A common attribute of some of the best fishing guides on the planet is their ability to think like a fish. They understand their target species well enough that they can accurately predict how the fish will react in various situations. When fishing, there are many variables out of your control but knowing as much…
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King Salmon
George Cook on the Importance of ‘Engagement Range’ When Swinging Flies
Our good friend and legendary sales rep for some of the most respected brands in the biz, George Cook, has been at the forefront of modern spey fishing since the beginning. Simply put, he’s been swinging flies for steelhead, sea-run browns, resident trout, and everything in-between long before it was cool. So, when he’s willing…
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King Salmon Can’t Jump
King salmon on our home river at Alaska West are known for many things; blistering runs, breaking gear, being unusually aggressive towards swung flies.. However, while earning a reputation for one of the hardest fighting fish in freshwater, they’re also known for spending the majority of that fight under the surface of the water. Well,…
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Net Bender
Today we present you with nothing more than one of our favorite photos from this past summer season courtesy of Alaska West guide, Lucas Young. Net shot. Spey rod. And fish so big that it buckles the fiberglass handle and aluminum frame of a gargantuan landing net.. What’s not to like? Want to swing flies…
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Nice Fish, Jack!
Today we interrupt your scheduled Deneki programming to give a much deserved congrats to our pal and Alaska West regular, Jack Overly. Jack has been joining us during our king season since 2013 where he, like many of our guests, first caught the spey bug. He’s been swinging flies with us ever since, hooking gobs…
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Alaska West Video by Magnus Jepson
Our good friend and long time Deneki guest, Magnus Jepson, recently joined us this summer during the height of our king season at Alaska West. He put together a fantastic video from his trip full of big fish, spey rods, drone footage, and overall camp shenanigans from our humble abode on the Kanektok River, and…
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Timeless Tips: Fighting King Salmon – Bend the Butt Section
Our king salmon seasons in Alaska and British Columbia are underway, so today we present you with a friendly reminder of one of the most common mistakes made when fighting big fish on spey rods – not putting enough pressure on the fish! Take the photo above taken of Alaska West guide, Ben West, while…
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Timeless Tips: 5 Ways to Catch More King Salmon
We’re currently in the midst of our king salmon season at Alaska West and BC West. These are not your normal king fisheries – we’re swinging flies for hot chrome fish just a few miles for the salt, and that really turns our crank! Needless to say, we’ve got kings on the brain so we thought we’d pass…
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Opening Day at Alaska West
We just kicked off our season at Alaska West and we’re happy to report that our first run of king salmon have arrived! Despite higher-than-average water conditions, our opening day yielded steady action, with some healthy adult kings landed, and more than a few heartbreakers lost. We’re going to be on-site all season long and…
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Timeless Tips: Talking Salmon to a Steelheader
Jason Koertge has caught a lot of fish on swung flies. Besides having landed 52% of the kings and steelhead that have swum into Oregon since 2003, Jason has also chased kings with us on the Kanektok and the Dean as well. Needless to say, he’s learned a lot in the process, and in particular…
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