Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tiffany Herrington, Katrina Liebich, Mike Pawlawski, Zach Welch
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ON THE COVER
The father-son duo of Harlin (left) and Zach Welch experienced quite a memorable bruin hunt, resulting in Dad’s long-time dream of taking an Alaskan brown bear with a bow. “It’s a moment neither of us will forget,” author Zach writes. (ZACH WELCH)
CORRESPONDENCE
X @AKSportJourn Facebook.com/alaskasportingjournal Email ccocoles@media-inc.com
FIGHTING FOR THE FISH
Trout Unlimited is protecting Alaska salmon and trout and their habitats, all critical elements for the state’s culture, heritage and many occupations. Our Tiffany Herrington chatted with TU’s local director Nelli Williams and communications and engagement director Marian Gianullis for a look at what they’re up to across Alaska.
16 BE THE BIGGER BEAR
Former college and pro star quarterback Mike Pawlawski has led quite the exciting life, including hosting outdoor TV shows from around the globe. In a new book, he chronicles some of his life lessons, including the ultimate tale of overcoming fear in the form of a charging grizzly bear he faced down in Bristol Bay. Check out the exciting excerpt from Pawlawski’s book! 24 FAMILY’S ‘FULL CIRCLE’ MOMENT
9 The Editor’s Note
11 The Alaska Beat: News and notes from around the Last Frontier
15 Outdoor Calendar
53 Joint state-tribal-federal project improves access to popular Eklutna Lake ATV trailhead
59 From Field to Fire: Holiday gift guide for sportsmen, part one
Zach Welch always wanted to live in Alaska, where he could chase bowhunting dreams handed down from his father and grandfather. After he made it there and an opportunity arose to bring dad Harlin Welch to the Last Frontier for his long-dreamed-of brown bear hunt, Zach knew he had to put Harlin onto a special bruin to return the favor of instilling the passion for the hunt. Find out how the guys fared in this family adventure.
32 IN PURSUIT OF PREDATORS
While maybe not as popular as chasing moose and other big game, predator hunting – from critters as big as bears to smaller, wily ones like fox – is an underappreciated thrill to experience. Scott Haugen, who has fished and hunted for just about every species during his time in Alaska, shares some of his favorite moments on the trail of Last Frontier predators.
(JEFF LUND)
As writers, we’re always looking for the “nut graph” that makes the perfect story. I’ve been lucky enough to track down such compelling tales. I once got the A-1 front page byline of the Los Angeles newspaper I worked for, profiling a man who was at the time suffering from a lifethreatening illness but also closely following a family friend who played college baseball for a local school.
When Mike Pawlawski, whose new book is featured in this month’s issue, was a star college football quarterback at the University of California Berkeley, local media who wrote and talked about him didn’t do a deep dive into the Golden Bear’s backstory. That Pawlawski earned a scholarship to a major conference college program, led his team to a 10-2 record in his senior year and had a lengthy pro career in the Arena Football League despite suffering from lung and breathing issues was quite the kind of local-kid-makes-good deal that’s catnip for scribes.
EDITOR’S NOTE
“I don’t think anyone talked about it. For it was ‘behind me’ because I had beat it at that point,” he says of living with cystic fibrosis as a youngster. “But part of the reason why I wrote this book is that vulnerability opens up your nervous system and allows other people in. And so stories are the way we encode lessons as human beings. That’s how we understand it.”
In his heart, Pawlawski himself is a storyteller who wrote the book to share his challenges and triumphs, whether when he hosted outdoor shows on TV, gives motivational speeches or when on air as the Cal football radio analyst.
The part of the book in our excerpt, when Pawlawski was in Bristol Bay filming bears and looking eye to eye at a curious Alaska grizzly, offered a chance to share another life lesson.
“Our bodies all react the same, at least very similarly in terms of fear. We all have it. We all experience it. We all have heavy fear sometimes –whether it’s about your kids, or being in Alaska, or your job, or where your next meal is coming from,” he says. “Everybody has that type of fear, like (players) in pregame. Athletes feel it in the tunnel. So it’s all about understanding what that is. And how you handle that from a perspective that helps you deal with it.”
I asked Pawlawski if facing that bear was as daunting as the blitzing linebackers and massive defensive tackles who chased him during his playing career.
“Not even close,” he told me with a laugh, adding that the only comparable emotion he could relate to was waiting to enter the playing field before a big game. “Standing there with a griz, it’s just massive. Your nervous system is on overdrive and trying to figure out what to do.”
It’s another story worth telling and what Pawlawski and I love to do. -Chris Cocoles
Mike Pawlawski overcame lung and breathing issues as a youngster – he’d be diagnosed with cystic fibrosis years later – to have an outstanding college football career with the Cal Golden Bears, which he details in a new book. “Part of the reason why I wrote this book is that vulnerability opens up your nervous system and allows other people in,” he says. (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ATHLETICS)
For the second straight Fat Bear Week contest, the sow 128 Grazer defeated perennial bulky bear 32 Chunk in the final vote. This contest had a plot twist, as earlier this year Chunk killed one of Grazer’s cubs in a skirmish. (L. LAW/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE)
PRINCESS OF PLUMP RULES FAT BEAR WEEK AGAIN
Like other bracket-style events such as college basketball’s March Madness, the Fat Bear Week final showdown wasn’t just a rematch from the previous year, when defending most chubby champion bear 128 Grazer took on her worthy burly boar, 32 Chunk. This time, there was a tragic subplot.
Last summer, one of Grazer’s two cubs was killed by Chunk after the pair fell down a Katmai National Park waterfall and drifted downstream, where Chunk attacked them.
Of course, bear-on-bear deaths happen in the wild. In fact, this year’s bracket reveal was delayed when Katmai’s bear cam captured two bruins, Numbers 469 and 402, clashing in the park, with the latter dying in the battle.
“National parks like Katmai protect not only the wonders of nature, but also the harsh realities,” the National Park Service wrote in a press release. “Each bear seen on the webcams is competing with others to survive.”
Still, Fat Bear Week carries on and continues to be a popular, fan-friendly contest that celebrates these critters packing on pounds as part of their hibernation process.
Once again, over 1 million votes were cast throughout the competition, but it came down to the same two behemoths with the compelling backstory and the sad fate they shared.
In the end, it was a landslide win for Grazer, as the mama bear received more than double the tally of her competitor (roughly more than 71,000 to 30,000).
“The first working mom to ever be crowned champion,” was how Explore.org, which organizes the event, described Grazer’s latest triumph in the survival of the fattest competition.
2,000
AL ASKA BEAT
TWEET OF THE MONTH
Fat Bear Week may be over, but the salmon buffet dining has been epic for the bruins.
ONLY IN ALASKA
They don’t dissect just frogs in Alaska classrooms. When a moose was illegally killed, a group of schoolkids in Haines were taught how to butcher and quarter the animal.
Rough estimate of the number of king salmon that were bycatch for two Kodiak-based pollock trawlers, prompting an emergency closure of the Gulf of Alaska commercial fishery. The Chinook were reported to average 4 pounds. (RYAN HEGARTY/USFWS)
“The more people who adopt a subsistence-hunting lifestyle, the more likely it is that land will be preserved and left undeveloped, that animal herds will be managed and culled responsibly, and that hunting will continue to be viewed as a positive thing to be supported and promoted by the local community,”
Homestead Rescue host Marty Raney wrote in his 2022 book.
(SCOTT SANDMAN) FROM THE ASJ ARCHIVES – NOVEMBER
MARTY RANEY TALKS SUBSISTENCE HUNTING IN BOOK EXCERPT
There are 200,000 moose and 750,000 caribou in Alaska, with only 7,000 moose being harvested annually. These two species have allowed Native people to survive for centuries in this harsh land known as Alaska. And today, we too choose to “live off the land,” as Alaska still is quite bountiful in moose, caribou and salmon populations. I see it as a humbling privilege to live in a place where you can make your own choice as to what ends up on your dinner table.
Again, where did this fast-food chicken sandwich come from? What’s the origin of this (whopping …) drive-thru burger? Every moose, caribou, Dall sheep or mountain goat that we’ve ever taken was standing in a pristine wilderness setting, eating healthy, organic willows, lichen or assorted wild grasses. They were not crowded en masse, stressed or treated inhumanely. Hunting is not for everyone, but it is a way of life for many Alaskans leading a subsistence lifestyle.
I am not a sport hunter, but in my quest to live an off-grid, self-sufficient, subsistence lifestyle in Alaska, I’ve accepted the fact that hunting has been a long-time, inseparable part of living this lifestyle. As we go into winter, our freezer is full of moose and salmon. For that, and to them, I am truly thankful.
