We’re really lucky to witness prolific runs of all five species of pacific salmon throughout our season at Alaska West. That means that each year some of our guests (particularly those joining us from mid/late July to early August) get a shot at the ol’ grand slam; All five species of pacific salmon, all on the fly,…
Read More
Chum Salmon
OPST: Fly Fishing for Chrome Chums – Video
We might be in the heart of our king season, but pretty soon our rivers will be chocked full of scrappy dime bright, chum salmon. They’re a whole lot of fun on the fly, and today we share with you a super cool video from the good folks at OPST, on just how awesome they really…
Read More
Chums on Top
It’s been while since we’ve given some well deserved credit to one of our most dependable business partners – The al mighty chum salmon. It’s been 170 days since we last showed our chums some love, and today we right that wrong. Not only does our population of chums return dime-bright, provide non-stop action throughout…
Read More
Articulated Egg Sucking Bunny Leech – Tying Instructions
Few fly patterns have caught more fish in Alaska than the egg sucking leech (ESL). Whether tied in the classic “bugger style,” or in a more contemporary fashion utilizing rabbit strips, the ESL family of flies are hard to beat when targeting salmon and trout throughout all of Alaska. In fact, it has been said that the…
Read More
Underdog
In case you weren’t aware, yesterday was National Underdog Day. Seriously folks, we couldn’t make this stuff up. So, in light of this major holiday (insert sarcastic tone), we’re coming at you with a photo of one of the biggest underdogs of them all, the chum salmon. During the first half of our season at Alaska…
Read More
Pacific Salmon Mini Gallery – Spawning Colors
We talk an awful lot about ‘chrome bright salmon,’ but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t think some of the colors pacific salmon take on as they start their spawning ritual were anything short of spectacular. We’re lucky that some of our lodges are located so close to the ocean that we’re able…
Read More
Mousing for Chums?
We talk all the time about our run of chum salmon being extremely aggressive. They have a reputation for eating a lot of different flies, from leeches, to sculpins, to even flesh and egg patterns. They’re not afraid to hammer a fly, and that’s one of the reasons we think they’re so cool. Last week however,…
Read More
Salmon Fishing – 6 Reasons This Fly Works
We’re really lucky in that most of the fish we target at our locations are not overly picky about specific fly patterns. Our lodges are located (intentionally, we might add) in areas where lots of different flies work, so long as they share a few characteristics. It’s a creative fly tyer’s dream! Here at Alaska…
Read More
Top Posts on Chum Salmon
Our Alaska season is underway and right now and our rivers are starting to fill up with big, bright chum salmon. Chums are one of the most underrated game fish out there. We’re not exactly sure why.. Perhaps it’s the name. After all the word ‘chum’ is not overly endearing. Or perhaps it’s because in days…
Read More
Hey There, Good Lookin’
No, we’re not talking about you Michael.. We’re talking about that massive, swung-up, chum salmon from Alaska West. Photographic awesomeness courtesy of Tosh Brown. More on Chum Salmon Swinging for Chums – 10 Reasons A Lesson from Ol’ Chumley Chum Salmon Mini Gallery