Whether it’s a choker king fresh from the Dean Channel or that gagger Alaskan Chinook melting away yards of your backing, one thing’s for certain: This is no time for a Junior Varsity track meet. When that mega-king blasts off into hyperdrive—and make no mistake, it will— there’s always the temptation to chase it down, so remember…
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King Salmon
Bend the Butt Section
Our king salmon seasons in Alaska and British Columbia are fast upon us, 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…
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Double Trouble
What’s the only thing better than landing a king salmon on a two hander? Landing two king salmon on two handers at the same time. Yes, really. Sound good to you? We still have a few prime-time spots left! Drop us a line to get in on the action! More on King Salmon 5 Ways to Catch…
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Aqua Flies for King Salmon – 5 Favorites
In a few short months we’ll be heading North to kick off our summer seasons, swinging flies for one of our favorite species of all time – Big, bright, sea-lice ridden, king salmon. Due to their affinity for deep water, kings are a notoriously difficult species to target on the fly in many areas throughout…
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Fish Hard, Wade Easy
We could talk all day long about why we love our home river at Alaska West – from our impressive run of chrome bright king salmon, to our stunning resident leopard rainbow trout, to our staggering numbers of aggressive cohos, to our, well, you get the point. However, one aspect of our river that many…
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Half Way There!
While winter may have officially just begun, this time of year our minds can’t help but wander towards one of our favorite times of the year.. King season. That’s mid-late June through mid July in our neck of the woods, and unfortunately, that’s a long time away. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news. We’re less than…
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Brown Trout in the Kanektok?
No, not really.. That’s just a ‘jack’ king salmon in full spawning garb caught by our buddy Chandler Cook at Alaska West Lodge. Many anglers are aware of the shocking transformation of our beloved king salmon as they transition from the chrome bright appearance from their years at sea, to the brilliant ‘fire-truck’ red as…
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Jerry French’s ‘Dirty Hoh’ Coming to a Fly Shop Near You
If you like swinging flies, odds are you recognize the name of steelhead guru and Alaska West guide, Jerry French. Along with his friends, Ed Ward and Scott Howell, Jerry was part of the braintrust behind one of the most widely used fly patterns in modern Northwest steelhead fishing; The Intruder. Since its creation, numerous steelhead…
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Bling!
Today we present you with nothing more than a photo that any hardcore salmon or steelhead angler will appreciate.. We talk all the time about how much we love catching big salmon and steelhead at our lodges, the majority of which are as bright as the face of nickel – a tell tale sign of fish…
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Show Some Respect
Today we present you with a quick write up and video, courtesy of our pal Stuart Foxall, on a topic near and dear to our heart; the importance of showing a little respect to your quarry. Thanks Stu! Show Some Respect! Earlier this summer, I was fortunate to fish with Alaska West guide, Jerry French, for…
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