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38 © Travel Juneau Travel © Departments Features Fish Alaska Traveler 6 Destination Juneau by Troy Letherman 38 Alaska’s third-largest city, Juneau is situated in the heart of 46 Fish Alaska Gear Bag 10 © Glenn Hall southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, and residents Fish Alaska Online 12 and visitors to the capital city are treated to over 130 miles of groomed hiking trails, any of 114 species of birdlife, all Fishing for a Compliment 14 fve of North America’s Pacifc salmon species, both brown Fish Alaska Families 16 and black bears, and several diferent species of whales that inhabit the Inside Passage. It’s a coastal paradise, in other Salmon Sense 20 words, ripe for the discerning traveler to pick of this year’s destination list. Fish Alaska Fly 22 Boats Adventures in Pasagshak Fish Alaska 24 by Rick Birch 46 Fish Alaska Saltwater 34 Hoping to make family memories that will last a lifetime, Fish Alaska’s Rick Birch headed for Fish Kodiak Adventures Fish Alaska Stillwater 36 to experience a smorgasbord of both fresh- and saltwater Fish Alaska Recipe 78 fshing opportunities. Whether fshing out the back door on the Pasagshak River or heading into the protected waters Advertiser Index 81 ofshore, Birch shows why this remains one of Alaska’s best Fish Alaska Final Drift 82 angling destinations. Fathers & Sons by Marcus Weiner 52 60 Fish Alaska Publisher Marcus Weiner has made many trips © Terry W. Sheely W. Terry © to the Nushagak River for its red-hot Chinook fshing, and while those trips were awesome, none reached the heights of his latest visit to Bristol Bay Adventures, because this time he was there with his son. Join Marcus and Charlie for this king-fshing adventure to one of Alaska’s best fshing rivers. Cross Sound by Terry W. Sheely 60 Cross Sound is the open end of a gaping salmon funnel, and Fish Alaska Contributing Editor Terry Sheely takes us to this Southeast salmon crossroads, fnding a bonus in the bottomfsh and halibut available. River of Plenty: The Togiak by JD Richey 66 66 You can do it all here—cast to surface-sipping grayling, © JD Richey battle fresh-from-the tide kings, stalk leopard rainbows behind spawning sockeye in clear tributaries; there are even aggressive northern pike in the backwaters and endless fats teeming with chums, sockeye, silvers and pinks. Here JD Richey explains how and when to make your trip to the Togiak special. COVER / Fish Alaska Publisher The Guide’s Perspective by Ken Baldwin 72 Marcus Weiner poses with Iliamna River guide Ken Baldwin of Angry Eagle Lodge takes his favorite fishing partner, us behind the scenes in this feature, teaching anglers how to son Charlie Weiner, and a be Prepared, Practiced and Fit before their trip to Alaska, and 72 Nushagak River king salmon showing how that will result in a lot more fsh being caught © Ken Baldwin © Ken double. © Brian Woobank once here. January 2017 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 3 PUBLISHERS Marcus Weiner Melissa Norris ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Patrick Speranza Kathy Anderson EDITOR Troy Letherman OPERATIONS MANAGER Wayne Norris EFFICIENCY MANAGER Ana Taylor ART DIRECTOR Bailey Anderson PRODUCTION MANAGER Russell K Porsley III

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Greg Brush, Troy Buzalsky, Andrew Cremata, Les Gara, Scott Haugen, Pudge Kleinkauf, George Krumm, J.D. Richey, Terry Sheely, E. Donnall Thomas Jr.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Hastings A. Franks, Ken Baldwin, Anthony Madden, Tony Davis, Kristin Dunn, Brian Woobank

REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS George Krumm (907)-529-6172 Rick Birch (907)-394-1763 SALES REPRESENTATIVE Alan Mariner (907)-345-4337 Fish Alaska Magazine PO Box 772424 Eagle River, Alaska 99577 Toll Free 1-877-220-0787 (907) 345-4337 main (907) 223-8497 advertising www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Check out our subscription specials at www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com Already a Subscriber? Call for our renewal specials! (907)-345-4337 Toll Free: 1-877-220-0787

Fish Alaska magazine is published ten times annually in January-July, Aug/Sept, Oct/Nov and December by Fish Alaska Publications, LLC, P.O. Box 772424, Eagle River, Alaska 99577. Send all address changes to P.O. Box 772424, Eagle River, Alaska 99577. One year subscriptions are $30 U.S. dollars for subscriptions in the U.S., $50 U.S in Canada, and $80 U.S. in all other countries.Te single copy price is $6.99 in U.S. dollars. To subscribe by phone please call 907-345-4337. Editorial correspondence should be sent to Attn: Editor, Fish Alaska magazine, P.O. Box 772424, Eagle River, Alaska 99577. Unsolicited manuscripts and photos will be considered, but must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Although we will take care, Fish Alaska is not responsible for the loss or return of unsolicited materials. Te opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the opinions of Fish Alaska magazine publishers and editors.

©2017 by Fish Alaska Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. upping the game. He had a knack for store in Anchorage, the youngest store bringing in products that would sell like manager in the entire company running a crazy for the right price. He led employees thriving location. Wade shared stories of Fish in Peace, Paul Miller. who respected him and sought to earn his diferent promotions Paul conceived to get (1939-2016) by Melissa Norris respect. And Paul always extracted the best customers to come into the store, including from his people because he led by example. the time he wanted Wade to build a huge A married couple visiting Alaska from their He was frst one in, last one out and he display of goldfsh to give away while the home in Arizona walked into Soldotna worked his tail of in those long hours. He store sold aquarium merchandise. Another Hardware store. Tey were on the Kenai was an exceptional businessman, a natural time Paul taught Wade a lesson in point-of- Peninsula for their dream vacation fshing leader and also a kindhearted family man. purchase. Paul had bought a huge order of for salmon, hoping to enjoy the trip of One of Paul’s sons, Scott Miller, tells StarKist tuna in a can. Wade spent a couple a lifetime. Tey were not particularly another story from when he went of hours making a 6-foot tower from all these experienced anglers, however, and as it to business school in Hawaii. During a cans of tuna. Paul came along and helped turns out, their timing was less than ideal retail management class he was taking, a by taking a bunch of cans out of the display. for the peak of the sockeye run. Tey were professor told a narrative about a manager He told Wade, “You don’t want to make it disappointed they had not caught any of a national corporation that was known too nice. People won’t want to mess up your fsh to take home and shared their story for his management skills. Te tale he told display. Tey need to feel like they can grab when they happened upon Paul Miller, about this manager was of him speaking in some out of there.” the proprietor of Soldotna Still, as these and more anecdotes pile-up, Hardware. After visiting with for those of us who knew him, it seems as them and hearing their tale, if there’s always something more to say, one Paul asked them to meet him more narrative of Paul’s impact on anyone back at the store an hour later. who came across him, another tale of his He drove home, flled a cooler generosity to spread. For instance, a couple with his family’s vacuum-sealed of years back, a series of substantial wildfres fsh from his own freezer and hit the Funny River area in Soldotna. It was he took it back to share with a the second largest wildfre in the history of couple he had just met, for no the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge area. other reason than the spirit of Te volunteer fre department in the area pure generosity he exuded on a is tasked to bring their own equipment, daily basis. and with the scale of the fres, many of the On another occasion, a volunteers were coming in to buy shovels local man came in to the and other debris-clearing tools. Tey were store looking to buy a dip quietly comped, the frefghting equipment net. With the sockeye season given out at no charge, the volunteer well underway, they did not frefghters told money wasn’t necessary. have any dip nets remaining With the amount of wilderness in the in stock and nobody had any area, fres have caused trauma for several for sale anywhere in town, or families across the Kenai Peninsula over the across the entire peninsula for years. Tere was one family in particular that matter. Paul went home from Ninilchik, a couple with four kids to get his and loaned it to the who were incredibly poor and then had man so he could fsh for his their house burn down. Tey came into the family. Paul’s wife, Sherril, Paul Miller was a family man who cared most about store to buy things like a kitchen sink and commented, “You may not get family, living the Alaska lifestyle, and giving back to water heater, and the father asked Paul if he his community. © Soldotna Hardware that back.” would put it all on an account so they could “So be it,” Paul answered with a shrug. GSPOU
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pay in installments. Paul told him no; there “It could happen, and if it does, then he rallying them to be great with his motto would be no charge. Te family cried with must really need it.” “go big.” Te story the professor told gratitude, and overall, it was an extremely Tat was Paul Miller, and there are no was so familiar, and the phrase “anything emotional moment. A couple days later shortage of these tales of his incredible will sell for the right price” resounded in their family of six shufed into the store selfessness, his sense of community and Scott’s mind as the teacher spoke. Scott and performed an impromptu Christmas how far out of his way he was willing to go approached him after class. “What is the concert for Paul right there on the spot to to help another in need—even if Paul never name of the manager from the story?” show their gratitude. Teir music was all thought he was going out of his way at all; Scott asked, but the professor could not they had to give. if someone was in need, helping was just remember “It doesn’t happen to be Paul On another day Paul was at his boat slip what you did. Miller?” Scott asked. in Homer. His longtime boat-slip neighbor Paul Miller bought Soldotna Trustworthy Indeed it was. was there cleaning his boat and Paul saw Hardware 30 years ago with his wife Sherril Longtime friend and past employee him putting out a “For Sale” sign. Paul was and together they made their business a Wade Huls says he learned most of what concerned. He had grown very fond of this huge success, helping customers, employing he knows in business from Paul, who was kind man over the years and so he asked many folks from the area and fundraising his manager at Pay ’N Save back in the him what was happening; the neighbor told for youth programs. Paul started out in day and who inspired Wade to eventually him they had to move out of state. His wife business as a young Pay ’N Save manager become a store manager. Paul was a retail had been diagnosed with cancer; they could and that’s where he learned the art of legend within the corporation. He was not aford to keep their home, and they retail management while simultaneously the manager at their Northern Lights were moving in with his wife’s mother. Paul 6 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com January 2017 January 2017 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 7 asked if that was what they wanted and the make it to all of the kids’ and grandkids’ man shared that no, they loved it in Alaska sporting events. He would travel to and wanted to stay. Without being asked, Anchorage and even Washington to see the Paul ofered, “I don’t want you to lose your grandkids play sports. He sat on the board house; how much do you need?” Te man for Little League in Soldotna for over 10 told Paul a number. Paul went home and years, since he loved helping kids and had wrote him a check for that amount. Te so much to ofer from a management and neighbor said, “Tere’s no way I’ll ever be creativity standpoint. With a solid board able to pay this back.” Paul didn’t care; he assisting him, Paul and his team grew the wanted him to have it. league from a couple hundred kids to over Last summer when Paul had a stroke he 800 and added fve ball felds during his had to spend a couple weeks at Providence tenure. He even helped build a Big League Hospital. Te boat-slip neighbor who had program for older kids to continue playing. moved out of state since then made a special Paul was an avid fsherman, of course. trip back. He came into the store hoping He loved being in the outdoors and sharing to fnd Paul. Scott, who was working at the it with the ones he loved. He loved fshing time, told him what was happening and silvers on the Kenai and halibut on his that Paul wasn’t able to see anyone. Te boat out of Homer. Once a year he would man insisted; he had to see Paul. Scott told charter a plane for a day fy-out with his him to call Sherril and she would let Paul boys and a couple of their friends to make know. Paul agreed to let the man visit him sure they got that quality time together. in the hospital. Te man arrived, and he 1BVM
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shows and vans of men’s dress socks. He had years after Paul had helped save the man’s one halibut hole and nine lives. He took home. Tere were a lot of tears of gratitude care of kids and he took care of the elderly that day because Paul had changed this and he felt very strongly that everyone else family’s life. should work their butts of. Everyone speaks of Paul’s legendary Paul’s immediate family consists of generosity, yet he never wanted to be Sherril, his wife of 30 years; his daughter, acknowledged for it. He believed if you Pam, and her husband Russ; sons, Mark couldn’t give because it was the right thing and wife Barbara, Brian and wife Carla, © 2017 FLY DENALI, INC. DENALI, © 2017 FLY to do then you should not be giving at all. Brent and wife Angie, and Scott and wife He never allowed Soldotna Trustworthy Roxy; plus his 10 grandchildren, Dustin, Hardware to be promoted for giving Sean, Colt, Amanda, Bryce, Tucker, Zane, donations. In fact, he would likely be pretty Haley, Sabrina and Melia; and his great- upset with us for this exposé, but if the grandchild, Zaydn. outcome is that we are all more generous and Adding all this and more up, how do kind to each other, modeling our behavior you tell the story of a man who was truly a on Paul, then it is worth unmasking. giant and summarize it in just a few words, Years after establishing Soldotna without the entire efort seeming somehow Trustworthy Hardware, two of Paul’s unworthy? Paul’s kindness touched the sons, Scott and Brian Miller, entered the lives of many people, while his acumen for business full-time. It was in 1991 when Paul business and retail sales built his success successfully recruited them. Tey each had and leadership that he also shared. All worked in the store as teenagers but went I could think to do was to impart stories their own ways to college and then starting from the people that knew him best and their careers. Paul encouraged his boys to loved him the most. Paul Miller, husband, learn by trying and if a mistake was made father, grandfather, great-grandfather and from it, then they would come together as a community philanthropist from Soldotna, team to solve the problem. Tey all learned passed away this last August, leaving fond collectively that way. memories in the hearts of many. His legacy With two of his sons in the business, is all around us. together they took the store to a new level, Running Soldotna Hardware and until their customer base had outgrown the Fishing together today, Brian holds on tight TQBDF
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to something Scott told him about carrying home of Soldotna Hardware and Fishing. on the family legacy. He said, “If between Te Millers kept the classic hardware look us we can be half the man Dad was, then and feel of their long-standing business we can do it.” Not only can they do it, but doubled their square feet. It was Paul’s they’ve been doing it. And they are each dream come true. Now every single day the man their father was. Tey will think of their loyal customers fock to the store for their dad and make decisions based on his a fair deal on quality merchandise. Tey teachings and continue to be the well-loved know they will be treated with kindness leaders their father was, and like Paul, they’ll and respect. have their whole family behind them. Paul was an incredible husband and devoted father and grandfather. He tried to Melissa Norris Scotty Fishfinder Mount for Float Tubes Lamiglas G1000 Pro Rod Series www.scotty.com www.lamiglas.com We used this mounting system on Acme Tackle Little Cleo From the classic shaped cork an Outcast Prowler float tube with a www.acmetackle.com handles that are easy to grip to the Lowrance Hook 4 Fishfinder and the For over 30 years Little Cleo new exposed reel seats on both system worked well. It includes mounting spoons have been helping anglers casting and spinning models, plates for both sonar and transducer, take limits of fish throughout these rods look classic and modern which fastens to the mounting plates that North America. The unique all at the same time. Fuji-built come with your sonar and transducer. humpbacked shape of a Little double-lock reel seats hold your Each mounting plate incorporates a slot Cleo results in a seductive, reel firmly in place. Choose from to slide in a strap that you fasten around wiggling action. As the lure is casting or spinning models that your float tube. The mount will work on pulled through the water, the are dynamically optimized for a most Lowrance, Humminbird and Eagle illusion created is one of a fat number of fisheries and techniques. Fishfinders. Being able to mount a sonar OPST Shank Chuck Tool baitfish, acting in an erratic or The look and feel is classic on your float tube will definitely increase www.opskagit.com confused manner. This odd behavior triggers the predatory Lamiglas, updated to the newest your catch rates. This tool is the long-awaited solution for tiers nature of the gamefish. Fish strike out of curiosity and anger, as generation of fishing rods. of Intruders and other shank-based flies. Until well as hunger. This three-way appeal draws more strikes and now, there was no good option for holding explains Little Cleo’s fantastic success. It works well in both ice- a shank securely in place. The OPST Shank and open-water fishing. Chuck Tool’s precision jaws accept and grip even the smallest shanks with a few turns Pro-Cure Mr. Icehole Ice Gel of the screwable chuck housing. The tool is www.pro-cure.com compatible with shanks up to about 1.2mm Mr. Icehole Ice Gel is made from real whole bait, then supercharged in diameter. Once secured, the shanks do not with powerful amino acids that trigger fish to feed. Then it’s UV- Berkley Lightning Rod Ice Combo move, even with intense pulling on the shank. enhanced for extra appeal. The special formula won’t freeze-up, so it’s www.berkley-fishing.com Extraction is a snap. By unscrewing the housing usable at all temperatures. Ice Gel is super sticky so it sticks to jigs, The combo is available in three rod lengths: 24-, 28- or 32 inches and in rod and flipping the inner chuck around, the tool spoons, soft plastics and dead- and live bait. It’s available in two-ounce power including ultra light (24-inch), medium light (28-inch), medium (28- converts to a tube adaptor that accepts tubes squeeze bottles. inch) and medium heavy (32-inch). Rods are paired with a 20 size spinning reel and mandrels from .125-inch (3.175mm) down spooled with Trilene Micro Ice line. Combos feature HT foregrips, skeleton reel to about 0.078-inch (2mm) in diameter. seats, SS304 guides and a ported aluminum spool on the reel.

