When swinging for anadramous species like king salmon or steelhead, more often than not, the slower the swing (while still maintaining a broadside presentation of your fly) the better. As long as it is moving just enough to suggest life in your fly, odds are you are in the game. With that said, from time…
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Search Results for: King Salmon
There’s Only One Bristol Bay
Our good friend and Sportman’s Alliance for Alaska director, Scott Hed, recently passed along a great writeup sharing a personal experience while stomping around Bristol Bay at our own Rapids Camp Lodge. For those interested in the true power of the Bristol Bay region itself, along with the current status of the proposed Pebble Mine…
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Swinging Flies: How to Set the Hook – OPST Video
When swinging flies for king salmon and steelhead, we’d argue that more fish are lost due to a poor hook-set than at any other point during the fight. Unlike techniques associated with traditional upstream dry fly, nymphing, or even streamer fishing, swinging flies requires a different technique to effectively drive the hook home. How so…
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2017 Fly Fishing Gift Ideas
Looking for some holiday gift ideas for that fly fisherman/woman on your list? Better yet, are you a fly fisher-person who has been accused of being ‘difficult to buy for?’ Not to worry, today we present you with 10 great gift ideas sure to please the fly fishing enthusiast in your life. 2017 Fly Fishing…
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Timeless Tips: Top 5 Mistakes Made Fighting Big Fish
At Alaska West and BC West we see a lot of big fish fought by our guests – we’re talking steelhead and king salmon here. Sometimes our anglers do a great job fighting the big ones. Other times…not so much. Fight hard, fight smart, and get it over fast! Top 5 Mistakes Made Fighting Big…
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Choosing the Right Fly
Choosing the right fly is important. Having confidence in the fly you choose is even more important. That said, it’s hard to have confidence in the fly you choose, if you’re not selecting flies based on, at the very least, an educated guess. Whoa. Well then how exactly do you choose the right fly? We’ve…
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Greg Houska’s ‘Kriller’ Available at a Fly Shop Near You
We’re proud of the number of popular commercial fly patterns that have been developed over the years from our guides at Alaska West. We think its a testament to not only our incredible fishery, but also a long-standing fraternity of great (and incomparably nerdy) fishing guides. Well, we’re happy to report that another one of…
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Reeling Right or Wrong?
Over the course of the year, we’re lucky to share the water with a lot of super great, super fishy, people from countries all over the world. That lends itself to some healthy angler debate at times, allowing us to keep up to date on the latest tips and techniques in the fly fishing world….
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Thanks from Alaska West
We can hardly believe it, but today marks the last fishing day of yet another incredible season here at Alaska West. Whether you joined us this year, or followed along vicariously through our blog, we can’t thank you enough. You’re the reason we get to do what we do, and we sincerely appreciate it. Thanks…
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Simms Cam Wading Belt – Why We Like It
We know what you’re thinking.. “Really? Now the Deneki folks are telling us what belt to buy!?” Yes, really. Put it this way.. You’re humble editor has a habit (some might say ‘problem’) with buying fly fishing gear, lots of fly fishing gear. And, over the course of the year, one of his favorite pieces…
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