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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Rapids Camp
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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The Bristol Bay Experience: Rapids Camp Lodge
You don’t need to look any farther than Bristol Bay if you’re planning the fishing experience of a lifetime. Replete with comfortable lodging, delectable meals, knowledgeable guides, and, above all, excellent fishing. It makes sense to choose Bristol Bay as the location of your fly fishing experience of a lifetime. At Rapids Camp Lodge we…
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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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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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Alaskan Gold: Arctic Char
One of the more sought-after fish in Alaska is the Arctic Char. Having many of the same attributes as both salmon and trout, fight like trout and get as large as the largest salmon, and look pretty doing it. Often confused with its cousin Dolly Varden because it takes close examination to tell the difference…
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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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Deneki Chronicles: 19 Reasons to Fish a Mouse Fly
In This Week’s Deneki Chronicles, it’s trout week and we’re looking back at what the trout have been and continually gorge on. It’s no secret how much we love fishing mouse patterns for big Alaskan rainbow trout. We do a lot of it, and, as odd as it may sound, it is our most productive…
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Leopards and Mice: Alaska Rainbow Trout
What is a leopard rainbow trout? Is it a rainbow trout that has spots like a leopard? Yes. Is it because they are as aggressive and voracious as a leopard? Yes. Throughout the state of Alaska, rainbow trout here are different from other trout in North America. Hungry, predatory, and aggressive, these are rainbow trout…
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