January 2017 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 11 January in Alaska means many different things; the deepest, darkest days of winter are behind us, the hustle and bustle of the holidays has passed and it’s time to look forward to the year ahead. Get ready for 2017 by going online and checking out our new digital issue, this year’s Virtual Boat Show, an online-exclusive ice-fishing article from interior Alaska and get help planning your 2017 Alaska trip. January Highlights:

Ring in the New Year with our new digital magazine! Current subscribers can now view Fish Alaska online. Don’t have online access? Visit us online and click “Request Online Access” and we’ll send you login information you can use to view the entire issue. Check out Fish Alaska’s 2017 Virtual Boat Show to learn about the latest boats, outboard motors, watercrafts and accessories deemed fit to fish in

The Last Frontier. Featured products Bonus Online Only Content include products from SeaArk, Xtaero, Hewescraft, Pristine Ventures and more. See our latest web-exclusive article by Mike Lunde called “Chena Lakes Ice- Fishing Extravaganza”. Go online to get in-depth details on ice fishing during the notoriously harsh winters of the Interior. © iStock.com/VisualCommunications

Publisher Melissa Norris is ready to be inspired by the Anchorage Museum’s exhibit titled Camouflage: In Plain Sight. The exhibit expands well beyond our normal ideas of camouflage to explore how we work to be seen and unseen and she can’t wait to share her experience with readers online. Alaska is a big place—get the scoop with our free online trip planning service under the Plan a Trip tab on our site. Just answer a few questions about your trip, and an expert at Fish Alaska will help you plan your trip.

www.fshalaskamagazine.com Chloe Wonnacott, 9, with a nice silver in September 2016 on a float Dave Brougham with a nice Kodiak silver on trip down his 77th birthday in 2016. Kodiak Island’s Uganik River. Oliver Cuerda, 9, of North Attleboro, Blake Parker, 8, spent MA, with his first silver salmon at Chris Reinhard, 4, of his birthday on the Rainbow Bend Lodges on the Wasilla, AK, with his first Deshka and finally Naknek River in King Salmon, AK. trout in January 2016. caught his first real king after catching only pike and a couple jack kings the year before.

Jim Johnson of Naknek River Leo Fuller and his grandson Peyton Fuller with Stefanie Cromarty hooked this Camp in King Salmon, AK, sent in a pair of silvers on the Kenai in August 2016. nice chrome king on a skirt this photo of a rainbow measuring spinner from Kodiak Custom in around 30 inches caught in Fishing Tackle while fishing August 2016. Deep Creek over Memorial Day weekend. Creed Weedman, 5, of Wasco, OR, with his first-ever silver salmon in Alaska on the Wood River in August 2016.

Paul Vanasen and his son, Zac Chris Taylor and his son Reid of Palmer, AK, Vanasen, of Porterville, CA, fishing with an upper Kenai River rainbow they for reds on the Kenai in July 2016. caught over Labor Day weekend.

Angie Bolog of Wasilla, AK, with her first yelloweye caught in Prince William Sound out of Whittier, AK.

Renee Marquez of Hollister, CA, with a 60.4-pound lingcod caught out of Seward, AK, Sam Towarak and Charlie Cromarty in August 2016. are pictured here. Charlie, 4, caught this Allison Emmett with a Summer dime-bright king on his own rod in Deep Solstice king salmon she Creek over Memorial Day weekend. caught on Montana Creek off SEND US YOUR the Parks Highway. FISHING PHOTOS! Jacob Wendt with a pike he caught E-mail hi-res .jpeg photos to: on a fly-out trip to Alexander Lake russell@fishalaskamagazine.com. with Trail Ridge Air last summer. Subject Line: FFC. Please include vital caption information in the e-mail. You can also mail photos to: FFC, PO Box 772424, Eagle River, AK 99577. Include a SASE if you want it returned. Include a Sue Young with a separate caption for the photo. Do not beautiful silver that she write on the back of the photo. We will caught with her new let you know when your photo will fly rod on the Kenai appear in the magazine. Lady’s day on the Nushagak River with River in August 2016. Marty Yuknis, Cirrus Jones and Marty Schwarz. their value, so you should be able to resell it if you maintain it. Tere were a couple A DragonFly Adventure to Tonsina Creek spots that needed extra caution and the aid by Melissa Norris of lifting the whole Chariot for safety, so you don’t want to attempt the trail alone. Another option is to carry toddlers in a good hiking backpack. Older kids can make this hike on foot. Once we got back Andrew set us up with 10-foot, 7-weight Redington Path fy rods with Redington Behemoth fy reels. Andrew explained the Path rods are beefer than your typical 7-weight fy rod, making it a good choice for using on chums and sockeye that are extra feisty in the saltwater. He likes them paired with those Behemoth reels, too, stating that their drag system is unparalleled. We began to cast but the wind was blowing pretty hard and it was difcult to get your line where it needed to be. We were ahead of the tide going out and The views on the Andrew had tried to reach me to push our Tonsina Creek trail trip trip back an hour to limit waiting time, are simply stunning. but I did not get the call. No worries for us © Melissa Norris. Left: because we are always up for an adventure Andrew and Dan pose with Aloisha, and it was a a bright, blue-sky day. After Emerson and LBJ with 
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a nice ocean-caught learned it is about the experience far more chum taken on a fly. than the fsh catching. © Adam Cross Later their friend Adam Cross joined us with his two sons: 10-year-old Aloisha and 8-year-old Emerson and their cousin LBJ, who was visiting from Texas. Tose Alaskan Early last season my husband Wayne and boat harbor in Seward, but I recommend kids were fy-casting machines! You could I began searching for a single-day fshing you also consider a guided hike-in trip tell it’s in their blood to be a hardcore fy- destination that would allow us to bring with DragonFly to the Tonsina Creek Trail fshing nuts. LBJ was a complete hoot, our toddler along, yet still ofer an of-the- or some nearby lakes to experience the best making all kinds of sounds once he hooked beaten-path favor. I posed this question to of both worlds. up his spinning rod with a beefy saltwater Andrew of DragonFly Fishing Guides and We drove out to Lowell Point and were chum. “I can’t hold on…I can’t hold on,” he suggested Tonsina Creek in Seward. So able to pay to park in the state parking you would hear in his Texas drawl. Ten this past July my husband, his parents and that is available. After spraying down with he would giggle and hoot contagiously. He I took my two-year-old daughter on a road some much-needed 3M Ultrathon, we had us all laughing and appreciating life! trip to Seward in our motorhomes. We got just the basic gear we would need to Once the tide came in it brought more stayed in Trail Lakes Campground near NBLF
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around and the kids and guides landed into Seward to meet Dan Marshall and a very leisurely pace. Much of the trail is several nice chum salmon. We only fshed Andrew Scrivo, the owners and guides from rocky and there is a steady incline and you for a couple hours since we had our baby DragonFly Fishing Guides. Tey would are surrounded by beautiful hemlock and with us, the highlight being the contagious give us a taste of an easier walk-in day-trip cottonwoods sprinkled with spruce trees joy coming from the boys. It is a trip we’d they provide guests. Based in Seward, their as well. Resurrection Bay shows through like to try again when Maizie is big enough specialty at DragonFly is fully-guided, the trees in several places, afording some to hike-in and fsh. My husband’s parents freshwater, fy-fshing experiences on the spectacular views and anticipation of the really enjoyed this hike-in fshery, too. Kenai Peninsula. wilderness fshing that lies ahead. Te trail Tey grew up in Seward but had never Seward is really known for awesome is well-used and easily identifable. been to this creek! saltwater so it is unique that DragonFly’s Since Maizie had just turned two we Some Alaskans may want to do this Fishing Guides’ Dan and Andrew show strapped her in our Tule Chariot Cougar fshery themselves if they are avid hikers you the freshwater side of the area, ofering 1 with big enough jogging wheels to and fy fshers and are equipped to do some variety on your otherwise salty trip. handle the terrain and her dad steered her so. It is doable with a little bit of research Seward brings Alaskans from all across the to our destination. Tis is a great stroller! and knowing tides so you can be there state plus non-resident visitors from the *U
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when it is safe as well as fshable, but I get world-over to its streets, docks and beaches is handy for getting to places like this. We asked time and time again how to learn every year. Tere is some excellent saltwater bought ours barely used on Craigslist and to fy fsh and I always tell people to hire fshing for kings, silvers, halibut and other then picked up a couple extra attachments a guide. Tey have far more knowledge bottomfsh to be had, leaving from the for biking and skiing. Tey really hold than most and they know the waters they fsh regularly. And Dan and Andrew, in particular, are highly interested in teaching introductory fy fshing to guests and this is a nice little trip to start with. Tey love to help you catch fsh on a fy rod for the frst time. Tey are equipped more than many to teach you since they also are both schoolteachers. Dan has been been teaching at Seward High School and for Kenai Peninsula College for the last twenty-fve years. Andrew taught elementary school for seven years before starting DragonFly. He still coaches wrestling and track at Seward High School, coordinates a suicide prevention program in the middle school and is enjoying being a stay-at-home dad with his new baby twins, who are seven months-old. I asked the two guides how they became business partners and Dan told me, “I have long considered the guiding business on the Kenai, and I found myself actually moving on the idea, when I discovered that Andrew wanted to leave education and go into business. I don’t take choosing a business partner lightly and Andrew has the qualities that are necessary to make a partnership successful. He is amiable, positive in the face of adversity, has tremendous people skills, uses a high social intelligence to navigate delicate situations, and is really tech savvy. Tere is a thirty-year age diference between us, which might make us unlikely allies, but it does work, and I have a partner that I can absolutely count on.” Dan and his wife Jackie have two college-enrolled sons and with their house emptied they are no longer following kids around the state, so the timing was good to open the business. You can tell Dan is so happy doing what he is doing as he held a beaming smile the entire time we spent with him. With the Tonsina Creek trip you get a little exercise and a unique experience and a beautiful freshwater add-on to your salty Seward trip. And if you are going to be in Seward for any length of time you should also consider one of the other day trips ofered by DragonFly Fishing Guides, such as salmon or trout fshing on the Kenai or exploring a nearby lake. “We are really good at putting fy rods in the hands of folks that have never fshed fies before,” said Dan, “and giving them an enjoyable, satisfying experience, whether it is drifting the Kenai River or in a foat tube fnning for trout in one of the mountain lakes of the Kenai Peninsula.” Not only that, but they are really good guys to boot. Reach out to Andrew and Dan at 907-491-1018 or check out dragonfyfshingguides.com.

