Deneki Chronicles is an archive of past blog posts that are still relevant, effective, or funny. We don’t have a lot of funny ones. This post is a classic from one from Alaska West Lodge Jerry French. Today we present you with some rigging wizardry courtesy of Alaska West guide, Jerry French. You may recognize…
Read More
Alaska West
Leader Building 101: Rapids Camp Edition
From our Head Guide at Rapids Camp Lodge Chad Bryson drops some great tips on building leaders. Since it’s coming from Chad…I’d take it to heart. Enjoy! There are probably as many different opinions about how to build the perfect Alaska fly fishing leader as there are opinions on the perfect Alaska fly rod. So…
Read More
Guide Tip: Don’t Be A Watcher
Today’s post comes from our Head Guide at Rapids Camp Lodge Chad Bryson. Thank you for your contribution Chad! Countless times during my career I have witnessed fly rods break. Occasionally, it is due truly to a manufacturing defect. Occasionally. Most of the time it is complete operator error in some capacity. No matter if…
Read More
Don Leydon’s “Fisherman’s Friend” Tool
Over the years Alaska West has had many memorable guests who have become woven into the fabric of our lodge. Don Leydon is surely one of them. For years his gifts to Alaska West have hung in our lounge and dining tents as reminders of our past. One of the pictures shows “Salmon Camp” in…
Read More
Hooks When Swinging for Kings
When our guides at Alaska West are fishing the Kanektok one thing you will notice is the constant adjustments that they make to an angler’s fishing setup. Most of the time those adjustments are things like switching tips on Spey setups or working on leaders and changing flies. One thing not so obvious is the…
Read More
Deneki Chronicles: Sight Fishing for Trout
We’re really lucky to have an extremely diverse trout fishery at Alaska West. It’s not uncommon during any part of our season to catch trout by swinging flies, stripping streamers, dead drifting sub-surface patterns, or skating mouse flies on top. However, one of our favorite ways to target big leopard rainbows is by sight fishing…
Read More
A Great Traveling Pair
Destination angling is where we hang our hat here at Deneki Outdoors, we are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to operate in two very different fisheries in the Northern Hemisphere. With such a large variety of species to target, it’s important to have rods that will hold up to the task and perform under…
Read More
Aquatic Insects in Alaska
The saying is, ‘everything is bigger in Alaska’. This also includes bugs. For example, the giant water bug (lethocerus americanus) found in Southeastern Alaska can grow up to 2.5 inches in length. That’s a big bug. From the Arctic tundra to the Southeastern panhandle, aquatic insects exist throughout Alaskan waters and play a large role in the ecosystem. As fly anglers, it’s prudent…
Read More
Fly Tying: Mini Krystal Shrimp
Originator: Dave Stanley. Photos and Instruction by Mike Brown. Mike Brown is the owner of Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage, AK. A lifelong Alaskan with a passion for family, fly fishing and fly tying. There is always going to be a huge debate amongst Sockeye fishermen whether Sockeye (Red) Salmon will eat a fly or…
Read More
Deneki Chronicles: Spey Fishing – Finish Your Swing with Some Action
Here’s a scenario that most two-handed anglers can relate to; You’ve made a nice cast to the opposite bank, kicked over a big mend, and stepped down the run setting up your swing to perfection. Your fly tracks through the gut of the run at that magical speed at what you’re confident in the perfect…
Read More