We start today with a special note to the more than 4,000 of you who read our posts in newsletter format. First – thanks for subscribing! Second – today you’re going to want to click here to view this post on our web site. It’s mainly made up of embedded videos that you won’t see…
Read More
Alaska West
Rotate Your Rod – Shooting Line
Last week we passed on a tip related to making longer spey casts with shooting heads – holding your loops in your top hand. For those of you who like to huck, we’re following that up today with another tidbit that helps with easier casts at longer distances. This one comes from the world of…
Read More
Alaska West Fishing Report: July 22 – 29
Week 7 was met with great anticipation as some wonderful long time guests returned once again for another week of salmon slaying. Steve Ward and Bobbie Brown brought the kids Finn and Wren back for their third trip in as many years. Steve also brought his oldest son Nate, brother-in-law Andy Folsom and niece Hopie Hitchcock to join…
Read More
Pinch Loops in Your Top Hand
Your fearless editor spent last week fishing two-handed rods for steelhead and chinook salmon at BC West on the Dean River. We had a stellar group of folks at the lodge, including Michael White, Simms and Idylwilde rep for the Southern Rockies. Whitey gave up another nice spey casting tip during the week, and we…
Read More
Alaska West Fishing Report: July 15 – 22
The story for week 6 was that the kings just kept coming in! Normally this week is known as a great Grand Slam week, but this year it turned out to be a very good week for kings. This week we welcomed people from as close as Anchorage and as far away as New Zealand. Vince Moores and…
Read More
Just Another Slab of a Trout
More on Alaskan Rainbow Trout Spey Fishing for Trout – Why 5 Reasons We Love Arolik Rainbows Mr. Hankey Produces
Rainbow Trout Flies – 5 Favorites for Alaska
As we mentioned on Friday, it’s trout time at Alaska West. Late July trout fishing rocks! If you’re headed to Alaska West to chase our legendary leopard rainbows, here are 5 flies that we think you should bring along. Idylwilde makes some pretty awesome trout flies – these are all available from your local Idylwilde…
Read More
Alaska West Fishing Report: July 8 – 15
With three father and son pairs joining us during week 5 of the season it felt like family week. Chuck and Charlie Domenici joined us again. It was great to see Charlie after a few years away and he’s still getting it done. John Russell and sons Eric and Andy also joined us again, and quickly got…
Read More
Trout Time
We have pretty darned consistent trout fishing throughout our three months of operation at Alaska West – these fish are here all season long and when it’s summer, they’ve got to eat well. But mid-July is right smack in the middle of our season, and right smack in the middle of our great trout fishing….
Read More
Leaders for Steelhead and Salmon
We’ve got some more insight today from the banks of the Dean River. Scott Baker-McGarva, head guide at BC West, dropped us some great points on leaders. That thing that holds your fly on may be worthy of a little more thought! Leader Considerations for Anadromous Fish Sometimes it’s shocking how much emphasis is placed…
Read More