Melissa Norris is Publisher of Fish Alaska. baits have been pretty sad-looking. Te fsh in the bags of bait I bought this past summer were ugly—they were missing all their scales and fns and had a yellowish pall to them. Inside, the fesh was mushy and white. A far cry from a fresh-caught Salvaging Sardine Wraps sardine, which will have a brilliant blue Story and photos By JD Richey or green back, silvery scales all over their fanks and all fns intact. When flleted, Wrapping sardine fllets to the bellies of big the meat should be bloody, oily and a deep wobbling plugs like Flatfsh and Kwikfsh reddish color. has been a technique employed by savvy If all you can fnd are the crummy baits, river salmon anglers for decades. Te there are a few things you can do. First of, action of the lure and the natural scent of see if you can fnd tray herring instead. If an oily sardine is a combination that often not, it’s time to doctor up the ugly sardines proves irresistible to kings in freshwater. and try to make the best out of them. But unless you’ve been lucky enough One of the things I like to do is brine to catch your own sardines over the past whole sardines in one of the many few years, chances are you’ve been dealing commercial liquid baitfsh cures on the with less-than-stellar bait in recent seasons. market. I like Atlas-Mike’s Brite & Tight, Good sardines have been hard to come but you can also use Pro Cure’s Brine & by at many bait shops. I’ve heard that the Bite with good results—or look online and whole net-pen tuna industry has been fnd a homebrew. wiping out baitfsh populations around Te salts in these cures will toughen up the world as ungodly amounts of forage the baits and also impregnate them with fsh are needed to grow the tuna to market- scents that will hopefully mask the freezer size. Additionally, El Nino and other ocean burn smell that some of them have. Most conditions have apparently made the CSJOFT
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sardine fshery of California almost non- the instructions on the package) and I opt existent recently—and that’s where a lot of for the longest possible time in the mixture the bait that ends up in bait shops on the when curing old, mushy bait. West Coast originates. Another way to breathe some life back So, what this all means is we river salmon into old sardines is to put them in a Zip- anglers have been getting sardines that Loc bag with some rocksalt and let them look like they have been in the bottoms toughen up over night. After that, fllet of freezers for years. In some cases, you the fsh as usual and then put the fllets can fnd some good stuf but overall the scale-side down in a plastic container and sprinkle a sodium-sulfte salmon egg cure onto the fesh. Let that sink in for several hours and you will get a tougher bait that has that sulfte scent that kings seem to love. You may also opt for just pouring non-iodized salt onto the fllets and then coating them with your favorite liquid scent or bait oil and let it all marinate overnight. Some of my favorite add- on scents include anise, sand shrimp, garlic and crawdad—but don’t be afraid to experiment. Tere’s obviously no substitute for good, fresh sardines but the above suggestions can help you make do when they’re not available. One other way you can go is to wrap your plugs with tuna out of a can. Tuna wraps surprisingly well to the belly of a plug and hangs on for much longer than you would think. Salmon really bite tuna well—and best of all, it’s easily obtained at just about any grocery store. You can make a bad, store-bought sardine (below) more appealing to your JD Richey is a contributing editor fishing targets with sodium-sulfite salmon for Fish Alaska magazine and can be reached egg cures, other liquid scents or bait oils. through his website at www.fshwithjd.com. 20 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com January 2017 January 2017 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 21 MATERIALS: Thread: Veevus Hot Pink, 140 Denier Dubbing Spinner: OPST Dubbing Spinner by one. As an added beneft, this technique a more involved rigging process than with Shank: OPST 32mm Steelhead Shank a wire loop, but I think it looks better and doesn’t produce rubber-leg butts that take Mono loop: OPST Pink Lazar Line, up space and need to be covered up. it allows you to put the hook exactly where 30-pound Mini Squid ɨF
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you want it. Plus, unlike with a wire loop, it Fly Pattern & Photos by Ben Paull Steelhead Shank. To secure that shank I doesn’t lock you into a particular hook size. Eyes: Hareline Double Pupil Lead Tis is a fun pattern to tie and fsh. It’s also a am really enjoying the brand new OPST Eyes, Orange/Black, Small good choice when both trout and steelhead Shank Chuck Tool, the best shank-holding Butt: Nylon Chenillie, Fluorescent Pink, may be present, as in southeast Alaska, for tool that I am aware of. I made some of Small example. It could also be a useful pattern the legs a little short on this pattern, but Ben Paull grew up in Washington, taking Body: Lateral Scale, Pink in the Great Lakes, but I have not tried it it should still fsh well. Tis pattern is family trips to Vancouver Island where he Legs: Chicone’s Barred Regular there. rigged “classic Intruder-style.” I tied a loop really fell in love with fy fshing. Fantasies Crusher Legs, Fl. Orange/Clear Te Mini Squid features one fairly simple of mono down the shank to start the fy, about Alaska lured him to guide on the Composite Loop: UV Lavender Ice composite loop, OPST barred ostrich, UV making a little loop that sticks out just Kanektok River after college, where he was set Dub, UV Purple Krystal Flash and on a trajectory to eventually become general Lavender Ice Dub and the new Chicone’s behind the chenille butt. Chicone’s Barred Crusher Legs Barred Crusher Legs. I really like all of these For rigging, the leader runs through the manager of Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics. Wing: OPST Signature Barred Intruder materials, and while putting the rubber legs eye of the shank, down through this little Now he lives in Seattle and fshes from the in the composite loop may seem tricky, for mono loop, through a section of OPST eastern Washington desert to the high Cascades Drab, Shrimp Pink a loop this small it’s not difcult; plus, it’s Junction Tubing, and it is then tied with to the beaches of Puget Sound. easier than trying to tie and place them one an improved clinch knot to the hook. It’s

Step 3: Tie-in a length of Lateral Scale just in front of the chenille and wrap it forward in tight, close wraps up to just behind the eyes. Step 1: Secure your OPST 32mm Steelhead It is best to cover the shank with thread first, Shank into an OPST Shank Chuck Tool. Lay because the bright thread will show through down a thread base, secure your eyes and the Lateral Scale, creating a nice effect. then tie a doubled section of monofilament or OPST Lazar Line down the shank to just Step 6: Wet the loop thoroughly. Part the past where you start your fly. Leave enough materials, compress and form them into as of the loop free so that you will be able to compact a hackle as possible so that you slide your leader through it later. can wrap the most material in the smallest area possible. Wrap the loop as a front shoulder, palmering as you go, finishing just behind the eyes.

Step 4: Lay down a base of Ice Dub about two inches long. By pinching and pulling Step 5: Load this whole assembly into a them between your fingers, try to organize dubbing loop. Using your whip finisher or other the fibers so they are the same length. Break pointed tool, arrange the fibers so that they those fibers that are too long and stack the are spread out evenly. As long as you apply dubbing over a black line. The line represents tension with your left hand, you can even pull Lay down a ball of the nylon Step 2: the thread of your dubbing loop. Then add on the fibers that are too long and adjust them chenille, about three wraps’ worth, just in about an inch of Krystal Flash, and about as necessary. Now spin your OPST Dubbing Step 7: Select 8- to 10 strands of OPST barred front of your mono loop. Tie-in two rubber 6 rubber legs, arranged 50/50 over the line. Spinner. Using your whip finisher or some other ostrich and tie them in just in front of your legs on either side of this ball, propped up Now put an equal amount of dubbing on top tool, pick out the fibers in the dubbing loop. composite loop. Whip finish and apply head against it so they stick out as desired. to make a sandwich. Then brush the dubbing loop thoroughly. cement. in New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Zambia and three in the United States, including Ron’s Honda New Year’s Resolution: in Soldotna, AK. Stabicraft features 19 Check Out These New Boats models to choose from, in sizes ranging Story by Troy Buzalsky from 14- to 30 feet in length. Models include the Frontier, Explorer, Fisher and Born on New Year’s Day, the start of their fagship Supercab series. the New Year is always memorable for *O

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me, and because of that January has the pinnacle of international design always been a great month. For some the recognition—a Red Dot Design turning of the calendar starts with a New Award! Tey received this award with Year’s Resolution or two, which typically their innovative Fisher Carbon that include losing weight, getting in shape, melds aluminum and carbon-fber into quitting a bad habit or even paying of an aesthetically-pleasing and high- debt. For me, each New Year includes the performing combination. Stabicraft’s was pledge to get out and enjoy the outdoors one of more than 17,000 applications and more frequently, experiencing new areas, competed against design giants such as and of course, fnding more time for my BMW and Ducati just to name a couple. favorite pastime—fshing and boating. When it comes to innovation, To truly enjoy the outdoors and the Stabicraft has been leading the feet since abundance of angling opportunities inception. Form and function together available, you’ll eventually need a boat, provide for Stabicraft’s style and its on- and this column examines three high- the-water performance. Stabi’s, as owner- caliber boating manufacturers that are groups call them, are designed with a getting things right by each having flled built-in life-ring made from continuous a niche market within the boating world. tubes of individually-sealed foatation Tese boats include Stabicraft, Hard chambers incorporated into the upper Drive Marine and Pristine Ventures. extremities of the hull. Tis design forms Stabi’s trademarked Positive Buoyancy Stabicraft and legendary good looks. Te design If you were to think of New Zealand you creates a wide chine beam that increases might envision the majestic Red Stag stability, reduces roll and creates a less Deer or the unique fightless Kiwi, which fatiguing boating experience. Te new is also the afectionate name of those Arrow Pontoons create a softer shoulder from New Zealand, but if you’re a tried-and-true water enthusiast you might know that the clearest and cleanest water in the world originates in Blue Lake, part of the fabled Nelson Lakes National Park. And for boating zealots not only do 1-in-3 people living in Auckland own a boat, but also no part of New Zealand is more than 79 miles from sea. What’s less well-known is that 30 years ago in a backstreet workshop in Bluf, New Zealand, Paul Adams and Bruce Dickens built the frst rigid hull aluminum air-chambered CPBU
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has taken the North American market by storm with its craftsmen and has dealershipsstyle and features. while creating a sharper entry. Tis unique with anglers worldwide and at a quick Confdence,” words that most avid drawn attention from all corners of the design provides for an exceptional ride glance you can easily see why. Te newly anglers can appreciate. If you’re serious world. So what was the “hook” that was so through chops, swells and those pesky designed “Game Chaser” transom is about safety and stability, are looking for intriguing with this all-welded aluminum wind waves. carefully crafted for the diehard angler. a lifetime of great fshing opportunities boat? Well, the hook is actually a claw and ɨF

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Te transom is engineered to increase and want to adventure with confdence, it allows the boat to literally crawl itself up to a large-footprint ofshore-style boat control and maneuverability while Stabicraft should be on your short list. To the shoreline…and back down. with a modern interpretation of the older operating in idle and reverse. Te design learn more go to www.stabicraft.com. “If You Can Dream It, We Can Build lean-forward-glass pilothouse design. Te also allows water to fow around the It” is the mission and motto of Hard Ultracab boasts a roomy, fully-enclosed transom, which is great for chasing fsh Hard Drive Marine Drive Marine, out of Bellingham, WA. cabin with full Alaskan Bulkhead and and ideal for navigating in fowing seas. I was amazed when I frst saw it, and Owned and operated by Tom Day, its signature forward-leaning windscreen Te transom layout is also angler- I wasn’t the only boating enthusiast innovation and quality production are that ofers improved visibility and friendly, featuring wide gunnels for mesmerized by the online video. In fact, hallmark traits deeply imbedded within efectively more interior room. Te seating, fold-up aft seats, a smartly- more than 30 million YouTube views the company’s core. Hard Drive Marine Ultracab’s new design has taken the North designed transom fsh box and easily confrm that the Hard Drive Marine’s got its start when Tom, a longtime American market by storm with its style accessible dry battery storage. Te dance specialized landing craft-style boat has marine- and aluminum fabricator built and features. foor is intentionally designed his frst personal boat, proudly named the Te Ultracab features a smartly- in a wide-open manner, and Tommycraft. Before long, word-of-mouth designed interior that easily converts from fshing is a pleasure at the was spreading and Day had four contracts a well-appointed cabin to an overnighter corner fshing positions. Te for commercial fshing vessels. Tis initial with berth space for up to 4 adults. Te transom is ideal for twin order helped solidify Hard Drive Marine cabin is large in size and seems even larger 
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coastlines is mission-critical for your makes for the perfect location for a pair proof positive that Stabicraft ofshore or inland adventure, a landing of kayaks, stand-up paddles boards, crab is doing something very Hard Drive Marine’s specialized landing craft-style boat craft-style boat is ideal to get you there, and pots, storage pod or even a dinghy. right. Stabicraft’s tag line has drawn attention from all corners of the world. equally as important, getting your stuf Te Ultracab has earned high marks reads “Adventure with transported. ATVs, fuel, construction material, lodging sundry supplies…

A landing-craft-style boat is ideal for opening up more access to Alaska’s most remote areas. the list is endless, and so are the space delivered a custom LC7 Landing Craft requirements, and that’s the beauty of complete with Maxgate and JaxCab to the Landing Craft platform. To achieve the Newhalen Tribal Council out of a beach landing, landing craft-style Iliamna, AK. Te ultra-unique craft boats typically use a low chine coupled that they have dubbed “Te Safety with a shallow deadrise so the boat Boat” is used to transport groups can get closer to the shore. Tis design and equipment throughout the area, works for loading and unloading but including into remote hunting grounds kills the high-speed performance and that were difcult if not impossible to makes for a rough and miserable ride access. Another Alaska success story is in rough seas. Hard Drive Marine has the Eagle Charters landing craft named designed its custom aluminum landing Joe’s Tonka Toy located in Elfn Cove, AK. craft to run in all conditions and deliver Te very visible 30-foot Tonka Yellow when and where you need it! Tat’s landing craft features a 700-gallon fuel why they call it a “High Speed Landing tank, specifcally designed to fuel the Craft,” because it’s built for speed, and feet at Elfn Cove. Te boat gets up a whole lot more. BOE
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with the Maxgate Landing System grab the shoreline and pull the boat up, and/or JaxCab will be “hooked.” or push it down. Te Maxgate provides For more information go to www. increased stability while loading and harddrivemarine.com or visit their unloading in both high winds and tidal Facebook page; videos are hosted on swings. To avoid being beached, the both. Maxgate can pull and push the boat up and down the shoreline as the tide ebbs Pristine Ventures and foods and can be operated with a Having foated remote Alaska in the wireless remote control. If the tide goes past, those nine days and nine nights go out, leaving the boat high and dry, no down in my memory bank as the best problem; the Maxgate just pushes the trip in my life—period! As we enter boat into deeper water, safeguarding 
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the engine and drivetrain. Te Maxgate foat is again at the top of my annual also allows the operator to land the bucket list, and if I realize my dreams, bow door onto a dock or pier with the I’ll be making the foat with a few select spikes and rubber bumpers creating a friends in true packraft-style. “dock saddle.” Tis feature allows dock Pristine Ventures emerged as a niche loading without lifting heavy cargo over company in 1998, helping others to gunwales, and because only the door is explore Alaska’s most remote locations touching the dock, you only need the by outftting and guiding small groups width of the boat for dock space! into the backcountry. Today, Pristine Another brilliant Hard Drive Marine Ventures’ focus has aligned itself exclusive is called the JaxCab. Te with the self-guided do-it-yourself JaxCab is a hydraulically-moveable pilot adventurer who is looking to access the house allowing for infnite mobility and most remote areas possible, whether adjustment. A landing craft equipped hunting, fshing or eco-exploring. with a JaxCab is no longer stuck with Tis emphasis has created an ever- the infexibility of a f xed aft cab. improving R&D mission, and Pristine With as much as a push on a lever the Ventures has established an impressive pilothouse can efortlessly be relocated product line that is unique to Alaska’s to a forward position, a middle position demanding personality, while also or an aft position…and anywhere in providing unparalleled quality, reliable between. Tis single feature creates the support and high-performance gear for most fexible work station possible for the next DIY wilderness adventure. the true sportsman, whether a crabber, Larry Bartlett, owner and product lodge owner, property developer or engineer for Pristine Ventures of sport angler. Te fexibility is 100% in Fairbanks, AK, is not only the brains your hands. behind the operation, but also the Recently Hard Drive Marine brawn, logging countless hours himself in Alaska’s wilderness. Larry’s both a pioneer and an icon when it comes to conquering the elements of the 49th state’s backcountry, and as one rafting enthusiast stated, “I believe Larry’s experience on remote rivers in Alaska has given him a unique insight into those needs that many manufacturers do not fully appreciate, because they are targeting all markets, not just Alaska foat-hunting, fshing and exploration.” In the early days Larry partnered with the likes of SOAR and SOTAR infatables, designing the frst generation of rafts for backcountry access. Te newest products are 100% designed, developed and manufactured by and for Pristine Ventures with a focus on being suitable for bush applications. Requirements include being lightweight and easy to stow, BEFQU
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favorite, is the Pristine Ventures Kork. cargo of the boat’s foor but also puts the oarsman in a more Taking the design of the popular PR- ergonomic position for rowing and daylong use. In addition, it 49 and stretching the footprint to 11 stabilizes the center of gravity, allows the boat to navigate easier feet, the Kork features an exaggerated and provides enhanced protection from abrasion, punctures stern and a more bulbous nose. Tis or tears—something you want to avoid when you are in the increase in waterline drastically middle of nowhere. increases its weight-carrying capacity, In the infatable market there are a variety of products which is rated at 1,100 pounds. including rubber, Hapalon, urethane and PVC. Pristine ɨJOL
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White King Fever Story and photos by Terry W. Sheely

