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…
Read More
Spey Fishing
Fly Tying: Chinook Graboid
The Graboid Leech by Midnight Sun Custom Flies is uber fishy, effective, versatile, and a great tie. Like other great patterns, the Graboid’s beauty is in its simplicity. This week in Fly Tying, we leverage the Graboid pattern and turn it into a Chinook (King) Salmon Pattern. Why not? Original Fly Design: Jonathan Farmer of…
Read More
3 Tips on Setting the Hook on the Hang Down
Have you ever had a run of losing fish in the “hang down?” If you’ve been fly fishing for a little bit you have probably felt the surprise of a fish grab on the hang-down part of your swing. You’d think hooking a fish on the hang down would be easy, but in actuality, it…
Read More
Deneki Chronicles: Spey Casts You Need to Learn
When it comes to Spey casting, everyone has their “go-to” cast. Your go-to cast is probably the first Spey cast you learned, and since you got good at it, you’ve built confidence, you stuck with it. We get it. We’ve been there too. The reality is mother nature, and the river itself can put you…
Read More
King of The North: Alaska Chinook
Alaska Chinook Salmon are the Kings of the North. These mighty fish are beyond a thrill to catch and fight. The Nushagak River is known for its abundant run of Chinook Salmon. The Nushagak River is only accessible by floatplane. At Rapids Camp Lodge, the program is relatively simple. You wake up, eat a hearty…
Read More
Gear Review: Sage Spey Reel
We like Spey fishing throughout Alaska. From Southeast Alaska, through Southcentral and Western Alaska, Spey fishing is not only a prevalent method of fly fishing; many would say it is preferred. Sage makes a variety of Spey rods and reels. One of the best reels they have come up with is the Sage Spey Reel….
Read More
Deneki Chronicles: Fighting King Salmon – Bend the Butt Section
In this week’s Deneki Chronicles we explore how to leverage your rod to fight Large Anadromous fish like King Salmon. Keep the fish Under Pressure! Our King Salmon seasons in Alaska and British Columbia are underway, so today we present you with a friendly reminder of one of the most common mistakes made when fighting…
Read More
Fly Tying: Sunburst Scandi
When we think of King (Chinook) Salmon, we often reach for big flashy patterns, and rightfully so. They work, and King Salmon seems to have an affinity for them. Interestingly, Scandinavian fishermen will often have great success fishing for our Pacific fish with their patterns, such as Temple dogs, FNS, Pot-bellied pigs, etc. I think there…
Read More
Fly Tying: Chinook Runner
Chrome fresh King (Chinook) Salmon are awesome! It’s an absolute favorite gamefish to target on a Spey rod. They can be challenging to figure out, and even more so to get to the net. There are a few special rivers though where these incredible fish come in silver and aggressive, and this is a go…
Read More
Fly Tying: PNW Munker
“Bright day, bright fly. Dark day, dark fly.” right? More on that later. The PNW Munker is just that, Bright. With a wide profile and well-balanced fly, this fly is very effective for Steelhead and Pacific Salmon. Tie Instructions and photos by Alex Belonga. If you’d like to see more of Alex’s flies or want…
Read More