Cameron, hard at work. Photo: Ric Fogel/Sportfolio If you’ve spent any time on our blog, you’ve seen a whole bunch of photos credited to Cameron Miller. Cameron is a long-time veteran of Alaska West. He spent a bunch of years guiding and taking pictures, and the past few years has made the transition into nearly…
Read More
Tips
What’s Your Favorite Trout Rod?
Hmmm, my mouth hurt like that was a 690-4 Z-Axis with G5 technology. Photo: Cameron Miller We spend a lot of time on our blog telling you which gear the experts use. Today it’s your turn. What’s your favorite rod to use when you’re fly fishing for trout? Yes, we know that it could be…
Read More
Secrets of the Flesh Fly
Sometimes all it takes is a little flesh. Photo: Ramsey Smith Trout that live in the lower sections of rivers like the Kanektok and the Arolik in Western Alaska get a lot of their calories from salmon flesh. That means that at Alaska West we spend a lot of time tying and fishing patterns that…
Read More
Why We Like Spey Casting
An angler covers a lot of water without hurting his shoulders. Photo: Cameron Miller When it comes to fishing for kings on the Kanektok, or fishing for steelhead on the Dean, we really like Spey casting. Spey rods are getting a lot more popular these days. That being said, we hear from a lot of…
Read More
10 Ways to Justify Your Fishing Trip
Make use of our proven techniques, and this could be you! Photo: Cameron Miller Having a hard time explaining to your significant other why you need to take another fishing trip? Refer to our handy list, develop your strategy, and your reel will be screaming in no time! We’ve spent a lot of time talking…
Read More
Alaska Guidespeak Glossary
These guys talk funny. Photo: Cameron Miller Fishing guides spend a lot of time together in remote places. Over time, a guide staff’s dialect develops to the point of becoming close to a foreign language. If you’re heading to Alaska West this summer, learning the terms in this handy glossary will help you understand what…
Read More
Non-Slip Mono Loop
Learn this knot if you don’t know it already. The Non-Slip Mono Loop is one of the most versatile knots we know. We use it all over the world when we’re looking for a strong loop knot. After many days of use on the water, and some semi-scientific testing like guide knot tying contests, we’re…
Read More
5 Ways to Blow a Shot at a Bonefish
Want to not catch me? Read and learn. Don’t want to catch a bonefish? Pick one or more of these simple tips and you’ll be not catching fish in no time! Wear wading boots in the boat. If you’re casting from the boat and you’re wearing shoes of any kind, you won’t know if you’re…
Read More
10 Tips – Swinging Flies for Kings
Tip #10, executed to perfection. Photo: Cameron Miller Planning on swinging flies for king salmon this summer, maybe on the Kanektok or the Dean? Here are some tips that may help. Cast across and slightly downstream. You certainly need to read the water you’re fishing and adjust accordingly, but in general if you’re fishing a…
Read More
Bonefish Catch and Release Best Practices Part Two
If you like the looks of a healthy fishery, read and learn. Last week we published some information on catch and release bonefshing from our friends at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. That post covered hooks and fight time. Today we hear about handling and predators. Handling Minimize handling all fish; slime and scales can be…
Read More