Te infatuation with white kings seems to be growing. And it puzzles me. For the life of me I can’t fgure out the zealot-like passion held by an expanding number of saltwater anglers and cooks for catching Chinook with meat that’s pale white rather than sunrise red. Perhaps I’m taste- In some circles it’s believed that white kings taste better bud challenged, too hungry to pause and search for savory subtleties or on the plate, but whether you believe that or not, what’s more likely just too dense to detect subtle nuances in favorings. A sizzling not up for debate is the fact that they hit hard and fight buttery moist fllet of king salmon on my plate is just that—a slab of faky harder—just like every other king. choice—regardless of color. Perhaps I have a latent bias. Te frst fork of white king steak to ever cross my palate was dry and a bit coarse. More like old halibut than succulent salmon. In retrospect, of course, I now lay that experience of carotenoids is dominant, and inability is determined by a weaker to overcooking, but the ghost memory still hides in my taste buds and recessive trait. fashes a prejudicial dry-dry-dry when I slide the fllet knife in and fip Dominant red traits dominate weaker white traits, which translates over a white fllet. into fewer white kings. My prejudiced palate is, however, in the minority. To the swelling Physically, red and white kings are identical. I’ve heard anglers contend ranks of others, catching a white salmon is an event somewhere north of that a white king fghts harder and eats better. More likely the white Happy Dance and slightly south of biblical manna. king is a healthy wild-spawned fsh and the lackluster red king has some Possibly it’s the rarity of white kings that anoints them with such hatchery in its background or is just a weaker specimen. It happens. acclaim. If it’s rare it’s gotta be exceptional, eh, and white kings are As far as the superior favor, in my opinion it’s a product of convincing certainly rare. publicity. Tell the masses a fsh is rare and its meat superior and pretty How rare? soon it’s accepted as true—regardless of how subjective taste is. Kings are the only species of Pacifc salmon that produce specimens For example, less than a decade ago white kings were disparaged, with non-red meat. You won’t fnd a white-meated silver, chum, pink commercials threw them into the pile of seconds headed for the cannery PS
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or smokehouse where the white meat would be hidden. Restaurants according to several studies in B.C. and Alaska. couldn’t sell a white king. Another study, this one all-Alaska, identifes several Southeast river Somewhere some marketing genius began foating out white kings drainages where white kings are so plentiful they are almost the rule. as rare “ivory” kings. Rare ivory kings had a better ring than genetic- .PSF
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defcient white kings and because the price per pound was lower than for In fairness, and because it’s really not a ft month to actually go outside red-meat salmon, more fsh buyers gave it a whirl, and with a good sales and fsh, I decided that this column is an opportunity to probe a little job built a market for white—uh, ivory kings. deeper under the cover of white kings. From a nutritional standpoint, research has shown white kings and Around most fsh-cleaning tables, the common explanation for why red-feshed kings are identical in composition of lipids, moisture, protein one king is white and another red goes straight to diet. Most kings eat and omega-3 fatty acids, the “good” fats that ward of heart disease. shrimp, so the wives’ tale goes. Shrimp are pink and high in iodine, which Do they taste better? is reddish on the drugstore shelf. Vis-à-vis salmon that eat shrimp have A Tlingit man told ADF&G he prefers white king because “It is much red meat and salmon that don’t eat shrimp have white meat. oilier and tastier.” Good story, but not true. Not even close. On the opposite side, a world-famous New York restaurateur says he Diet, according to every ichthyologist on the WWW and ADF&G loves the favor because white kings are “less oily.” Juneau, has everything to do with red salmon meat. White kings eat the More or less oily, white or red, ivory or white, fghter or wimp, same foods as red, but the meat remains white because of genetics. scientists are wisely reluctant to take stands in such subjective waters. If All species of Pacifc salmon and most certainly all Chinook, with the you are convinced a white king fghts harder and an ivory Chinook tastes JSPOJD
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their foods into their muscles, leaving the fesh neutrally white. Chilkat, Taku, Unuk and Chickamin rivers, according to ADF&G. It’s not what they eat that determines the color of a salmon’s meat, Any river can produce a white king, the odds are just better in it’s if they can metabolize the pigments into muscles and that ability is these four. determined by pure genetics. Something to think about when mapping next summer’s fsh trips. Blame or credit goes to the parents. Te ability to process carotenoids is an inherited trait, according to ADF&G biologists. Research proves that when two white kings are mated they produce Terry W. Sheely is a contributing editor for Fish Alaska magazine and can be white king ofspring. Mated red kings produce red kings. reached through his website at www.tnscommunications.net. When a red king and a white king mate, the ability to process Presentation stubbornly refusing more traditional Fishing this setup is simple. Cast it out far enough that the line methods. It will work from ice-out to will reach the bottom. Let it sink until you’re sure it’s laying on freeze-up. With the heavy tippet, you Sliding the bottom. If you’re fishing in five feet of water with the Deep won’t lose fish to breakoffs very often Story and photo by George Krumm 7 line, that will take about 10 seconds. If you’re fishing in 10 and you don’t need to re-tie knots as feet of water it will take about 20 seconds. often. Because of all of the above, it saves Most of the lakes in southcentral Alaska are weedy. We are often Once the line is lying on the bottom, the fly will be floating time, allowing you to fish effectively for trying to fish a fly close to the bottom, sometimes through or above the bottom roughly the length of the leader—three feet. more minutes of the day, in a variety of over weed beds, as that’s where much of the trout food lives. Then you begin your retrieve. As you move the fly, it will dip depths, with the same rod and line setup. The feeding trout are often cruising just above the carpet of with each pull on the line and rise when you pause. The line weeds on the bottom. Likewise, woody debris is found here will slide along the bottom, over and through the weeds while Cons and there. Snagging on woody debris sometimes results in your fly fishes just above them. The erratic little rises and dips In my experience, there is only one con, a lost fly. Perhaps equally as unfortunate, a small amount of of your fly are often irresistible to the fish. This method is but it’s a big one. Fish will sometimes take weeds on your fly usually results in the fish not taking it, and if my favorite method of fishing dragonfly nymphs during their floating flies fished this way deeply— you don’t check often, you could fish unproductively for quite migration, but it also works well with the Booby, which doesn’t certainly more often than they do with a while until you notice you have weeds on the fly. look much like anything in nature. It will work with virtually more traditional methods. Because of Traditionally, when trying to fish close to the bottom without any buoyant fly. this, it is imperative that you de-barb an indicator and with a horizontally retrieved fly, we cast out, You can also use this method while trolling slowly. Simply your hooks so that tissue damage is let the fly sink while counting seconds and then begin our cast out the line then strip off extra line as you move along. minimized. It is also vital that you have retrieve. There’s a lot of guesswork in this ‘countdown’ method, Allow the fly line to settle to the bottom, then begin slowly a pair of forceps readily available so that and in our attempts to fish close to the bottom we often end trolling. You need to troll slowly enough that the fly line slides you can gently back the hook out of a up catching weeds. Then we have to clean off the fly and try along the bottom. You can impart extra movement to fly with deeply-hooked fish. You may end up again—this can mean a tremendous amount of time on the the rod tip, or by pulling and releasing line as you move along. with a bleeding fish using this method; if lake where we’re not fishing efficiently. I’ve done this in water as deep as 20 feet with good results. that happens you should be prepared to There is an easier way that works well, sometimes. I am harvest that fish. If you’re fishing catch- minimizing—it works well, often. The method can be Pros and-release waters, it might be best to employed from a stationary float tube or boat, or while slowly Sliding is efficient, versatile, easy and effective. It can be used not use this method. (very slowly) trolling. It can be used from the bank, too, as in the shallows, as well as at depths in excess of 20 feet. It Deep-hooking incidents can be long as you have room for a back-cast. It may seem backwards greatly reduces the incidents of our fly snagging bottom or minimized by keeping the fly moving, in that it involves using a fast-sinking line, a short leader and a being fouled by weeds. It will often work when the fish are sometimes quickly. I always tell people floating fly. I call it Sliding. they are moving their fly too fast, but with this method some retrieve speed is Equipment actually preferred to minimize hooking For this technique, I usually use medium to large buoyant fish deeply. flies such as Kaufmann’s Floating Dragon, the Booby or an Despite the not uncommon deep- unweighted Muddler Minnow with a rather large deer-hair hooking issue, there is no doubt that head to ensure it floats. The fly must float for this technique Sliding is very effective. Perhaps the to work. It pays to have several flies if you’re relying on those biggest challenge to employing this tied with deer hair, for after a few fish they will often become method is finding floating flies such waterlogged and will settle into the weeds. Flies that rely on as the Booby or Floating Dragon. You foam for floatation, such as the Booby, will float well all day. may need to tie them yourself, or find a Since the flies are on the large size, I use a six-weight rod for buddy who will tie them for you. Sliding this method. My favorites of late are a North Fork Composites will help you fish close to the bottom nine-foot, six-weight and a TFO Impact nine-foot, six-weight. efficiently and effectively all season long. I use a fast-sinking fly line—the faster the better. The best line I’ve found for this technique is Rio’s Lake Series InTouch Deep 7. This line sinks at a rate of seven- to eight inches per second. The idea is to get the line on the bottom fast. This saves time. To the end of the fly line, I attach a three- to four-foot length George Krumm is a contributing editor for of 2x fluorocarbon tippet. I attach my fly to the tippet with a Fish Alaska magazine and can be reached non-slip loop knot. at [email protected]. Alaska’s capital and third-largest city, Juneau is bufeted by towering, 3,800-foot-plus mountains on one side and the Gastineau Channel on the other. It’s situated in the heart of southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest and lush, varied terrain and wildfowers abound. Te Mendenhall Glacier lies just 13 miles from the city center and is a major attraction—its face is 100 feet tall and one and a half miles wide; it stretches six miles deep. Backing the glacier and the town is the +VOFBV
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and visitors are treated to over 130 miles of groomed hiking trails. Hop on a boat and the approximately 600 humpback whales that inhabit these northern Inside Passage waters every summer are only minutes away. Because of Juneau’s location near the heart of southeast Alaska, the area ofers convenient access to Glacier Bay National Park, Tracy Arm Fjord, the Taku River, Admiralty Island and the Pack Creek Bear Preserve, as well as a host of secluded wilderness resorts. Flightseeing companies ofer aerial tours of the Mendenhall Glacier and Juneau Icefeld, and helicopters can land on the ice for short hikes. A range of tour companies also ofer visits to the twin Sawyer Glaciers, located in Tracy Arm Fjord, while others may head for the world-famous Glacier Bay National 1BSL
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Juneau. Outdoor enthusiasts will love Juneau’s kayaking, rafting, biking and hiking opportunities, while Juneau fightseeing excursions present another chance to get out amongst the spectacular scenery. For a towering view of downtown Juneau, take the tramway up Mt. Roberts. Regardless of your choice, Juneau promises to enchant, and obviously, as a summertime Alaska destination, Juneau ofers something for everyone—and that includes anglers. Te marine angling environment in the region is fush with halibut, lingcod and rockfsh and most Juneau-area streams host sea-run populations of Dolly Varden and Alaska’s coastal cutthroat trout, while a handful also ofer the chance to chase steelhead in late April and May. All fve of North America’s Pacifc salmon species can be targeted in close proximity to Juneau, if not right in town itself, and the salmon-fshing action can be as scorching hot here as anywhere else in Alaska. Top: Overlooking the city of Juneau and Gastineau Channel. © Travel Juneau. This A huge part of the reason Alaska’s state hearty silver is a shining example of the salmon fishery offering great-eating fish capital has leaped into the forefront as a and a good time in the saltwater. © Travel Juneau. Bottom clockwise from top Southeast salmon fshery can be reduced to an left: Whales bubble-net feeding is an amazing sight to see. © Travel Juneau. Kings acronym: DIPAC, which stands for Douglas and halibut are huge draws to the area. © Rum Runner Charters. Boat Dogs are Island Pink and Chum, an enhancement a common sight in Alaska. © Rum Runner Charters. Rockfish fillets and other program that has elevated Juneau’s historically bottomfish offer a great way to bring home fresh Alaskan seafood to erratic king and chum salmon fsheries to a enjoy long after your Juneau trip. © Rum Runner Charters. Elfin Cove level of predictability anglers can bank on. is a plane ride away. © Travel Juneau. 6QXBSET
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38 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com January 2017 fshery, and halibut can accomplished on six Kofer custom-built occasionally be caught in aluminum welded boats captained by guides Auke Bay and in both ends expert in local waters. Te lodge provides all of Gastineau Channel at of the fshing gear, bait, fsh-cleaning services, the doorstep of Juneau, freezing and fsh boxes as part of its package. but the rule is the longer For anglers interested in sampling the the boat ride toward Lynn excellent fresh- and saltwater fsheries along Canal and Icy Strait, the the Juneau road system, all it takes is a rental better the fshing. Most car and a sense of adventure. In many areas, Juneau halibut are in the you can literally take ten steps from your car 
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and wet a line. Decent angling actually starts and catch rates typically in late March, early April and May with grow towards the heart of chunky Dolly Varden and steelhead cruising summer, as more halibut the waterfront and stacking up of Sheep move into inside waters Creek, Auke Bay and along the shallow edges chasing salmon on their of Gastineau Channel, before heading into spawning runs. the local streams. It ends sometime in late Tere are a number October when cold winter rains freeze out the of charters available in last of the coho and Dolly fshing. Juneau that cater to Road system highlights include Montana traveling anglers, such as Creek, which fows right through town. Rum Runner Charters, Anglers can hike into the mouth of the creek Captain Chris Conder of Rum Runner Charters with a which specializes in via the paved Mendenhall Glacier Trail or fsh nice Juneau silver. © Rum Runner Charters. private and small-group up or downstream of the bridge of Back Loop charters. Tey ofer half- Road, while also hitting the upper reaches by day and full-day trips for following Montana Creek Road until it dead- salmon are stocked into Gastineau Channel salmon, halibut or rockfsh, while also ofering ends in a cul-de-sac, where there’s a trailhead and nearby waters through the Macaulay a two-and-a-half-hour whale-watching tour, that leads to the creek. Cowee Creek, located and Snettisham salmon hatcheries each year. a Captain’s Choice whale’s wildlife excursion UPXBSET
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Te kings and silvers are set aside for sport and a deluxe all-day fshing and wildlife safari. the Glacier Highway), ofers a sprinkling of fshermen, while sport and commercial Travelers can also choose to visit an area steelhead in the spring, plus cutts, Dollies, anglers share the chum, pinks and sockeye. lodge in order to sample the region’s sport- pinks and chum salmon. Tis means that from April to October there fshing opportunities, and two of the best are Sheep Creek is down near the southern end are salmon to be caught in the shadow of the Elfn Cove Resort and Pybus Point Lodge. of the road system, not far from where it dead state capitol, often from as close-by as the Situated in Elfn Cove on Chichagof Island ends, and ofers a short hatchery coho fshery public fshing dock not far from the hatchery. with a postcard view of Cross Sound and the in the fall. From the high-tide line to the falls, Two runs of kings return here. Te early Fairweather Range, Elfn Cove Resort can Sheep Creek is only a couple of hundred yards hatchery run peaks in late May and June, IPTU

