At Alaska West, we’re lucky to be able to target fish in a whole bunch of different ways; from swinging flies on foot, to walking smaller side channels, to rowing our jet sleds in traditional ‘drift boat’ fashion. Sometimes, when fishing for aggressive ‘podded up’ species like silver salmon, fishing from a fixed position makes…
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Rapids Camp
Fly Fishing Stocking Stuffers
Christmas is right around the corner, and while there are many great holiday gift guides out there, what about the stocking stuffers? Fly rods don’t fit too well in a stocking, so to help you out this holiday season, today we present you with 15 inexpensive stocking stuffer ideas for the angler on your list….
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The Not-So-Secret Secret to Catching More Trout
Want the secret to catching more trout? Here it is – Show your fly to as many fish as possible. Okay, we all know there’s more to it than that, but if there’s one universal truth in fly fishing it’s this; the more fish that see your fly, the more fish you’re going to catch. Period….
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Popular Posts on Winter Fly Fishing
We might be hiding out in the Bahamas, but that doesn’t mean our hats aren’t off to all of you out there planning to get after it this winter. Winter will be here before you know it, and while it might not fit the description of perfect fishing conditions, fly fishing in the winter can…
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Stuart Foxall on Tying Trailer Hook Loops
Trailer hook style flies have become extremely popular for salmon and steelhead for a number of reasons. They allow dull hooks to be changed, reduce the the number of ‘short’ strikes, and allow large profile flies (i.e. intruders, leeches, and so on) to be tied with shorter shanked hooks for better holding power. However, when tying…
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We Love Our Trout
It’s been a while since we showed some love for our leopard rainbow trout, so today we’re coming at you with nothing but a cool photo of one of our favorite fish from Alaska West. Go ahead, try to count the spots. More on Trout Fishing Fishing Techniques for Western Alaska Trout How to Fish…
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The Shot-Gun: Split Shot Alternative
Every once in a while, a product comes around that changes the way we think about fly fishing tackle. The ‘Shot-Gun’ is one of those products. The Shot-Gun is a fishing sinker device that replaces the use of conventional split shot. We were really impressed when we first saw it in action, and after spending…
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Mending – Lift, Don’t Flip
It’s often said that a good drift is more important than a good cast. While we would certainly agree, that’s not to say getting a proper drift of your fly is always easy. Proper mending is an art in itself and today Alaska West guide, Jason Whiting, is back with a great tip on making…
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Fight Dirty – Down and Dirty
Just a reminder that when fighting big fish, we really like the down and dirty approach – pulling hard, with the rod tip low and to the side, thus bending the rod deep into the butt section. Click on almost any part of the previous sentence for a visual of what we mean. We find…
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Micro Mends for Tucked-In Trout
Last week Alaska West guide, Jason Whiting, presented us with a great technique for targeting hard to reach trout with streamers by using a series of micro mends to provide action to your fly. It’s a super deadly technique, and if you didn’t get a chance to read it, we suggest you check it out,…
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