It’s been said that flies catch fly tyers, not fish. Odds are most fish don’t notice that the head of the fly is a little on the bulky side, or that your wraps are not as even as they could be. That said, a well-tied, tidy-looking fly muster confidence, and having confidence in the fly you…
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Tips
8 Tips to a Better Strip Set
To succeed on the flats, a precise strip set execution is essential. A successful strip set involves more than just yanking on the fly line when the fish takes the fly. Here are a few tips on how to execute a better strip set while on the flats. 8 Tips to a Better Strip Set…
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Deneki Chronicles: Clearing Line for Bonefish – 7 Tips
During one of the coldest, wettest, and windiest days of our season here in Western Alaska this week, we couldn’t help but let our minds wander toward the flats. Surprising, right? That got us to thinking, what’s the most overlooked facet of saltwater fly fishing that results in more fish lost or landed? We’d argue…
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Leader Length and Fly Weight
Today we continue our Alaska Guide Secrets series, in which you get the inside scoop direct from our guide crew at Alaska West. You’ve decided which fly to fish and maybe even which sinktip to use. Now you need to decide whether your leader should be 2 feet, 6 feet, or 12 feet long. Got…
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5 Fly Fishing Tips to Catch More King Salmon
We’re currently in the midst of our king salmon season on the Kanektok River at Alaska West and On the Nushagak River at Rapids Camp Lodge. These are not your normal king fisheries – we’re swinging flies for hot chrome fish just a few miles for the salt, and that really turns our crank! Needless to say,…
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Deneki Chronicles: Swinging for Kings – The Broadside Presentation
This week it’s all about the Mighty King Salmon! Friend of Deneki, Stuart Foxall explains how the fly swims and what King Salmon sees makes a difference. We love swinging flies for anadromous fish, and we do a lot of it at our lodges in Alaska. However, swinging flies effectively often takes more than simply…
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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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Deneki Chronicles: 5 Guide Secrets to Catch More Alaska Rainbows
More fun than a frog in a glass of milk. Okay, we’re not exactly sure what that means either, but we’re sure it means it is hootenanny when it comes to Rainbow Trout Fishing in Alaska. In this week’s Deneki Chronicles, we can’t help but get excited about Rainbow Trout Fishing. Have a gander. Alaskan…
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Seven Tips for Your Alaskan Lodge Trip
If you’ve got your sights set on an epic Flyout Fishing trip, there is no doubt a hike will be involved. So it’s wise to prepare your gear and your mind and body in the weeks and months leading up to it to maximize your trip of a lifetime. So here are seven tips for…
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Fishing Etiquette: Spey Edition
We’re calling today’s post ‘Spey fishing etiquette’ just because that’s a more manageable title than ‘swinging flies on foot working down a run etiquette.’ Our suggestions apply to any situation that matches that description – single or double-handed rod chasing any anadromous fish. And, in case it isn’t obvious, these rules apply to conditions in…
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