The AK Chovey and fly pattern is used for Kings and Coho alike. This pattern captures the image and likeness of bait, favorites of both King Salmon and Coho Salmon in the salt Capelin, Herring, and Sand Lance all being common for King Salmon and Coho, the AK Chovey is a cool and easy pattern…
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Archives for June 2022
Deneki Chronicles: Clearing Line for Bonefish – 7 Tips
During one of the coldest, wettest, and windiest days of our season here in Western Alaska this week, we couldn’t help but let our minds wander toward the flats. Surprising, right? That got us to thinking, what’s the most overlooked facet of saltwater fly fishing that results in more fish lost or landed? We’d argue…
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Leader Length and Fly Weight
Today we continue our Alaska Guide Secrets series, in which you get the inside scoop direct from our guide crew at Alaska West. You’ve decided which fly to fish and maybe even which sinktip to use. Now you need to decide whether your leader should be 2 feet, 6 feet, or 12 feet long. Got…
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4 Traveling Tips for your Fly Fishing Trip to Alaska
In last year travel has been great, and has had its challenges. We all want to travel by air, boat, or whatever means necessary. We all want to go places. This year, many people will be coming to Alaska for the trip of a lifetime. Fish, hunt, see Denali, a bear or 2, and some…
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5 Fly Fishing Tips to Catch More King Salmon
We’re currently in the midst of our king salmon season on the Kanektok River at Alaska West and On the Nushagak River at Rapids Camp Lodge. These are not your normal king fisheries – we’re swinging flies for hot chrome fish just a few miles for the salt, and that really turns our crank! Needless to say,…
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RIO Flies We Like for Kings
It’s King Salmon season here in Alaska both on the Nushagak River and Kanektok River. As one of the most sought-after game fish in the world, King Salmon can be picky. With the help of our friend George Cook, we got some RIO flies that will do the trick. So here are a few flies…
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Deneki Chronicles: Swinging for Kings – The Broadside Presentation
This week it’s all about the Mighty King Salmon! Friend of Deneki, Stuart Foxall explains how the fly swims and what King Salmon sees makes a difference. We love swinging flies for anadromous fish, and we do a lot of it at our lodges in Alaska. However, swinging flies effectively often takes more than simply…
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Alaskan Gold: Arctic Char
One of the more sought-after fish in Alaska is the Arctic Char. Having many of the same attributes as both salmon and trout, fight like trout and get as large as the largest salmon, and look pretty doing it. Often confused with its cousin Dolly Varden because it takes close examination to tell the difference…
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Andros South Travel Update: No More Testing!
Thank Goodness! The Bahamas will remove the Health Visa for all travelers. In addition, if you are fully vaccinated, you are no longer testing is no longer required. In addition to eliminating the mandatory Bahamas Travel Health Visa, the Government of The Bahamas has announced that fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to submit to pre-travel COVID-19…
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4 Tips for Trout Fishing in Side Channels, Braids, and Small Tundra Creeks
We’re lucky at Alaska West Lodge and Rapids Camp Lodge to have incredibly abundant and healthy rainbow trout fishing. Mice, sculpins, leeches, flesh flies, beads, and smolt fly patterns are favorites at both locations. We use single- and two-handed, trout Spey rods. And we fish lots of different parts of our rivers, from the big main…
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