The “tug” might be the “drug,” but most anglers would agree that a tug that stays attached is ideal. Unfortunately, when swinging flies for salmon and steelhead, that’s not always the case. Quick strikes, followed by an unanswered swing, are common when spey fishing, and can be frustrating at the very least. So what do…
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Search Results for: King Salmon
Deneki Chronicles: Catching the Rainbow Trout of your Life
Rapids Camp Lodge is located in King Salmon, Alaska, and is our fly-out lodge offering access into the countless backcountry rivers of Bristol Bay. However, during the month of September, it can be difficult to get into the floatplane and leave the river that flows right out our backdoor, the famous Naknek. Draining west out…
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Alaskan Pike is Underrated
What makes Alaska a special place to fish is the sheer variety of gamefish available to fly fish for. King Salmon, Chum Salmon, Silver Salmon, Red Salmon, Pink Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Char, and Lakers. One of the more underappreciated fish is Northern Pike. These uber aggressive freshwater fish are a delight to…
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Alaska West Fishing Report: Week 5
During week 5, the weather started to cooperate with overcast skies, less rain, and even a slight breeze to keep the Alaskan State Birds away…kind of. We saw more King and Chum Salmon being caught. Sockeye Salmon were plentiful. One of our week five guests, Dylan J., even tagged the first Silver Salmon of the…
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Learn to Spey at Alaska West Lodge
It’s no secret we like Spey Fishing at Alaska West Lodge. If you’ve never used a Spey rod or two-handed rod, you should. If you’ve never tried Spey fishing and if you’ve never had a chance, well, then The Guides at Alaska West Lodge are more than willing to help you learn…and oh, by the…
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Alaska West Fishing Report: Week 4
The first couple of weeks, the Kanektok River was higher than “usual.” With the cold weather and low water temperatures, and the fish seemed “hesitant” to arrive. With that, there were a few fish who braved the colder water and decided to press on, and our week 4 guests were there to welcome them. Week…
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Recipe for the Ultimate Bristol Bay Trip
*Meghan Barker works for Trout Unlimited Alaska in Anchorage on the Save Bristol Bay campaign. She is a guest contributor and visited Rapids Camp Lodge in early July. I had the opportunity to make this recipe on a last-minute trip out to southwest Alaska in early July, and it was an absolute hit. Before you…
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Don’t Be Like “Jim”
Recently a guest came to Alaska West Lodge to fish the Kanektok River. We’ll call him “Jim,” protecting his true identity. Jim is packed, has all this clothing (maybe too much clothing), Spey rods, single-handed rods, reels to match, leaders, tips, and flies…everything you’ll need and can fit into an assortment of bags up to…
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Fly Tying: Fishaholic
Whether on the Kanektoke River at Alaska West Lodge or the Nushagak River at Rapids Camp Lodge, swinging flies is the most popular ways to catch King Salmon. The shear power these regal game fish possess puts you in awe and you can’t help but get exhuberant when you hook one. There are quiet a…
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Alaska West Fishing Report: June 13 – 20, 2021
The opening week of the 2021 season at Alaska West Lodge was met with super high hopes and excitement from our guests and our guides and staff. With the first week of the 2021 Season at Alaska West under our belt, the biggest challenge has been the weather; wet and windy. Throughout all of Alaska,…
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