The flesh and bead bite is on in Alaska, and we’re all excited. You have your rod and reel prepped, your bead box is ready, and your fly box is full of fleshy goodness. As for the leader setup, you’ve got your indicator locked securely in place. However, there are times you need a long…
Read More
tips
2 Things to Consider When Swinging New Water
You, like a lot of us really like using a 2 handed rod. Some of us just want to be able to cast as far as we can across the water. Some of us enjoy executing 10 different types of Spey casts, and some of us really just want to catch a fish. Regardless of…
Read More
Fly Tying: Sculpin Toad
Kevin Foley’s philosophy on fly tying involves 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 the water is as important as time spent behind the vise, and that incorporating aspects of fish biology…
Read More
Know Your Knots
Featured photo credit Heather Hodson In fly fishing especially, it pays to know your knots. Knots are quite often overlooked in the grand scheme of things. All the attention is paid to the perfect flies, the sleek fly rod, the fancy reel, and the smooth fly line, and the leader… What about the knot? It’s…
Read More
Fishing Tip: Over Wading
Fly tying savant, fishing extraordinaire, and most importantly, Friend of Deneki, Stuart Foxall drops some knowledge about wading while fishing. Trust us, this is something you’ll want to consider. Enjoy! There’s one major mistake that I see made while swinging for kings on the mighty Kanektok River time and time again. Over wading……and here’s the…
Read More
Alaska West Netting Tips
If you are a fishing guide there might be no quicker way to go from hero to zero than messing up a net job on a client’s fish. But if you fish enough and you have to use a net to land fish you are bound to screw it up now and then, no matter…
Read More
Guide’s Corner: Hawkeye at Alaska West
Army Veteran and former Professional Rodeo Cowboy, Phil “Hawkeye” Hawkins, has been leading Alaska West clients on phenomenal outdoor fishing experiences as a Guide and Set-Up Lead for the last nine seasons. This Veteran is a lover of all things fishing, outdoors, and dogs. During the offseason here at Alaska West, Hawkeye also serves as…
Read More
Weights In Front Of Your Streamer
At the recommendation of a very fishy friend, I have been experimenting with putting weights in front of my streamers or baitfish flies. There are some things in fly fishing that I just cannot explain. After awhile I give up trying to figure out why exactly they work, I just simply let the fish tell…
Read More
Get To Know Your Tailing Loops
One of the most common casting flaws fly anglers experience, especially as they learn to double haul, is the infamous tailing loop. This occurs when the top part of the casting loop drops below the bottom part of the loop, this can happen on either the forward cast or the back cast. The result of…
Read More
Double Haul Round Up
It has been awhile since we did a “Round Up” post where we gather up some of our favorite previous articles on popular fly fishing topics. Today we wanted to go over the Double Haul. A cast that will greatly increase your success when saltwater fly fishing. Line speed, timing, form and coordination are all…
Read More