NOTE: If you’re viewing this in a newsletter or a reader, click here to see the video on our website. This week for Fly Tying Friday, Jack Reis goes over a pattern that has earned a spot in any flat walker’s fly box because of its versatility in seducing a range of different species. Take…
Read More
flies
Steelhead Flies: Modern ‘Spins’ on Classic Patterns
We recently received a great request from one of our readers (thanks, Ray!) for a fresh step by step post on how to tie some of our favorite ‘smaller’ fly patterns for summer and/or winter steelhead using modern materials and techniques. Naturally, we reached out to our good friend and arguably one of the most…
Read More
Alaska Silver Salmon Flies – Our Favorites (Updated)
Our summer seasons in Alaska and British Columbia might be winding down but that doesn’t mean our massive run of silver salmon has! In fact, our silvers actually continue to push long after the end of our season. We have a feeling that might the case in your neck of the woods too, so whether…
Read More
Timeless Tips: Selecting Bonefish Flies
How do you choose which bonefish fly to fish on any given flat? Keep these three basic variables in mind – color, size/weight, and sizzle! Color Most of the time, you want the color of your fly to basically match the color of the flat. The match doesn’t need to be exact, but it should…
Read More
Timeless Tips: 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
Dean River Steelhead Flies – Our Favorites (Updated)
Our steelhead season is in full force at BC West, our home on the banks of the Dean River in British Columbia, and we’re happy to report that our guests are experiencing some impressive numbers of fish! Known for some of the hottest and hardest fighting steelhead around, the Dean has earned a reputation amongst…
Read More
Ryan Gossett’s Single Stage Squidrow Featured in Swing the Fly Magazine
The latest issue of Swing the Fly (2018 Volume 2) recently hit the stands and we’re happy to announce that Alaska West guide, Ryan Gossett, is featured in the issue highlighting his go-to pattern for winter steelhead; the Single Stage Squidrow. Not only is Ryan a great guide, he’s also one heck of a fly…
Read More
Jerry French’s ‘Ultra Squid’ Coming to a Fly Shop Near You
The good folks at Aqua Flies have teemed up once again with our good friend and Alaska West alum, Jerry French, to bring the latest and greatest in steelhead/salmon flies; The Ultra Squid. Responsible for the design of innovative patterns like the the Intruder and the Dirty hoh, Jerry is widely accepted as one of…
Read More
Steam Your Flies Back to Life
In our opinion, there’s no such thing as too many flies. In fact, your fearless editor has a reputation for carrying far more flies on the water than could ever be fished in a day, a week, or even an entire season for that matter. Just ask anyone who has pawed through his boat bag…
Read More
Timeless Tips: Selecting Winter Steelhead Flies
We’ve had Tom Larimer stop by our blog from time to time to give us things like a 6-minute master class on spey casting anchor placement, and a 1-minute diatribe (well, for Tom it was a diatribe) on fishing your fly actively. Today we hear Tom’s thoughts on picking which steelhead fly to fish – especially which…
Read More