We are still months away from Alaska thawing out but the Last Frontier is always on our mind. One of our favorite ways to fish Alaska is with a fly that imitates a rodent. It is an excellent way to cover water and target big fish. There are a range of different mouse flies and…
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mousing
Timeless Tips: Mousing for Rainbow Trout
One of the most fun and unique ways to target rainbow trout in Western Alaska is by ‘mousing.’ Small voles and other rodents often find themselves in the river, intentionally or not, and our bigger predatory rainbows are always on the lookout for a meal that’s even more filling than their usual diet of salmon…
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The Morrish Mouse 2.0 – Tying Instructions
Ken Morrish’s ‘Morrish Mouse’ is arguably one of the most well known (and effective) mouse patterns ever created. In fact, it’s one of our favorite flies at Rapids Camp Lodge. However, originally tied on a traditional down-riding hook, some believe the original Morrish Mouse has a tendency for shorter strikes and potentially a higher rate…
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Prime King Openings at Alaska West
This just in: We just had a couple of cancellations for two of our most popular weeks of the season at Alaska West. June 24th – July 1st July 1st – July 8th What’s so great about these weeks? How about some of the best spey fishing for chrome bright king salmon on the planet….
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Alaska Trout Fishing – The Mouse/Sculpin Punch
During a large part of our summer, we’re fortunate to be able to target trout using one of our favorite means of all time – with mouse patterns. When its good, its great, and can make for some fast-paced, highly visual fun, at times selecting some pretty quality fish. That said, it doesn’t select all…
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Weekly Fish Stories – That Fish
We’re back today with another edition of our ‘Weekly Fish Stories,’ where guides and guests from our lodges share a brief snapshot of memorable moment on the water. Today, our own Jason Whiting shares a quick story from a day of trout fishing with a fishy father-son duo, Ted and Dean Tsandes, at Alaska West….
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Mouse Fishing for Trout – Try a Dead Drift
When fishing mouse flies for hungry Alaskan rainbows, a typical presentation goes something like this – Cast at a slightly downstream angle above your target, raise your rod tip, wiggle your rod tip back and forth roughly 8 inches apart while at the same time slowly drawing in line with your line hand. This creates…
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Mousing for Trout – Work Upstream
When mousing for trout, we tend to target fish using two different methods – banging the banks from the boat while rowing ‘drift boat style,’ or walking smaller side channels on foot. Both methods have their advantages. Fishing from a moving boat covers far more water than wading, in theory allowing you to put your…
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Morrish Mouse – Tying Instructions
We’re fast approaching one of our favorite times of year, mouse season! Chucking rodent patterns for voracious rainbow trout is one of our favorite past times, and we’re lucky to do a fair amount of it at our lodges. In preparation of the upcoming season, today we present you with a great step by step, courtesy…
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Makeshift Dolly Skaters
Dolly varden are a fan favorite during the back half of our season at Alaska West. Big, vibrantly colored, aggressive fish? What’s not to love? Towards the end of our season, dollies stack up in staggering numbers behind spawning salmon to benefit from the gravy train of fresh salmon eggs tumbling down river. More than any…
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