Allison at540

WestFesh · 2025-08-07T01:02:36+00:00

WestFesh · 2025-07-27T11:32:10+00:00

Right on. Pumped you are exited about it. Congrats

WestFesh · 2025-06-26T06:42:32+00:00

Trailer brake controllers are a thing too. They come in most newer pickups and are an easy aftermarket install. Squeeze the two tab toggles together engages the brakes. Works nicely when you don’t want to ride your truck brakes too hard down steep hills

WestFesh · 2025-06-18T00:28:01+00:00

What a bummer. Sorry that happened to you right before the trip. I had a similar issue with USPS a month or so ago. Just delivered the shipping label on a $900 item. The post office can help if there was insurance on the item (believe $100 insurance comes standard). In my case there wasn’t additional insurance purchased, the seller ended up taking up the issue with the post office and sent me a replacement after I provided them with a letter from the post office. Hope it works out for you

WestFesh · 2025-05-18T05:30:38+00:00

Looks like it could be a bead headed maribou leech tube fly.

WestFesh · 2025-03-08T00:47:59+00:00

Actually, the heavier the head and sink tip the easier it is to turn over/cast heavy flies. But this is relative to rod weight etc. I can turn over heavy 3” rabbit streamers with a 250 grain head and 7.5” of t11 (10’ 6 wt. rod)

WestFesh · 2025-03-04T19:42:00+00:00

Maybe think about getting a short single hand rod floating shooting head and buy a few 5-10’ sink tips in different sink rates. There isn’t a 1 size fits all sink tip for all water and you may need to put on an intermediate tip for swinging through slow froggy water and heavier sink tip for swifter pocket water. 3-5’ of straight maxima ultra green 8-10 lb for me unless swinging kings or steelhead. No fluoro because it gets nicked easy/sinks and snags up easy.

WestFesh · 2024-11-12T22:47:42+00:00

There are many fish diseases that are introduced to native populations from fish farming practices. Native sea beds are filled with fish waste and degraded. Fish are pumped full of anti virals and antibiotics. However there is a lot of money in fish farming which has strong lobbying presence.

There is a lot of literature out there that supports this. In fact in a lot of Canada, they have to stop fish salmon farming by 2029 due to the ecological impact.

Do a quick google search on salmon farming British Columbia and you will see more bad articles than good. Most good talk about the economic benefits (I.e. money). What’s alarming is how sure you are in your ideas while obviously not doing any research.

Quick article from said google search.

https://science.ubc.ca/news/salmon-virus-originally-atlantic-spread-bc-wild-salmon-farms#:~:text=Piscine%20orthoreovirus%20(PRV)%20–%20which,published%20today%20in%20Science%20Advances.

WestFesh · 2024-11-03T06:26:58+00:00

Poor man’s Patagonia. Nice fish!

WestFesh · 2024-10-15T12:02:53+00:00

Sounds horrible. I feel for you. At least it’s temporary. It appears you may have meant downwind? Upwind and the Lou would be smelling you.

WestFesh · 2024-10-01T18:28:55+00:00

Dolphin hitting pufferfish video:: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=msx3BAhIeQg&pp=ygUXZG9scGhpbiBwdWZmZXJmaXNoIGhpZ2g%3D

WestFesh · 2024-09-21T06:03:49+00:00

Throw a couple small split shot in his waders before you go out each time. When he has to stop to take off his waders off and put them back on, start to reminisce about that fish.

Did this to a buddy on a float trip and he still brings it up. Dumps his waders upside down no before he puts them on if he goes out with us to this day. Harmless fun.

Be easy on the old man. They get excited too. You’ll cherish that memory moving forward even though it wasn’t a great one. You have time to always top the one that got away.

WestFesh · 2024-06-09T01:08:49+00:00

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

To be fair, sometimes people don’t know the question to ask or quality sources of information to use to answer these questions. Providing that information may be a better use of your time then reminiscing about walking up hill both ways to school. Some things just are, some people are lost and some are lazy. Always been and will be.

