The days are getting longer, the sun is brighter and more intense, and the thaw freeze cycle puts our wipers to the test. All good signs that spring is coming upon us. As the rivers and streams begin to increase their flow, we can’t help but think about spring fishing, especially after a long dark…
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Search Results for: rainbow alaska
Alaska West in July: A Spey Angler’s Dream!
Spey fishing is always a productive technique on the Kanektok River, so productive that 90% or more of our kings are landed with this technique alone. Then when you add in all the other species you can target throughout the summer it becomes clear how good the Kanektok River really is for Spey fishing. Every…
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2021 Grand Slam Dates at Alaska West Lodge
As of today spots for the 2021 season at Alaska West are very limited, but we do have some prime spots in our Grand Slam weeks listed below. For many years our first silver of the season has been caught between the 12th and 18th of July so we can legitimately say our Kanektok Grand…
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Alaska West in July is a Fly Fisher’s Dream
It sure is! The mighty Kanektok is incredible all season long, but it’s the month of July that sees the greatest biomass increase of the year. By early July the river literally has fish overrunning every inch of it. Kings, chum, sockeye, pinks, sea-run dollies, resident rainbow trout, and grayling can all be caught consistently…
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Alaska West: We Can’t Wait
Ah…Alaska West Lodge, oh how we have missed you. We are looking forward to fishing the awesome Kanektok River and having a chance at achieving the Alaskan Salmon Grand Slam. What is the Alaskan Salmon Grand Slam you ask? It is catching all Alaskan Salmon on the same day; King, Chum, Silver Red, and Pink….
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Guide Speak Glossary: Alaska West Edition
In our second edition of Guide Speak we visit Alaska West on the Kanektok. The Kanektok is many a fly fisherman’s mecca, or summit, so to speak. It’s also a place that makes coming up with new fishing oriented words and phrases quite easy due to the intense focus on fishing and lodge life. With…
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Fall Naknek River Rainbows: The Varsity Game
Fishing for and landing big rainbow trout is a goal for a lot of fly anglers across the world and especially here in Alaska. The Naknek River is a great fishery for rainbow trout in the season from beginning to end. During the month of June, the smolt bust is an exhilarating game where you…
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Dads & Rainbows
When I left Alaska three weeks ago to go back to Texas for a few weeks, I couldn’t help but dread leaving the early Alaska fall with the cooler temps and beautiful leaf changes and going back to beyond uncomfortable heat and humidity. I didn’t have to be dreadful for too long though, because I…
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Rainbow Trout Fishing – Mend Less.
It’s summer, so I have to eat. Photo: Cameron Miller There are trout streams out there where highly educated trout demand perfect presentation. Long, light tippets are key. Pure, drag-free drift is essential, and if your fourth mend falls 3 inches left of where it should have, that fish is not going to eat. The…
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Char and Dolly: Alaska’s Under-Appreciated Species
Last week, a guest at Rapids Camp Lodge asked me what species I like to fish for the most. I told him I honestly don’t have a favorite. Although Alaska is known for its salmon and trophy rainbows and many people, including myself, desire those time and time again, I also love Char fishing. This…
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