Today we continue our Alaska Guide Secrets series, in which you get the inside scoop direct from our guide crew at Alaska West. You’ve decided which fly to fish and maybe even which sinktip to use. Now you need to decide whether your leader should be 2 feet, 6 feet, or 12 feet long. Got…
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Alaska Fishing Guide Secrets
Leader Building 101: Rapids Camp Edition
From our Head Guide at Rapids Camp Lodge Chad Bryson drops some great tips on building leaders. Since it’s coming from Chad…I’d take it to heart. Enjoy! There are probably as many different opinions about how to build the perfect Alaska fly fishing leader as there are opinions on the perfect Alaska fly rod. So…
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Don Leydon’s “Fisherman’s Friend” Tool
Over the years Alaska West has had many memorable guests who have become woven into the fabric of our lodge. Don Leydon is surely one of them. For years his gifts to Alaska West have hung in our lounge and dining tents as reminders of our past. One of the pictures shows “Salmon Camp” in…
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Hooks When Swinging for Kings
When our guides at Alaska West are fishing the Kanektok one thing you will notice is the constant adjustments that they make to an angler’s fishing setup. Most of the time those adjustments are things like switching tips on Spey setups or working on leaders and changing flies. One thing not so obvious is the…
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Spicing Up Your Fly With a Bead
There’s no denying the effectiveness of bead fishing for trout in Alaska. As the prolific runs of salmon in Western Alaska approach the end of their migration, thousands of eggs are released by each female salmon providing millions (if not billions) of protein-rich morsels for our resident rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, and dolly varden. The…
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Leader Length and Fly Weight
Today we continue our Alaska Guide Secrets series, in which you get the inside scoop direct from our guide crew at Alaska West. You’ve decided which fly to fish and maybe even which sinktip to use. Now you need to decide whether your leader should be 2 feet, 6 feet or 12 feet long. Got…
Read More
Alaska Fishing Guide Secrets
Today we’re starting up a series of posts on Alaska Guide Secrets. Various members of our guide crew at Alaska West will pass on some tricks of their trade, and you’ll be the ones the benefit. Our first post comes from Adam Kryder. Take it all in! Don’t guess the depth of the run –…
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