A while back we ran a poll on whether or not you like to hold a loop when swinging flies for andramous fish. We received a number of fantastic comments on many angler’s preferred swinging ‘style,’ and if you haven’t read them, we recommend you check them out! When it comes to swinging flies, personal…
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swinging flies
Spey Casting in Tight Quarters – Part 3: Less Overhang
It’s time for part 3 of our mini-series of tips on spey casting in tight quarters. Today we offer you a simple but often forgotten tip among many two handed anglers. The next time you find yourself short of casting room, try casting with less overhang. Most modern spey lines (we’re talking mostly skagit and scandi heads here)…
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Spey Casting in Tight Quarters – Part 2: Back Against the Wall
Today we’re back with part 2 of our ‘spey casting in tight quarters’ mini-series of posts. Last week we kicked off the series with an explanation of how to use casting stations to work down a run shrouded with sections difficult or even impossible to cast from. Today’s topic? How to make fishable casts when backed up…
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To Hold a Loop or Not to Hold a Loop
It’s poll time here on the Deneki Blog! One of the most debated topics at our lodges is whether or not to hold a loop of line while swinging flies for salmon and steelhead. Some find holding a loop during the swing necessary to allow the fish ample time (with minimum resistance) to eat the…
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Spey Casting in Tight Quarters – Part 1: Casting Stations
When swinging flies for salmon and steelhead at our lodges, we’re pretty lucky in that most of the runs we fish consist of long, wide open gravel bars, devoid of obstacles, with virtually endless back casting room. It makes it pretty easy to get lost in the rhythm of cast, step, swing and repeat, and ultimately makes…
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Mending With Your Non-Rod Hand
Spey rods are cool. They’re fun to cast, allow for casts with limited to no back casting room, and offer the ability to throw the heaviest of flies and sink tips with ease. However, when swinging flies for anadramous fish, one of the greatest advantages of a two handed rod is the ability to mend and…
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Spey Fishing – Watch How Your Fly Lands
When swinging flies for salmon and steelhead, we talk a lot about the importance of ‘fly profile,’ the broadside silhouette the fly takes on while in the water. Many fly tyers go to great lengths trying to achieve a desired profile, and it is this idea that has stemmed many modern steelhead and salmon patterns….
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Spey Fishing – The ‘Engaged Fly’
Ever wondered whether your fly is swinging at the right depth, at the right speed, or even in the right water for the quarry at hand? We receive comments all the time about how or where the fly should be traveling when swinging for anadramous species, and for good reason.. It’s tough! Thanks to long-time spey-guru…
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Chum Love
We haven’t thrown any love towards the underdogs (pun intended) of the Northwest in a while. So, today we’re coming at you with nothing more than a cool photo of our good friend, John Wilkin, releasing a swung up chum salmon from Alaska West. Thanks to Dr. Oncorhynchus keta for the aggression and willingness to eat that…
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All About Switch Rods – Interview with George Cook
We love fishing switch rods at our lodges in Alaska and British Columbia. For the most part, we think of them as ‘mini-spey rods,’ and use them when swinging flies for everything thing from dolly varden to king salmon. We get a lot of questions from our guests and readers about the use and practicality of…
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