Alaska Sporting Journal - April 2024

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ELF Glock Trigger

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ELF APEX Trigger

APEX-PRO-R-S APEX-B-C-FA

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The ELF-SE Drop-In Trigger maintains the Elftmann reputation for quality, craftsmanship and customer service in an affordable package. Extremely short takeup, clean crisp break and very short, positive reset. It has a brand new look and features such as, an adjustable pull weight being one of them! Available in our Pro Lock Threaded Mounting System. Fits any and all AR platforms (large pin Colt available) with features including: Drop-safe, adjustable from 2 3/4 to 4lbs without removing from lower, Patented Double-Double torsion hammer spring, short pull and reset allows for rapid follow up shots, lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum and hardened steel construction, design of disconnector allows full 1/4” width eliminating possibility of wear and double-firing, adjustable aluminum trigger shoe (available in straight or curved, red or black)

ELF SE Trigger

The FG-15 is just a grip when not in use, when the handle is deployed it is a trigger crank, allowing you to fire one shot per 120 degrees you crank the handle.

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In the prone and with your weapon on a bipod, it allows the user to consistently put shots on target without trigger fatigue. Any AR-15 type firearm that has a 1/4-28 thread pitch for the grip screw will accept the FG-15 grip. Which is 99% of AR-15 lower receivers.

PUBLISHER

James R. Baker

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott

EDITOR

Chris Cocoles

WRITERS

Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Cal Kellogg, Brian Watkins

SALES MANAGER

Paul Yarnold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Tawna Lucero, Kevin Olive, Tom St. Clair

DESIGNERS

Gabrielle Pangilinan, Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Emily Baker

WEB DEVELOPMENT/INBOUND MARKETING

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Katie Aumann

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Lois Sanborn

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ON THE COVER

The Kenai River is one of Alaska’s most popular destinations for anglers seeking everything from sockeye – like this netted beauty – and coho salmon to hard-fighting rainbows and Dolly Varden. (ALASKA FISHING WITH MARK GLASSMAKER)

CORRESPONDENCE

X @AKSportJourn

Facebook.com/alaskasportingjournal

Email ccocoles@media-inc.com

SOCKEYE, COHO SHINE ON THE KENAI

Despite another season of early- and late-run king salmon closures, the iconic Kenai River remains one of the Last Frontier’s most popular summer destinations for sockeye, coho, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. If you’re looking for an epic Alaskan fishing adventure on these storied waters, Cal Kellogg serves up how to slay reds and silvers from the bank and boat.

39 LIVING ON ISLAND TIME

Prince of Wales Island offers an outstanding combo opportunity for Southeast Alaska hunters and anglers. Scott Haugen has casted for and tracked fish and wildlife all over the state, but as he says about Prince of Wales, “The sights, smells and sounds of Southeast Alaska are truly unique and etch indelible moments in the memory bank.” Spring black bear hunting and steelhead fishing? We’re all in!

46 JUDGE YOUR BRUINS CAREFULLY

Male or female? Young or mature? Knowing what kind of bear is in your sights can make for a better and more responsible hunt. Brian Watkins, a veteran Alaska bruin hunter, breaks down the bear characteristics and features that will tell you whether it’s a sow you should let walk or a big mature boar worth harvesting.

52 WATERFOWL GEAR FEST

In their latest From Field to Fire feature, the husband-and-wife team of Scott and Tiffany Haugen share the best gear to help score limits of waterfowl and also the right ingredients to make a delicious fish meal. Take notes on Scott’s favorite field-tested decoy, shotgun and wader brands, and stock up on mushrooms to try Tiff’s creamy ’shroom-infused halibut recipe.

8hp and 9.9hp, and Joystick in stock. Call now! Docking and maneuvering your boat in high winds has never been so easy. Let the Joy Stick do it for you. GPS position hold and heading hold is included.

The editor got a first-hand view of how much these wonderful working dogs love what they do during a dog-sled adventure in Finland more than 10 years ago. The star four-legged athletes are celebrated in Alaska during the Iditarod race.

(CHRIS COCOLES)

Having spent more than a decade on this job and interacting with my Alaska-based correspondents and those Last Frontier residents I’ve been fortunate enough to interview and write about, perhaps nothing says more about this state than the Iditarod.

“The Last Great Race on Earth” brings to mind all the adjectives that define the 49th state: resilient, strong, tough, fearless, dedicated, hearty – even crazy? Indeed, why else stage a 1,000-mile journey with pilots and dogs via sled through the snow-covered emptiness of Alaska’s unforgiving Interior without being a bit off your rocker?

But for the mushers and their even more amazing dog teams that start and hopefully finish the route between Anchorage and Nome, it’s a quest to do what so many of us would deem impossible to even try, let alone complete. Culturally important and still very relevant, the race is a source of pride for instate residents who become part of the event –from the pageantry of the ceremonial start to those who tailgate along the snowy trail to the finish-line gallery watching the

teams complete their task, celebrating not only the winner but everyone who started way back downstate and either reached the end or bowed out along the way.

Of course, this race has seen tragedy strike along the way, mostly in the form of dogs losing their lives on the course. 2024 was particularly somber when three fourlegged competitors passed away, ending a streak of five years without a fatality.

As a dog lover who recently had to put my pup down and chose to adopt a new best friend, any dog death makes me sad. But as I’ve written about before, a 2011 winter trip to Finland gave me the opportunity to visit a musher’s kennel and even go along for a snowy ride on a sled with her dogs. My lasting memory of the trip was that as we waited to leave, the huskies and Malamutes vociferously barked, eager to hear the mush call, then became dead silent and focused once the trip started.

There’s a reason why sled dog breeds belong to the working group within the American Kennel Club directory. They absolutely live for running and pulling sleds. My host in Finland convinced

me of that while we walked around her facility and got to interact with these remarkable canines.

When news of the Iditarod dogs’ deaths hit social media, organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called for an end to the race. Much like some of the hills PETA is willing to die on, this seems like misguided outrage, but I’m not here to get into a political argument about animal welfare activists. You do you.

I do know that dog sledding has been a critical part of Alaska’s transportation network for generations and continues to be, and the Iditarod honors that tradition.

Days after Dallas Seavey, who also had a deadly encounter with a moose on the course that injured one of his dogs, won his record sixth Iditarod, there were still five teams on the course.

“These teams are showing incredible grit and determination,” the race’s social media account stated. “We are all rooting for you! Let's keep it up; you got this!”

I can’t think of bigger heroes on four legs than that, and those dogs are everything that speaks about Alaska to me. -Chris Cocoles

Remote, Comfortable & Affordable

Our remote Alaskan fishing lodge is situated on the upper stretches of the beautiful Egegik River. You’ll watch some of Alaska’s most stunning sunrises, complete with a distant, active volcano. We are a fishing camp specializing in coho fishing, brown bear viewing, and flyout fishing adventures to even more remote destinations in the Last Frontier.

