B.C. West guest, John Cambria, and guide Shane McKay giving us a lesson on what ‘chrome bright’ really means. Nice work, guys! More from the Dean Steelhead Rig Roundup BC West Mini Gallery – Steven Brutger Edition Reason Number One to Fish the Dean
King Salmon
Kanektok King Salmon Doing Well
As many of you are aware, the king salmon fishery on the Kanektok River (home to our Alaska West operation) has been closed to sport fishing for the past two seasons. However, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently released the numbers for the first commercial salmon opener of the season and we’re happy…
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Hickman’s Fish Taco – Tying Instructions
Yesterday, we kicked off our 2015 season at BC West. Therefore, we thought it would be appropriate to present you with a step by step of one of the more commonly used steelhead patterns at our lodge over the last few years, Hickman’s Fish Taco. The Fish Taco was developed by Alaska West alum and steelhead guide, Jeff Hickman,…
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ADF&G Issues King Salmon Closure
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has recently issued a sport fishing closure for king salmon in the Kuskokwim River drainage and Kuskokwim Bay tributaries for the 2015 season. According to ADF&G, western Alaska king salmon stocks are experiencing a period of low productivity, and a sport fishing closure for king salmon is needed to…
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Prime Chinook and Steelhead Spots at B.C. West
Early season at B.C. West is a pretty special time. Not only do our guests get the chance to battle the baddest fish in fresh water, king salmon, they get to chase Dean River king salmon, which like their steelhead cousins, are naturally selected to be even more powerful than your average chinook. Spots during…
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ADF&G ‘Chinook News’ – Winter 2015 Newsletter Now Available
Despite record numbers of returning chinook (king) salmon throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaskan chinook have experienced a significant decline in recent years. The decline is widely misunderstood throughout the scientific community, and because of this fact a great deal of research is currently being conducted by the state of Alaska in hopes to better understand…
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Spey Fishing – The ‘Engaged Fly’
Ever wondered whether your fly is swinging at the right depth, at the right speed, or even in the right water for the quarry at hand? We receive comments all the time about how or where the fly should be traveling when swinging for anadramous species, and for good reason.. It’s tough! Thanks to long-time spey-guru…
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A Beautiful Day in Alaska
It might not look like ideal weather to most, but when we’re chasing salmon in Western Alaska, we long for days like this.. Bright sunny days can make for epic trout fishing, but dark, gloomy, and down right miserable looking days means happy salmon, and we like that. More on Salmon Fishing The High Sun Game Plan…
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First RCL King of 2014
The Chinooks are In Last week we told you about a steelhead on the Dean – today it’s a king on the Naknek! After a full day of prepping the lodge for soon arriving guests, Rapids Camp Lodge freshman guide Curt Schaumburg hit the Naknek River to get acquainted with his new home water. It…
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5 Ways to Control the Speed of Your Swing
When swinging for anadramous species like king salmon or steelhead, more often than not, the slower the swing the better. As long as it is moving just enough to suggest life in your fly, odds are you are in the game. However, from time to time, increasing the speed of your swing can be just…
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