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typically show in late June through mid- operation runs from May through September on the highway) is a small stream that gives July. During the early hatchery run from and focuses on bottomfsh including halibut, anglers a rare shot in Juneau waters to catch April through June, ADF&G has liberalized lingcod and rockfsh all season long, while sockeye salmon. Te stream has a large run catch limits to two a day and non-residents also targeting king salmon in May and of reds but is subject to tight regulations to BSF
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several hundred Chinook might nose into the share the water around Juneau. A solid return of silvers also zero-in on the Gastineau Channel hatchery, plus into Tane and Sheep creeks. Before they reach these terminal areas, however, schools of ocean- going coho hunt of Fritz Cove, Taku Inlet, Lynn Canal, Saginaw and Favorite channels, Shelter Island and Steven’s Pass—all a short boat ride from downtown Juneau. For visiting and local anglers in search of halibut, there are plenty of the fne-eating fatfsh around from early June into mid- August. Juneau is a good base for charter and private boats running to Taku Inlet, Shelter Island, Saginaw and Favorite channels, Lynn Canal, the east end of Icy Strait and Sisters Island. Reports are that the community Go remote to a nearby luxury lodge or a hands-on DIY experience—a of Hoonah is developing a good halibut scenic float plane ride away with Alaska Seaplanes. © Chris Miller. creek each summer, they can be caught in the stream or Fish Creek Lake, which is a shallow pond attached to Fish Creek not far from its mouth. Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden also venture into Fish Creek and it gets loaded with chum salmon and pinks by midsummer. Te aforementioned DIPAC Hatchery, also known as the Macaulay Hatchery, presents an interesting scene along the Juneau waterfront that shouldn’t be missed. Kings, silvers and chums pile into the area just out front of the fsh ladder and the action can be a fsh-a-cast afair at times. Snagging is legal here. In the spring, when the hatchery is releasing millions of salmon smolt, Dolly Varden fshing takes of for anglers tossing small spoons or fry patterns. Last but certainly not least, there are several roadside spots from which anglers can catch kings in saltwater, but none are more popular than False Outer Point on the northern end of Douglas Island. Otherwise, roadside anglers who ask around will fnd the beach fshing quite good in the Juneau area, with targets ranging from Dolly Varden in the spring to summer cutthroat and returning king and silver salmon during the peaks of their hatchery runs. Gear up for your roadside fshing right in UPXO
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can fnd everything you need for your day on the water here, including outdoor clothing and gear, fshing tackle and licenses, boating equipment or even hunting gear. Of Juneau itself, the town began on the rumor of gold. In the late 1800s, a chief named Kowee from the Auk Tlingit tribe provided rich ore samples to a Sitka engineer named George Pilz, who in turn grubstaked a pair of miners in August of 1880. Te prospectors were Richard Harris and Joe Juneau and by October of the same year they had carved out a 160-acre townsite on the beach bordering Gastineau Channel, a spot where they were soon joined by boatloads of fellow prospectors. In short order, Juneau was born. Today the city still holds some of that frontier character so common to Alaska, and though federal, state and local government employs one out of every two Juneau workers, and despite the fact that nearly a million visitors EFTDFOE
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heavily buoyed by cruise-ship passengers), the town’s funky vibe is never hard to fnd. For visitors looking to get a thorough look at the city while staying right downtown, the Driftwood Hotel is located next to the Alaska State Museum, just three-quarters of a mile from the Mt. Roberts Tramway and within easy walking distance of several shops and local eateries. Te rustic hotel ofers casual rooms as well as apartment-style suites, some with full kitchens, and freezer space is available for fshing guests. Beyond Juneau, of course, lies the rest of Southeast, and being situated near the northern terminus of the fabled Inside Passage, Juneau Area Contacts the city is a highly convenient hub for travelers Driftwood Hotel Western Auto Marine Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau wanting to get out and experience the fshing www.dhalaska.com www.westernautojuneau.com www.traveljuneau.com in some of the protected inlets, bays and straits 
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of the 10,000 islands snuggled up against the Location is one of the many highlights of A veritable one-stop shop for all your 
 thin strip of mainland that abuts the Coastal this rustic Alaska hotel, as the Driftwood outdoor-adventure needs when in the Just visit their modern, information-flled website to Mountain range. From Juneau it’s only 37 miles Hotel sits next to the Alaska State Museum, Juneau area, Western Auto Marine ofers discover all of the reasons why you should spend your west to the homestead community of Gustavus, only three blocks from the Centennial Hall everything from ADF&G fshing licenses next vacation in Juneau. Learn about all the incredible Convention Center and within walking to angling and camping equipment, marine outdoor activities such as glacier fightseeing, whale gateway to the 3.3 million acres of Glacier Bay distance of several downtown Juneau hardware, electronics and more. With watching, fshing, and kayaking available amidst this National Park and Preserve. North of Juneau lie restaurants, shops and the Mt. Roberts boating accessories, rope, chain, anchors, stunning Alaskan landscape. Te Juneau CVB can Haines and Skagway, the former being home to Tramway. Casual, comfortable rooms and fttings, life vests, survival suits, VHF radios, also point you towards the city’s wealth of cultural the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and the latter apartment-style suites have free WiFi, battery accessories, gillnets, corks, leadlines, attractions, including museums, historical sites, art cofeemakers and exterior entrances, while whale pingers and so much more, you can galleries, events, festivals and plenty of local shopping. the stepping of point for the world-renowned some of the suites add full-size kitchens. A rest assured any of your marine needs are Here you’ll likewise fnd information about Juneau Chilkoot Trail and Klondike Gold Rush GSFF
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taken care of here. And if you need to grab restaurants, hotels and sightseeing tours, as well as National Historic Park. and ferry terminal is provided. Freezer space a new Grundens rain jacket or set of Drift travel-planning tools, itineraries, maps and more. Moving to the west again, across Stephens is available for fshing guests’ use. Creek rain gear or Hodgman waders before heading into the feld, there is that and Rum Runner Charters Passage, Admiralty Island is just 10 minutes Alaska Seaplanes more in the outdoor clothing lineup. Last www.rumrunnercharters.net from town and along with epic angling www.fyalaskaseaplanes.com but defnitely not least for anglers, Western 
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 Alaska Seaplanes operates from its hub in Shimano, Shakespeare, Penn, Coleman, Specializing in premier private- and small-group the island, Angoon is approximately 60 air miles Juneau and serves the markets of Skagway, Scotty and Lowrance. charters, Rum Runner Charters ofers superior half- from Juneau), a community rich with Native Haines, Gustavus, Hoonah, Kake, Sitka, and full-day sport-fshing trips for salmon, halibut culture and heritage. Te Tlingits, by the way, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican, Elfn Bartlett Regional Hospital or rockfsh, while also providing the option of a few know Admiralty by the name Kootznoowoo, Cove and Excursion Inlet. Te company www.bartletthospital.org diferent whale-watching and photo safari charters. carries passengers, freight, US mail and 
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manner. If an emergency strikes while on HD color depth sounder/fsh-fnders, GPS mapping no shortage of bears either, visitors can fnd the amphibious Caravan was added to the feet, your visit to Alaska’s capital city, you’ll TZTUFNT
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village of Elfn Cove, which while home to only providing additonal lift to both wheel and receive outstanding service and care here. Cruise ship passengers are welcome at Rum Runner foat destinations. Charters, too. 40 year-round residents is rather well-known for its fantastic saltwater angling opportunities. Pybus Point Lodge A pair of other communities, Hoonah and www.pybus.com Pelican, are also located on Chichagof and ofer 
  their own unique and varied experiences for the Set on the east side of million-acre Admiralty interested wanderer. Island, Pybus Point Lodge ofers all-inclusive In all these places, including the immediate angling packages featuring expert guides more Juneau area, one can bump into any of 114 than capable of handling your fresh- and saltwater fshing needs. In the salt, it’s just a species of birdlife, all fve of North America’s short boat ride from the lodge to the fshing Pacifc salmon species, both brown and black grounds in areas protected from high winds and bears, and several diferent species of whales. inclement weather, which allows guests to enjoy Getting out there by plane is easy enough, thanks calm, clear and protected fshing. Te lodge JUTFMG
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Sitka, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican, Elfn gear, bait, fsh-cleaning services, freezing and fsh Cove and Excursion Inlet. Tere are a host of boxes as part of its package. adventures travelers can take part in, including a TIPSU
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Sportsman’s Warehouse www.sportsmanswarehouse.com to visit the bear sanctuary. Nuggett Mall Shopping Center Regardless of your intentions during your 
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 Known across the United States as the outdoor is nearly mandatory. With so much to see recreation retailer for all your apparel, footwear, and do in and around the area, a local hand is equipment and accessory needs, whether needed to guide you in the right direction, and purchasing for adults or kids, Sportsman’s the knowledgeable, friendly folks here will be Warehouse ofers a conveniently located store in Juneau, which is the ideal starting point for happy to steer you toward the Juneau adventure those taking of for a day or week’s adventure in of your dreams. the southeast Alaska wilderness. Regardless of your passion—fshing, hunting, camping, eco- trekking, whale-watching, bear-viewing; all the above—you can bet they have everything you Troy Letherman is Editor of Fish Alaska. need here. © Rick Birch © Rick

Plan Your Rick & Leslee Baker FishKodiak.com Pasagshak 888-568-2882 Pilgrimage rick@fishkodiak.com

Whether it’s trekking, crabbing or sampling some of Alaska’s best trophy king salmon angling, Fish Kodiak Adventures offers it all. © Glenn Hall © Fish Kodiak Adventures © Fish Kodiak

