A while back we shared a video of fly tying great, Jerry French, giving the finer points of his Ultra Rig; his latest innovation in the world of trailer hook style fly patterns. We’re clearly not the only ones who see the potential in the Ultra Rig. In fact, the folks from The Portland Fly…
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Timeless Tips: Rub Your Fly in the Sand
So you’re out on some beautiful bonefish flat. You’ve thrown on a new leader designed perfectly for the flats. You’ve picked a fabulous bonefish fly. You’ve tied it on with a non-slip mono loop. You’re not done yet! Reach down onto the flat, grab a little handful of sand from the bottom, and rub your…
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BTT and TU Establish Lefty Kreh Conservation Memorial Fund
Two of our favorite conservation organizations, The Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) and Trout Unlimited (TU) have teemed up to establish a conservation fund in memory of legendary angler, instructor, writer, and conservationist, Bernard ‘Lefty’ Kreh, who passed earlier this year. According to BTT, the Lefty Kreh Memorial Conservation Fund will provide support to important…
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Fishpond Quikshot Rod Holder – Review
The opening day of our bonefishing season at Andros South Season is less than ten days away (ahem, but who’s counting, right?). That means our team is in the process of gearing up for those long walks on the flats, and we hope many of you are too. With that in mind, today we’re coming…
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Setting the Hook: No Windups
We’ve written a lot of posts on our blog over the years on properly setting the hook on everything from bonefish and permit to king salmon, steelhead, and trout. That’s because the brief moment following the instant a fish grabs a fly is arguably the most critical to eventually bringing the fish to hand. Depending…
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Happy Hump Day
It’s hump day, and every now and then we like to celebrate by paying homage to one of the most under-appreciated and oft-forgotten species that frequent our waters at Alaska West; the almighty humpy, aka the pink salmon. Why? Because pinks are fun! They’re aggressive, they look really cool, they smash surface flies, they’re a requirement…
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Timeless Tips: 3 Uses for Opposing Wader Straps
Ever wonder why the buckles on your wader straps are opposite, male buckle on one strap and female buckle on the other? Most wader companies today incorporate this feature into their wader straps for good reason, its super handy! Odds are you may have found a use or two for the opposing buckles on your…
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Guide Poll: Favorite Fishing Layers
Those who live a life outside know that proper apparel is far more than just ‘clothing..’ It’s gear. Choosing the right layers is important to staying safe and comfortable on the water, and arguably no one understands this more than Alaska fishing guides. That’s why we asked out team of professional Alaska fly fishing guides…
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Jerry French on Tying the ‘Ultra Rig’ – Video
Earlier this year we expressed our excitement about Alaska West alum, Jerry French’s latest steelhead pattern; the Ultra Squid. Why were we so excited? Because the pattern was the first on the market to utilize Jerry’s Ultra Rig; quite possibly the most innovative idea for trailer hook style flies we’ve seen since, well, trailer hooks!…
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Spey Casting: Overhang and Tip, Head, and Rod Length
Last week we presented you with an informative write-up from our pal Stuart Foxall on the importance of adjusting the amount of overhang, an often overlooked principle in modern spey casting, depending on different variables such as wading depth, wind, obstructions, and so on. If you missed it, be sure to check it out by…
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