Coho Fishing The Egegik River

The Egegik River is touted by many experienced anglers as the best silver salmon stream in all of Alaska. Becharof Lodge On The Egegik River was the first fishing lodge to become established on the breathtaking Egegik River, and is less than a 5 minute boat ride from some of the best fishing holes on the entire river.

• 6 days fishing/5 nights stay in camp

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• Comfortable cabins furnished with beds, cozy comforters & bedding.

• Home cooked meals, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages.

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• Freezing and vacuum sealing of your fish, up to 50 lbs., per angler. $4,850per person

DALLAS AND HIS DOGS OVERCOME MOOSE, PENALTY IN RECORD IDITAROD WIN

Dallas Seavey, who continued to win Iditarod dog sled race titles after being accused of and then was exonerated from a dog doping accusation, captured his record sixth title in March, but this one may have been his most bizarre.

On the first night of the race, the Talkeetna resident and his team encountered an aggressive moose – one of his dogs was injured in the incident – and he shot the moose. Race rules dictate that a musher properly gut the animal rather than leave it behind on the course. Iditarod officials deemed Seavey didn’t do an adequate enough job in the gutting process, so they assessed him with a two-hour penalty.

“I gutted it as best I could, but it was ugly,” he told the race’s official news site, Iditarod Insider. The Iditarod's official investigation revealed that Seavey had spent just 10 minutes in the gutting process, hence enforcement of the penalty time.

But no matter, as Seavey and his team – minus Faloo, the dog injured and recovering back at his kennel after getting entangled with the moose – arrived at the finish line in Nome in the early evening of March 12 after nine days, two hours and 16 minutes on the trail.

“This one was supposed to be hard. It had to be special,” he told the crowd at the finish line. “It had to be more than just a normal Iditarod. And for me it was.”

“It’s what you dream of all year long, what you daydream of all year long as you prepare this team and train them,” he added in a post-race interview via Alaska’s News Source. “So on one hand, yeah, it’s easy to drift into the future and say, ‘Is this really real?’ you know. ‘Are we actually going to get number six?’

And then you kind of have to pull yourself back.”

Sadly, the “Last Great Race on Earth” was marred by three on-course dog deaths – there hadn’t been a fatality in five years – and protests from animal rights advocates. But at the finish line, Seavey ran the final few lengths with his dogs and hugged and kissed each one before taking home another title.

Dallas Seavey, a former Alaska Sporting Journal cover subject, won his record sixth Iditarod dog sled race title despite receiving a twohour penalty after a moose encounter on the course. (DALLAS SEAVEY)

AL ASKA BEAT TWEET OF THE MONTH

Can’t argue with a view like that!

And you thought you only had to check for pedestrians in a Last Frontier intersection?

Back at the lodge in Yakutat, I met Tony “Famous” Davis and Kristin Dunn from Kodiak Custom Tackle. They were headed out for a float trip the next day, but were staying with a couple friends, Shannon and Kate, who wanted to stomp the banks and indicator fish with beads.

They offered me a ride to the Situk River the next morning, and Shannon started the day with a couple beautiful hens right out of the gate, including one that broke the handle on her net. We headed upriver and settled in at the spot where I had hooked most of my fish the day before. We landed several more.

NOTABLE NUMBER   FROM

BATTLING SITUK STEELHEAD –AND AN OTTER 17

Age of Kenai, a once orphaned Alaska brown bear that died at his longtime home, the Minnesota Zoo, in late February.

We were using just the basket of the net at that point, which was an awkward and exciting experience. The amount of wood snags is intimidating, but with every fish I seemed to get better at keeping them pinned and getting them close enough for pictures.

Tony, Kristin and Ty Wyatt, Glacier Bear Lodge’s halibut captain, took me along for a fun walking trip along the banks of the Situk. While wandering upstream in belly-button-deep water, I hooked a hen early in the morning that caught the attention of a large otter, which swam across the river to try and steal it from me.

THEY SAID IT

Randall Bonner has now made several trips to Alaska to fish, as well as guide, but his very first time in the Last Frontier included some epic Situk River steelhead catches.

(RANDALL BONNER)

I found a small perch tucked into some willows where I could get out of the water and try to quickly land the fish. As I was leaning down to grab it by the tail, the otter popped its head up only a couple feet away to my left.

I tried to boot the otter in the head to send a message that I wasn’t giving up my fish so easy. It showed its teeth like an angry dog and leaped back into the water while swimming upstream.

I managed to land the fish downstream and safely release it away from the otter, but it was definitely humbling to know I was meddling with the local wildlife’s territory. -Randall Bonner

“British Columbia, Canada’s pollution-prone mining practices threaten the clean water, food security, and economy of every U.S. state unfortunate enough to be located downstream. We’re thrilled that, with the reference of the Elk-Kootenai River to the International Joint Commission, the ongoing contamination of the transboundary Canada-Montana Elk-Kootenai is finally on the path to being addressed. We urge the Biden Administration to heed the calls of virtually every Southeast Alaska municipality, multiple Southeast Alaska Tribes, thousands of Alaskans and tens of thousands of Americans and also uphold the U.S.-Canada Boundary Waters Treaty for the transboundary Taku, Stikine and Unuk Rivers flowing from British Columbia into Alaska.”

-Salmon Beyond Borders Director Breanna Walker, whose organization added that BC’s now abandoned Tulsequah Chief Mine “has been contaminating the transboundary Taku River system with acid mine drainage for almost 70 years.”

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

April 1 Spring brown bear season opens in Game Management Unit 6D (Montague Island; North Gulf Coast)

April 1 Spring brown bear season opens in GMU 8 (Kodiak/ Shelikof)

April 5-7 Great Alaska Sportsman Show, Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage (greatalaskasportsmanshow.com)

April 12-14 Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show, Menard Center, Wasilla (matsuoutdoorsmanshow.com)

April 19-21 Fairbanks Outdoor Show, Carlson Center  (fairbanksevents.com/fairbanksoutdoorshow.html)

April 30

Last day of wolf season in most hunting units

May 10 Spring brown bear season opens in GMU 10 (Aleutians)

May 13-Sept. 2 Homer Halibut Derby; homerhalibuttournament.com

May 25

Last day of spring brown bear season in GMU 6D (Montague Island and remainder of unit)

May 25-Sept. 1 Valdez Halibut Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/ halibut-derby)

June 7-16 Halibut Hullabaloo (valdezfishderbies.com/ halibut-derby/halibut-hullaballoo)

June 15 Spring brown bear season ends in several units

June 30 Spring black bear season ends in several units

For more information and season dates for Alaska hunts, go to adfg.alaska.gov/index .cfm?adfg=hunting.main.