Counting down the days in anticipation, our family of four prepared for a visit to an island of adventure. While many Alaskans escape the winter and spring months to various Hawaiian Islands, we had in mind another island altogether. This island may be a rainforest, but it would be vastly different than any tropical destination filled with resorts and the other trappings of a regular tourist trade. This island is rugged, wild and untamed, a mecca of outdoor adventure. This is Kodiak Island. I have been to Kodiak multiple times direction, it was not necessary to get the storm that had passed through, so we and during those trips I have experienced out and explore for wildlife as three deer soon retired from the water for the day and some of the vast and wild regions of the showed up around the bend. We continued happily headed to the kitchen for king crab area. On this occasion, recalling those on, anxious to fnd the Baker’s place and and prime rib. experiences from before, I anticipated get a good night’s rest. Rochelle, the private chef that works for creating a lifetime memory with the rest Arriving at Fish Kodiak Adventures, Rick and Leslee, made many wonderful of my family. It was late April, and we located on the Pasagshak River, the Bakers meals while we were there. Rochelle, Rick had been invited for a quick weekend warmly greeted and welcomed us to their and Leslee were happy to share treasures visit with Rick and Leslee Baker at Fish beautiful log home, which resonates with a such as organic beef from the area and the Kodiak Adventures. true rustic Alaskan feel. Teir place proved local bison. Bison was a special treat for Our fight on Ravn Arlines from the to be clean and comfortable, a perfect me, as I had harvested bison a few years Kenai Peninsula to Kodiak was quick getaway for families and groups. Leslee back and it is by far the best-eating game and comfortable. Fish Kodiak Adventures shared several suggestions for exploring the I have tasted. Rick also introduced us to ofers airport pickup and drop-of but we area: Surfer Beach, Fossil Beach and Twin a sourdough starter that was from 1864. elected to pick up a rental car from Budget Lakes were highlights, as was a simple drive We marveled at the sourdough bread Rent A Car at the airport and explore a few along the coast. As it turns out, we had and Belgian wafes that were served to us stops in town. We then headed out toward time to explore all those areas and more. during our stay. Pasagshak, a 30-mile drive. Tis would Weather was to play a factor in our trip, In the height of the season Rick enjoys be my frst time staying in this area of the which it almost always does when visiting great success fnding big kings, oftentimes island, and I knew it would present a totally ,PEJBL
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through alder patches and salmonberry pots in a protected bay. We tried fshing of so many large kings, Rick explained bushes while hunting elk a couple years for kings at a location that was closest to that there is a rich amount of feed in the earlier on Afognak Island. I could imagine our launch area as well, and in short order, saltwater areas of the island. “Kodiak is the healthy populations of deer and brown we picked up a small king and a variety of like a big grocery store in the middle of the bear that roamed the area. cod, pollock and rockfsh. Te saltwater North Pacifc,” he continued, “and a lot of Tough my thoughts went in that was still producing big, rolling swells from fsh migrate through here. Te new world record will come from Kodiak someday. I do not know when, and I do not know if it will be my boat that catches it, but it’ll happen.” 8IJMF
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inches or longer. Glenn Hall of Hawg Quest is a frequent client at Fish Kodiak Adventures and “has QFSTPOBMMZ
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Baker’s guidance.” He says that the waters of king salmon in my lifetime, but nothing Tat day the kings proved to be elusive. with a processed box of fsh along with near here are “one of the only places I have prepares you for that moment when a giant Sometimes fshing can be like that. lots of fresh crab to feast on for the next consistently caught halibut while trolling slab like that rolls next to the boat. Believe Tough rare, there are times that the couple days and some sourdough starter for kings” and also notes that a good it or not, that 60-pounder didn’t even make baitfsh and the salmon feeding on them to enjoy for years to come. Almost every percentage of the kings he’s caught there it into the top fve fsh caught and weighed will be tough to locate. It did not dampen week we use our sourdough starter, given are white-meat Chinook. “I’ve taken part that year in the Kodiak King Derby, but our enthusiasm for the trip. to us by Rick, to make pancakes and it in the Kodiak King Derby several times,” BOPUIFS
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As we packed our bags and readied for always draws me back to memories about he continued, “And once while I was on that won the prize for the fsh closest to 30 the trip back to the Kenai Peninsula, my our stay at Fish Kodiak Adventures with my way to Fish Kodiak Adventures but QPVOET‰*
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Rick’s fshing style makes it easy on the variety that Kodiak ofers. We were treated short, but memorable weekend. I defnitely overall Derby. Bringing a $10,000 cash angler. “He does great prep work with all generously at Fish Kodiak Adventures, hope to visit and fsh the area again, as prize along with it. We were lucky enough of his tackle, bait, rods and getting the boat with the staf vacuum-packing and labeling soon as possible. to boat a 60-pounder during our stay, ready for our trips,” he explained. “I really our catch. Many of my previous chartered and we lost another monster during that feel like the work Rick does beforehand trips to Kodiak involved me using and Rick Birch lives on the Kenai Peninsula with same day.” gives you the best chance to succeed once waiting on the services of a local processor his family and is a Regional Sales Manager Salmon is not the only fshing you get there and are out fshing.” in town, but this time we headed home for Fish Alaska and Hunt Alaska magazines. Rick ofers, as anglers at Fish Kodiak In the end, Haukeli highly recommends Adventures can also target halibut, black Fish Kodiak Adventures. “From the time rockfsh, yelloweye, monster lingcod and Rick picks you up at the airport and you more. “Our frst time we went after lings,” shake his hand, you know you are in for a )BMM
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great trip. He has a custom-built 30-foot also caught a few 40-pounders.” aluminum boat that is safe and stable, and In the end, Hall and his crew have no really, from the bed to the food and the plans to discontinue their visits. “Rick’s fshing, it is just a fantastic experience. Rick place is my home away from home,” he has even built a wood-fred sauna separate states. “I appreciate the clean, comfortable from the lodge that is absolutely heaven rooms, each with its own bathroom, and after a hard day of fshing. I simply cannot there is always great food and plenty of say enough about the entire experience it. A steam room, referred to locally as a and how much fun I have had fshing with banya, is Rick’s latest addition, and it Rick. It remains my #1 Alaska destination makes for an awesome way to end a perfect to fsh for giant saltwater kings.” day. Te accommodations are spot-on, After visiting Fish Kodiak Adventures, and that’s all the more amazing knowing I agree with this enthusiasm. I have that Rick built the place himself with a enjoyed many fshing trips to Kodiak with little help from his friends. Over the 11 phenomenal success, and Kodiak remains years I made Hawg Quest, we visited Fish one of the top fshing destinations I’ve Kodiak Adventures more than any other visited in Alaska, ofering a smorgasbord destination we flmed—for good reason.” of both fresh- and saltwater fsheries. Another regular client of Fish Kodiak Here, fshing out the back door on the Adventures, Dave Haukeli likewise speaks Pasagshak River can be a great freshwater highly of the Bakers. “I have fshed all over option, depending on time of year. Te Alaska and have seen some wild places, section of river near the Baker’s reverses its but the fshing in Ugak Bay is an overload fow, based on the tides, and can provide for the senses. I have fshed with Rick excellent opportunities for coho and four times over the last fve or six years and sockeye salmon. Te sockeye run starts in it was always in either May or June; every June and usually peaks by the frst week day we fshed we saw bears and mountain of July. Te coho runs generally start in goats navigating the rugged mountains August and peaks in mid-September. that literally run vertical from the beach As for my goal of making family to the snowcapped peaks. Te scenery is so memories to cherish, our Pasagshak breathtaking you need to remind yourself adventure was a success in ways not to pay attention to your rod while fshing.” expected. We explored beaches, watched Rick’s modus operandi is to troll the surfers and found many inspiring shoreline as close to the kelp bed as things about the island. We saw whales possible, using cut-plug herring and everywhere, mountain goats clifside facing a variety of spoons while fshing from the ocean and about a dozen bears that had downriggers. While it is salmon fshing, found a beached whale and made it an easy Haukeli states that it reminded him more meal. Our boat got close enough to shore of hunting than fshing. “When a king hits to clearly see a very large brown bear, plus the bait it is almost always a violent strike,” a mom and her two cubs, the last ones to he shared, “and my favorite fsh so far was disappear into the thick brush. We were without a doubt the 60-pound salmon that also able to enjoy fresh crab pulled from I caught with Rick while fshing in this Rick’s crab pots; you never know what manner. It hit a cut-plug herring and put creature is going to appear when retrieving up a fantastic fght. I have caught hundreds those pots. Clockwise from top left. Charlie Weiner is all smiles after landing his first- ever Chinook. One of many fine kings that Charlie landed. Brian Woobank enjoying another fine king salmon. Ryan Woobank had a fantastic time fishing with his dad at Bristol Bay Adventures.

Mike Addiego’s expertise on the Nushagak helped us land these four bright kings in a few hours.

My father didn’t teach me how to fsh; contemplating the pros and cons of both anglers: king and coho salmon, big wild is a fne place for a father and son to teach each other something about fshing. that came from his mother. I never positions while unhooking another fsh. rainbows and steelhead, lingcod and I reached out to our good friends Mike and Angela Addiego, owners of begrudged his lack of interest in the A few weeks before my 36th birthday, halibut. I wanted him ready and able Bristol Bay Adventures, and set plans to visit in the frst week of July. To FISH THE NUSHAGAK! endeavor, and it did little to squash the Charlie was born. to stay focused for long fshing periods capture photos of the adventure and add to the father-and-son experience, start of my lifelong angling quest. But I started fshing with him in earnest without much action, and to tolerate Brian and Ryan Woobank joined the party. BRISTOL BAY ADVENTURES when I became a father, there was no when he was four and made sure to take and perhaps even enjoy the challenge. Te countdown started many months in advance of the trip and Charlie Mike and Angela Addiego doubt that I’d do my level best to get my him on short trips and ones where I By C’s eighth birthday, it dawned on me and I spent hours talking about what to expect. Ryan and Brian did the same. [email protected] children hooked on fshing. knew we’d have success, which mostly that he was ready for the real deal. From the size of the fsh, to the technique used to catch them, the breakdown WWW.BRISTOLBAYADVENTURES.COM I’m not some guy who came roaring meant fshing for species such as pink And so I realized it was time to take of the lodge property, to the airplanes taken to get there; Charlie’s questions 650-637-0260 into fatherhood hoping to sire a salmon, stocked rainbow trout, Dollies Charlie to the Nushagak River. What were regular and pretty astute. We both agreed that he would need to practice 907-644-9018 basketball team and have grandbabies and rockfsh. I was cautious to avoid better place to get a young man into his casting a rod that he could use to catch kings on the Nush. in his 40s. I tiptoed in, spending the temptation to introduce him to the frst king salmon than the river hosting *
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52 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com January 2017 Fathers and sons enjoying time together is what it’s all about. PO
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and pretty soon was landing around the bucket consistently. I felt confdent he could handle the casts made when boon-dogging. Our frst day on the Nushagak was flled with frsts for Charlie. First time on an airplane, frst time fshing for king salmon, frst time visiting a lodge, frst time being away from his mom for more than a night. He handled them all with eager anticipation. We spent the latter part of the afternoon on the river and although the bite was slow, we worked out the kinks and taught Charlie and Ryan how to boon-dog. Both boys were new to bait-casting gear, and by day’s end, both lads were making good casts. Expectations were high for the typical good bite that morning often brings. And I couldn’t have scripted it any better. Ten minutes into the frst drift and Charlie was pinned to the gunwale by a healthy king. I helped him control the big rod, as he reeled in the frst of many kings. Before long we held a QPVOE
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of the two of us was grinning more. Troughout the day we all landed kings destined for the freezer. And better yet, Charlie fshed hard all day long and was exhilarated from landing his frst king. He also got a taste of a super-charged, 360-degree hard-running, ocean-bright QPVOE
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afternoon. His wide-eyed expression was sweet reward. Ryan and Brian have enjoyed many fshing trips to Yakutat together. Ryan has caught plenty of fsh, so he was justifably excited at the chance to visit the Nushagak and to fsh exclusively for kings. Seeing Brian enjoy time with his 17-year-old son further reinforced the message: Take your kids fshing and develop a lifelong fshing buddy. Tey both caught several red-hot kings, the type that get under your skin and set you planning future dates on the Nushagak. Tose fsh are precious and it was evident that both men understood that. Each day was better than the next. As our sons learned what to expect, they adapted and landed more kings. At frst some coaching was required to make the right casts, remain attentive through the drifts and set the hook once a king grabbed the bait. By week’s end, we operated as a well-tuned unit, each member working in unison with the others to maximize our efectiveness. These moments make for lifelong fishing buddies.

After all the pre-trip time I’d spent thinking about what might happen, the outcome surpassed my expectations. And a big part of that is thanks to Mike Addiego. "GUFS
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Mike knows the waters as well as anyone. He consistently put us on the fsh, understanding their movements, holding waters, migration lanes and idiosyncrasies. After so many days of guiding the river, he’s fgured out the nuances of tackle, rigging and presentation. And this time around, I got to see that Mike has a soft spot for kids and likes to help them learn to fsh. He was patient and positive with our boys, and I was impressed. Bring your son or daughter to fsh with Mike and you too will be impressed. And when they get of the river, they are lucky to be cared for by Angela. Angela clearly loves kids. She went out of her way to cook the foods they like to eat and made them feel like part of her family. We spent July 4th on the river and Angela went above and beyond to track down freworks in Dillingham and have them fown out to the lodge. Yes, you can expect your kids to get a little spoiled when they visit Mike and Angela. Teir lodge sits on the high bank a short boat-ride downstream from Portage Creek. It’s one of few permanent structures on the river, with a main lodge and many guest cabins situated on about 600 acres of prime real estate. Te run in front of the lodge is one of the best on the lower river and consistently produces quality fsh. I stuck three beautiful chromers on the last afternoon FishAlaskaMagazine.com right in front of the lodge. Several moments will remain with me for a long time. Charlie’s expression and look of awe after fghting and landing his frst of many kings. Ryan’s big smile after battling a really hot fsh. Brian’s look of contentment watching his son cast, hook and land kings. And one that we all won’t forget: We drifted past a boatload of six anglers who apparently weren’t having much luck. When we pulled even with them, Charlie’s rod tip plunged savagely into the water. I heard “Are you kidding me?” as I worked to help Charlie clear the line around the bow. Perhaps it’s beginner’s luck, or perhaps there’s something to be said for listening to your guide. Charlie taught me many things on this adventure. Te frst was to stay in the moment. It’s too easy as adults to have the mind wander to responsibilities, concerns and future tasks, to the detriment of truly experiencing the moment. Te second was to enjoy every day. Charlie woke to each day like it was a gift. We can get jaded and forget about all the great things that we are lucky enough to have. Te next lesson was to listen to your guide. I’ve seen this over and over again and I have gotten much better at listening to guides, especially ones with a lot of experience. It’s always a good lesson to remember, and one that seasoned anglers often forget. And Charlie taught us all to embrace new experiences. Te entire adventure was new to Charlie, and rather than be fearful or apprehensive, Charlie was open-minded and excited. When it comes to fshing, I’m a lot like Charlie. Each day is a new chance and I relish every one. It flls me with immense satisfaction to know that my boy may very well follow in my footsteps and that I will have a lifelong fshing buddy. I’ve made many trips to the Nushagak River and have experienced red-hot Chinook fshing. Tose trips were awesome. Te fshing was good this time, but without a doubt this was my favorite trip to Bristol Bay Adventures because I was there with my son.

Marcus Weiner is publisher of Fish Alaska magazine and now has four excellent sons. He’s the old guy serving as the 5th man when they feld a pickup basketball team at the park. Despite best eforts, he’s still been unable to drive a golf ball over the Nushagak River. As a diversion, take a stroll on Elfin Cove’s boardwalk. Below: Cross Sound anglers with a typically varied day’s catch. Cross Sound is the open end of a gaping salmon funnel. A good day Shaped like a bafing puzzle piece, the mouth on Cross of the funnel is a dozen miles across and 30 Sound’s consistent miles long and pointed into the Gulf of Alaska. halibut fishery. On the north, sound waves roll into remote mainland beaches west of Glacier Bay National Park. Its south side washes the wilderness on the north ends of Yakobi and Chichagof islands. More importantly, the east end of the funnel narrows and folds into Icy Strait, arguably the most heavily-used salmon migration highway in Southeast. Cross Sound is a crossroads 80 miles west of Juneau that collects every species of salmon in Sarah Cannard with a the state and the strait is a corridor followed by yelloweye to smile about. most of the pre-spawner salmon returning to northern Southeast. Tey count in the millions, a summer-long stream of migrating kings, silvers, chums and pinks sucked from the ocean, piled into Icy Strait; runs roller-coastering toward some of the best known inside salmon waters in northern Southeast. But long before these coveted fsh nose under the sport-fshing boats sifting salt at Gustavus, Excursion Inlet, Hoonah, Juneau, Tenakee, Admiralty, Taku, Chatham, Haines and dozens of other familiar salmon centers, they frst collect in the funnel mouth called Cross Sound. And that’s where this nasty chunk of chrome attitude is treating me badly. Tree times now Cross Sound it’s tested us with classic king strategy; wallowing salmon just beyond net range, teasing, tempting Jim dependables. to reach the net too far, fnally exploding with new life; twice on powerful boat runs sounding deep, once toward the horizon like a bee-stung greyhound running long and hard against a light drag and an experienced thumb. And then we do it again—pump, reel, pump smooth and easy, reel down, pump up, turn with the fsh, follow the line, rod bent, tip up, pressure on …..never gets old. On the right day with the right tides and the right skipper this place can blow your socks of. Be here the third week of June on a decent Chinook year and ADF&G says you’re likely to land a king for every two hours of fshing, one of the fastest average catch-rates in the state. If there are four people on your boat that’s pretty much nonstop action, especially if you throw in a couple of unbuttons. Admittedly, that’s a peak- of-the-run fgure, and by mid-August ADF&G fgures you’ll need 10 hours per king. Less if you’re not from the Midwest. When the kings start to fade, the silvers come in. In average years with average silver returns