For the most part the hunting community understands that more people is a good thing (there are always exceptions to this rule, of course). The more people who adopt a subsistence-hunting lifestyle, the more likely it is that land will be preserved and left undeveloped, that animal herds will be managed and culled responsibly, and that hunting will continue to be viewed as a positive thing to be supported and promoted by the local community. Whether you’re involved or not, someone is going to hunt those animals. Park Service people will get those cull numbers, with or without you. So you can either take advantage of this fact or relinquish your share of the best meat money can(’t) buy. -Marty Raney
“THEY SAID IT “This decision amplifies the importance of prior informed consent for developments on our lands and has created a great sense of relief for the majority of Calista shareholders, who have long opposed this controversial project. As the court contemplates the next steps to address these violations, Mother Kuskokwim will continue our work to uplift the voices of our region. We do not want a toxic lake full of mine tailings on our Kuskokwim tributaries. It is clear that the scientific analysis for this project is inadequate and must be redone to account for the realities of the changing climate, drastic salmon declines, and cumulative impacts to wildlife that sustain our livelihood.”
”-Sophie Swope, executive director of the Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition, reacting to a U.S. District Court ruling that a 2018 analysis of the proposed Donlin Gold Mine upstream of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta failed to highlight the consequences of a potential tailings dam failure.
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Nov. 1 Hunting draw application period for 2025 hunts begins
Nov. 1 Deer season opens in Game Management Unit 5 (Yakutat)
Nov. 1 Resident goat season opens in GMU 8
Nov. 1 Resident grizzly bear season opens in GMU 9E (all drainages into the Pacific Ocean between Cape Kumliun and border of Units 9E and 9D)
Nov. 1 Resident late caribou season opens in GMUs 9C and 9E (Alaska Peninsula)
Nov. 1 Resident antlerless moose season opens in GMU 14A (Mat-Su Valley)
Nov. 1 Late moose season opens in GMU 15C (southwest of a line from Point Pogibshi to the point of land between Rocky and Windy Bays)
Nov. 1 Moose season opens in GMU 20A (muzzleloader only; Ferry Trail Management Area, Wood River Controlled Use Area and the Yanert Controlled Use Area)
Nov. 1-14 Late goat season dates in GMU 7 (Seward; may be announced)
Nov. 1-14 Deer season dates in GMU 8 (bow and arrow, crossbow or muzzleloader only; Kodiak Road System Management Area)
Nov. 1-14 Resident goat season dates in GMU 15 (Kenai; may be announced)
Nov. 15 Late elk hunting season opens in GMU 3 (Etolin Island)
Nov. 16 Youth deer hunt season opens in GMU 8 (bow and arrow, crossbow or muzzleloader only; Kodiak Road System Management Area)
Nov. 20 Late resident moose season opens in GMU 19E (McGrath, Lime Village Management Area)
For more information and season dates for Alaska hunts, go to adfg.alaska.gov/index .cfm?adfg=hunting.main.
Multiple moose hunting seasons open this month, including Game Management Units 15C (Kenai) and 20A (Fairbanks/ Central Tanana). (LISA HUPP/USFWS)
BE THE BIGGER BEAR
BOOK EXCERPT: FORMER QUARTERBACK STARES DOWN BLITZING BRISTOL BAY GRIZZLY
Mike Pawlawski has always beaten the odds, from his early days growing up in Southern California, when lung problems made it difficult to breathe and he spent many days in doctor’s offices, to playing bigtime college football at the University of California in Berkeley despite a local sports reporter calling him too slow to be the team’s starting quarterback.
“From the doctors who saw me when I was a kid and the people who saw me as a sickly kid, they probably think I overachieved,” says Pawlawski, now 55.
Still, despite the medical struggles as a kid – it wasn’t until his mid-20s that doctors confirmed he had cystic fibrosis – Pawlawski excelled in sports, earned his scholarship and won the starting quarterback job for the Cal Golden Bears and led them to one of their best seasons ever in 1991. The diehard angler and hunter went onto a long Arena Football League pro career, hosted two successful outdoors TV shows and now serves as both a motivational speaker and the radio analyst for his college alma mater’s football games.
Pawlawski has also written a new book that both celebrates his love for storytelling and shares the self-help tips that allowed him to overcome his early roadblocks.
“Everybody thinks there’s a magic pill that you can take, and all of a sudden you’re successful. And unfortunately, marketing does that because human nature wants that if they can find it,” he says. “So from the perspective of someone who’s done it in sports and business and in life, I thought it would be a big thing to get it out there for people to understand that there’s really a process, and the process is the same no matter which field you’re in.”
“It’s all about your belief structure, and if you believe that you can accomplish it and are willing to put in the effort and adapt, then you’re not overachieving; you’re just maximizing your human potential, which is really the point of the book. That’s the thing that people need to remember; we’re going to adapt as long as we’re willing to push against resistance if we’re willing to face the tough times.”
Having filmed outdoor adventures around the globe, one of Pawlawski’s memories that also doubles as a life lesson saw the Golden Bear come face to face with a grizzly bear in Alaska’s Bristol Bay.
The following is excerpted with permission from Every Day Great: The Playbook For Winning At Everything, by Mike Pawlawski and self-published by the author.
“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” –Marcus Aurelius
BY MIKE PAWLAWSKI
ugust in Southwestern Alaska is a transitional month. The skies are mostly gray with intermittent rain as Old Man Winter hints at his approach.
The streams and rivers dissecting the tundra change color from their glacial green to take on a red hue, reflecting the glorious color of salmon that choke their banks on the annual upriver migration. Sockeye first, then kings, chum/dog
and coho fill the inland waters, bringing nutrients back from the sea to deposit, either as dead flesh or in the form of poop from bears, eagles, wolves and any other predators or scavengers that make a meal out of the returning bounty.
Salmon are a cornerstone species in the cycle of life on the Alaskan tundra. They are retrievers that go to the sea to fatten up and bring much-needed nutrients back to an uncivilized and harsh wilderness that would otherwise be barren and lacking in nutrients to support all but the simplest foliage.
Moraine Creek is in Katmai National Park. It used to go by the name “Bear
Creek,” which is what guides and fishermen name a river in Alaska when they’re trying to keep other guides and fishermen away. In this case, the name was appropriate. Moraine Creek gets a phenomenal run of sockeye salmon, and the word is out among local grizzlies. According to an Alaska Department of Fish and Game officer I interviewed, bears come from miles around to enjoy the feast. Many even make the journey all the way from the coast.
I’m here producing a documentary on an ill-advised copper mine a Canadian company is developing near Lake Iliamna (the Pebble Mine). Copper
From playing college football for the University of California Golden Bears to staring down an Alaska grizzly bear, Mike Pawlawski has written a book about the adventures, challenges and triumphs he’s experienced. (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT; MIKE PAWLAWSKI)
mining in such a fragile ecosystem threatens the wildlife that count on the annual salmon runs to survive. The smallest incursion of copper to a river can wreak havoc with the salmon’s navigational system, making it unlikely that they will find and return to their native spawning grounds. There’s potential for great harm if the people of Alaska aren’t extremely careful.
Float planes have helped tame the Alaskan wilderness. On our final approach, we came in low and hot over the creek, so close to the water you could see individual fish. Today, our pilot is Brian Kraft, a classic Alaskan bush pilot and owner of the Alaskan Sportsman’s Lodge, one of the finest lodges in Southwestern Alaska. Not only does Brian fly and operate the lodge, but he also played minor league hockey back in the day and has the swagger to show for it.
“Look at that!” Brian said in a tinny voice coming through my airplane headset. “Red gold!”
Many of the stretches were so full of sockeye it seemed there were more fish than water. That kind of bounty, especially in a place as wild as Alaska, always brings out predators. Along the banks, either hard at work or jockeying for position, we saw several dozen bruins using various fishing methods to fill their plates.
After a final pass to check wind direction, we landed, unloaded and proceeded to film bears for two hours.
At times, I was so close to grizzlies going about their business I could smell them. The footage would add a lot to my documentary. We came to film bears, so now we could take our time on the float out because the planes were meeting us 7 miles downstream on Kukaklek Lake.
As I headed back to meet up with our guide, whom I will call Fletch, and my cameraman, Bill, I rounded the top of the island serving as my filming station for the morning and came face to face with two young grizzlies heading the opposite direction, a male and female from what I could gather. If I had to guess, they were twins. The male stood 3.5 feet minimum at the shoulder. The female was slightly smaller and had a narrower face.
I’d been in close proximity to bears all morning. I’d grown comfortable, though not complacent, toward the end. I wasn’t worried about this encounter. They headed to the creek to fish, and I just happened to cross their path at the wrong time. I stopped for a second and held my ground, and they veered left into the island brush. They looked a little annoyed but left me alone.
No harm done, I continued downstream, wading in shallow water on the left side of the island. The island was about 200 yards long. The bottom of the island created a shallow gravel bar that allowed access to the left bank where our raft was beached. About three minutes after my first encounter and just short of reaching the bar, I heard a ruckus
in the woods. Suddenly, the two young bears I’d bumped earlier came crashing out of the brush 15 yards in front of me to my right.
On my left was deep water. On my right the island was nearly impenetrable for a human. I was trapped between a lake and a very hard place. They froze and I froze. We locked eyes. They looked panicked.
I could relate.
Bill, who had a higher vantage point, told me later a bigger bear had chased them off his fishing grounds and back into the woods. It just wasn’t their day. They were scared and nervous, and so was I. Once again, I was standing in their way.