Three outdoor shows are set for Alaska this month, including the Great Alaskan Sportsman Show, Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show and Fairbanks Outdoor Show. (MAT-SU OUTDOORSMAN SHOW)

PEBBLE MINE COMPANIES CONTINUE TO TRY TO OVERTURN EPA PROTECTIONS FOR BRISTOL BAY

BY CHRIS COCOLES

Proponents of the Pebble Mine, despite a series of setbacks that have for now killed the Bristol Bay gold and copper mining project, continue to line up for a Hail Mary pass play and hope for a miracle touchdown.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act guidelines currently block the mine from ever getting started. But after the state of Alaska’s end-around with the Supreme Court of the United States failed, (Alaska Sporting Journal, December 2023), the project’s two parent companies are now separately pursuing their own legal action.

On March 15, Northern Dynasty Minerals and the Pebble Limited Partnership both filed actions in federal court “challenging the federal government’s actions to prevent the companies from building

a mine at the Pebble Project,” stated a Northern Dynasty press release.

The actions essentially aim to veto the EPA’s 2023 final decision to block Pebble’s permit application, which was briefly greenlit by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers early in the 21st century before the permitting process was subsequently halted.

“Whatever authority the EPA may have under section 404(c), the general provision in the Clean Water Act cannot authorize the EPA to take action to block the specific economic activity that was Congress’s express purpose for granting these lands to the state of Alaska under the Cook Inlet Land Exchange,” said Ron Thiessen, Canadian-based Northern Dynasty’s president and CEO.

“It cannot authorize the EPA to over-

PROTECTING WILD ALASKA

ride the state’s regulatory preferences for the lands, or the state’s preference to allow modest use of some streams and wetlands in the vicinity of the deposit to facilitate the extraction of the valuable critical minerals. This is just another example of gross EPA overreach of the powers granted to it by Congress.”

Added John Shively, CEO of the USbased Pebble Partnership, in a lengthy statement: “We look forward to our day in court as we believe we have a strong case. Not only were the EPA’s actions political and beyond their statutory authority, they fly in the face of the state’s ability to manage its land and resources – a right granted to it under the Alaska Statehood Act and one the state will also

aggressively fight to protect.”

‘OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY’

With what figures to be another hotly contested presidential race in the background, the ongoing Pebble versus Bristol Bay grudge match could always swing back in the other direction (despite what has been lukewarm support if not objections to the mine from some in former President Donald Trump’s camp/family), so mine opponents must brace for more pushbacks.

The responses to Northern Dynasty’s and Pebble Limited Partnership’s actions echoed the reaction to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy-led pleas to the Supreme Court, billed as desperate acts.

“Pebble Limited Partnership is proving yet again just how out of touch with reality they are,” mused Delores Larson, interim director of United Tribes of Bristol

Bay. “This lawsuit filed in the Alaska District Court disregards the will of Bristol Bay Tribes and residents, Alaskans, commercial fishermen and all those who have overwhelmingly opposed the Pebble Mine. We are confident the courts will uphold the EPA’s protections and reject Pebble’s attempts to revive a mining project that Alaskans do not support and the science has shown time and time again would be devastating for the waters that support salmon habitat and our way of life. Our lawmakers must step up and take action to permanently protect Bristol Bay – our future depends on it.”

A press release from United Tribes of Bristol Bay and other organizations reminded that the EPA was asked to implement protection guidelines on the Bristol Bay region and its lucrative salmon runs 13 years earlier, and that the EPA’s selective veto power to utilize the 404(c) provision in the Clean Water Act just three

Lake Iliamna would be in close proximity to the mine, and Pebble officials have claimed the operation wouldn’t affect salmon runs in the region. The opposition disagrees. “The reality is, as long as there are people dumb and/or greedy enough to invest in Pebble and that land in Bristol Bay is open for mineral claims staking,” Salmon State executive director Tim Bristol says, “the push for Pebble Mine will continue.” (UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON)

“We are confident the courts will uphold the EPA’s protections and reject Pebble’s attempts to revive a mining project that Alaskans do not support and the science has shown time and time again would be devastating for the waters that support salmon habitat and our way of life,” says Delores Larson, interim director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay. (U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE)

times in the last 30 years reflects on how important it is to protect the $2 billion Bristol Bay salmon industry.

It’s why commercial salmon fishers have been among the most vocal opponents to Pebble, citing the potential disastrous results a breach of the mine could have on salmon numbers. It’s particularly critical now as Alaska’s king salmon runs have crashed in various watersheds in the state.

Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay director Katherine Carscallen said she was “disappointed but not surprised” with the latest plot twist orchestrated by Pebble Partnership and Northern Dynasty Minerals.

“Time and time again, it has been proven that the Pebble Mine would irreparably damage the watershed that fishermen and the tribes in the region rely on to sustain their livelihoods and way of life,” Carscallen added. “The EPA’s protections are grounded in law, science and overwhelming public support. We are confident that the courts will up-

hold these protections and protect the world’s greatest salmon fishery from the threat of the Pebble Mine.”

FRUSTRATION MOUNTING

With the fight against Pebble threatening to span generations, it’s fitting that Joel Reynolds, the Western director and senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, took an apocalyptic approach as the mining side attempts to force the issue in federal court.

“Like a zombie that never dies, the Pebble Limited Partnership’s latest lawsuits seek to revive a project opposed by a strong majority of Alaskans, abandoned by its mining partners, and rejected by the last three presidential administrations,” Reynolds said.

“For however long it may take, NRDC remains committed to defending the spectacular Bristol Bay watershed and its people from the toxic Pebble Mine. To the Pebble Partnership and Governor Dunleavy, we will see you in court.”   SalmonState will be right there sup-

porting Reynolds and NRDC. The Alaska-based conservation org has poured its heart and soul into the “No to Pebble Mine” cause. With Pacific salmon in peril up and down the West Coast, SalmonState is skeptical of what the endgame is for these mining operations. But whatever the motives are, neither the companies nor Dunleavy’s efforts to push this project through are going to go away any time soon.

“At this point, PLP is less a mining entity than a litigation vehicle for anti-conservation interests,” SalmonState executive director Tim Bristol said. “We are confident the court will eventually deny this cynical attempt to circumvent the will of the people and the law and uphold the EPA’s veto of the Pebble Mine. But the reality is, as long as there are people dumb and/or greedy enough to invest in Pebble and that land in Bristol Bay is open for mineral claims staking, the push for Pebble Mine will continue. In order to protect Bristol Bay for good, Congress needs to act and act soon.” ASJ

A beautiful Kenai River coho hits the net beneath sunny Alaskan skies. This most popular of Last Frontier salmon streams is highlighted by some epic coho and sockeye action throughout the summer.

(ALASKA FISHING WITH MARK GLASSMAKER)

CRUSH IT ON THE KENAI

DON’T LET THE KING CLOSURE STOP YOU FROM BATTLING PLENTIFUL SILVERS AND REDS ON ALASKA’S MOST POPULAR SALMON RIVER

BY CAL KELLOGG

The low gray overcast stood in stark contrast to the lush green grass along the bank and the river’s emerald-colored water.