A floatplane lands in front of Elfin Cove Resort. Limited air and water access is part of the reason Cross Sound remains a consistent fishery. the success rate on coho matches the peak had no problem switching gears when Elfn times, we swear the gravel is shingled with king action of a fsh every two hours. But $PWF
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Te year before I caught early July kings of what to expect when a grinning couple keep large lings, favoring the tender meat of that were running with early silvers and fat asked me to photograph their catch, an smaller fsh, and had no problem watching pinks. Credit for the craziness is going to the artfully arranged array of halibut, silvers and the big momma go home. documented recent string of odd ofshore big rockfsh. Teir possession limit fsh box Tis is just the start of our white-meat day. ocean conditions. was flling fast. Limited with six halibut bleeding out in But strange as it has been, Cross Sound is Distant fog is vaporizing into rising the box, Skipper McElhose points the Olive and always will be summer-long crossroads streamers, the morning air is clear, jagged at a nest of small islands on the north side for hundreds of salmon runs, millions peaks of the distant Fairweather Range are of the sound where he has a pet yelloweye of fsh. When it’s tough by Cross Sound backlit in the sunrise between us and Glacier hole. Our one-fsh-each yelloweye limit flls standards, the action still measures a packed Bay National Park. Te surface of Cross quickly, then it’s over to a reef of barking fsh box above most of the rest. Tere’s not Sound is oily fat between long rollers, and sea lions where we each jig fve big, black a day in the summer when some kind of halibut hope is running high. rockfsh into the fsh box. salmon action can’t be scared up, according A trio of sea parrots, pufns, rip past When it was over, the box is fat with to catch reports. Tat may read like I’m as McElhose cuts the throttles of Cape white-meat limits for three anglers—halibut, blowing smoke, but that’s only to anglers 4QFODFS
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yelloweyes, lings and the sweet fllets of big who haven’t fshed here. with circle hooks and a couple of pounds black rockfsh. We round of the afternoon ADF&G harvest surveys for this region of lead are baited with greenling, squid, trolling the mouth of the Cross Sound pinpoint the hot king periods as May salmon and horse herring—either alone or funnel at the edge of the Gulf of Alaska for through mid July. And that doesn’t count in sandwiches. Deckhand Jake Meinhold kings and scouting for tomorrow’s salmon. the year-round population of immature and pitches handfuls of chum. Where we’re Days like this are why I jump at the BHHSFTTJWF
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QPVOET  Cross Sound, but I know it’ll be good. hot-and lukewarm—rarely cold. Te fact that Area 3-A and its two-’but Salmon are a long way from inland On those lukewarm salmon days, I’ve daily limit is just a short run across Cross spawning, blindingly bright and still learned to give up on salmon and pound Sound from lodges and charter boats in the aggressively feeding. Halibut, lings and for white meat until the next salmon run boardwalk communities of Elfn and Pelican rockfsh are far enough away from fshing fushes in from the Gulf of Alaska. Te is a big draw for non-residents. pressure to grow big fllets. sound is simply wedged with excellent Sarah is frst to dip into that bonus limit, I’ve caught some of my largest silvers in bottomfsh action, especially halibut, bending her back into the frst halibut of and around Cross Sound, big hook-nosed prime rockfsh, yelloweye and lingcod, and IFS
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slabs, and in late June I’ve spent hours when salmon slows, bottom-thumping is a “fapper,” the skipper’s name for a salmon wrestling with gorgeous picture-kings, ready alternative. tail rigged to ‘fap’ in the current. Jim puts long before the inside sport boats start Walk the boardwalks and boat docks at a 41-incher in the boat. Even with a couple seeing Chinook. EJNJOVUJWF
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of ‘throwbacks’ in the mix it doesn’t take Several factors go into Cross Sound’s 1PQ

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long to fll our halibut limits. We end the productivity—and almost all of those factors communities, when day-boats return and morning’s halibut hunt with a doubleheader. come back to ‘location.’ It’s a long way from you’ll see boxes and souvenir photo poses I’m playing my last fsh when Sarah sets the any port with a big fshing feet. Eighty crammed with fsh colors: orange, black, hook with a groan, grimace and bent back. miles from Juneau. Access is primarily by green, white, yellow, chrome. Mixed catches Both fsh make it into the fsh box. foatplane from the capital city, but some are the rule rather than the exception here. Tere are a lot of places in Alaska that sea-savvy anglers will make the boat run. celebrate local halibut potential but I’ve yet Either way, distance always limits fshing Last summer, when the kings were missing to fnd an area more predictably productive pressure. and the silvers behind schedule, fshing UIBO
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Most sport fshing in Cross Sound is partners Jim Goerg, Sarah Cannard and I west end of Icy Strait into Cross Sound. At from charters, resort or lodge boats, and days on halibut, silvers and kings while fshing just inside the sound on the rips and ledges of Idaho Inlet, the cluster of Inian Islands and Lemesurier Island, Taylor Bay and Fern Harbor. If all else fails, a walk down the boardwalks exploring the edge-of-the-world character of Pelican and Elfn Cove is highly recommended. Almost as much as a soak at White Sulfur Springs, or a gourmet meal at one of the lodges. We wrapped up our day in the dining hall at Elfn Cove Resort, looking up Icy Strait toward Brady Glacier, past a family of river otters on the dock, with bacon-wrapped flet mignon smothered in mushrooms and banana cream pie. Te meal helped take the bad taste out of There are always a lot of colors in a Cross Sound fish box. my mouth. Te one left by the explanation of how the king salmon at the beginning of this story managed to turn me loose just a nearby Pelican and Elfn Cove have plenty continual fow of fresh arriving salmon foot short of the net. of both. Some troll, some jig, some mooch but also assures constant replenishment But then there’s tomorrow. At Cross herring—and most of the boats switch gears of the sound’s halibut, rockfsh and Sound there is always tomorrow and to match the fsh of the day. lingcod numbers. another run of ocean salmon, snowy white Facing into the Gulf of Alaska, each It can also, however, mean occasional halibut and a colorful box of rockfsh. summer the open mouth of Cross Sound flls bouts of fog and nasty water. But when with dozens, probably hundreds, of separate ocean fronts slam into the open mouth salmon runs headed for famous northern of the Cross Sound funnel, skippers head Southeast fsheries, delivering solid action toward fshable sheltered options tucked Terry W. Sheely is a contributing editor for Fish weeks ahead of inside waters. Neighboring into the islands and peninsulas just inside Alaska magazine. He can be reached through up to the open ocean not only delivers a the mouth of Icy Strait. I’ve had some great his website at www.tnscommunications.net. (Top) Beautiful Togiak River vistas add to the spectacular fishing, creating a one-of-a-kind experience. (Below) In July, the lower Togiak loads up with chrome sockeye salmon. Southwest Alaska’s Togiak River is an epic angler’s playground. You can do it all here: From casting 4-weights to surface-sipping grayling to battling big, fresh-from-the tide kings on conventional gear to stalking leopard rainbows behind spawning sockeye in clear tributaries. There are countless backwaters flled with aggressive northern pike and endless fats teeming with chums, sockeye, silvers and pinks. Throw in some jumbo Dollies and the occasional laker and you have one heck of a full- meal deal! And it’s not just the different species that offer variety. The type of trip you do on the Togiak can be customized to ft just about anyone’s adventure-to-comfort matrix. There are any number of self-guided foat trips ranging from a couple days to two weeks you can set up on the main river and some of the tributaries. You may also opt for a fy- in day of fshing on the Togiak with one of the many remote lodges just over the mountains in the Wood-Tikchik State Park area. On the lower Most years the Togiak produces some of the state’s most reliable king salmon action. river, there is some lodging and guiding available in the village of Togiak, and if you like luxury in the wilderness, Togiak River Lodge is located approximately seven miles upstream from the saltwater of Togiak Bay. The Togiak system is a seemingly endless maze of tributaries, lakes and rivers that probably couldn’t all be explored in a lifetime. That’s exactly what makes it so interesting and unique—there’s always something yet to be checked out and fshed. In an attempt to simplify things here, let’s break the system down into two reaches: The “upper river”—from the mouth of the Pongopukepuk River up to the headwaters—and the “lower river,” which we’ll call the section that fows from the Pongopukepuk mouth to the saltwater.

The UPPer TogIak This section of the drainage is the best place to chase rainbows as long as your arm and salmon-sized char. The myriad braids on many of the

Chum salmon are willing biters and hard fighters.

There are lots of wide gravel bars perfect for swinging flies on the lower river.

In late summer and early fall, vivid char can be found in many of the Togiak’s tributaries. of by foatplane on the lake and use purple Woolly Buggers and Egg-sucking infatables to explore the area. Te best Leeches will catch anything that swims— time to visit the upper region is late just watch out, you can lose a bunch of fies summer and early fall. Tat’s when the to big, red kings when they are around. salmon spawn is at its peak and the trout, If it’s fresh, shiny salmon you want, head HSBZMJOH
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for the lower Togiak, where all fve species trout) will be gorging themselves on eggs pile up in mind-boggling numbers… and fsh fesh as they gear up for the lean winter ahead. Salmon fshing isn’t much to The Lower TogIak talk about at the top end of the system— While fresh salmon can be caught up by simply because the fsh are generally all the Wildlife Refuge boundary near the dark and more interested in spawning mouth of the Pongopukepuk River, your than biting. best shot at chrome is down low — the 10 Up here, egg patterns are often the way or so miles between the mouth of Gechiak to go but matching the hatch with various Creek and the salt. Te kings are the frst size and color beads isn’t as important as to arrive and peak in June and July. Tey it is on more heavily-fshed waters. Te DBO
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class. On a few select gravel bars, fy fshing see a lot of anglers and tend to be, bless The Togiak is known for producing big silvers. their little hearts, pretty uneducated. I’ve is an option but the best bet for Chinook is TFFO
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to fsh from a boat and troll spinners, back- other to eat a 14mm hot pink bead fshed troll plugs and bounce roe. behind spawning sockeye. Tat fake egg Downstream trolling size No. 6 to Kwikfsh. Chartreuse/silver and silver/ fshing can be exceptionally good. After a Exploring all the backcountry braids and tributaries of the Togiak River system would looked nothing like the real ones, which 13 spinners right along the bottom is a orange are two of the best patterns. If you EPXO
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take you a couple of lifetimes. were much smaller and lighter in color, popular way to catch kings in the tidally have them, a sardine fllet wrapped on the lower Togiak was outstanding the past two but the fsh didn’t care! You can fnd some infuenced lower fve or six miles. Yakima belly of the plug will increase the amount seasons. Hit it on a hot day, and a boat with tributaries above Togiak Lake can produce Ongivinuk River is another one with the occasionally good mousing in the shallows Bait’s Tumpers, Spinner Dave’s Custom of strikes. B
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TBMNPO phenomenal fy fshing for char, trout and potential for very large rainbows. Te upriver as well. Dry-fy fshing for trout Designs and Good Day Fishing spinners When the king run is on, expect plenty Chums start making a showing in late grayling when the salmon spawn is in full Pongopukepuk River is another excellent and Dollies isn’t often spectacular but you in red/white or chartreuse and silver are of company in the lower river as boats June as well and provide a great bit of swing. Te Izavieknik River, in the section selection. can pound on grayling up to 17- or 18 good selections. As far as plugs go, Yakima from town, remote fy-out camps and the fun for anglers looking for something to between Upper and Lower Togiak lakes is You can boat up from the village of inches on small dries in the evenings. #BJU
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main lodge all congregate in the best holes. do after catching bunches of kings. Te a good option for shorter foat trips. Te Togiak to Togiak Lake—or get dropped If you’ve got the itch to swing, black and are good lures on the Togiak, as are K16 Tere’s still plenty of room, however, and doggies come in dime-bright but develop their signature snaggle teeth and vertical It’s not entirely a salmon-only show on bars pretty quickly. Tey absolutely food the lower Togiak. Tere are some massive the lower river and anywhere you fnd rainbows lurking down there. Fish to some soft water along an inside edge—or 
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a slow fat—you’re virtually guaranteed to occasionally show themselves. Tey are see large numbers of chum salmon. relatively few in number—compared to the On the fy rod, chums are a blast and upper river spawning zones—but the odd respond well to pink leech patterns. Spin big trout is taken by anglers targeting other anglers can catch plenty of fsh as well on species. In June and July, wave after wave 1/8- and 1/4-ounce pink or purple marabou of silver-bright Dollies make their way up jigs fshed on a dead-drift under foats—or the river’s edges from the sea, bound for the on 3/8-ounce hootchie jigs twitched with upper tributaries where they will dine on a hop-hop-hop style retrieve along the salmon eggs and fesh. Te fresh char are bottom. Plug-pullers also catch plenty of aggressive and will smack small streamers chums on metallic pink or silver/chartreuse and plugs or spinners eagerly. By August, ,
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tundra to reach. Te pike are completely mouth-snagging method called “fossing”) un-fshed and tend to be very willing biters. but if you can locate bright fsh that are Weedless topwater plugs, frogs and fies can holding below a tributary mouth or natural yield super exciting fshing, particularly on barrier, you can often get them to bite. XBSN
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Conventional tackle is the best method for you’ll encounter are mostly on the small legitimate bites—a small pink marabou jig side, rarely topping 10 pounds, but they fshed under a foat and tipped with fresh can be a fun diversion when your arms are shrimp is the best bet. Sockeye get more worn out from catching salmon all day. aggressive and thus, become better biters, further upstream when they turn bright red BeARS & BugS and green. Tose fsh have no food value, When fshing any portion of the Togiak but their vivid coloration makes for some drainage, it’s important to be aware of nice fsh photos! the fact that there are lots of brown bears August marks the beginning of the around. Te concentrations are higher on seemingly endless march of silvers the smaller spawning streams in the late into the bottom end of the Togiak. summer and fall, but you can run into a Te fsh push through in staggering bear just about anywhere along the river’s numbers…and just keep on coming into length. A few moose also wander these October, with mid-September being parts, so be on the lookout for them as well. the peak. Togiak silvers can get really Te amount of bugs you encounter can big, too, with some bucks pushing the vary greatly from year to year—and where QPVOE
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you are. Mosquitoes can be a pain early in So, they are big and numerous…two the season and no-see-ums show up later in traits sure to make anglers excited. But the fall. Just come prepared with bug spray what really makes these coho fun is their and a head covering for those bad days and willingness to bite with total abandon. you’ll be fne. Stripping pink or purple leeches with an 8-weight fy rod is a total blast and AcceSS spin anglers can twitch jigs or cast No. 4 Tere are several fying outfts that ofer spinners for nonstop action. In the lower drop-of service to the Togiak basin like few holes, there are also a lot of days when Bay Air out of Dillingham. You can also fresh silvers will smack the heck out of book self-guided and fully-guided foat surface plugs and ’Wogs. Heck, you could trips through outftters or day fy-in trips probably catch a bunch on a hot dog, from lodges like Tikchik Narrows, Mission too…it’s that good! Lodge and Bristol Bay Lodge. Togiak River On even-numbered years, the Togiak Lodge is the only lodge located on the river. also gets a big push of pink salmon, which can be so numerous at times that they can be a nuisance. When they are fresh from JD Richey is a contributing editor the sea, however, they can be fun for kids for Fish Alaska magazine and can and beginning anglers to play with on light be reached through his website at spin- or fy gear. www.fshwithjd.com. Being prepared to work water on your own, away from the guide, can allow you to spend more time fishing and less time waiting if he has more than one angler to guide.

