For many of us winter means fly tying season, and last week we shared with you 5 tips for tying neater/tidier looking flies. Missed it? Not to worry, hit the link to read it right now! Knowing that Old Man Winter might keep you off the water for a couple more months, we figured we’d…
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Alaska West
Deneki Chronicles: Tying Neater Flies – 5 Tips
It’s been said that flies catch fly tyers, not fish. Odds are most fish don’t notice that the head of the fly is a little on the bulky side, or that your wraps are not as even as they could be. That said, a well-tied, tidy-looking fly muster confidence, and having confidence in the fly you…
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Independence Day 2022
I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true. wendell wilkie We are with you Wendell. Fly fishing is awesome and we are grateful every time we get to do it, or at least we should be. America is beautiful, and fly fishing…
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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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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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Fly Tying: Ultra Rig Mini Llama
The Dolly Llama might as well be called the “Fly of Alaska.” It has earned the reputation as the most effective fly in Alaska. Contrast, profile, and movement are essential qualities that make it very effective for trout. All that said, it is not the easiest fly to cast because of its weight. With Two-handed…
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