Always be sure to synch your knots completely down before testing them with a good tug. In fly fishing, there are already countless variables outside of our control. Gear failure is something you can control. Losing a fish because of a bad knot is something that is avoidable. After every knot you tie, give it…
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Search Results for: fly tying tips
Timeless Tips // Beware of the Salt!
I love fishing in the saltwater. Whether it is walking the flats looking for tails or throwing topwater plugs to Tuna offshore, the ocean fascinates me. I love the diversity and the “eat or be eaten” attitude that the fish of the sea take on. One thing I do not love about fishing the salt…
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Timeless Tips // Don’t Waste Time Untangling
This may seem obvious but I still see it so often on the river banks that I figured I would bring it up. When you get a big tangle, you know the type that look like a birds nest made out of monofilament, don’t waste your time trying to untangle it. Simply clip it and…
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Timeless Tips, Avoid Wading too Deep!
Stuart Foxall is back again with more advice to help you up your King Salmon game. This week, instead of giving you pointers on things to do, he is going over a crucial thing to avoid doing! Please share Stuart! “Every year at Alaska West I see the same common mistake made again and again…….Wading…
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Barracuda Fly Retrieval
Last week we went over my Barracuda Rig for targeting the toothy flats predator. Today we are going to go over the second half of the battle which is the approach and getting them to eat. When I am searching for Barracuda on the flats, I look for them to be sitting still. Bonefish are…
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Timeless Tips: Fishing Tandem Streamer Rigs
While targeting trout, anglers tend to fish multiple flies. Fishing 2 or even 3 nymphs under an indicator has been practiced for years. Fish one large attractor pattern followed by a smaller more specific imitation. This covers multiple food sources and depths in the water column. Next in the world of tandem rigs came the…
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Timeless Tips: Tag Your Split Shot
Way back in 2011, Alaska West alum and trout guru, JEB Hall, gave us the details for his go-to rig when slinging beads for big leopard rainbow trout. It’s still as current as it was six long years ago, so if you haven’t checked it out, be sure to hit the link to give it…
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Timeless Tips: Fly Fishing for Fussy Silver Salmon
At Alaska West, we have the pleasure of closing out our season with truly prolific runs of silver salmon. Silvers get under the skin of many of our guests due to their strength, acrobatics, and willingness to grab a fly. However, contrary to popular belief, there are times when silver salmon are reluctant to eat…
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Timeless Tips: Quicker Rig/Fly Changes – 9 Options
Time spent rigging is time spent not fishing, and some of you have asked for quicker ways to switch between different rigs, flies, and tactics. So, today we’ve compiled a few simple tips to help you change your rig quicker and easier to get your fly back in the water. Enjoy! 9 Tips for Quicker Rig…
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Cole Cook’s ‘Big Poppa’ – Tying Instructions
Silver season is fast approaching (ahem, we may or may not have already seen a few) and we’re currently experiencing the height of our mind-boggling run of chum salmon on our home river at Alaska West. That can only mean one thing.. It’s popper season! We love tossing surface patterns for our ridiculous runs of…
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