It looks like RIO has just changed the spey running line game with their new GripShooter line. It’s running line that combines Slickshooter with a PVC coated ‘handling’ section at one end. More details shortly – let’s start with the background. Background Spey and switch anglers who prefer mono running lines like them for a…
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Spey
Jordan Sly’s Trout Swinging Rig
Jordan Sly is back today, this time with another information-packed post for our Expert Rig series. Jordan Sly’s Trout Swinging Rig Here at Alaska West our river is just asking to have a fly swung through the water column. Swinging flies for trout is not only fun, but it is also often very effective and…
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Try a Mono Running Line on Your Switch Rod
If you’ve read many of the posts about spey fishing on our blog, you know that a lot of Deneki-folk prefer mono running lines on our two-handed rods. There’s a lot of personal preference in running line choice for sure. Mono running lines have some drawbacks – notably a bit of a learning curve in…
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Sage ONE Switch Rod – 8116-4 Review
When we heard that the switch rods in Sage’s ONE lineup would be 11’6″ long, we got pretty excited, for two reasons. Rods north of 11′ tend to work a lot better for our ‘short spey’ applications of switch rods. Yeah, an 11′ rod might overhead cast better…but in our world we don’t overhead cast…
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Spey Fishing Etiquette
We’re calling today’s post ‘Spey fishing etiquette’ just because that’s a more manageable title than ‘swinging flies on foot working down a run etiquette.’ Our suggestions apply to any situation that matches that description – single or double-handed rod chasing any anadromous fish. And, in case it isn’t obvious, these rules apply to conditions in…
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Skagit vs. Scandi Heads and Keeping it Simple
Whitney Gould is a master spey caster and guide, and we’re really happy to have her back at Alaska West this summer. Thanks to Whitney for this great overview of spey line selection, and the best applications for Skagit and Scandi heads! Keeping it Simple The phone rings, and when I answer my Mom’s voice…
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Top 6 Spey Casting Videos
Over the past few years we’ve posted a bunch of videos about spey casting. Here are our 6 most popular. Have a look – you never know when you’ll pick up a tidbit or two! NOTE: If you’re viewing this in a newsletter or a reader, click here to see the videos on our web…
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5 Reasons to Fish Week One
You might have heard that Alaska West runs a spey instruction program during our king salmon season – we bring the best casters and teachers in the world to the lodge to help you get better with your casting. Charles St. Pierre is our longtime instructor during the first week of our season. Today he…
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Alaska Fishing Guide Secrets
Today we’re starting up a series of posts on Alaska Guide Secrets. Various members of our guide crew at Alaska West will pass on some tricks of their trade, and you’ll be the ones the benefit. Our first post comes from Adam Kryder. Take it all in! Don’t guess the depth of the run –…
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Bougle Contest Winner – Tom Ehrhard’s Steelhead Rig
We’re thrilled to present to you the winner of a brand new Hardy Bougle, courtesy of our ‘Tell Us About Your Steelhead Rig’ contest. Tom Ehrhard took this one home with his entry that appears in its entirety below. Before we get to Tom’s rig though, we need to say a few things. You folks…
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