One of the most exhilarating and unique ways to fly fish for Leopard Rainbow Trout in Western Alaska is by ‘mousing’ for them. 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…
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Rainbow Trout
4 Reasons You Should Come Experience the Kanektok River
Reason 1: Alaska’s Fish Factory in Full Production “On a good July day, you can catch all five Pacific salmon species before lunch.” That’s how one Alaska West Lodge returning guest described the Kanektok River. It’s not hyperbole. This remote river in southwest Alaska churns out fish like a well-oiled machine—an aquatic assembly line where…
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The Alaska Freshwater Fish-Tastic Final Four
We know, it’s way past March Madness, and everyone’s brackets were busted (Thanks, Duke). Let’s shift our focus to a different kind of final four, one that swims rather than dribbles. We asked, and you’ve spoken like the NCAA selection committee. We’ll Kind of. Here are the Final Rankings of the Alaska Freshwater Fish Fish-Tastic Four:…
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DIY the Naknek River with Rapids Camp Lodge
As the summer fades and autumn sets in, Rapids Camp Lodge in Alaska transforms into a haven for fishing enthusiasts. From mid-September through October, the lodge offers a unique and cost-effective DIY Fishing program that is an opportunity for seasoned and experienced anglers eager to experience the thrill of fishing in one of the most…
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Wader Up: 3 Wading Tips For Short(er) Anglers
Fly anglers come in many shapes and sizes, and those of us who are vertically oppugned face unique but not uncommon challenges when it comes to wading in rivers and streams. We can’t always go where everyone else can go. However, with the proper techniques and equipment, shorter anglers can navigate the waters just as…
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Fly Tying: Barr’s Bouface
Originally for warm water species bass and pike, John Barr got a hankering that a smaller version would be effective for trout. He wasn’t wrong. Everything about this fly is a great all-around pattern. It has movement and action. In addition, with the type of materials you use for this particular fly pattern, you can…
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Fly Tying: March Brown by Kevin Foley
About Kevin Foley Kevin Foley is the fly-tying instructor at Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage, Alaska. His philosophy and teachings on fly tying involve the use of natural and synthetic materials to create the illusion of life. As a scientist, having received his Master of Science in Fisheries, he believes that observation and time on…
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Tips on Mousing for Rainbow Trout and Grayling at Alaska West
Mousing for big rainbow trout at Alaska West is exciting. Big Alaskan Rainbow Trout like their protein and small mammals like mice, voles, and shrews offer them an excellent opportunity to get their protein fix. Watching big trout eat a mouse is quite an experience! The same goes for grayling. Grayling also have an appetite…
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Trout Spey and Four Reasons We Like It in Alaska
You’re likely to hear the words “swing season,” “trout Spey,” or even “Micro Spey” if you speak with enthusiastic trout fly-fishing anglers across the nation. Swinging for trout gives fly anglers an alternative method of fishing and a different pace to chase trout during trout season. Trout Spey is essentially just the standard two-handed Spey…
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4 Tips for Trout Fishing in Side Channels, Braids, and Small Tundra Creeks
We’re lucky at Alaska West Lodge and Rapids Camp Lodge to have incredibly abundant and healthy rainbow trout fishing. Mice, sculpins, leeches, flesh flies, beads, and smolt fly patterns are favorites at both locations. We use single- and two-handed, trout Spey rods. And we fish lots of different parts of our rivers, from the big main…
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