The biggest myth about salmon fishing in Alaska is Sockeye (Red) Salmon won’t take a fly. Sockeye will take a fly, and when they do, it is one heck of a rodeo. Everyone knows about Coho (Silver) Salmon in Alaska. They are aggressive, you can get them from stripping flies, or creating wakes with a…
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Sockeye Salmon
Fly Tying: Mini Krystal Shrimp
Originator: Dave Stanley. Photos and Instruction by Mike Brown. Mike Brown is the owner of Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage, AK. A lifelong Alaskan with a passion for family, fly fishing and fly tying. There is always going to be a huge debate amongst Sockeye fishermen whether Sockeye (Red) Salmon will eat a fly or…
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Your Alaska West Salmon Calendar
Here is your 2019 Alaska West Salmon Calendar! Alaska West typically has an incredibly consistent run of the various Pacific Salmon. Veteran guides up there can almost tell you what day of the year it is based on what fish are arriving into the river system. If you have a specific species of fish that…
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Happy Valentines Day
Today’s post is dedicated to all the fishy couples out there. We hope you’re sharing the water with the one you love. But, if you can’t be with the one you love, well, love the fish you’re with. Happy Valentines Day! More From Fishy Couples Thanks for Letting Us Go Fishing One Fishy Couple A Bonefish…
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Weekly Fish Story – The Unintentional Grand Slam
We’re back with another edition of our ‘Weekly Fish Stories‘ series of posts where our guides and guests share their first hand experience of a notable moment on the water – A quick snapshot of awesomeness if you will.. Today’s weekly fish story comes from Alaska West guide, Jim Palmersheim, on a special day spent…
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The Chrome Slam
We’re really lucky to witness prolific runs of all five species of pacific salmon throughout our season at Alaska West. That means that each year some of our guests (particularly those joining us from mid/late July to early August) get a shot at the ol’ grand slam; All five species of pacific salmon, all on the fly,…
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Pacific Salmon Mini Gallery – Spawning Colors
We talk an awful lot about ‘chrome bright salmon,’ but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t think some of the colors pacific salmon take on as they start their spawning ritual were anything short of spectacular. We’re lucky that some of our lodges are located so close to the ocean that we’re able…
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Sockeye on Mouse Flies?
Most folks that have fished for sockeye salmon are aware that sockeye are extremely reluctant to take a fly. However, at Alaska West we’ve honed in our sockeye program to catch them on mouse flies. Just check out the photo of our buddy, Kasey Halcro, above! Okay, okay, we’re totally kidding. However, the sockeye above…
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Ol’ Red
We have a tradition at Alaska West that on the last day of the week, guests and staff alike gather around for a slideshow of the week’s best photos. We’re fortunate to fish for a variety of fish species including big leopard rainbow trout and chrome bright salmon, all of which make for some good…
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What We Catch at Alaska West
At Alaska West our fishery is not only incredibly productive – it’s got so much variety you couldn’t hope to sample it all in one trip. Here’s a handy guide to the species we catch at Alaska West, in very rough order of when you might catch them, except for the oddballs thrown in at…
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