Perhaps more than any other fly, the Clouser fly pattern has been tweaked, tuned, and modified to fit a multifarious of freshwater and saltwater fisheries. The original Clouser by Tom Schmuecker and Bob Clouser, designed to run deeper in water, the Deneki’s Coho Clouser was modified with that in mind but for Coho Salmon, to…
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Rapids Camp
Deneki Chronicles: Trout Fishing-Hold On To Your Hook Set
Today we present you with a simple tip that we’ve seen learned the hard way on, not one, but many heartbreaking occasions. When fishing for trout, particularly when fishing sub-surface flies from a drifting boat, most successful anglers agree that the most effective method of hooking fish on flies you can’t see is by setting…
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Rapids Camp Lodge: Comfort & Adventure
If you’re planning on visiting Alaska during the 2021 fishing season, Rapids Camp Lodge is a perfect balance of comfort and adventure, nestled in the heart of Bristol Bay and is THE place for your Alaska Fishing Adventure. With a “rigidly flexible” fishing program, Rapids Camp Lodge provides a variety of fishing adventures. Tundra creek…
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Fly Tying: Rainbow Warrior
The days are getting longer, the sun is brighter and more intense, and the thaw freeze cycle puts our wipers to the test. All good signs that spring is coming upon us. As the rivers and streams begin to increase their flow, we can’t help but think about spring fishing, especially after a long dark…
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Save Bristol Bay Update: Appeals
In case you haven’t noticed, They’re at it again. Currently, there is activity around Bristol Bay and Pebble Mine. Despite the denied permits by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, there is a continued push to move forward with developing a mine in Bristol Bay. Recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has accepted an…
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The Fishing Work Out
“It’s just fishing.” Nothing is more insulting to an Alaskan fly-out fishing guide than this Napoleonic statement. Commonly said by ne’er-do-well non-anglers who regard fly fishing as something more of a hobbyist activity rather than a trade skill used for gainful employment. My typical response to such statements is to politely issue a challenge to…
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The Opening of the Hangar
The beginning of each Alaska season has many landmark events. Such as, splashing the boats or opening the lodge doors for the first time in 8 months (which can be scary). At Rapids Camp, one of my favorite landmark days during set up is the opening of the hangar. It’s the day that the airplanes…
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Fly Tying: Flashy Tube Bandit
The month of August in Alaska is a special time of year. The salmon have made their way through the rivers and have begun their prescribed order to spawn much to the delight of the eager Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Fly Anglers alike. While egg patterns tempt trout during this time, it is still…
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Gear Review: Redington Chromer Spey Rod
At the time of the review (fall of 2020), the Redington Chromer rod was available. Since then, Redington had discontinued the Chromer and has replaced it with the Claymore. According to Industry experts, the Claymore is an updated version of the Chromer with minor changes to some details and aesthetics, but the build and essence…
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Fly Tying: Partridge & Orange Soft Hackle
Soft Hackles are a forgotten and underrated fly pattern in Alaska. They shouldn’t be. Soft hackles are divided into two categories; Buzz flies, which are tied with palmered hackle to represent an insect in motion, or winged flies, where the hackles are often a throat then a collar with wings set to imitate an insect…
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