterproofing — not water resistance

This distinction matters more in Alaska than almost anywhere else. Water-resistant gear — including many jackets marketed for fishing — will wet out under sustained rain or deck wash. You need fully waterproof PVC or a welded-seam alternative. Check that seams are taped or sealed, not just stitched — stitched seams will leak.

Oil and fish slime resistance

Salmon produce a significant amount of slime and oil, and both will degrade raingear over time if the fabric isn't resistant. PVC with a PU coating — like the Stormtex Air range — is inherently oil resistant, which extends the life of the garment and makes hosing off at the end of a set straightforward. This is a critical spec for hatchery workers especially, where fish oils accumulate fast.

Freedom of movement

Traditional heavy PVC raingear — the Grundéns Herkules style — is completely waterproof but stiff and restrictive. During the frantic pace of a Bristol Bay opener, when you're picking fish over the rail for hours at a stretch, that stiffness costs you. Stretch PVC construction gives you the full waterproofing of traditional PVC with significantly more arm and shoulder movement. The difference between a standard cut and a raglan sleeve construction is noticeable within the first hour on deck.

A hood that works with a hard hat or helmet

Many Alaska commercial fishermen wear hard hats or bump caps on deck. A hood that won't fit over headgear is a hood you won't use — which means a wet head and neck when conditions deteriorate. Look for a fully adjustable hood with enough volume to fit over a hard hat, with a drawcord that can be cinched down to seal out spray.

Industrial suspenders on the bibs

Bib suspenders take a beating on deck. Thin elastic suspenders that work fine in a store will stretch out, slip off your shoulders, or fail at the clips within a season of real deck work. Wide suspenders — 38mm or better — with industrial-grade clips that can be adjusted with gloves on are what working fishermen need. A back divider that keeps the suspenders from digging into your spine during long shifts is an underrated detail that makes a real difference by the end of a watch.

Our Recommendations for Alaska Salmon Fishing

Stormline has been making commercial fishing raingear since 1966 — the same era Grundéns was establishing its reputation on Alaskan decks. The Stormtex Air range is our recommendation for Alaska salmon fishing and hatchery work: stretch PVC construction built for active deck use, with the details that commercial fishermen actually need.

Deck Work vs. Hatchery Work: Same Gear, Different Priorities

The 203 jacket and 652 bibs work well in both environments, but the way you use them differs between deck work and hatchery operations.

Sizing for Alaska: Leave Room to Layer

Alaska's salmon season runs from late May through September depending on the fishery, and temperatures vary enormously — from 70°F summer days in Bristol Bay to cold, wet 45°F conditions in Southeast. Your raingear needs to work as an outer shell over whatever base and mid layers the day demands.

Size up at least one size from your normal sizing — two if you run cold or are fishing Southeast in early season. A raingear jacket that fits perfectly over a t-shirt will be too restrictive over a mid-layer fleece, and on a cold rainy day in Prince William Sound you'll want that fleece. The raglan sleeve construction on the 203 helps significantly here — it accommodates layers without the shoulder restriction you get with a standard set-in sleeve.

The 652 bibs' adjustable 38mm suspenders and elastic waist mean the fit can be dialled in regardless of what you're wearing underneath, which matters when you're switching between base-layer-only days and full thermal mid-layer days across a long season.