Catching rainbow trout at Alaska West is not all that difficult – in fact, it’s easy to catch ‘some.’ That being said, great anglers catch more, and great anglers catch the bigger ones. Here are five ways you can make yourself into a ‘greater’ trout angler in our part of the world. Mend less. Our…
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Alaska West
Earth Day 2022
The Earth is what we all have in common. Wendell Berry, novelist Happy Earth Day to you. Apparently, a good planet is hard to find. Just ask NASA, Elon, and Jeff. By now, you should know all the little things you can do to take care of our planet. If you don’t contact us, we’ll…
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“I want To Bring Only One Fly Rod to Fish Alaska. What should I bring?”
During the summer, Alaska is a hotbed of fly anglers. Many are new to Alaska and have only fished with a five-weight in spring creeks and tailwaters of many incredible streams and rivers in the lower Forty-Eight. One question we get a lot about coming to Alaska for fly fishing is, “if I were only…
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Fly Tying: Llewych (Gleamer)
Recently I was asked to do a magazine article for Trout & Salmon magazine in the UK. I had to write it about a “sea trout” (sea-run brown trout) pattern and I could think of none better to ask than Sean Thomas in Wales. He gave me one of his nighttime patterns that he calls…
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Guide’s Corner: Alaska West – Chris Childs
With the distinguished list of guide alumni, guiding at Alaska West Lodge is almost a rite of passage for any fly fishing guide. Many awesome guides have come through Alaska West. Many innovations have come from Guides at Alaska West. More importantly, Alaska West guides have a great reputation for putting guests in situations that…
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Fly Tying: Fish-Skull Skulpin Bunny
Sculpin patterns are a go-to when it comes to trout. Dead drift or a slow strip imitating a sculpin swim, sculpin style patterns are effective in rivers worldwide. Normally fished close to the bottom, the Fish-Skull Skulpin Bunny goes down and gets down fast to where the fish are, thanks to the Fish-Skull Sculpin Helmet….
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Deneki Chronicles: Spey Casting and Current Speed
Be mindful of your feelings. When determining which Spey cast to use in a given situation, most experienced Spey anglers take into account three primary variables; wind direction (upstream wind, downstream wind, etc.), river position (which side of the river you’re casting from), and obstacles (trees, rocks, banks, or other obstructions that limit your casting…
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Positive Externalities at Alaska West Lodge
Year after year, Alaska West Lodge has been one of the most coveted Fly Angling fishing experiences in the world. In June, King Salmon is the big draw. Fly anglers from around the world emote come every year to experience the challenge of catching a King Salmon on the awesome Kanektok River. In July, the…
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The Pre Season Fly Fishing Equipment Check
Spring has arrived across the country, and many of us are anxious to get out and enjoy some fishing with the sun on our faces and ice-free fly rod guides before long. But before you get too ambitious, spring is a great time to ring in the new season by making sure your fly fishing…
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Fly Tying: Bling Fry
Today’s Tie comes to us from Kevin Foley. Kevin is a scientist, fly angler, fly tier, and drinker of dark beers. Kevin’s philosophy on tying flies involves using natural and synthetic materials to create the illusion of life. As a scientist, Kevin believes observation and time on the water are just as important as spending…
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