Get a subscription ( $10 a month ) to ExpertFlyer. Check every day or set up an "alert" on their website to to tell you when seats open up. In regards to AF... ExpertFlyer shows the same inventory that the Alaska CSR sees.... find an award seat and then call the partner desk immediately.
Having gone through several award ticket searches using AS miles for AF I found you can find what you want 355 days out.... and then a few weeks before departure.