King Salmon

Your Drag Is Wrong. Here’s How to Fix It Before a Fish Fixes It for You.
Setting reel drag isn't complicated. That said many anglers do it by "vibes", and vibes don't stop a 40 pound King from spooling you into the backing before you can...

Start Shallow, My Friend: The Spey Casting Gospel You Keep Ignoring
Stay In the Shallow Let’s start with a confession. Too many anglers wade into the river like they’re auditioning for Aquaman 3. Waist deep before the first cast, chest deep...

Tips For Better King Salmon Fishing On The Swing
Kanektok River King Salmon on the Swing If you hear a distant, echoing laugh coming from around the country, don’t worry, that’s just all our Alaska West guests, still riding...

Angler’s Neverland: Alaska West Lodge Opening Week 2025!
July 6, 2025 isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s the gateway to one of the most dynamic fisheries on the planet. If you’re searching for a place that...

3 Simple Tips For Better King Salmon Fishing With A Spey Rod
Kanektok River King Salmon King salmon are the the heavyweight champions of North American rivers. But landing one on a Spey rod? That’s a different game entirely kind of fight....

4 Reasons You Should Come Experience the Kanektok River
Reason 1: Alaska’s Fish Factory in Full Production “On a good July day, you can catch all five Pacific salmon species before lunch.” That’s how one Alaska West Lodge returning...

The Alaska Freshwater Fish-Tastic Final Four
We know, it’s way past March Madness, and everyone’s brackets were busted (Thanks, Duke). Let's shift our focus to a different kind of final four, one that swims rather than dribbles....

5 Fly Fishing Tips to Catch More King Salmon
Pow! Photos: Stuart Foxall. We're currently in the midst of our king salmon season on the Kanektok River at Alaska West and On the Nushagak River at Rapids Camp Lodge. These are...