During one of the coldest, wettest, and windiest days of our season here in Western Alaska this week, we couldn’t help but let our minds wander toward the flats. Surprising, right? That got us to thinking, what’s the most overlooked facet of saltwater fly fishing that results in more fish lost or landed? We’d argue…
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fighting fish
Deneki Chronicles: Fighting King Salmon – Bend the Butt Section
In this week’s Deneki Chronicles we explore how to leverage your rod to fight Large Anadromous fish like King Salmon. Keep the fish Under Pressure! Our King Salmon seasons in Alaska and British Columbia are underway, so today we present you with a friendly reminder of one of the most common mistakes made when fighting…
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Deneki Chronicles: How to Land a Bonefish
OK, you’ve spotted a bonefish, hooked him, and fought him in close to you. Now what? For those new to it, landing bonefish isn’t easy. You can’t use the same techniques used with smaller fish like trout – and at a place like Andros South where we do a lot of wading, you’ll often be…
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Deneki Chronicles: Fighting Bonefish in the Mangroves
You spotted your bonefish, made a beautiful cast despite the wind, retrieved your fly at just the right pace to get the follow, and the fish took the fly. You even fought the urge to trout set, and instead strip set the fly making a solid connection. Fish on! Although you did everything right, your…
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Deneki Chronicles: Don’t Touch Dat Drag!
Today we present you with a simple tip when fighting hard fighting fish like bonefish that we were reminded of recently while listening to Deneki guest, Chuck Keller’s, recount of his largest landed bonefish to date. According to Chuck, during the first blistering run by his trophy fish, Andros South guide, Josie Sands, muttered the words…
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Deneki Chronicles: How to Break Off a Bonefish
You’ve hooked a monster bonefish! Now, what do you do to avoid losing it? In this week’s Deneki Chronicles, we have seven things to consider to avoid breaking off a bonefish. Breaking off a bonefish is a bummer. After all the hard work required to find, cast to, and finally hook one it’s the last…
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Deneki Chronicles: Fighting Bonefish – 5 Tips
Muddy bottom – rod tip high, but bent to the butt. In the past we’ve covered how to spot bonefish, and how to set the hook on a bonefish. Great, you’ve done it all right and you’ve got one hooked up. Now what? Here’s what. Let him run. As soon as you’re confident that you’ve…
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Deneki Chronicles: Top 5 Mistakes Fighting Big Fish
At Alaska West and Rapids Camp 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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Deneki Chronicles: Landing Fish Without a Net – 6 Tips
The ability to ‘tail’ a fish, that is, the ability to land fish safely and effectively without a net is a skill every angler should possess. After all, we’ve all been on a trip where the net didn’t make it into the back of the pickup. Regardless, the old adage reigns true; if you want…
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How To Fight A Bonefish
It is no secret that we admire bonefish and want to make sure the ones that are caught, are safely released to fight another day. One way to ensure this is to land a bonefish as quickly as possible. This obviously is much easier said than done as anyone who has hooked into these fish…
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