Here is a stronger alternative to the improved clinch knot. Very similar, but the wraps on a San Diego Knot are around a double line as opposed to the single line of a clinch knot. When learning to tie this knot, it helped me to think about it as an upside-down clinch. The knot can…
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Timeless Tip Tuesday
Timeless Tip Tuesday: What is the Best Dry Fly Floatant, Gink or Shake?
Both! I promise I am not just trying to make you buy more unnecessary gear here. Use the strengths of both gink and shake to keep your flies riding high all day. Gink (gel based floatant) is best applied when the fly is completely dry. Here we are trying to get the material of the…
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Timeless Tips: Fly Storage on the Flats, use your Buff!
When walking the flats, less can be more. I prefer to leave most of my gear back on the boat and just have the essentials with me. A good pair of pliers on my belt, a spool of tippet in my back pocket, and a hockey puck with a few different fly choices. The plastic pucks…
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Timeless Tips: Fly Casting – Creep vs. Drift
Warning: this is a semi-detailed post on correcting a common fly casting fault. If you’re not into the detailed mechanics of fly casting, click here for some big fish photos instead! Fly casting is an art that will never be perfected, only improved upon. It’s part of what makes the sport great! Nonetheless, there are…
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Timeless Tips: Clearing Line for Bonefish
What’s the most overlooked facet of saltwater fly fishing that results in more fish lost or landed? We’d argue its that vulnerable moment of time between setting the hook, and getting the fish on the reel. That’s why today we present you with seven tips for clearing line – You’ve set the hook, chaos ensues,…
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Timeless Tips: Rub Your Fly in the Sand
So you’re out on some beautiful bonefish flat. You’ve thrown on a new leader designed perfectly for the flats. You’ve picked a fabulous bonefish fly. You’ve tied it on with a non-slip mono loop. You’re not done yet! Reach down onto the flat, grab a little handful of sand from the bottom, and rub your…
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Timeless Tips: 3 Uses for Opposing Wader Straps
Ever wonder why the buckles on your wader straps are opposite, male buckle on one strap and female buckle on the other? Most wader companies today incorporate this feature into their wader straps for good reason, its super handy! Odds are you may have found a use or two for the opposing buckles on your…
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Timeless Tips: Sight Fishing for Trout
We’re really lucky to have an extremely diverse trout fishery at Alaska West. It’s not uncommon during any part of our season to catch trout by swinging flies, stripping streamers, dead drifting sub-surface patterns, or skating mouse flies on top. However, one of our favorite ways to target big leopard rainbows is by sight fishing…
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Timeless Tips: How Far Should I Lead a Bonefish?
A question we get asked all the time at Andros South is ‘how far should I lead a bonefish?’ In other words, how far in front of the fish should I aim my cast? Bonefish are almost always moving and therefore it is important to present the fly far enough in front to avoid ‘lining’…
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Timeless Tips: Tag Your Split Shot
Way back in 2011, Alaska West alum and trout guru, JEB Hall, gave us the details for his go-to rig when slinging beads for big leopard rainbow trout. It’s still as current as it was six long years ago, so if you haven’t checked it out, be sure to hit the link to give it…
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