I stood my ground again, putting my camera and tripod in front of me as if it would shield me from a bear attack. They hesitated, and I saw them weighing their options. The male considered coming right through me. His sister, though, being a good girl, quickly decided to hug the bank on my right and skirt past me. She tucked her tail and looked away, a sign of submissiveness in the animal kingdom, as she snuck through the gap 7 yards to my right. But now I had one bear in front of me and one behind. I couldn’t watch both.
The technical term for that is “no bueno!”
THE MALE HADN’T MADE up his mind about his next move. His posture was notably more aggressive. He stared at me,
Across multiple trips to Bristol Bay, Pawlawski has discovered that anglers must understand they’re sharing these waters with fellow fish seekers that are a lot bigger, faster and meaner. (MIKE PAWLAWSKI).
IN SEARCH FOR GLOBE’S FISHING SPOTS, ALASKA’S
‘MAGIC IS ALL ITS OWN’
As an athlete, Mike Pawlawski was a good enough baseball catcher at Fullerton, California’s Troy High School to be scouted by the Kansas City Royals, and in his senior year of college football for the California Golden Bears in 1991, he led his team to a 10-2 record and a No. 8 finish in the final national polls. Pawlawski then quarterbacked the Arena Football League’s Albany (New York) Firebirds to the 1999 league championship. A second career spent hosting Outdoor Channel shows Familiar Waters and Gridiron Outdoors saw him film fishing and hunting adventures around the globe, often with standout football players and coaches like Jared Goff, Ronnie Lott, Urban Meyer and the late Mike Leach. But of all the exotic ports of call he’s docked in, it’s been difficult to top Pawlawski’s multiple trips to Alaska’s Bristol Bay.
“It was so different from most of the things that we’re used to. I did outdoor shows for 20 years. I’ve been used to being in pretty remote places. But Alaska has this magic that’s all its own in the wildness,” he says. “It just seems that all the experiences there are just more powerful, deeper. Because it is so untamed that it’s pretty magical. New Zealand, with all of its charm, it’s pretty fantastic. But it’s still not quite Alaska.” His first trip to the Last Frontier started auspiciously. Pawlawski landed in the Bristol Bay area to film an episode of Familiar Waters, and in an apparent mixup with the lodge on Lake Iliamna arrived a day early.
After he finished his college and professional football career and overcame his early trips in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices, Pawlawski hosted two Outdoor Channel series, Familiar Waters and Gridiron Outdoors, allowing him to fish and hunt
“They said to just take the boat and row to the top of the lake and hit the (Arctic) char run. ‘You’ll figure it out,’” he recalls. “We get the boat to the top of the lake and we are hammering char with streamers. We’re having a great time, we’re filming and getting great underwater footage, and all of a sudden one of my camera guys said, ‘What time is it?’ I looked at my watch and, holy sh*t, it’s 2 a.m. We were there on June 21 and it was still bright outside. That was my this-is-Alaska moment.”
The rainbow fishing in the region’s Copper River – the lesser known of Alaska’s two rivers of the same name – has also been spectacular in Pawlawski’s four trips to the Last Frontier. He fished the Copper, one of the rivers that flows into Lake Iliamna, and had an experience like few others in his travels.
“Everything in Alaska is like 40 percent more wild and the rainbows were all of that. I think the average size of the fish we caught was like 22 inches. And we caught several in that 30-inch range. It can be insane, which is why you go. It’s just a spectacular experience.” Chris Cocoles
agitated, and swayed side to side on his front paws as a third bear appeared on the bank to my left. From the look of things, this was momma. She was bigger and fatter and seemed to carry authority. She surveyed the situation, made a low grumbling noise, and turned away. The young female ran to her while the male jumped in the water to my left and swam across to where she was heading.
“Holy sh*t,” I thought, as I suddenly realized I’d stopped breathing.
It’s fascinating how that happens. It was the thing that got me through my
illness as a kid. It may have been slow or labored, it might have been difficult, but I never stopped breathing; breath is life, and when you’re breathing, you’re in the game.
“Breathe,” I thought as I took a deep breath. Then, I gathered myself and finished my walk downriver to the raft. It was a great bear encounter. A story I could tell at parties for the rest of my life. The day I stared down two “griz” in the wilds of Alaska. One more amazing tale from my time spent in the wild. Challenge accepted!
About a mile downriver sitting at lunch, we recounted the run-in as we laughed and ate like kings. Fletch cooked up salmon and rice with veggies. It was exquisitely seasoned and cooked to perfection. As we finished, the whole family of bears I had bumped before caught up with us. They began fishing just below our vantage point on a cliff promontory overlooking the river. They put on a show for the camera. They fished for half an hour before heading into the streamside brush 50 yards from our perch.
around North America. (MIKE PAWLAWSKI)
and crew were
“ill-advised” development that
“My stomach had bats, not butterflies, and my jaw felt as tight as a snare drum,” Pawlawski writes in his book about the close presence of the bruin. “My breath came shallow and choppy, and I could feel the weight of the world on my chest as the blood pulsated through my ears.”
(MIKE PAWLAWSKI)
a
That’s when Bill asked Fletch, “How can you tell when a bear is pissed?” Fletch responded, “They chuff and chomp their teeth, like this.” He proceeded to mimic a bear’s challenge verbalization, “Chuff! Chuff! Chomp,” making a reasonable impression of a ticked-off bear as he popped his teeth and gutturally grunted.
I’m no bear expert, but it must have been a pretty good impression because the young bear burst out of the brush 30 yards upstream.
And he was pissed! Oblivious to what was happening, Bill mimicked Fletch, and the bear heard it.
“Hey! Knock it off!” I said as I pointed at the young bear bearing down on us. “He’s pissed! And he’s heading our way.”
The reason I didn’t back down for our first two encounters is because you’re supposed to stand your ground versus
a grizzly. If he intends to eat you, you’re screwed anyway. Griz can run 35 miles an hour in short bursts, and they can ragdoll you with one swipe of their massive paw. If you run, you become prey in their mind, and they’ll catch you.
But … and it’s a big but … if a bear is being defensive or territorial and you stand your ground, you stand a chance of winning the bluff game.
The saying is, “Be the bigger bear.” Sounds good when you’re at the lodge in front of the fire sipping whiskey. Everybody has big balls in the lodge. Outdoorsmen, in particular, love to tell stories of their bravado. Like most things, though, when the bear scat hits the fan, it’s a little tougher to execute.
This bear was closing fast. He was done with our tomfoolery, and he was gonna let us know. Soaking wet and glistening, he closed to within 20 yards. Head lowered and shoulders back, he was on a mission. He’d been challenged and was going to show us he was up to it.
He came to a stop and stood upright
Pawlawski
filming
documentary about the proposed Pebble Mine, an
would threaten the watershed’s fish. (MIKE PAWLAWSKI)
on his hind legs. We gasped.
Though he was young, this SOB looked massive.
“He couldn’t be any more intimidating,” I thought. Little did I know I was wrong.
Apparently, Bill didn’t get the memo about standing your ground. Seeing that bear at full height was too much for him. Our situation went from scary to a direct threat in Bill’s mind at that moment. Even though my full attention was focused on the bear, I couldn’t miss Bill’s escape as I saw him shoot past the camera from left to right and down toward the raft.
THERE’S
AN OLD JOKE
among fishing guides: Two fishermen are standing on a river, and they spot an angry grizzly approaching. Immediately one fisherman starts putting on his running shoes. The other fisherman looks at him and says, “What the hell are you doing? You’re never gonna outrun that bear.” The first fisherman looks up as he finishes tying his second shoe and replies. “Nope. But I am gonna outrun you!”
Bill was the first one out of the blocks. Smart. Just in front of me, on my right, and closer to the raft, Fletch was still hanging in there. His identity as a hardy Alaskan guide would be seriously challenged if he ran first.
The bear had breached that invisible barrier, where all wildlife encounters feel too close, as he dropped to all four and chuffed. “Chuff! Chuff!” We could almost feel his intention, chomping his teeth. “Snap! Snap!” He was looking to intimidate us.
It was working!
My nervous system was at DEFCON 1. Heart pounding and dry-mouthed, I knew my waders were waterproof from the outside, but I was about to test out whether they worked versus an internal leak.
My stomach had bats, not butterflies, and my jaw felt as tight as a snare drum. My breath came shallow and choppy, and I could feel the weight of the world on my chest as the blood pulsated through my ears. My face was hot and flushed, but I could feel the cool breeze across my skin. My body was screaming to do something!
He looked massive and soaking wet. Somehow, that made him look way more menacing. Sister and Mom were nowhere in sight, and he was clearly pissed!
Almost in unison, something triggered Fletcher and I. “Go on, Bear!” we commanded, trying to bluff like we were in charge.
The bear wasn’t having it. He chuffed again, “Chuff! Chuff!” and then gnashed his teeth and scowled. His version, I assume, of “Go on, humans!”
Somehow, the intensity ratcheted up, and Fletcher and I once again repeated, “Go on, Bear!” as we put our arms in the air to look big.
This was a standoff.
The bear chuffed again. “Chuff!” and snapped his jaw.
