One of the major advantageous of spey casting, as well as a defining characteristic of what a spey cast actually is, is the ability to change directions in a single (or at least minimal) motion. The ability to pick a fly up from a downstream position and move it to the center of the river…
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Rapids Camp
King Salmon Can’t Jump
King salmon on our home river at Alaska West are known for many things; blistering runs, breaking gear, being unusually aggressive towards swung flies.. However, while earning a reputation for one of the hardest fighting fish in freshwater, they’re also known for spending the majority of that fight under the surface of the water. Well,…
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Hareline Ripple Ice Fiber – Why We Like It
Every now and then a fly tying material hits the market that seems to make waves amongst our guide staff of ultra-nerdy and ultra-talented fly tyers. Lately, we’ve fallen in love with Hareline’s Ripple Ice Fiber. We’ve been incorporating it more and more into our salmon and steelhead flies, we really dig it, so in…
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Alaska Silver Salmon Flies – Our Favorites (Updated)
Our summer seasons in Alaska and British Columbia might be winding down but that doesn’t mean our massive run of silver salmon has! In fact, our silvers actually continue to push long after the end of our season. We have a feeling that might the case in your neck of the woods too, so whether…
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Spey Casting – Casting Plane and Wading Depth
Have you ever started off a day feeling great about your cast only to change runs and have it seemingly all fall apart? You’re blowing your anchor, failing to get your D-loop elevated off of the surface of water, or any other of the myriad of things that can go on while spey casting.. We…
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Pro Tip: Stripping Flies – Force the Rod Tip Down
Whether you’re stripping flies for salmon, trout, or bonefish, when fishing streamers the name of the game is action. The more action you’re able to impose onto your fly, or better yet, the more control you’re able to have over the action of your fly, odds are the more effective your fly is able to…
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When to Set the Hook When Swinging Flies – North 40 Video
When swinging flies for salmon and steelhead, one of the most common faults we see on a regular basis from our anglers is setting the hook too early. In most avenues of fly fishing (trout, bass, bonefish, you name it), setting the hook quickly is critical in order to establish tension and ensure a solid…
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Guide Poll: Most Common Advice Given on the Water
We’re back with another installment of our ‘guide poll‘ series of posts where our team of professional guides answer common questions asked by our readers. Today’s question; As a fly fishing guide, what’s the most common piece of advice you find yourself giving to anglers on a daily basis? Check out their answers below! Guide Poll:…
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Trout Eating Your Indicator? Fish Neutral Colors
Whether dead drifting traditional nymphs along the bottom of your local trout stream or bouncing salmon flesh/egg imitations down a run in Western Alaska, the technique of nymphing (i.e. dead-drifting subsurface flies to feeding fish) is without a doubt one of the most effective methods for catching trout in moving water. Moreover, when nymphing for…
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Aqua Flies Intruder Eyes
When it comes to commercial spey/swing style fly patterns (i.e. those that you can pick up at your local fly shop), one manufacturer in particular has been standing out amongst the crowd; Aqua Flies. We’ve been pointing anglers bound for our lodges in Alaska and British Columbia towards Aqua Flies for years. Why? Aside from…
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