What can we say about Jerry French…pioneer, innovator, inventor, creative…all adverbs to describe Jerry. You can add up the years of experience like dog years…they are exponential. Through trial and error, collaboration and many years on the water, Jerry French is a purveyor of all things fly fishing. From flies, to rods, and reels, Jerry’s…
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Tips
The Short Fly Casting Game: Fresh & Saltwater Fish
One of the hardest things in fly fishing is being able to make short, accurate and controlled casts at close distances to your quarry. These days you will find most lines range from 80′-100′ which makes it nearly impossible to make casts less than 30′ without a lot of skill and effort. At Alaska West…
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5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Swung Fly Chinook Game by Frank Day
There is nothing more exciting to me at this point in my life than swinging flies to chrome bright Chinooks within a stone’s throw of the salt. Chinook are some of the finest anadromous quarry to be found in our west coast waters. They are the largest of the pacific salmon and have an attitude…
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Fly Rods: Alaska Salmon
Salmon season is upon us here in Alaska, but as we all know, it won’t last long so you’ll want to make sure all your tackle is up for the challenge. Making sure you have the right rod and reel is important whether you are planning on keeping fish or releasing them. In general, an…
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The Fly Shop
It’s been a long winter and an even longer spring. With mandates being lifted, and people starting to come out of their COVID cocoons, people – especially anglers – are anxious to get outside. Across the world, people have been stuck in their homes trying to figure out a “new normal.” From buying your groceries…
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Tips For Fly Fishing Photography
I have long been a believer that photos are the perfect souvenirs of fishing trips. I also believe that when done the right way, you can document fish without the risk of hurting them. You need to always prioritize the health of the fish and remember, no photo of a fish is worth the life…
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Traveling With Fly Fishing Gear
Packing for an adventure fly fishing trip is an art. With the limits on bag weight, numbers of bags, size, etc, the process can be exasperating. Not to mention the judiciary treatment we all receive by some of the airline personnel. I will never forget being accosted by the sweetest, most delicate looking fragile flower…
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Fly Fishing For Carp
No longer considered a “trash fish” by fly anglers, carp present a challenging fresh water game fish that provide anglers a saltwater vibe. To those who have previously targeted carp on the fly there is no doubt they have earned your respect. If you have not chased carp with a fly, we encourage you to…
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Grayling On Dry Flies
There are certain circles of fly anglers that consider the Arctic Grayling one of the most underrated sport fish in Alaska. Other groups of fly anglers don’t give it the time of day. Your point of view on this fish may vary but, every angler that has ever encountered one agrees that the raw beauty…
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Target Species // The Northern Pike
Yesterday we discussed fly fishing for Bass. Today we wanted to look at the Northern Pike. Pike have gone from a species that many considered a nuisance to a popular game fish throughout North America and Europe. Pike are a fairly adaptable fish allowing them to thrive in a range locations. This is why they…
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