Adam Jackson is a long-time guide at Rapids Camp Lodge, our fly-out operation on the Naknek River in Alaska. Want to know how Adam rigs up when he’s chasing the biggest and baddest of the salmon species? Read on! Make sure you read through the Commentary section – there’s a lot of meat in there….
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King Salmon
Single Handing for Kings
It’s getting to be that time of year when our minds start drifting off to thoughts of big Western-Alaska trout and chrome-bright pacific salmon. The Alaska fishing season will be here before you know it, and with it comes the earliest of the Pacific salmon, the king salmon. Kings might just be the baddest freshwater…
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9 Questions About King Salmon You Were Afraid to Ask
Today we’re coming at you with another addition of a series of posts addressing some basic questions on the topics we cover most. We’ve already covered some of the basic questions involving Alaskan trout, bonefish, and even spey fishing. Now its time to address the biggest and baddest of them all, the king salmon. 9…
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Nice Fish, Eric
Eric Neufeld is one of a whole bunch of Alaska West alumni done good – he’s currently the Pacific Northwest sales rep for Simms, Winston, ECHO, Airflo, Umpqua and Nautilus. Whew. Back in 2007 he made a visit back to camp as a guest, and he caught a whole bunch of king salmon. Here’s one….
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Kyle Shea’s King Rig
As a guide at Alaska West, Kyle Shea gets to swing flies for king salmon in during his downtime. Here’s his rig of choice! The Summary Echo King 9130-4 Ross CLA # 7 Airflo Skagit Compact 660 The Detail 250 yards of 30 lb. Dacron backing, wrapped 4-5 times around the spool and tied with…
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Slow Your Swing Down First
When you’re swinging flies for steelhead or salmon, there are times when ‘the perfect swing’ doesn’t elicit the response you were hoping for. We’ve all been there, right? Perhaps the presentation goes unnoticed through the bucket, or you feel the slightest hint of a grab, but no fish to follow. Your first thought might be…
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Nice King, Whitey
Spey fishing for king salmon is in our blood at Alaska West. Here’s Michael White with a Bush era king salmon – part of a session that could best be described as ridiculous. Nice king, Whitey. More on King Salmon at Alaska West Stand Your Ground King Salmon Mini Gallery Adjusting the Swing
Tie Your Own Flies!
Catching a fish on a fly you tied yourself is a special thing. It gives you a closer connection to the sport and the fish itself. If you have never experienced this, Alaska is the place to do it! Whether you’re a beginner or experienced fly tyer, here are a few patterns that we tie…
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It’s How Your Fly Swims That Matters
For anglers learning the basics of swinging flies for steelhead and salmon, the simplest way to think about presentation is to watch the head of the fly line during the swing and make adjustments. We’re taught that, for example, you can speed up your fly by mending in a downstream belly – meaning that the…
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Nice Chinook, Dake!
…and here’s why anglers love fishing during the early part of the season at BC West. Dake Traphagen displays a beautiful Dean River chinook salmon. Beautiful fish, Dake. More on Dean River Chinooks Top 5 Beast Encounters It Doesn’t Take Many You’re Probably Not Up For It