The clouds were spitting rain; not heavy rain; rather, the stippling of fine drops veteran visitors to the Kenai Peninsula refer to as “Alaskan sunshine.” Those words allude to the fact that in summer it seems to rain a little just about every day.

Standing in a beached aluminum sled with three other anglers from the Lower

48, I was assessing the soreness in my back and shoulders I’d earned battling big Cook Inlet halibut the previous day. I listened to our guide Monte outline expectations for the day’s adventure.

“This is really pretty simple fishing,” Monte said. “When I tell you to cast, just toss your spinner toward the bank. Let it sink for a three count and start slow-rolling it back to the boat. If you feel a tug and the fish doesn’t stick, keep on reeling. Sometimes a silver will hit a spinner two or three times before

they stick. Work the lure all the way back to the side of the boat. Sometimes the salmon will follow it all the way in and strike right next to the boat.”

I’d spent a good deal of time bank fishing on the Kenai, but this was my first-ever guided trip on a boat. I didn’t know what to expect, but the instructions sounded simple enough.

Since I was hosting a group of anglers who had traveled up from California, I took a position in the back of the boat to allow my guests first crack at the silvers

This jumbo Kenai River silver couldn’t lay off a skillfully presented spinner. (ALASKA FISHING WITH MARK GLASSMAKER)

we hoped to battle.

After Monte positioned the boat for our first drift and instructed us to cast, Kathy, fishing up in the bow, hooked up almost the instant her spinner hit the water. In a flash Monte was at Kathy’s side, net in hand, and ready to net her acrobatic silver, which looked to be about 7 pounds.

Meanwhile, myy spinner was about three-quarters of the way back to the boat as I slowly turned the handle on the spinning reel and watched the action taking place in the front of the boat. When it came, the strike didn’t feel like a strike at all; in fact, for a few seconds

I thought I’d snagged bottom when the rod tip simply loaded up against a seemingly immovable object. Out of reflex, I wiggled the rod tip in hopes of freeing my big pink Rooster Tail. That’s when all hell broke loose.

The fish bolted toward the middle of the river and passed under the boat’s transom and engine as my spinning reel’s drag screamed. Out of instinct, I dipped the rod into the water almost to the handle and followed the fish around to the starboard side of the boat. If I hadn’t done that, I would have been cut off on the motor.

“You’ve got a king. There aren’t

supposed to be many in the river right now,” Monte said with Kathy’s silver now flopping in the net.

“Keep the lines in the boat, guys. We’re going to chase this king down and flip the spinner out of its mouth,” Monte quickly instructed and stepped to the back of the boat with the bleeding silver in his hand.

Tossing the silver into the fish box, he revved the idling kicker motor into action. “Reel fast, Cal, and keep the line tight as I close on the fish. Don’t baby him. We want to bring him right up next to the boat where I can grab the spinner with my pliers.”

Less than 10 minutes later the largest king salmon I’d ever encountered was next to the boat.

As Monte went after the spinner pinned in the corner of the big salmon’s mouth, I asked, “Can I get a picture before we let it go?”

“Negative” was all Monte said as he pulled the hook loose and the massive chromer disappeared back into the Kenai’s cold, cloudy water.

When Monte stood up, he explained that Kenai king salmon were protected. There was a zero-fish limit, and it was illegal to even lift any fish over 34 inches out of the water.

“For the record, that salmon would be a real trophy pretty much anywhere except on the Kenai. I’d say that king measured 49 to 50 inches long and would weigh between 45 and 50 pounds. During the second half of summer, we see kings in the 70-pound class,” Monte told me as he motored us back toward the bank and more silvers.

I’d made one cast and landed a 45-plus-pound king salmon, which my guide didn’t consider particularly big. Such was my introduction to drift fishing on the mighty Kenai!

THE KENAI RIVER FISHERY

The Kenai is one of the most famous and most heavily fished rivers in Alaska. It plays host to king, silver, sockeye and pink salmon, as well as rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.

The world record 97-pound king was caught in the Kenai in 1985. While the river is known for producing huge kings overall, the run is no longer robust. In

These anglers enjoyed red-hot sockeye action along a secluded shoreline during a guided Kenai trip with Mark Glassmaker. (ALASKA FISHING WITH MARK GLASSMAKER)

2023, the total number of large kings in excess of 34 inches was only 14,502. As a result, king salmon retention was closed, and 2024 will be no different. For the second consecutive year, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed the river’s early- and late-run king seasons, with salmon anglers also restricted to fishing with unbaited single-hook artificial lures only for the duration of the spring and summer.

“The 2024 preseason forecast for Kenai River early-run king salmon is 2,630 large fish (fish greater than 34 inches in length). The total run forecast is less than the optimum escapement goal range of 3,900-6,600 fish,” an ADFG press release last month stated. “If realized, the 2024 run would rank as one of the poorest runs in 38 years.”

Now and then, a lucky angler like me will still experience the thrill of battling and releasing one while targeting other species. You’ll also sometimes see massive kings jump and crash down in an epic midriver spray of white water.

Sockeye are hands down the most

popular salmon on the river among anglers. The 6- to 10-pound fish return to the Kenai in prolific numbers and are considered the finest eating salmon in the world.

Last summer’s run was especially robust, with 2.35 million sockeye running up the Kenai. With huge numbers of fish in the system, the limit was raised to six sockeye per day, 12 in possession.

Typically, the best sockeye action takes place from the middle of July through the end of August. If you’re planning a trip, the period between July 25 and August 15 generally yields good sockeye action.

Silver, or coho, salmon are another staple for Kenai anglers and are probably the most fun to catch because of their proclivity to make blistering runs culminating in wild jumps. I couldn’t get any run data on the coho return last season, but by all accounts, it was a very good year.

Mark Glassmaker of Alaska Fishing With Mark Glassmaker (mgfalaska

.com) related this to me: “On the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, the first good number of silvers arrived in mid-August, but with such a robust sockeye return and the limit being six fish for sockeye versus two fish for silvers, many opted to stick with the sockeye pursuit. By the last week of August, we were taking daily silver trips and getting consistent limits on the lower Kenai.”

The huge rainbow trout that inhabit the upper river, along with 24-plus-inch Dolly Vardens, are the Kenai’s sleeper fisheries, existing in the shadow of the river’s epic salmon runs.

I’ve wanted to experience Kenai rainbow fishing for a long time. So far, I’ve been so busy battling salmon on my Alaskan adventures that I just haven’t gotten around to chasing them, but I will.

Fueled by salmon eggs and the nutrients released into the system by spawned-out salmon, 10-pound wild rainbows are common, and I’ve heard stories about fish over 20 being landed and released. Most of the rainbows caught are landed by anglers fishing egg imitations with fly tackle or deftly drifting beads with spinning gear.

Since most anglers visiting the Kenai come in hopes of hooking sockeye and silvers, let’s take a look at how to hook these species while fishing either with a guide or on your own.

