When you’re swinging flies for steelhead or salmon, there are times when ‘the perfect swing’ doesn’t elicit the response you were hoping for. We’ve all been there, right? Perhaps the presentation goes unnoticed through the bucket, or you feel the slightest hint of a grab, but no fish to follow. Your first thought might be…
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Tips
12 Ways to Tie Better Flies Faster
Winter is here, and for many of us that means it’s fly tying season. If you’re looking to restock your boxes for next season, try a few of these tips to fill them up faster! Take Your Time on the First Pattern. Before you hit production mode, take your time on your first fly pattern. Experiment…
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Cotton Swab Tube Flies
We fish a lot of tube flies at Alaska West, especially when targeting fish on the swing. While there a lot of different tube materials out there marketed by various fly tying companies, when you tie as many flies as we do over the course of the season, sometimes the cheapest option is best. Next time you are…
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5 Reasons to Swing for Trout This Winter
Let’s face it, winter trout fishing is hard. If you are crazy like us, odds are you are not going to sit around and twiddle your thumbs until your next trip to Alaska or B.C. – you’re going to fish! Having hailed from all over the Northern U.S. and Canada (Alaska, Washington, Maine, British Columbia…
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Wading for Bonefish – 5 (More) Tips
If you have ever said you enjoy the ‘hunting’ aspect of fishing, odds are you would love wading for bonefish. Many of our guests at Andros South love to wade flats in search of cruising bones. Our flats on South Andros are vast and offer a great opportunity to catch fish on foot. If you…
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Salt is the Enemy
When it comes to the life of your fishing gear, salt water is the enemy. Sure, today’s sealed drags, anodized reel seats, and stainless steel this and that help combat the problem, but without proper care, saltwater will still wreak havoc on just about anything it comes into contact with. After a day on the…
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It’s How Your Fly Swims That Matters
For anglers learning the basics of swinging flies for steelhead and salmon, the simplest way to think about presentation is to watch the head of the fly line during the swing and make adjustments. We’re taught that, for example, you can speed up your fly by mending in a downstream belly – meaning that the…
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Hang Your Fly on the Stripping Guide
Here’s a handy little tip for those of you who like swinging flies with shooting heads – using single or double-handed rods. The setup: a few times during your typical fishing day, you’re going to need to mess with your leader or fly in the middle of a run. Maybe you snag a little stick….
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Getting on the Same Page as Your Guide
When you’re new to the flats, spotting bonefish is hard – which is why we’ve passed on some handy tips on the topic in the past. Tips aside, it takes many hours on the water to become great at locating fish under all weather and visibility conditions. This is where a great guide standing high…
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Swinging Flies for Dolly Varden
If you have spent much time fishing in Alaska, odds are you have seen your share of Dolly flats. During the second half of our season at Alaska West, we see an impressive push of Dolly Varden. Once the season’s first wave of salmon begin dropping eggs, these Dollies as well as rainbow trout congregate…
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