That’s when Fletch reached his breaking point. The stand-your-ground thing wasn’t working for him anymore either, so he bailed off the rock down to the raft 10 yards to our right. Not much of a retreat, but out of the line of fire.
I couldn’t blame him and probably would have done the same if I thought I had a chance. But I knew turning my back and running down the trail to the raft below at this point would immediately make me seem like prey in this bear’s mind, and he would be on my ass in a blink with gravity and a full head of steam to assist him. There was no chance he would stop. Whether he wanted to eat me or just mess me up, it would happen at the bottom of that trail if I turned and ran at this point.
The bear noted Fletch’s escape and then looked back at me as if to say, “It’s just me and you now, buddy!”
I exhaled and thought, “Well hell! Now what?”
The thought crossed my mind, “At least the camera’s rolling so my son, Casey, can sell this as a viral video when this bastard eats me.” Then, sickly,
“The saying is, ‘Be the bigger bear.’ Sounds good when you’re at the lodge in front of the fire sipping whiskey. Everybody has big balls in the lodge,” the author writes. “Outdoorsmen, in particular, love to tell stories of their bravado. Like most things, though, when the bear scat hits the fan, it’s a little tougher to execute.” (MIKE PAWLAWSKI)
I chuckled.
As if the bear could hear my inner thoughts, he lowered his front shoulders and dropped his head to assume a charging posture. That move made it very real for me. If I had a gun, I would have emptied it into this bear at that moment. But we were in Katmai National Park. It’s a federal preserve. No guns allowed. I was trapped.
This was crazy!
THIS WAS THE FIRST time I stood toe-totoe with a challenging grizzly, but the feelings were somehow familiar. Fear is fear, whether it’s a griz or a game. Your nervous system doesn’t differentiate. I felt it on the sideline at Cal when I was sure I couldn’t play and before that as I lay separated from my parents inside the oxygen tent as a sickly kid. It was the same feeling in the tunnel before every game, the Alaskan Outback, and the pediatric ICU. It had a name. It was my stress response, and it was on blast.
“What the hell am I doing here?” the nasty little voice screamed inside my head, looking to blame someone.
I shifted my weight, and gravel crunched under my wading boots as the low sound of the ancient river to my rear mixed with the whirring of wind across the tundra. Like a classic Hollywood Western, it punctuated the moment. I felt like I witnessed the moment in slow motion rather than experienced it.
A morbid curiosity about what would happen next crept into my mind as I tried one last time.
“Go on, Bear! Git!” I yelled louder, still without the courage of my conviction. Then our eyes met, and time froze.
Something changed.
He snarled.
I drew a sharp breath.
Then everything went silent, and he charged! ASJ
Editor’s note: Order Mike Pawlawski’s book, Every Day Great: The Playbook For Winning At Everything, at amazon .com/Every-Day-Great-PlaybookEverything-ebook/dp/B0DHPRKFV3. Follow the author on Instagram (@mikepawlawskicoach).
Pawlawski (left, with Cal Bears radio broadcast partner Justin Allegri at a game earlier this season at Auburn) is grateful for the adventures he’s experienced and the opportunities he’s gotten along the way while taking advantage of them. “If you’re just going about the motions, you may be the most talented person in the world, but I can’t tell you how many players I saw didn’t get the job, didn’t sign the contract or didn’t make the play because mentally they didn’t have the mindset,” he says. “They weren’t there for the play in the moment. That’s why I wanted to write the book.”
(MIKE PAWLAWSKI)
SHARING SECRETS WITH GRIDIRON GREATS
Of all the fellow football players and coaches Mike Pawlawski shared fishing and hunting adventures with during his career hosting the Outdoor Channel show Gridiron Outdoors, he had a special connection with Mike Leach, the late, larger-than-life coach who passed away in 2022.
While filming a tahr hunting episode in New Zealand, Pawlawski and Leach met the country’s three-time World Cup-champion men’s rugby team, the All Blacks, so named for their iconic uniform colors.
“You learn from everybody if you’re smart. You never know too much to learn. I learned that in New Zealand with Mike Leach,” says Pawlawski, who was close friends with Leach until he died of a heart-related issue while coaching at Mississippi State University.
“We were sitting with the All Blacks and we wanted to hear about them, and all they wanted to do was quiz us about what we do about getting ready for a game: preparation, training – all those things. They’re like, ‘Look, you’re never too smart to learn,’ and this is from the greatest rugby team in the world. And people do things that we may not know about to learn (from them). So I always took that approach. ‘What can I get from this that can help me?’” CC
After moving to Alaska from the Lower 48, author Zach Welch longed to get his dad Harlin to the Last Frontier to hunt the state’s
encountered many challenges and near misses along the way. (LISA
iconic brown bears with a bow. Their father-son adventure
HUPP/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE)
A ‘FULL CIRCLE’ MOMENT
BOWHUNTER HELPS HIS DAD FULFILL A LIFELONG DREAM TO ARROW AN ALASKAN BROWN BEAR
BY ZACH WELCH
When people ask how I started bowhunting, I am quick to recall stories from my early years, when my dad, Harlin Welch, and grandpa got me into the woods, which would spark my burning passion for the sport.
For roughly the next 17 years these stories would continue, and a good majority of these hunts involved my dad. From deer on our family property, to trips out West, dream hunts that we never thought possible, heartbreaking close calls and everything in between, my dad has been over my shoulder countless times, always putting me first.
When I moved to Alaska, I saw the door swing wide open to have the opportunity to chase my wildest bowhunting dreams. However, there was one deep down that I knew was near the top. Since he was my age – and I am sure even well before that – my dad’s dream animal with a bow was none other than the Alaskan brown bear. I can remember as a kid him talking on multiple occasions that if he could have one animal, that would be it.
After gaining my residency, and thanks to the second-degree kindred law in Alaska, both my dad’s dream of arrowing a brown bear and my dream of being there by his side to witness it were close to becoming a reality.
TALKING ABOUT THE HUNT started shortly after I discussed even the remote possibility of moving to Alaska. But from what I can recall, sometime in late 2023 the talks started to become more serious and planning stages began to take place.
As the months went by, and between teetering back and forth whether it would even work, we had a plan to fly back to Alaska together following a wedding we would both attend for our good friends Josh and Rachel in Nebraska.
On the night of June 9, we touched down in Anchorage. After working the next
Goal achieved for
Welch! “It’s a moment neither of us will forget,” the author writes. (ZACH
Harlin
WELCH)
day and loading the truck up when my shift was over, we headed for bear camp.
Alaska offers the unique opportunity to hunt brown bears over bait in an effort to manage predator populations to address declining ungulate herds. This is by no means an easy chore, and after the first day of checking cameras and replenishing the baits, it was evident how much goes into this for my dad.
I was fortunate enough to become good friends with Trevor Embry, who had been hunting this area for several years. Having him as a friend and mentor for running bear baits has shortened the learning curve significantly. He would be joining us later in the week, but for the next several days it would just be Dad and I, and we had our work cut out for us.
Following the camera checks we had seen several brown bears over the previous week, but one lone boar with consistent activity gave us a target for the first hunt. We climbed into the stand that evening with plans of a 12-plus-hour sit. We were in it for the long haul.
LESS THAN AN HOUR into the hunt, the sound of branches breaking up the mountain caught our attention. The black bear that had been feeding for several minutes in front of us took off
in a flash and the woods fell silent. Seconds later, blonde fur caught my eye. I looked up to see the boar from the camera marching down the trail directly at us. I grabbed my dad’s leg and told him to get ready to draw.
The bear came directly into the bait and offered one broadside shot obstructed by brush. The bear turned to walk away and time seemed to stand still as my dad followed him at full draw. I watched as his arrow hit much too far forward and the bear exploded into the brush. The woods fell silent and deep down I had a bad feeling.
We gave the bear some time and took up the blood trail, which looked promising at first, taking us roughly over 1,000 yards up and over the mountain. But several hours later it was evident
Black bears were omnipresent throughout the pursuit for a grizzly. And the guys came agonizingly close earlier in the hunt. But Zach was determined to help his pop achieve this dream. (ZACH WELCH)
Camping and camaraderie was what this adventure was all about (ZACH WELCH)
The Welches have so many memorable hunting moments dating back to when Zach would go out with his father and grandfather. “I can remember as a kid him talking on multiple occasions that if he could have one animal, that would be it,” Zach writes of his dad’s wish to hunt an Alaskan grizzly. This was all those dreams fulfilled. (ZACH WELCH)
that the bear was alive.
As darkness closed in and knowing the bear was going to live, we began our hike back down the mountain. I was sick to my stomach; I can’t imagine what my dad was feeling. Rushing a shot is something all of us who have bowhunted long enough have probably done. Just as I have made mistakes countless times in the past and my dad was there to give words of encouragement, I reassured him that the bear was fine. As hard as it might be to accept, he needed to shake it off and get back in the saddle. Easier said than done.
WE SAT THE NEXT two evenings, including one all-night hunt. A plethora of black bears kept us entertained, but we wouldn’t see any brown bears.