SOCKEYE TACTICS FOR KENAI SUCCESS  Sockeye salmon vary widely in terms of size from river to river. The Kenai’s sockeye are among the largest you’ll encounter. In my experience, the average sockeye runs 4 to 6 pounds, while my personal best was an 11-pound beast that fought with the power of a small tuna!

To consistently hook sockeye, the first thing to do is forget everything you think you know about fishing. Long casts and adding any action at all to your presentation will actually prevent you from hooking fish.

Short-range “lining” is the most effective and efficient way to hook up. What the heck is lining? you may be wondering.

Picture this: The Kenai is glacier fed; the emerald water has a chalky quality, which limits visibility. When sockeye

Huge numbers of sockeye pushed up the Kenai last summer and anglers scored easy limits. 2024 is expected to provide similar action.

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are running upriver, they tend to stay tight to the banks. You’re standing on the bank or maybe in the water in kneehigh waders. Ten feet in front of you in water that is 2 to 4 feet deep are dozens, perhaps hundreds of salmon constantly pushing past you.

Because of the less-than-clear water, you can’t see them, but they are there. Sometimes when wading, you’ll feel them run into your legs.

Despite the big numbers of fish, sockeye seldom hit baits or lures. They are plankton feeders, so they aren’t wired to lash out at tasty, smelly or shiny offerings like silvers and kings that spend their adult lives running down forage items such as candlefish.

Here’s how you hook sockeye: You’re armed with a spinning rod spooled up with 12- to 17-pound-test mono. Your main line is passed through a snap swivel such that it can slide up and down the line. Then a bead is added and the line is tipped with a barrel swivel. You’ll attach a Slinky-style weight to the sliding snap swivel to get your rig down.

A stout 18- to 36-inch leader is attached to the barrel swivel, with the leader tipped with a nickel- to quartersize octopus hook. You can fish with a bare hook, but I prefer to add a little yarn. I feel the yarn leads to more hookups since it tends to tangle in the

sockeye’s tiny teeth.

As for the presentation, you’ll flip 6 to 8 feet of line up and across the current at a 45-degree angle. You follow the rig’s progress as it drifts along with the rod tip. When the rig is 30 to 45 degrees downstream, smoothly lift the rig and flip it back upstream. Flip, drift, lift and repeat … You’ll lock into this fluid rhythm.

At some point when you make the lift, you’ll suddenly find your line attached to the jaw of a sockeye intent on ripping the rod out of your hand!

So how does this happen? All those salmon swimming upriver in front of you are opening and closing their mouths to let water push across their gills. Your goal is to have your leader sweep into the open mouth of one of the fish. When you make the lift, your hook is swept into the corner of the salmon’s mouth. If you are doing the “Kenai lift” correctly, 90 percent of the fish you hook will have the hook pinned through the corner of the mouth from the outside in.

Are there finer points? Of course. For example, you need to adjust your weight to the drift you are fishing. You want your gear right off the bottom, with the sinker occasionally ticking the rocks. Too much weight and your gear won’t sweep across the bottom

properly. Too little weight and the rig won’t get deep enough.

Visiting anglers typically elevate the rod tip and enjoy the fight of the salmon. That’s all fun and games, but this approach encourages the salmon to jump, increasing the chances of losing a great-eating fish.

When you watch an Alaskan angler battle a sockeye, they keep the line tight with a low rod tip, encouraging the fish to stay beneath the surface. These folks typically fish in pairs. When one angler hooks up, the other moves into position downstream from them with the net. When the salmon is just upriver of the net holder, the angler fighting the salmon elevates the rod tip, the salmon boils to the top and the netter makes the scoop. It’s a sweet system that maximizes the number of salmon landed.

If you book a guided sockeye trip, the guide will motor you to one of his pet gravel bars and anchor the boat. Your group will jump out wearing waders, line up and begin performing the Kenai lift. The guide will rove among the anglers, dialing in gear and technique. When you hook up, he will net your fish.

If you choose to fish on your own, the technique is the same, but you’ll be fishing with other anglers – both locals and tourists from the Lower 48 and other countries. There are a lot of access points for freelance anglers. For example, the town of Soldotna has constructed a series of impressive aluminum staircases, which anglers use to access a prime stretch of river.

If you’re a freelancer, just stop into one of the Kenai Peninsula’s small tackle shops and they will point you to where the best fishing is taking place currently.

SILVERS ON SPINNERS

If you’ve ever fished for trout in a stream using spinning gear with salmon eggs and spinners, you’ll understand the fundamentals of hooking silvers on the Kenai. Some anglers swear by drifting roe. Roe can be deadly, and I’ve had a lot of fun drifting it with and without a bobber, but most of the time you don’t need to employ bait.

Silver salmon are aggressive biters

As fun as sockeye salmon are to catch, they provide even better table fare.

(ALASKA FISHING WITH MARK GLASSMAKER)

and love to blitz spinners. There are a lot of different spinners used for silvers, and there are some local favorites you’ll only find in Alaskan tackle shops. I’ve always enjoyed good success with Rooster Tail and Blue Fox spinners.

My hands-down all-time favorite is a pink spinner with a silver blade, but at times color makes a difference. If you’re freelancing, you’ll want pink, orange, chartreuse and metallic colors, including metallic blue. I’ve found ½-ounce models to be a good allaround choice.

If you’re fishing with a guide, the spinning rod and spinner will be furnished. If the guide hands you a rod with a scratched and beat-up spinner attached to it, that’s a good thing. You’ll be fishing a lure that has caught dozens of fish. Some individual spinners put off just the right sound to drive silvers nuts!

On a guided trip, you may jump out and fish from the bank at times, but in general you’ll be making your casts from the boat. Obviously, when freelancing on your own, you’ll be bank fishing and wading.

Again, if you’re a freelancer, there are a lot of places to fish. The staff at local tackle shops will point you in the right direction.

Fishing for silvers typically requires a little more patience than fishing for sockeye. The silvers won’t be moving in big dense clouds like the sockeye. At times, you’ll have to invest several casts to catch the eye of a passing coho.

The basic bank fishing presentation looks like this. Cast the spinner up and across the current. If the run is deep, let the spinner sink a bit before you begin slow-rolling it in just fast enough to make the blade turn.

Work the lure all the way back to your feet. Silvers have a habit of following a spinner and smacking it at the last possible second. If you feel a strike but the fish doesn’t stick, don’t break rhythm with the reel. Keep the spinner moving at the same pace and the fish will often come back and hit the bait again.

FINAL TIPS

If you are heading to the Kenai to chase sockeye and coho, you can get

waders once you arrive in Alaska; many outfitters furnish them for their guests. I prefer to bring my own neoprene waders. That way I know my waders will fit perfectly and won’t have any tiny leaks.

When fishing for sockeye, you’ll always be around other anglers wielding hooks. For this reason, you’ll want to be wearing eye protection in the form of sunglasses. I typically carry a pair of dark glasses for sunny days and some with amber lenses for overcast days. I’ve never seen anyone hooked, but it does happen. A hook in the ear or lip is a bummer. A hook in the eye is serious!