Learning a few knots and becoming proficient at tying them will also help you take matters into your own hands on the water, enabling you to fish more, which ultimately means more fish caught at the end of the day.

cover. I instruct him, “Fewer false casts next time!” I run over to William and net his second fsh. I hustle back to Mason and move him to another spot where there are fsh. I emphasize the importance of stealth in his approach and to make as few false casts as possible. I turn to check on William and see that he’s retying his rig. I ask him what’s going on and he tells me he found a nick in the line and is going to re-tie. “Do you need any help?” I ask and he says “No, I’m good. I brought my nippers and I’m okay with knots.” He does exactly what he says he’s going to do and gets back to fshing. Mason is a little fustered so I fall into my positive reinforcement mode and calm him down. I tell him I’ll walk him through his 3FNFNCFSJOH
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frst catch and then he can take it from there. I point to a fsh and tell him to cast just above it. “What fsh?” he replies. “Where To me, that’s just self-evident, probably because I spend 110 days every year standing alongside my clients, helping are your glasses?” I ask and he tells me he doesn’t have any. Now I’m becoming fustered. I take a deep breath and say to myself them try to catch fsh. If you are dialed-in at all you can’t help but notice the fsherman that does the right things “Of course you don’t have any sunglasses” and then to Mason, “Hang on, I’ll see if I have any in my bag.” I run to the boat and catches more fsh, while the angler not doing certain things always catches fewer. If you have two fshermen standing fnd a pair of polarized glasses. As I take them to Mason, William is into his third fsh. Now I start to stress. I can’t help Mason on the same bank, throwing to the same water, using the same technique, one guy will inevitably catch fve fsh to his catch his frst fsh because William is catching so many. I start making my way to help William land the fsh and he tells me not buddy’s one. More times than not I can point to something tangible that leads to this diference. to worry, “I got it; I’ve got hemostats and it’s not a big fsh.” Great! Now I get to focus on Mason. I give Mason the glasses and tell Tere is something else I noticed through all this: Most of these things have simple fxes. him where to cast and Bang! Fish on! I run and get the net and land it. “Good job Mason! Tat’s how you do it; now do it again!” Here’s how a typical day for me unfolds while I’m guiding on the Iliamna River. Because William seems adept at this game I suggest he challenge himself and try fshing an articulated leech we tie here at I’ve got two excited fshermen standing on the bank and ready to get fshing. Before they can start I have to rig their Angry Eagle lodge. We call them “Big Uglies.” Tey are made with rabbit fur, tinsel, hackle, straw, chicken feathers, sticks, rods with the right setup. I measure out leader plus tippet, tie it onto their lines, pick out the right beads for where nails, the stuf you fnd under the bed and a stinger hook, always a stinger hook. I hold a Big Ugly up and ask William, we are going to fsh, the right amount of weight to get it down and then fnish of the rig with a strike indicator. I “Do you think you can throw this?” explain to them the presentation we use to get the fsh to bite, show them a few times how to do it and then I position “Heck yeah!” he says. them were the fsh are and say “Go for it.” Fisherman #1, William, strips out some line, makes a nice and simple false cast upstream and follows the instructions perfectly. Fish PO
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adventure here. “You didn’t practice before you came here?” I ask. Mason says, “No, I just fgured I’d do it while I’m fshing.” William makes his second cast and is into his second fsh. Mason gets down to it, and he makes ëWF
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two) and splashes the water just feet in front of him. Te fsh spook. Te bright yellow (Top) A guide’s day begins with picking out the right water, and (below) hopefully ends with a client catching the char of a lifetime. line in the air or the loud splash, take your choice—they both will send the fsh for Guides perform valuable services on the water and their job is to enhance the client’s experience.

I change his rig to a diferent leader run over to Mason. I clean up his tippet, summer knowing I was going to write this and give him some specifc instruction for clip of a little at the end and get to tying article. What are some simple fxes that fshing a leech. As I’m doing this Mason a new bead setup. Suddenly a big trout can help my clients catch more fsh? hooks into a big fsh, sets the hook as if he comes leaping out of the water followed I’ve narrowed it down to three areas. I’m were bass fshing and breaks of. by a “Whoop!” Te trout has a Big Ugly sure there are more but these stand out like I’m still tying William’s rig so I tell connected to his face. Too much fsh glare on the water. Mason “Give me a sec, I need to fnish for William to land by himself so I stop this. Can you tie on a hook and bead?” UZJOH
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Things: He jokes about his knot-tying abilities priority over gearing up) to get the net Te lodge or guide you fsh with says and he’s not in a hurry anyway. I hate this and help land William’s fourth fsh. they will supply you with all the gear and feeling: A client who isn’t catching fsh Okay, you get the picture, and none of tackle you need. Te lodge I work for says having to wait around while his buddy this is an exaggeration. It’s my job to help, the same thing. And it’s mostly true, but is catching fsh, especially if the waiting but I want to help before the angler arrives there are little things that will help to free is unnecessary. I hurry with William and on the water, so I paid extra attention this you up while on the water, so you’re not completely dependent on your guide. Te caption “Tis awaits you.” Tat should more independent you are the more time be enough motivation. you will spend with your line in the water. t
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to help you release every fsh. Te BEFORE you are standing in front of smaller ones are easy to land and with fsh. Tis is a big one. Do not wait till a fip of the hemostat can come right you are fshing to practice your casting. of. Tat means less time standing and It’s extremely difcult to concentrate waiting for the guide to unhook the on both. Way too much is going on and fsh when he’s busy unhooking your to try to do both well will end up with Show up prepared, practiced and fit, and you’ll enjoy your time in Alaska more. buddy’s fsh. Clip it on your shirt so it’s you doing neither. Get good enough at easy to access and you are good to go. casting so you don’t have to think about t
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your fy or lure in the water and less Helps you see the fsh and protects your time waiting for your guide to come tie eyes from hooks and fying projectiles. for you. Practice tying a good knot. I’ve Te better you see the target the easier seen more big fsh lost because of faulty to present to the target. knots from laziness or being sloppy t
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than from any other reason. I’m guilty Not as necessary but having tippet of it, too. My three favorite knots are on your person can go a long way to the Lefty Kreh knot, the Albright knot not having to wait for your guide or and the clinch knot. Rarely do I need towards allowing you to wander of and to tie a “perfect clinch” as long as I wet fsh on your own. You have the nippers the line before I cinch it down. Fish so get profcient at a few knots. Alaska’s website has some knot tying t
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casts as possible, or practice a roll or Every morning at the lodge I’m asked fip cast. I see more clients spook fsh by my general manager which clients because of way too much false casting can or can’t fsh certain waters on our when a simple roll cast will work. All list of destinations. It always comes that movement and line in the air down to physical abilities or ftness. Or spook the fsh. Get your fy out there sometimes a client really wants to get and get on with the presentation. Less into big trout on a mouse pattern, but is more. frst I have to consider whether he can NBLF
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Learning to fsh is a black hole of sorts, these trout. It’s a question that I have to as the learning never ends. However, say “No” to more and more often and I fnd that to be one of the pleasures of this troubles me. As a client you have our sport. Tis isn’t the “complete” list the trip of a lifetime arranged and yet but it covers weak spots that I’ve seen you won’t be able to fsh the best waters repeat themselves over and over again. because you aren’t in shape. I’m not It’s a simple formula for success; show talking about great shape either, just up prepared, practiced and ft, and you’ll a little above-average shape. Can you enjoy your time in Alaska much more. make the hike? Can you climb the hill? Can you walk through tough terrain to get to the sweet spot? t
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Ken Baldwin has been guiding in Alaska for your mobility. Take some movement 13 years and is presently the Head Guide for classes, conditioning classes, build Angry Eagle Lodge on Lake Iliamna. He is some strength. You need motivation? also the creator and host of the television show Put a photograph of a river with world Season on the Edge, which can be viewed at class fsh in it on your mirror with the www.seasonontheedge.com. Makes 4 Servings

Blackened Halibut with Grape Salsa: Dredge four 4-ounce halibut flets in blackening seasoning and sear in clarifed CVUUFS
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until desired doneness. Place the following ingredients in a bowl and toss: 1 cup of grapes, sliced in half ½ jalapeno, fnely diced 
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DIPQQFE Seafood Trio: Blackened halibut, Seared Salmon 1 tbsp honey and King Crab by Chef Pat Mathias, The Grape Tap 
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KVJDF 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Serve halibut over your choice of rice and top with grape salsa.

Salmon with Lemon Beurre Blanc Salt and pepper four 4-ounce salmon flets and sear in clarifed butter over medium high heat to desired doneness. Reduce over medium heat 1 cup heavy cream until reduced by half. Stir in salt BOE
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juice. Ten swirl in 1 tbsp softened butter. Tis sauce will be served over the salmon. Garnish with a fresh dill sprig. Serve salmon over potato-zucchini latkes.

Potato-Zucchini Latkes ½ lb of russet potatoes, coarsely grated and set aside in a bowl of cold water. 1 zucchini, coarsely grated. Drain potatoes and mix together and place on a towel, roll up and squeeze out excess moisture. Place in a bowl and add: ½ cup chives, fnely sliced ½ tsp salt and a pinch of white pepper ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg 1 whole egg Mix above and drop a three inch diameter amount of latke in clarifed butter over medium to medium high heat and cook for fve minutes each side.

King Crab Cut chunks of king crab and serve with drawn butter.

322 N Boundary St, Wasilla, AK 99654 TheGrapeTap.com 907-376-8466 Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.

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Each one of them is Fish Alaska CONSULT OUR ADVERTISERS! approved to have you set for success! “Nice fish, Dick. All of six pounds, if not twilight of his years express so much joy at more! But I suggest that you move back out catching fish. Each trout had special meaning of the water now.” The jumps of that rainbow for Dick. At that moment in time, in that The Last Rainbow had attracted a special audience. Floating place on the Kulik River, Dick was living his Story by Angelo Peluso down the river directly in line with Dick life to the fullest. Dick and I first met during a trip to Alaska were a sow brown bear and her two cubs. The Between fishing for Kulik rainbows and in 1989. He and I were part of a group that flow of the river was such that their progress silver salmon in the Ugashik watershed, just ventured north on a fly-fishing pilgrimage, toward us was deceptively swift, and the small a floatplane flight away, we were offered an and as we shared many common interests, we brown specks quickly materialized into super- opportunity to fish for oversized rainbows on hit it off as friends while enjoying some of the sized masses of brown fur. Dick took the cue highly touted Moraine Creek for our last day. best fishing that Alaska had to offer. Dick was and after releasing his rainbow into the cool, Egg patterns were the order of the day on always willing to take yet another trip and seek fertile waters of the Kulik, he backed out of the the Moraine. I am not sure who was the first to out a new adventure, so it was that in 1991, river and onto the bank. I followed him. We hookup but within minutes Dick and I were we found ourselves wading a small piece of a watched as the bears made their way past us. fast to two very large rainbow trout. Both fish rainbow trout fishing paradise on the Kulik The sow glanced in our direction as she drifted were well over eight pounds. You could guess River in Alaska. Kulik Lodge was our base by, seeming to acknowledge our presence in Dick’s response. Most of the large trout were of operation. Following lunch on our arrival her domain. The trio exited the river onto the holding off the main channel and hardly a fly’s day, we were dropped off at a long eddy on opposing bank, about one hundred yards from drift went unimpeded, either with a hit and the Kulik. We were to remain there fishing where we stood. miss or a solid strike. While there were some until the jet boat returned to pick us up for That pattern repeated itself over and over. smaller trout in the mix, most of the fish we dinner. Dick and I kept ourselves busy that We’d catch a few trout, spot the bears, move landed that morning were six- to eight pounds, afternoon casting flies to what seemed like an out of the water and watch them float by. On and one whopper of almost 13 pounds. endless population of robust rainbows. This this afternoon Dick and I were a part of the It was getting close to the end of the honey hole could only be described as a wild microcosm; in a sense, an extension of the fishing day when Dick reminded me that in trout factory. I remember thinking there could circle of life. all the excitement we hadn’t taken a single be no finer place on Earth to be stranded for “Hey Ang, let’s get back in the water and photograph of these large rainbows. The pace an afternoon of fly fishing. The magnitude of catch some more trout.” of our angling had taken precedence over the experience was very much enhanced by We counted fish for a while and stopped at picture-taking. We had about 20 minutes sharing it with a friend. some ridiculously high number of rainbows. of fishing left and the pressure was on. Dick “Hey Ang, what do you think about this I can still remember how Dick laughed and waded out as close to the channel as he could one? Looks about six pounds. Biggest one so sought my approval of each and every big trout while I manned the camera. Ten minutes of far.” Dick was hunched slightly over the water, he landed, and I can still hear him say over and casting did not yield a single take of his fly. gently cradling a hefty wild rainbow trout, a over again, “What do you think of this one?” The curtain was falling fast on this trip, and a big grin on his face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a grown man in the photo opportunity seemed less likely with each passing minute. Just as the guide reminded us that it was time to get going, Dick’s shout got my undivided attention. “Got one!” The lively throbbing of Dick’s fly rod and the long steady pulls of fly line were indications of a good fish. When the rainbow made its first jump, that suspicion was confirmed. While this was not the biggest fish of the day, the look on Dick’s face indicated it was certainly the most gratifying. As he had done with so many other fish, Dick gently cradled the trout and smiled. I snapped the picture. Over the years, I have come to cherish that image of Dick and that last rainbow, because as fate would have it, I never got to say a final goodbye to my friend. I suspect he knew his last trip to Alaska with me would be his final adventure north, and that the Moraine Creek rainbow would be his last. Now when I cradle a nice rainbow trout, just before releasing it, I look skyward for a brief moment and say, “Hey Dick, what do you think of this one?”

Angelo Peluso is an outdoors author and photographer whose work has appeared in numerous regional and national publications. He has authored several fly-fishing books, including Fly Fishing Long Island, Saltwater Flies of the Northeast and Saltwater Flies of the Southeast and Gulf Coast. He is a frequent contributor to Fish Alaska magazine and travels to Alaska often to fish. He can be reached at www.angelopeluso.com.

June 2016 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 83