On Friday evening we climbed into the stand with plans of another allnighter, knowing that at this time of year during the rut a boar could come roaming through at any time. You can’t kill one sitting in camp! Around 11 p.m. this was confirmed to a T when the snap of a branch caught my attention.
A giant chocolate-colored boar was on a mission, and as he stepped out into the open my dad came to full draw. The bear stood facing us – mouth gaping and drool pouring.
After already experiencing one heartbreak, my dad wouldn’t settle for less than a perfect angle. The boar scent checked the area for other bears and offered a split-second window for a shot as he turned to leave, and then he was gone. But having not winded us, I was almost certain he would be back at some point during the hunt.
Several nights of little sleep began to catch up to us, and we traded shifts watching and listening for bears as the other would catch a few minutes of sleep. It was my turn for a snooze and I pulled my stocking hat down over my eyes as 4 a.m. crept closer.
I was just beginning to doze off when I felt two nudges on my arm. With hands tucked in my pocket, I leaned my head back in an attempt to see under my stocking hat, but I still had no clear look at what my dad was seeing. I eased
my hand from my pocket and slowly pushed up my hat. A beautiful blonde boar was less than 20 yards away already feeding.
Since I was caught off guard, I tried to compose myself. For roughly the next 15 minutes we watched the bear feed, which from my position was a good angle, but it was quartering toward my dad too hard for a comfortable shot. The bruin finally stood and shifted position. My dad came to full draw for the third time on a brown bear this trip, and it proved to be the charm.
The bear turned perfectly broadside and his pin came to a rest. The bear roared and crashed through the brush as his arrow disappeared behind its shoulder. The crashing came to a halt followed by two roars, and then the woods fell silent. “You just killed a brown bear with a bow!” I yelled as I turned to give my dad a hug.
We were both shaking and it took several minutes for us to calm down.
We gave the bear over an hour before taking up the trail. We followed the blood into the alders, and a few yards in I looked ahead in the line of travel. Less than 20 yards in front of us, this bear represented both of our dreams.
It’s a moment neither of us will forget. Another hug and celebration followed and we made our way over to the bear. I couldn’t help but to say a prayer of thanks for what was beyond what I could have dreamed: a perfect hide, a clean kill and the opportunity to share the moment with my dad on the mountain. We called family and friends, took photos and went to work skinning out the bear.
After packing him off the mountain, we had just enough time to get the bear stretched out in camp and change
clothes to go meet my good buddies Trevor, Brian and Nick to do some fishing and storytelling!
That night Trevor would add to the incredible spring season our crew had, as he arrowed a nice boar with Brian alongside!
THIS PAST SPRING WAS one for the books, with all of us taking brown bears and the Alaska crew all harvesting black bears as well.
For me, this hunt was a drop in the bucket of what my father has done for me over the years. We have made a lot of memories and I pray we may get to share many more. However, that morning on the mountain will be hard to top. The sun beaming down, a brown bear skinned out in front of us and me thinking how things have indeed come full circle. ASJ
When it was all over, sitting around a campfire with fellow Alaska bowhunters Brian Watkins (far left) and Trevor Embry (far fight) made it all worthwhile for Harlin (front) and Zach. (HARLIN WELCH)
PURSUING PREDATORS
A HUNTER RECALLS CHASING ALASKA’S TOOTHIEST CRITTERS
( FIRST OF TWO PARTS )
BY SCOTT HAUGEN
I’ve hunted black bears in many places, but never in the heart of Alaska, where the terrain resembled more like a hunt for Dall sheep.
After flying into spike camp in a Super Cub – the runway barely longer than my driveway – I was relieved we’d found flat ground, not only on which to set the plane down, but also to pitch our tents.
It was mid-August, and with daylight coming at 4 a.m. and lasting until nearly midnight, racking up the hunting hours wasn’t a problem. Calling, however, was. I was intent on trying to call in one of
these mountain-dwelling black bears with the use of predator calls, but I had a source of competition that proved too overbearing: blueberries.
The locals had warned me of the bumper crop of blueberry patches looming in the hills, and that it would be next to impossible to pull the bears off them. They were right; either that or my calling just wasn’t convincing enough.
With bears set on gorging themselves on wild blueberries, crowberries and cranberries, I knew our tags would have to be filled via spot and stalk.
I was joined on this hunt by a good friend from Michigan, Tom Munson. It was both Tom’s first time in Alaska and his first bear hunt. As for me, I’d lived on the North Slope most of the 1990s – also one year in Hyder – and have traveled the state extensively over the past 34 years.
We glassed bears each day, but they either weren’t quite what we were looking for or were in unreachable places. We also watched grizzlies – their silver coats shimmering in the summer sun – as they frolicked in berry patches; one boar stayed
Author Scott Haugen and his hunting partner watched these black bears for over an hour before they walked to within shooting range of where they sat in the most open habitat around. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
From giant bears to smaller game, Haugen has made plenty of memories hunting Alaska predators. The blue-phase Arctic fox is a unique predator that is only found in a handful of places in Alaska. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
in the same spot for eight hours. Finally, we found a bear Tom wanted. It required a hike of nearly 1,000 vertical feet to reach.
Just as Tom crawled into shooting position, the wind shifted. To witness a bear running up a shale cliff, all while covering the distance of a football field faster than any human can on flat ground, gives you another level of respect for these predators.
We kept climbing since we were intent on seeing what was on the other side of the mountain. Once on top, we found Tom’s bear over a mile away. As we watched, another bear joined it and they
began walking in our direction.
Figuring they might be heading back to the berry patch, we sat, watched and waited. Nearly an hour passed and the bears were now within a half-mile and still moving closer in our direction. They’d stop, eat grass, wrestle, spar on their hind legs and chase one another, but they kept moving toward us.
When they disappeared into a valley below, we lost sight of them. Then, movement less than 40 yards away caught our eyes. Seemingly from nowhere, both bears appeared, walking down the same trail we sat on. There
was no brush to hide behind.
Quickly, we cranked the power all the way down on our scopes. Tom took the lead bear straight on. The other bear just stood there, and I dropped that one. They had no idea what hit them. Sometimes patience pays off. And a little bit of luck never hurts.
CANINES GALORE
One October I hunted along the blustering shores of Bristol Bay southeast of the village of Egegik. A brown bear drew me here, but the area’s red fox caught my attention also.
During the years I lived in Point Lay and Anaktuvuk Pass, I hunted and trapped for Arctic fox, wolf, wolverine and lynx. All were predators I only dreamed of pursuing as a kid. I also trapped a few red and cross fox in the Pass. With winter fast approaching, the Bering Sea that flanked the village of Egegik was the perfect place for bears and foxes to amass winter weight by combing the beaches.
Since I’d arrived in camp early, I had a couple extra days before the brown bear season. That’s all I needed to fulfill my urge to hunt small predators.
On my very first set I positioned a FoxPro Fury in some tall, sparse grass. I called into a slight crosswind, figuring any approaching fox would come in directly downwind. I was shooting a 12-gauge shotgun.
Increasing the volume with the hand-held remote, the sounds of the rodent in distress intensified, carrying loudly across the grassy flat. Only a few minutes passed and before I knew it, there was a glowing red face staring me down. The fox had come in from the side and approached so quickly I didn’t see it until he was within four paces of where I sat. It was too close to shoot. I waited. The fox trotted off and I stopped it with a mouth call. That was it. Later that afternoon I called in another dandy red fox.
PICTURE PERFECT
The next day I was back at it – this time on higher ground and near some willows. Letting the Fury cut loose with some rabbit distress sounds, all felt good. Within five minutes, not one
Red foxes are abundant in Alaska, and calling them into close range never gets old. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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Wolves top the wish list of many hunters in Alaska, and Chris Stewart, the author’s buddy, was elated with this hefty male. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
but two red fox approached, both from different directions.
This time I’d swapped the shotgun for a still camera. Wildlife photography is a big part of how I’ve made my living as a full-time outdoor writer for the past 25 years. One fox, the oldest of the two, would have nothing of the photo session. The other circled me several times, allowing me some great opportunities before it finally headed into the willows.
Later that day I was back by the beach calling with various bird distress sounds. When a flash of gray moving in tall grass caught my eye, a surge of adrenaline shot through my body. “Wolf,” was my first thought and what I hoped for; I had a wolf tag in my pack.
But it was a coyote, which totally caught me by surprise. It came within rifle range, but all I had was a shotgun. Had it come another 30 yards closer, the prime-
pelted coyote would have been mine, but its keen nose got the best of me.
Later, buddy Chris Stewart joined me. He brought his rifle in the hopes to see a coyote. We didn’t call in a coyote, but we did see a dandy wolf. We watched it from over 2 miles away. It laid down on the tundra and slept for five hours in the middle of the day. It was surrounded by swampy tundra and we had no way to reach it. When it got up, it started coming our way. Eventually it crossed a small river and walked within rifle range. Stewart connected on the shot.
I shared stories of my wolf trapping days in Anaktuvuk Pass while skinning out the animal. I also reminisced about some of my fondest fox hunting memories, like the time I called in a dandy silver-phase red fox on Kodiak island and shot it with a bow. And the
time we got blown off the ocean on a king eider hunt on Saint Paul Island and I went out calling for blue fox, and I found one.