Finally, if you are on your first Kenai adventure, don’t forget your raingear for that drizzly Alaskan sunshine. While pursuing the river’s summer salmon runs, you will almost certainly find yourself standing out in the rain! ASJ

Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California outdoors writer and editor and guide. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube.com/user/KelloggOutdoors.

P.O.W. WOWS IN SPRING

VERY SUCCESSFUL PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND BEAR HUNTING, FISHING TRIP RECALLED FONDLY

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

While standing on the bank of the Thorne River, I watched my bobber smoothly drift downstream. It didn’t make it far before it was pulled under. When I set the hook, a bright steelhead came cartwheeling

out of the tannic-stained stream.

I revived the fish, let it go, made another cast and caught another steelhead; it too was released. My first castand-blast adventure on Prince of Wales Island was off to a great start.

I worked my way downstream, still free-floating my bobber and jig setup. When I got to a big, grassy bend in the river, it just looked fishy. When the jig didn’t produce I switched to a lure, and on the next three casts caught three

Author Scott Haugen with a fat black bear taken via spot and stalk. It was his first bear taken with a crossbow, making for a unique Prince of Wales Island adventure he’ll never forget. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

beautiful cutthroat trout.

That afternoon, my buddy Mike Jenkins and I made a short run and dropped two crab pots in a bay. That night we had fresh crab and trout for dinner, not a bad first day of our adventure.

ALTHOUGH THIS TRIP WAS way back in 2008, so many of the memories remain fresh in my mind. The sights, smells and sounds of Southeast Alaska are truly unique and etch indelible moments in the memory bank. And while the fishing and crabbing continued to be great all week long, it was black bears that brought Jenkins and I to this part of the Last Frontier.

The next morning, we hopped in a little boat and headed across a bay toward some islands. Throttling the motor down, the skiff slowed to a glide as we slipped into a protected cove. A slight breeze caressed our faces as we rounded the point of the first island. We glassed the shoreline and searched diligently for black bears.

We continued around a point of the next island and Jenkins killed the motor and pointed. Neither one of us spoke any words. None were needed. A bear fed along the edge of a falling tide, munching on green grass, kelp and tiny crabs. The wind blew us back around the point, out of sight. The bear had no idea we were near.

We guided the boat to shore and with my crossbow in hand, I commenced a 400-yard stalk alone while Jenkins stayed back with the boat. The wind was perfect and it was quiet going. Toting a crossbow on a black bear hunt was a first for me. I’d taken many bears with a bow, rifle and muzzleloader, but never a crossbow.

As the bear fed its way over a grassy knoll, I made a final move. Head down, still grazing, the fat bear had no idea I was near. At 30 yards the bolt found its mark. A mere 10-yard death sprint was all the bear could muster. And just like that, my Prince of Wales bear hunt came to a close.

Jensen also held a bear tag. The next few days we cruised shorelines and drove logging roads in search of bruins. We saw bears every day, but they were either in places we couldn’t reach or they just weren’t big enough.

We were staying at Thorne Bay Lodge (thornebaylodge.com), a place that catered to do-it-yourself hunters and anglers and made a perfect fit for us. With nearly 2,600 square miles of public land to explore by road and boat, Prince of Wales is ideal for those who seek solo adventures.

Organizing your trip can take on many forms, from tent camps to U.S. Forest Service cabin rentals to taking your own vehicle on the ferry. You can stay on boats or in a lodge, and even a hotel or bed and breakfast, depending on where you choose to hunt. Guided trips are also an option.

AS FOR HOW TO hunt these black bears, there are several options, which is what makes a spring trip so exciting. Hunters looking to cover ground can road hunt

There are many islands around Prince of Wales and they’re rich in food, which attracts a lot of bears. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

and view an incredible amount of land.

While checking in my bear we saw a giant beast another hunter took, which squared over 8 feet. He got it by driving, glassing, spotting and stalking. He actually found it sleeping on a pile of fresh sawdust left by wood cutters who’d worked a logged unit. He stalked close and shot the brute while it was asleep.

Glassing vast stretches of land can be done from the road, off beaches, in boats or from any high point. This is a great way to cover ground with your eyes and save your legs and body the torment of traversing this rugged land.

Once you spot a bear, evaluate its size, then make a plan. The key to spot-andstalk hunting success is taking time to find a big bear that’s in a stalkable position. This is vast, rugged country, and such a proposition sounds easier than it really is.

Cruising the beaches in a skiff is one of the most enjoyable ways to hunt the island, as long as the weather is good.

The fishing was fantastic during the author’s time on this popular Southeast Alaska island. Here, he prepares to release one of several steelhead he caught on a bobber and jig. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Surrounding much of Prince of Wales are numerous small islands where bears run thick. At low tide, exposed land connects many of the islands and bears will travel from one to another with ease. Bears are strong swimmers, so don’t hesitate if the grass looks greener on the other side.

If hunting from a skiff, be sure to have some boating experience. Not only is knowing how to run a small boat crucial, but being able to do so in blustery winds and driving rains that unexpectedly kick up is imperative. Knowing how to work on motors should something go awry is important, for with the large tidal swings in this part of Alaska, one mishap can quickly become life-threatening.

Bears congregate along the beaches in the spring because there is so much rich food. From green grass – which they prefer eating soon after leaving their den – to kelp and seafood, the beaches are prime areas to find large numbers of bears.

Walking the shorelines is a good way to learn what the bears have been eating. Studying their scat will reveal what bears have been feasting on and can be valuable information when it comes to figuring out how and where to hunt them.

USING PREDATOR CALLS TO bring bears close is another option. This is my favorite approach on Prince of Wales, and it was how Jenkins filled his tag. As with any predator calling, timing is key; for the best success, be there when Sitka blacktail fawns are being born.

June 1 is a time when fawns are dropped with regularity, and by the

Mike Jenkins was all smiles over not only this black bear, but the entire experience Prince of Wales offered. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Kenji King called this brute of a bear into 12 yards and made a perfect shot with his bow. “With nearly 2,600 square miles of public land to explore by road and boat,” Haugen writes, “Prince of Wales is ideal for those who seek solo adventures.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)

fourth or fifth of the month, fawns will be everywhere. On our hunt, Jenkins and I saw over 20 fawns a day. All the bears we saw at this time still had good pelts and had not begun to rub.

High-pitched fawn bawls were our sounds of choice, and we had five bears react to calls during Jenkins’s hunt. On two occasions bears winded us and fled. On the last encounter, Jenkins dropped the hammer on a bear that came out of the woods right at us. We’d spotted the bear from a distance, parked the boat and watched the bruin wander from the beach into some thick Sitka spruce trees. The wind was perfect. We wasted no time making a move.

At low tide, walking on the slippery, kelp-covered rocks wasn’t easy or quick. Finally, we made it to a big boulder we could hide behind. Jenkins got set with his rifle and I began calling. Within two

minutes the bear started thrashing brush and growling. We had its attention.

