The classic bonefish take usually goes something like this.. Strip, strip, bonefish eats the fly, angler makes a long strip to set the hook (no trout sets!), bonefish takes off at lightning speed in the opposite direction, angler raises the rod and enjoys a well deserved fight against said bonefish. However, what happens when the bonefish…
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fighting fish
A Lesson from Ol’ Chumley
The chum salmon are in at Alaska West and that can only mean one thing – it’s rod breaking season! While we certainly witness our share of broken rods throughout the season, we tend to see more rods break while targeting chums than any other species. Why? Because chums are some of the scrappiest fish we’ve ever…
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Stomp Your Foot on the Deck
Today’s fishing tip comes from the world of tarpon fishing – uber-angler Andy Mill in particular is known for using the technique when fighting tarpon. It’s applicable to other types of fishing as well though, especially when you’re fishing out of skiff for other explosive fish. Warning: it’s one of those ideas that make your…
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Wind Your Backing On Tight – Why, Illustrated
Almost five years ago we ran a post about why you need to wind your backing on tight when you’re chasing big fish. A few days ago our good friend Nic Jepson sent us the amazing picture above, which tells the story better than our words ever could. Nic was kind enough to add the…
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Battle.
Angler and salmonid do battle at Alaska West. More on Fighting Fish Stand Your Ground How to Land a Bonefish High vs. Low Rod Tip
Fighting Fish – Rod Tip High vs. Rod Tip Low
A good friend and longtime reader of our blog got in touch this week with a question. We’re paraphrasing, but it was basically… “I keep reading on your blog that you should keep your rod tip low when you fight fish. I’ve always been told to keep my rod tip high when I fight fish….
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All Smiles
Have we mentioned before that catching lots of fish is fun? More on Fun Times Dominoes Rally Cap Bonefishing is Fun Too
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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Put the Wood to ‘Em
We’ve harped on this before, but when fighting big anadramous fish it’s crucial to keep the pressure on all the way throughout the fight. This means bending the rod all the way down to the butt section as this is where the strength of the rod is. At Alaska West we see many fish come unbuttoned due to…
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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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