ALASKA’S ULTIMATE PREDATOR
In 2009 I was no longer an Alaska resident. That fall I hunted brown bears with Bruce Hallingstad, owner of Becharof Outfitters (becharof.com). I went into this hunt with the hopes of calling in a brown bear with the Fury while I was hosting a TV series for a major outdoor network at the time. Unfortunately, excessive winds of over 40 miles per hour prevented calling, and though we tried when we had a break in the conditions, it just wasn’t happening.
Instead, we went after the bears on foot in tall grass. We spent an entire day following one fresh track across the beach, into the tundra, across sandy creeks and into the tall grass. It was a giant track.
Finally, with only a few minutes of daylight remaining, we found it. Looking at the brute through binoculars, it appeared every bit of a 10-footer. Unfortunately, there was no way of reaching the boar by dark.
We spent the next two days looking for that bear, but never saw it again. But we did find another bear, this one feeding in the chest-high grass; it was barely over a mile from where we sat.
Grabbing our rubber raft, we pulled it through a quarter-mile of tall grass, hopped in and paddled across a tiny river. We trudged through knee-deep mud at the next crossing; I think I’d still be stuck there if it weren’t for the raft I leaned on for leverage. It was the stickiest mud I’d ever set foot on, and it greatly slowed our progress. It made all those horror stories I’d heard of hunters in Alaska who fall victim to mud and big tide swings; it’s a bitter reality.
When we popped out of the creek bottom the bear was nowhere to be seen. Continuing toward where we last saw the bruin, we figured we were within 500 yards of it, so the glassing began.
When the distinct, dark chocolate back of the bear rose from the yellow grass barely 100 yards from us, Bruce and I looked at one another. I set up the Bog Pod shooting sticks and wasted
Haugen with his first brown bear. Watch for next month’s issue of Alaska Sporting Journal, where Haugen relives a hunt that ended with a massive brown bear of a lifetime!
(SCOTT HAUGEN)
no time settling my Remington .375 H&H comfortably into the V. But the grass was too tall, covering the bear’s vitals. In an effort to head off the bear, we started to make a move. Just then the bear stopped, stood on its hind legs and stared straight at us. I wasted no time and put the glowing green triangle of the Trijicon AccuPoint scope on the bear’s chest. No sooner had the blare of the muzzle cleared the air when back came the report of the bullet hitting the mark.
Though I’d taken tundra grizzlies in Alaska – I unsuccessfully bowhunted coastal bears before – this was my first brown bear. It wasn’t the 10-footer we’d hoped for, but I didn’t care. The quest for a 10-foot bear meant I could come back; I did five years later. But that’s another story for another time, which I’ll share in the next issue of Alaska Sporting Journal ASJ
Editor’s note: To order signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling book, Hunting The Alaskan High Arctic, visit scotthaugen.com.
GUARDIANS OF ALASKA RIVERS
TROUT UNLIMITED’S QUEST TO PRESERVE LAST FRONTIER’S FISH, WILDLIFE AND HABITATS
BY TIFFANY HERRINGTON
For many Alaskans, the state’s rivers and wild landscapes are more than just natural resources; they’re an essential part of their heritage, culture and livelihoods.
Trout Unlimited’s Alaska Program is committed to preserving this legacy by protecting and restoring the habitats of coldwater fish, including the worldrenowned salmon and trout species that call these waters home.
One of the program’s biggest and longest-running battles has been the fight to protect Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble Mine, a massive gold
and copper mining project that threatens one of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fisheries. Trout Unlimited has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the mine from moving forward, working closely with local tribes, business owners and communities to secure essential protections for Bristol Bay’s waters and the salmon that sustain them.
“Stopping the Pebble Mine has been our most focused and sustained effort in Alaska,” explains Nelli Williams, Alaska director for Trout Unlimited. “In 2020, we worked to deny the mine a key permit it needed to advance, and in
2023, Clean Water Act protections were put in place to limit mine waste disposal in the Pebble deposit area. But the fight isn’t over. There are still legal challenges, and we’re actively working toward longterm safeguards for the entire Bristol Bay watershed.”
The scope of Trout Unlimited’s work extends across the state, from advocating for sustainable management of the Tongass National Forest to restoring salmon habitat impacted by logging and development. Williams, along with Marian Giannulis, Alaska communications and engagement
Trout Unlimited Alaska staff members enjoy a float down the Kenai River, where they work to engage anglers in minimalimpact angling methods. The group is working on multiple fisheries projects in the state. (TROUT UNLIMITED)
director, share their personal connections to Alaska’s wild spaces, agree that there is an ongoing threat posed by Pebble Mine, and explore how conserving these watersheds is critical for maintaining not only the health of the fisheries, but also the vibrant traditions and economies they support.
“Alaska is home to some of the world’s last remaining intact wild salmon fisheries,” adds Giannulis. “These fish are integral to the culture, economy and way of life for thousands of Alaskans. We’re committed to ensuring that this remains the case for future generations by advocating for protections that will preserve the state’s wild places.”
The following conversation delves into what makes Alaska’s watersheds unique, the stakes involved in the fight against Pebble Mine, and why conservation is critical to preserving the state’s thriving fisheries and the way of life they support.
Tiffany Herrington Nellie, where do you hail from? Are you a born-and-bred Alaskan?
Nelli Williams I’m not originally from Alaska, but I’ve been here for quite a
while now. I was born in Wisconsin and got the Alaska bug at a young age. I came up here during college and have basically stayed ever since. I went back to the Lower 48 for school, but Alaska captured my heart. Now I’m raising a family here, and this is definitely home.
TH Can you share about your background and what led you to take on the role of Alaska Director for Trout Unlimited?
NW Sure! I’ll give you the short version.
Like many people who visit Alaska as young adults, I was blown away by the bounty of the place – the wildness, remoteness and the people who are so connected to the land. I worked seasonally in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska, particularly in the Tongass National Forest. Those were formative experiences, and I met people who were stewarding Alaska’s public lands and waters, which really spoke to me. After grad school, I got the opportunity to work for Trout Unlimited doing volunteer and community engagement. My background is in education, particularly natural resource education, so it was a good fit. That was in Wyoming, but my
husband and I were eager to get back to Alaska – it was too hot and sunny in Wyoming! We jumped at the chance, and I started working on the fight to protect Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble Mine in 2009.
TH What personal experiences shaped your passion for conservation and protecting Alaska’s pristine waters?
NW I grew up spending summers at a family cabin on the Mississippi River. I have vivid memories of my grandma, great aunts and my mom catching bluegill, and that’s where my connection to rivers started. It wasn’t just about fun; it was also about how important those experiences were for our family. I spent a lot of time outdoors, and my parents did their best to cultivate that connection. I wasn’t always into fly fishing. My husband was the one who taught me, and over the years, it became our way of exploring new places together. We’ve since been able to bring our kids along,
Trout Unlimited Alaska director Nelli Williams (above) and communications and engagement director Marian Giannulis (right) both feel at home on the water. (TROUT UNLIMITED)
and it’s been a huge part of our family life. Learning about why healthy rivers are so important has been eye-opening – rivers where you can catch fish, swim and even drink the water. In places like Bristol Bay, that’s still possible, and it highlights how special Alaska truly is.
TH Marian, where are you from, and what led you to Trout Unlimited?
Marian Giannulis I’m from Eagle River, Alaska – born and raised. I’d been doing communications work in the nonprofit sector for many years, and I always knew I wanted to do something that made a positive impact. I had a growing desire to work in conservation because my heart is in the outdoors. It wasn’t until I left Alaska for college that I realized how unique my home is. I wanted to be part of preserving that, especially as threats to Alaska’s wildlands and fish populations increased. I put the feelers out for conservation work, and this position at Trout Unlimited came up. It was a dream come true, especially since fishing is my favorite thing to do. The alignment between my personal passion and TU’s conservation work felt perfect. I knew this was something I’d be doing for a lifetime.
TH Do you have any personal experiences that shaped your passion
for conservation and protecting Alaska’s waters?
MG Absolutely. One of the most meaningful experiences for me was harvesting my first big game animal. As much as I love fishing, hunting has given me an even closer connection to the natural world. There’s something about being fully immersed in a wild place without trails, relying on your senses to guide you; it’s a completely different experience. Hunting has also given me a deeper understanding of indigenous cultures in Alaska, who have lived off the land for thousands of years. It’s humbling to realize that while I’m doing this recreationally, for many people in Alaska, this is their way of life. It’s not a choice; it’s part of their cultural heritage. That connection to the land and to the food it provides really resonates with me.
TH That sounds like such a powerful experience. I imagine it deepened your understanding of conservation on many levels. Now, let’s talk about Trout Unlimited. For those who may not be familiar, can you provide an overview of its mission and work in Alaska?
NW At its core, Trout Unlimited’s mission in Alaska is to take care of the rivers people love to fish. We do this by cultivating and engaging an active community of anglers and conservationists. Our
work focuses on safeguarding critical fish habitats, restoring habitats that have been historically degraded and prioritizing our efforts in five key water regions across the state. It’s a big job; Alaska has more than 365,000 miles of rivers, and we’re a team of just 15 people! But we’re passionate about what we do, and we have an incredible team.