I kept calling, but the bear wouldn’t come out of cover. I think the bear was interested but full from having just fed along the beach. I called louder and more aggressively because the bear showed interest. I’ve found if you stop, bears will move on.

Fifteen minutes later, the bear simply couldn’t resist. When it emerged from the timber – jaws popping and a look to kill in its eyes – it commanded our attention. Jenkins had never seen a bear called in before. Doing it with a mouth call versus an electronic call is the ultimate, as you’re the prey the bear is coming to kill.

Jenkins kept his composure and shot the bear square in the chest as it approached, dropping it on the spot.

A few days later, our buddy Kenji King joined us and he called in a dandy boar using fawn bleats. His bear came in

to 12 yards and he made a perfect shot with his bow. That bear squared 7 feet, 2 inches, and the massive skull stretched the tape 21½ inches.

While getting Jenkins’ bear skull sealed, we learned that three bears had recently been checked in with skulls measuring over 22 inches. Two of those had hides that squared over an incredible 8 feet.

OUR TIME BEAR HUNTING on Prince of Wales Island was something we’ll never forget. And thanks to the steelhead, trout and ocean adventures we enjoyed, it made our time in this part of Alaska even more special. ASJ

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s many popular books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

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HOW TO FIELD JUDGE BEARS

BEING ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOWS AND BOARS, YOUNG AND OLD BRUINS WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER, MORE SUCCESSFUL HUNTER

BY BRIAN WATKINS

With spring bear season fast approaching, I wanted to touch base on how to properly field judge bears.  Every spring, hunters head out in search of bruins. It can involve baiting in the thick timber; stalking coastal bears as they comb beaches for washed-up sustenance; or glassing south-facing slopes for animals foraging on fresh roots and sprigs. Whatever the scenario, bear hunters are tasked with judging their targets before they decide to shoot.  I see posts on Facebook bear hunting pages asking “Sow or Boar?” or “Mature or Not?” I’ll see hunters pass on mature boars or take a sow as the breeding season kicks up. The biggest mistake is taking a sow just before she’s in heat. If on bait, that sow will have boars crawling all over. On the mountainside, boars will travel many miles chasing her scent. It’s imperative that hunters take the time to learn as much as possible about the differences between the sexes and ages to do their best to properly judge bears.

IT’S AN ACTING JOB

The first thing I typically take note of is

FIELD BEARS

Can you tell these bears’ gender? That’s a sow on the left and a boar on the right. At a time of increased scrutiny around bruin harvest, being able to accurately field judge bears will go a long way toward a smarter and more sustainable hunt. (BRIAN WATKINS)

This black bear captured via trail cam is easier to identify as a male due to its smaller ears. (BRIAN WATKINS)

“I’ve also learned that sows typically have shorter-appearing legs,” author Brian Watkins writes of one of the characteristics that help hunters tell the difference between male and female bears. (BRIAN WATKINS)

how the bear is acting. Just as with humans, bears’ movements and characteristics change as they mature. Young bears will often act more playful and move more quickly. They “bounce” around on mountains and come into bait areas wary and on edge.

A young bear’s body movements are quick and their body’s flow is more compact. An old bear’s lower body will be consistent and have a sway to the back end. His stomach hangs lower and he isn’t quick or jubilant in movement. Another way to put it: If you translate a bear’s demeanor and movements to your pets, you can accurately gauge their maturity level. Think of a puppy that is always on edge and analyzing its surroundings. They respond immediately to anything out of the norm. They don’t seem to have a set path or goal. Young bears are the same; they appear chaotic in their movements. Old bears are like your dog that’s been around the house awhile. They walk with purpose and their body characteristics are bolder.

GENDER I.D.

Telling the difference between a mature sow and boar can also be difficult. I have a hard time gauging the difference if I don’t get the right angles on the bear. An old sow will have a fluffy look to her head when she looks directly at you. The head seems more circular/round with fluffy hair.

When you focus some time on it, even looking at pictures on the internet, you can start to see the differences between

a sow’s fluffy head and a boar’s long, rectangular nose. Also look for tiny ears. If the ears look tiny in relation to the head, it’s a big boar.

I’ve also learned that sows typically have shorter-appearing legs. A big boar will look like it has a pot belly – almost like an older guy who has that big gut from too many beers over the years. A boar’s stomach looks like a pot-bellied pig. The legs of mature sows look like they are too short for their body.

A lot of times people can trust their gut. They look at a bear and something appears “off” on their body. Immature bears look kind of goofy to me. An old bear will still appear lanky, but you can focus on specific features of his body to make a judgment. Look at the neck and shoulders. Do they look solid and stocky? Does the head look like a big square block?

MAKING A LOGICAL DECISION

Judging bears is one of the biggest challenges in the field. Often, people associate bears with danger; adrenaline pushes their brain into “holy crap!” mode, where everything is blown out of proportion.

Don’t pull the trigger right away. Get your wits about you and focus on specific features of the animal. Relax and calm down. If you’re actively stalking a bear, check its tracks out. Never use a rear foot to gauge a bear’s size. The rear foot is always deceiving. Measure across the front foot and add 1 to the width. This will be about as accurate as anything you

A boar like this big boy might have a more rotund backside. (BRIAN WATKINS)

This sow has a distinctive circular head, an important trait for hunters to recognize.

“Taking a sow is a terrible idea,” Watkins writes. “They are the producers of our future population.” (BRIAN WATKINS)

can do. If you measure 81/2 inches, that’s a 91/2-foot bear.

If you’re baiting, you can use objects to compare a bear to. Use your barrels or mark tree heights for bears. Setting comparative items ahead of time can help you in your decision. It’s important to use conservation on bear baits.

ALWAYS TARGET BOARS

Taking a sow is a terrible idea. They are the producers of our future population. Taking a mature boar won’t affect the population. Mature boars often kill cubs to push a sow back into heat and breed her again. Taking a mature boar will typically allow another older male to come in the following spring to breed the sow you passed up.

Remember to be patient and wait for those boars to show up. All the bait in the world doesn’t beat a sow in heat. One year, I had nine mature brown bears circling my bait because of a sow in heat. It was after the brown bear season and I was only able to shoot black bears at that time, but it was the best night of hunting I’ve ever had.

Here’s hoping your field judging leads to a great hunt this year. ASJ

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THE BEST IN BIRD HUNTING SWAG

VETERAN WATERFOWLER SHARES HIS FAVORITE GEAR

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

Most folks like hearing about the latest and greatest gear. Last month, I looked at topperforming big game gear I’ve tried. This month, we’re continuing with a rundown of the top waterfowl gear I used this past season.

Mind you, this is gear I used on many hunts; some gear I’ve used for two seasons on well over 100 hunts, including in parts of Alaska and multiple states in the Lower 48. This isn’t jargon pulled off websites; it’s gear I’ve tested, like and will keep using.

