So you’re out on some beautiful bonefish flat. You’ve thrown on a new leader designed perfectly for the flats. You’ve picked a fabulous bonefish fly. You’ve tied it on with a non-slip mono loop. You’re not done yet! Reach down onto the flat, grab a little handful of sand from the bottom, and rub your…
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Tips
Setting the Hook: No Windups
We’ve written a lot of posts on our blog over the years on properly setting the hook on everything from bonefish and permit to king salmon, steelhead, and trout. That’s because the brief moment following the instant a fish grabs a fly is arguably the most critical to eventually bringing the fish to hand. Depending…
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Timeless Tips: 3 Uses for Opposing Wader Straps
Ever wonder why the buckles on your wader straps are opposite, male buckle on one strap and female buckle on the other? Most wader companies today incorporate this feature into their wader straps for good reason, its super handy! Odds are you may have found a use or two for the opposing buckles on your…
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Guide Poll: Favorite Fishing Layers
Those who live a life outside know that proper apparel is far more than just ‘clothing..’ It’s gear. Choosing the right layers is important to staying safe and comfortable on the water, and arguably no one understands this more than Alaska fishing guides. That’s why we asked out team of professional Alaska fly fishing guides…
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Spey Casting: Overhang and Tip, Head, and Rod Length
Last week we presented you with an informative write-up from our pal Stuart Foxall on the importance of adjusting the amount of overhang, an often overlooked principle in modern spey casting, depending on different variables such as wading depth, wind, obstructions, and so on. If you missed it, be sure to check it out by…
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Fly Tying Hack: Hold Materials With Hair Claw Clips
Ever thought a third hand would come in handy when tying flies? You’re not the only one. While there are many fly tying ‘material clips’ on the market designed to fix to your vise to hold single strand materials out of the way while tying, we’ve found the majority to do a less-than-adequate job of…
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Timeless Tips: Sight Fishing for Trout
We’re really lucky to have an extremely diverse trout fishery at Alaska West. It’s not uncommon during any part of our season to catch trout by swinging flies, stripping streamers, dead drifting sub-surface patterns, or skating mouse flies on top. However, one of our favorite ways to target big leopard rainbows is by sight fishing…
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Preparing For Your Bonefishing Trip – Roundup
We’re less than a month away from the opening day of our bonefishing season at Andros South. We have a feeling many of you are in the process of planning your own saltwater trips too, which is why we thought we’d present you with a bunch of posts to help prepare for whatever the flats…
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Timeless Tips: How Far Should I Lead a Bonefish?
A question we get asked all the time at Andros South is ‘how far should I lead a bonefish?’ In other words, how far in front of the fish should I aim my cast? Bonefish are almost always moving and therefore it is important to present the fly far enough in front to avoid ‘lining’…
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Spey Casting Tips – Stuart Foxall on Adjusting Overhang
Over the last several years of hosting trips and spending days on the river almost exclusively with spey anglers, I have become increasingly aware of the importance of overhang; the term used to describe the amount of running line left outside the rod tip during the cast. Adjusting the amount of overhang can greatly alter the…
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