MG I think of it as playing both offense and defense. We advocate for intact habitats, like in Bristol Bay, while also working to restore areas that have been degraded by historic mining, logging and road building. There’s a misconception that Alaska’s fish habitat hasn’t been affected by human activities, but that’s not true. We’ve seen many areas impacted by development, and restoring that habitat is critical to sustaining fish populations.
TH Nellie, you mentioned the Pebble Mine earlier; can you tell me more about Trout Unlimited’s role in that fight?
NW Absolutely. Stopping the proposed Pebble Mine has been our most focused and sustained effort in Alaska. We’ve been involved in this fight since 2009, when it was just starting to gain traction. Pebble Mine has the potential to devastate the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, and it threatens a way of life for many
Students from the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy depart for a day’s lesson. Trout Unlimited is a proud partner of the academy. (COLIN ARISMAN)
Volunteers at the Montana Creek riparian planting day plant native vegetation to stabilize the bank of the creek, which is a key tributary of the Susitna River. The project is meant to improve salmon habitat. (TROUT UNLIMITED)
Alaskans. The Pebble deposit sits in the headwaters of several major salmon rivers, and the mine would generate billions of tons of waste, which could pose a catastrophic risk to the pristine waters and the fish that depend on them.
Over the years, we’ve partnered closely with local tribes, commercial fishermen, sport anglers, and businesses who are all deeply invested in keeping this place wild and thriving. In 2020, we worked to deny the Pebble Partnership a key federal permit it needed to advance the project. That was a major victory, but we knew it wasn’t the end. In early 2023, we saw another milestone when the EPA put Clean Water Act protections in place, limiting the amount of mine waste that could be disposed of in the Pebble deposit area.
But, as is often the case with these complex issues, the fight isn’t over. There are still legal challenges, and the
mine’s backers are pushing to reverse these protections. Our goal now is to secure long-term, durable safeguards for the entire Bristol Bay watershed, which will ensure that this world-class fishery and the communities that depend on it remain healthy for generations to come.
TH It sounds like an ongoing challenge. Marian, can you add your perspective on the fight against the Pebble Mine?
MG Definitely. The fight to protect Bristol Bay has really become a flagship example of how diverse communities and stakeholders can come together to protect a shared resource. One of the most remarkable things about this effort has been the unity among different groups – tribes, subsistence users, sport fishers and commercial fishermen – all working toward a common goal. This broad coalition has been instrumental in elevating the issue to the national stage,
which helped us gain some key victories. Back in 2020, the Trump administration denied Pebble’s federal permit, and then in 2023, the EPA’s Clean Water Act 404(c) protections provided additional layers of defense. However, we’re currently seeing multiple lawsuits aimed at overturning these protections. It’s a reminder that we need to remain vigilant and persistent. Protecting Bristol Bay is about more than stopping one mine; it’s about ensuring that future development proposals don’t threaten the health of this vital ecosystem.
TH What would it mean for Alaska’s communities and fisheries if the Pebble Mine were to proceed?
NW If Pebble Mine were to proceed, it would be disastrous. The mine’s footprint would cover thousands of acres, with billions of tons of waste being generated over its lifespan. The
“Stopping
risk of a tailings dam failure or water contamination is a reality that could decimate salmon populations. Salmon are a keystone species in Alaska. They support not only the ecosystem, but also the economy and cultural heritage of so many communities. The impacts would ripple across commercial fisheries, sport fishing industries and subsistence users who rely on salmon as a food source and for their livelihoods. It’s a scenario that we simply can’t afford.
MG Nelli’s absolutely right. If something were to happen – if the mine’s waste containment system failed – the effects would be felt for generations. We’re talking about the collapse of one of the last remaining intact wild salmon fisheries in the world. And it’s not just about fish; it’s about the people and communities that depend on these waters. There’s no going back from a mistake of that magnitude. That’s why securing permanent protections is so critical.
TH Thank you both for diving into this topic. Beyond Pebble Mine, what are some of Trout Unlimited Alaska’s other priority projects?
NW Another big focus is protecting fish habitat in the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass is often called America’s “salmon forest,” because it’s one of the few places left where wild salmon still thrive. For many years, the forest was managed primarily for logging, which led to a lot of habitat loss. In recent years, the (U.S.) Forest Service has shifted its approach to prioritize restoration and recreation, and we’ve been working closely with them on that front. We’re also leading restoration projects to replace old culverts that block fish passage, reconnecting miles of vital habitat.
MG And beyond the Tongass, we’re also working in areas like the Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su Basin and the Copper River watershed, where habitat restoration and community engagement are key priorities. It’s a big state with a lot of work to be done, but we’re committed to preserving these watersheds for future generations.
TH How does Trout Unlimited engage
the proposed Pebble Mine has been our most focused and sustained effort in Alaska,” says Williams (left, with Orvis vice president of conservation Laura Schaffer while advocating for permanent protection for Bristol Bay in Washington D.C.). “Our goal now is to secure long-term, durable safeguards for the entire Bristol Bay watershed.” (TROUT UNLIMITED)
“As much as I love fishing, hunting has given me an even closer connection to the natural world,” Giannulis says. “There’s something about being fully immersed in a wild place without trails, relying on your senses to guide you; it’s a completely different experience.” (TROUT UNLIMITED)
with local communities and Native tribes in these efforts?
NW We work hard to develop strong relationships with local communities and tribes, ensuring our projects align with their stewardship practices. Our goal is to support the work they’re already doing to protect their lands and waters while collaborating on new conservation initiatives.
MG We have staff members living in the communities where we work, so they’re directly engaged with the people there. We also work closely with businesses in the outdoor industry, like sport fishing and tourism, who rely on these wild spaces for their livelihoods. It’s a collaborative effort, and we’re fortunate to have so much passion and support from people across the state.
TH Looking forward, what are some of Trout Unlimited’s main goals for Alaska in the next decade?
NW In the next few years, we hope to secure permanent protections for Bristol Bay so that it remains a stronghold for wild salmon. We’ll also be focusing on the revision of the Tongass Land Management Plan, which will shape how the forest is managed for the future. Beyond that, we recently started a youth education program in Southcentral Alaska, and I hope some of the kids going through that program now will become active leaders in their communities in the future. We’re also strengthening the connections between healthy rivers and healthy economies by creating programs like the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy, which trains local kids to explore careers in sport fishing and tourism.
TH That sounds like a comprehensive and thoughtful approach. How can Alaskans – and people beyond the state – get involved with Trout
Unlimited’s efforts?
MG The best way is to follow us on social media, where we share updates and opportunities to get involved. You can also sign up for our email list to stay informed about public comment periods and other ways to engage in conservation efforts. There are a lot of issues impacting Alaska’s fisheries, and staying connected online is the easiest way to be part of the solution.
TH One last question: What personally gives you hope and drives you to keep fighting for Alaska’s rivers and fisheries?
MG Securing Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay was one of the most inspirational moments in my career. It showed that we can make a difference, even after a long fight. But what really gives me hope are the conversations I have with people every day, whether it’s on the river, in the coffee shop or out hunting. There’s a shared passion
for Alaska’s wild places that permeates our culture, and knowing that so many people care deeply about the future of our fisheries keeps me going. NW I agree. What gives me hope is seeing how conservation work is a collective effort. It’s not just one person or one group that gets things done; it’s a whole community pulling together. That shared responsibility is what makes me optimistic for the future. We’re all working to protect these places so the next generation can experience them too. If we can continue to nurture that stewardship in young people, I believe we’ll see great things in the future.
TH Thank you both so much for sharing your stories and for the crucial work you’re undertaking to protect Alaska’s waterways and fish populations. ASJ
Editor’s note: Stay informed, support Trout Unlimited Alaska’s efforts and be part of the conversation by visiting the organization’s website at prioritywaters.tu.org/alaska. Like at facebook.com/TUAlaska. Follow on Instagram (@troutunlimited).
Participants at TU’s annual Armed Forces Appreciation Fishing Trip admire a rainbow trout. “At its core, Trout Unlimited’s mission in Alaska is to take care of the rivers people love to fish,” Williams says. “We do this by cultivating and engaging an active community of anglers and conservationists.” (BRENDAN WELLS)
Two ATV riders use a trail near the newly expanded parking area at Lake Eklutna, outside Anchorage. “We routinely would run out of room in years past and had to squeeze people in different places to make it work,” says Keith Wilson, a park ranger for Alaska State Parks, of parking prior to recent improvements. (KRIS PACHECO/USFWS)
A PLACE TO PARK
TRAILHEAD INTO LAKE EKLUTNA AREA POPULAR WITH HUNTERS RECENTLY EXPANDED
BY KATRINA LIEBICH
The last way any trail user wants to start their adventure is in need of a “creative way” to park their vehicle (especially if it has a trailer) in a congested parking lot.