BIG AL’S DECOYS

If you hunt brant, cacklers or earlyseason ducks anywhere in Alaska, silhouette decoys are a quick, easy and affordable way to increase your spread and boost success rates. The best-performing, best-quality silhouette

Author and waterfowl hunting veteran Scott Haugen uses silhouette decoys for brant, cackling geese and ducks, and he rates Big Al’s Decoys cutouts as the “best-performing, best-quality” models he’s used. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

FIELD

Kent Bismuth Waterfowl loads have become Haugen’s go-to shotshells after not being able to find an option he was comfortable shooting. He says his patterns were “instantly tight, consistent and killed ducks and geese like nothing I’d seen from other bismuth brands.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)

decoys I’ve used are Big Al’s Decoys. The decoys are photo-finished, printed on the highest-quality material and are 100-percent made in the U.S.A. Properly washed and stored, they’ll last for years.

Big Al’s brant decoys are my go-to choice when hunting brant in Alaska and Mexico. Their cackler decoys pull in the tiny geese on the tundra and sheetwater. And the mallard, pintail and wigeon decoys are tops. I have over 30 dozen of the duck decoys, use them in many different places, and they’re one of the biggest game changers in my 48 years of waterfowl hunting.

Info: Starting at $72; bigalsdecoys.com

KENT BISMUTH

Not until I shot Kent’s Bismuth Waterfowl did I find a pure bismuth load that I even remotely liked, and I think I’ve shot every brand. I know it can take time to find the right choke to fit the right gun for bismuth loads you might be shooting, but I don’t

want to swap chokes every time I shoot different loads, be they steel, bismuth or tungsten.

My patterns were instantly tight, consistent and killed ducks and geese like nothing I’d seen from other bismuth brands. I shot hundreds of Kent bismuth loads last season, the patterns held together and didn’t fragment in my gun like other brands did; this was easy to see when swatting birds on the water.

This is the only pure bismuth load I’ve shot with confidence, and if I was heading out to hunt for prized sea ducks, or any other duck, this shell in a 3-inch 12-gauge load would be my top choice.

Info: $71.95; kentcartridge.com

BROWNING MAXUS II

I’ve shot a lot of guns in Alaska and seen a lot not perform the way some writers and manufacturers would lead you to believe. The time I sat and watched common eiders landing in my decoys because my

inertia gun wouldn’t cycle drove me crazy. I never took that gun on another duck hunt and gave the manufacturer an earful.

Alaska is totally different from hunting down south, and you need a reliable shotgun that works. I’ve shot a few I like, but my go-to waterfowl gun is Browning’s Maxus II.

I hunted in nice weather one day last season. One. It was a very wet, cold, foggy season, with more ice than I can ever remember. I slogged through a lot of swamps, mud, flooded fields, sloughs, creeks, rivers, lakes and saltwater. In all of these conditions, this gun delivered.

Whether I’m shooting steel, bismuth, tungsten or blends, I shoot Browning’s factory full choke  best. My dad shoots the same gun and prefers their modified choke. At times, the action can get bogged down, which means cleaning after each hunt, but that’s the norm in Alaska. If it gets sluggish in the field, I’ll give it a quick shot of lubricant and keep

FIELD

BAKED ’BUT WITH ’SHROOMS A WINNING COMBO

BY TIFFANY HAUGEN

Icall this dish “baked halibut mushroom gratin,” and you’re going to love it!

Due to its lean nature, halibut can be a tricky fish to cook. Just an extra minute on the heat will dry it out, compromising flavor and texture. But baking the meat in a flavorful, creamy sauce takes the guesswork out of the equation and produces a comfort food you will want to make again and again.

A while back, Scott and I fished

Friends can’t get enough of chef Tiffany Haugen’s go-to halibut recipe that’s kicked up with a creamy mushroom-infused sauce. Tiffany calls this dish “a comfort food you will want to make again and again.” (SCOTT AND TIFFANY HAUGEN)

throughout the archipelago around Sitka, and the first recipe I made with our halibut once we got home was this one. I’ve made it many times since, and everyone who sinks their teeth into it asks for the recipe. Here it is!

11/2 pounds halibut

3 tablespoons butter

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons flour

1 cup peas

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup half-and-half

1 tablespoon sherry

1/2 teaspoon pepper

TOPPING

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup French fried onions

Prepare topping by melting butter in a small skillet and mixing with breadcrumbs and French fried onions. Set aside to cool. Cut fish into bite-sized chunks and place

in a single layer in a heavily buttered oven-safe casserole dish.

In a large, dry skillet, sweat mushrooms on medium heat for four to five minutes. In a small bowl, combine chicken stock, halfand-half and sherry. Add butter, garlic, pepper and salt to the skillet and sauté about two minutes. Sprinkle flour over mushrooms and sauté another minute. Increase heat to high and slowly add liquid mixture while stirring constantly.

Once sauce begins to bubble and thicken, remove from heat and add peas. Add more salt to taste if desired. Pour sauce over halibut and top with breadcrumb layer. Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 350degree oven.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood, and other bestselling titles, visit scotthaugen.com.

FIELD

hammering away.

Info: Starting at $1,950; browning.com

SITKA DELTA WADERS

I’m probably the last outdoor writer in the world to get a set of Sitka’s Delta Waders. I wore them on over 30 hunts this past season and instantly fell in love with them. The boots are the most comfortable I’ve worn in a wader and they’re simple to get in and out of.

The legs aren’t baggy, which makes wading in rivers through thick vegetation and amid eel grass flats simple and safe. The front zipper, pockets and suspenders are efficient, comfortable and perform perfectly. I’ve worn many brands of waders, and some are great, but if I had to choose one set to take into battle, Delta Waders would be it.

Info: $999; sitkagear.com

SLAYER CALLS

I’m not a great caller, but Slayer Calls makes me sound good. The birds respond, so I keep using them. Every call on my lanyard is a Slayer duck and goose call. It took me three years to change out my old standby calls. When I do call, I want the sounds to be pure and easy to make, and Slayer Calls delivers.

Their Ranger is my favorite doublereed duck call; it’s crisp and loud, thanks to a quality acrylic body and perfectly designed internal parts. Noticeably able to turn the heads of distant ducks in harsh weather conditions at extreme distances, it’s perfect for Alaska.

I hunt a lot of wigeon and pintails, and Slayer’s Whistler’s Mother call is tops, producing crisp tunes that carry. Last season I compared it with three other calls on numerous hunts, and every time my buddies said Whistler’s Mother sounded the best to them. I did this in a range of conditions and various habitats, and obviously my friends didn’t know which brand of call I was blowing and when.

Info: Starting at $49.95; slayercalls .com ASJ

Editor’s note: To order signed copies of Scott and Tiffany Haugen’s book, Cooking Game Birds, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

On Sitka brand’s Delta Waders, Haugen says they aren’t baggy around the legs, providing flexibility when maneuvering through thick vegetation. They’re the one pair of waders he’d wear into “battle.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)