At Alaska West we spend a lot of time chasing anadromous fish with two-handed rods. We see this situation all the time: Angler arrives in camp with new spey rod. Angler sets it up with the line that his or her buddy/mentor/favorite author/shop guy/rep/mother-in-law said would work well. Angler fishes it for a while and…
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fly lines
Make your Fly Line Last!
The price for a high end fly line is getting pretty silly. The thing is, they are worth it. So you just spent some good coin on a new fly line, let’s make it last! Here are some tips to help you take care of your fly line and to help ensure you don’t need…
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Gear you Need // Scientific Angler Amplitude Smooth Infinity Fly Line
With the holidays quickly approaching, we figured you might be looking for a few things to ask ole Saint Nick for. $800 fly rods can be hard to justify spending on for a holiday present, but what is actually connecting you to that fish you are reeling in? Short answer, your fly line and our…
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Timeless Tips: Caring for Fly Lines
Contrary to popular belief, the fly line is arguably the most essential part of any fly rod setup. One can spend top dollar for the most elite rod and reel on the market, but their performance rests largely on the quality of the fly line it is paired with. We go to extreme lengths to…
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How to Avoid Twist in Your Fly Line – Video
Whether you fish freshwater or saltwater, warm water or cold water, single or double handed rods, or all of the above, fly line twist happens to everybody. But, believe it or not, it can be easily fixed! We recently stumbled upon a great video put together by our friends at RIO on how to avoid…
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What’s Your Favorite Saltwater Fly Line?
When it comes to fly fishing gear, many are surprised to hear that the fly line is arguably the most important component of any fly rod setup. That’s right, no matter how expensive or ‘technologically advanced’ your rod, without a properly matched fly line, the rod will never perform to its full potential. Saltwater anglers…
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Airflo Skagit F.I.S.T. Line Review
One thing we really dig about swinging flies for species like king and chum salmon in our neck of the woods is we tend to learn pretty quickly what gear works and what gear just doesn’t quite cut it. Plenty of willing fish stacked up in ideal ‘swing’ water allows us to cut out enough variables to…
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RIO General Purpose Tropical Fly Line
We get asked all the time what our favorite fly line for bonefish is. That’s because the right fly line can make all the difference on the flats – arguably more so than in any other fisheries. There are a lot of great fly lines out there for bonefish – and these days odds are…
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Airflo Super-Dri Tropical Bonefish Fly Line
When it comes to bonefish lines, there are a lot of options these days to choose from. Some lines work really well to load the rod quickly and turn over heavy flies with minimal backcasts, while others do a better job at presenting the fly as softly as possible at longer distances. Both have their advantages,…
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Spey Line Recommendations – Updated
Choosing the right line for your spey rod is important. Even more so than with single hand rods, the wrong line on a two handed rod can greatly hinder casting ability and become extremely frustrating in the process. However, determining which line will best match your spey rod of choice can be confusing. Skagit? Scandi? Grains? Luckily,…
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