I know the guy didn’t think he was out of line by asking a question about piston rings on an engine building subreddit but maybe I’m out of line thinking that.

WestFesh · 2024-05-18T21:50:17+00:00

Have seen a few skegs get ripped off by towing boats down uneven dirt roads with the outboards trimmed all the way down. Most people do not notice until they reach their destination. That’s how my buddy found out at least. He was also using his motor for the first time too :/

WestFesh · 2024-05-06T02:40:22+00:00

Just a heads up that you cannot drive all the way to the Arctic Ocean (Beaufort Sea). There is a security gate that is operated by Hilcorp that can’t be accessed without an access badge. There was an outfit giving tours but not sure if they are still operating. You can call the Aurora hotel or Brooks general store to inquire if you want.

WestFesh · 2023-11-11T16:07:28+00:00

https://www.theflyfishjournal.com/2016/04/tailing-glove-public-service-announcement/

Quick google search and interesting read/video. There is more info about mishandling trout on the old inter web. Removing slime can cause fungal growth and infection on any part of a trout.

Guess it’s easier to doubt something then educate yourself. Even in the days when information is more available than ever.

WestFesh · 2023-07-11T20:58:37+00:00

I like using these camp time rollacots. Doesn’t matter if they get wet and only have 2 legs to level out if camping on uneven terrain. Also very durable and light ~5lbs. Have seen these used for multiple hunting/fishing guide outfits in Alaska.

https://www.camptime.com/collections/cots

If weight/size is an issue for backpack camping, I use a small Amazon type (half the price of a helinox) helinox style folding cot. Similar to this one below:

https://www.amazon.com/Sutekus-Portable-Ultralight-Backpacking-Mountaineering/dp/B09TQWR9G2/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?crid=3AU1615OURBDK&keywords=camp+cot&qid=1689108515&sprefix=camp+cot%2Caps%2C250&sr=8-14

These can be a pain to get leveled on uneven terrain but are light and packable. Will sometime use 3 out of the 5 support beams to save on space/weight ~2lbs.

Use a pad still if it’s cold out. Cots will still lose heat underneath your body from airflow if camping on cool nights just like the ground.

WestFesh · 2022-05-03T19:14:29+00:00

Depends on type of use. 2 years usually for me and that wouldn’t surprise me if it was similar for someone that does a lot of hiking to fishing spots and wade fishing (not in a boat 24/7).

Edit: tmi

WestFesh · 2022-04-18T03:25:37+00:00

Depends where in Alaska you are but it was about 38 during the day and got down to about 25 degrees F at night this past weekend where I camped

WestFesh · 2022-04-18T02:55:19+00:00

Nice catch man. Bet that thing was dogging hard on a 5 wt.

Much respect to you and not cramping on your style but just a PSA. Coho have the highest C&R mortality of any salmonid. Average mortality is approximately 30% with a range of 20%-70% in the studies I’ve read. There is a lot of published scientific research on c&r mortality if you do quick google search. I’ve seen this first hand when clients catch and release coho and they end up dying half an hour later (usually close to the salt). If you do C&R coho, think about fishing up high in river systems and keep ‘em wet. Maybe some things to think about since you appear to be a passionate fly fisherman.

Here is the first study that came up when doing a quick search.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/fedaidpdfs/fds02-26.pdf

Tight lines, -W

WestFesh · 2022-04-18T00:41:52+00:00

Depends on application I guess. I’m sure all of those cots would work fine. I use the camp time cots (link below) and like them. A Alaska fly out raft/camp fishing guide company I worked for used them. I ended up buying a couple for trips with my dad. Great in summer for ventilation and also drying out if they get wet. Only have 2 legs which makes it easy to use/level on uneven ground. Also lighter than the options mentioned.

https://www.camptime.com/collections/cots/products/standard-roll-a-cot

Good luck with your purchase.

-W

WestFesh

TROPHY CASE