Until recently, this was the situation at the Alaska State Parks Eklutna Lake All-Terrain Vehicle trailhead, a popular staging area for hunters and riders in close proximity to Southcentral Alaska’s major population centers. Here, inadequate maneuvering space and an insufficient number of parking spots caused delays, blocked vehicles/trailers and left users feeling discouraged from
accessing Chugach State Park’s public lands when they found the lot was full.
MULTISEASON TRAILHEAD FOR MANY USER GROUPS
Hundreds of people can be counted hiking, biking and four-wheeling on the popular trail on any sunny Sunday during summer (four-wheeling is allowed Sundays through Wednesdays April 1 to November 30). From the beginning of hunting season on September 1 until winter, the trailhead is heavily used and is the only official truck-and-trailer parking area for hunters who use the
trailhead to offload/load ATVs and leave their trucks with trailer to head down the 12.5-mile lakeside trail for extended periods of time.
The trail is also popular for skiing and snowmachining in winter. The lakeside trail accommodates motorized recreational ATVs as well as bicycles and hikers. In some sections, both user groups share the same roadbed. In other segments, bikes are diverted onto a narrower, more overgrown roadbed that is closer to the lake. ATVs are not allowed on the bike portions of the trail and may only operate on the lakeside trail.
INVESTING IN QUALITY ADVENTURE
To better meet the needs of trail users, multiple partners came together around a project to expand the capacity of the gravel parking lot from 20 to approximately 40 spaces for truck-andtrailer vehicles that includes additional overflow parking on the uphill side. The entire ATV parking area is also now paved. These changes help smooth the staging experience so recreationalists can unload and leave their trailers and worries about being parked in by another user behind.
Project partners include the state of Alaska, Eklutna Inc., the Native Village of Eklutna, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Conservation Investment (fws.gov/program/officeconservation-investment).
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation put $292,000 in Wildlife Restoration funds and $90,000 in state match towards improvements at this site. The federal Wildlife Restoration funds come from excise taxes levied on firearms, ammunition and archery
equipment manufacturers and is made available to state fish and game agencies under the Wildlife Restoration (Pittman Robertson) Act of 1937 through USFWS. Hunter access projects such as this are an eligible use of these Wildlife Restoration funds, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game chose Alaska State Parks as a subrecipient to use some of their apportionment of these funds to complete this hunter access project.
Additionally, Alaska Trails, in conjunction with Alaska State
An aerial view of Eklutna Lake and its ATV trailhead parking lot with its recent expansion. (CHET FEHRMANN/ALASKA STATE PARKS)
Parks, state legislature and Capital Improvement Project funds, realigned and rebuilt sections of this popular motorized and multi-use trail where it had collapsed into Eklutna Lake. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Eklutna Lakeside trail improvements and new motorized use parking lot was held on September 24.
RESPECTING THE LAND AND OTHERS
The ATV parking lot is on land owned by Eklutna Inc. and managed by Alaska State Parks under the North Anchorage Land Agreement. Please respect wildlife and other users along the Eklutna Lake multi-use trail by driving with care and packing out and disposing of trash properly. ASJ
Editor’s note: Additional information can be found at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Eklutna Lake project website (adfg.alaska.gov/index. cfm?adfg=hunteraccess.eklutnalake) and the state’s Eklutna Lake Management Area page (adfg.alaska.gov/index .cfm?adfg=huntingmapsmanagement areas&area=EklutnaLakeManagement Area). Katrina Liebich is a public affairs specialist for USFWS Alaska.
Partners cut a ceremonial ribbon in celebration of the Eklutna Lake trailhead and trail improvements. “There were bumps in the road; there were some hurdles, but clearly we overcame all of that and delivered,” says Rys Miranda, chief of design and construction for Alaska State Parks.
The freshly paved Eklutna Lake parking lot will improve the user experience of hunters who regularly use this area to park and unload their ATVs to take up the trail. (KATIE SECHRIST-GAYNOS/ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME)
(ALASKA STATE PARKS)
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‘TIS THE SPORTING SEASON
GIFT IDEAS FOR OUTDOORSY TYPES (FIRST OF TWO PARTS)
BY SCOTT HAUGEN
When Tiffany and I lived in the Arctic back in the 1990s, we loved the coming of winter. By midwinter we were in total darkness and it was continually below zero.
With daylight hours fading fast this time of year, we’re going to get a jumpstart on our holiday shopping. Here’s a look at some outdoor items I used this year and will keep using. And next month we’ll look
at even more gift ideas.
YETI WETLANDS COLLECTION
Yeti’s new Wetlands Collection has caught the attention of many waterfowlers this fall, including me. I love the earth-tone look of the two Ramblers, which keep my coffee hot for nearly three hours on cold days. The Loadout GoBox 60 Gear Case is perfect for the blind and the duck boat, even
for strapping onto the back of a quad, or tossing it in the boat or the Argo. The GoBox is tough, the latch is sturdy and crisp and the easy-to-remove tray handy.
Their Rambler Pitcher is also nice to have in the field, or use at home. And Yeti’s line of Tote Bags are certainly worth checking out. I wasn’t sure about these; now I have three, all in different sizes. They’re handy for stowing
The holiday gift season is now upon us! Sitka’s new Optifade Cover pattern is made for Southeast Alaska and anywhere else you’re hunting in green cover and shadows, making it a good present idea for a sportsman. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Besides your morning cup of joe, the coffee in your cupboard can be a base ingredient for a flavorful rub that chef Tiffany Haugen uses for big game roasts and steaks. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
NO CUP NEEDED FOR COFFEE-RUBBED BIG GAME
BY TIFFANY HAUGEN
Used as a seasoning, freshly ground coffee is one of those flavors that doesn’t come across with an overbearing coffee flavor when added to a recipe.
Most of the time it’s hard to tell that the smoky, pleasantly bitter taste is coffee at all. Much like adding dark chocolate to a chili or stew, coffee becomes a bit of a “secret” ingredient that accentuates the more obvious flavors of the other spices. This rub can be used on wild game steaks before they go on the grill or on a roast that can be slow-cooked or oven braised.
1- to 2-pound venison roast
1 tablespoon fresh ground coffee
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ginger
In a small bowl, mix ground coffee, sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, granulated onion, granulated garlic, chili powder and ginger until thoroughly
combined. Rub on wild game roast and refrigerate eight to 12 hours before cooking. Slow cook in a Crock-Pot or similar device on high for three to five hours until meat is tender and reaches desired doneness, or braise in a covered Dutch oven at 325 degrees, basting with beef broth every 10 to 15 minutes for about an hour.
If used for steaks, rub each side of the steaks and let the meat sit at room temperature at least 20 minutes before grilling or pan-frying. Grill on well-lubricated grates over mediumhigh heat or pan fry in a heavy skillet in olive or coconut oil over medium-high heat for two minutes per side.
GEAR TIP
I’m a coffee nerd. Scott never used to drink coffee until he was stuck in a remote camp in Alaska where he ran out of food and only had coffee to drink for three days. Now he too is a coffee nerd. We enjoy the smell, unique flavor and the process of hand-grinding our own coffee beans. But that wasn’t always the case – not until we got our hands on the VSSL Java Grinder G25.
The sturdy-built, precision-crafted
grinder has 50 grind dial settings to allow for the precise grind you want. Hold the grinder in one hand and turn the tough, extendable handle with the other. This powerfully built hand-crank machine is easy to use, ergonomic and has the perfect balance that makes grinding simple. In fact, we liked the G25 so much that we got the larger G45. Now we have two portable grinders – one for home and one for road trips.
Manual coffee grinders don’t produce heat like electric grinders do, so the flavor profile of the grounds is not compromised, which makes them great for recipes like this one. If looking for a manual coffee grinder, or a great gift for a coffee nerd, check out the VSSL line and their accessories (vsslgear.com).
Editor’s note:
To order signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular book, Cooking Big Game, visit scotthaugen.com for this and other titles.
FIELD
clothes, camping supplies, dog gear and much more, and they’re built tough while being easy to clean. Info: yeti.com.
SLAYER DUCK CALLS
While on the topic of waterfowl, here’s another item to consider. I’m not a very good duck caller, which is why I rely on Slayer Calls; they make me sound good. One I used a lot the last two seasons is Whistler’s Mother ($50), which produces crisp, loud wigeon whistles and drake mallard chatter that appeals to all ducks. It’s loud, making it ideal on rainy, windy days and when hunting expansive marshes in Alaska.
I also love their single-reed Ranger ($135) for the range of sounds and volume it creates. This season I also look forward to using their Dubar ($135) tooth-like notched call that had duck hunters talking like crazy late last season. Simple, easy-to-use calls that work; that’s what I need.
Info: slayercalls.com.
HEYDAY BARE STRAP
The Heyday Bare Strap ($70) is an
ingenious, versatile tote that not only works on ducks, but having used it on ptarmigan on the Alaska Peninsula, I love it. So did my hunting buddies who I let try it, and now they all own one. Their HydroLeather strap and coated steel cable make for one of the most effective, secure and easy-to-use bird straps I’ve seen. Get the Bare Strap Full Kit, as there’s a use for every bit of it. Info: heydayoutdoor.com.
BENCHMADE MINI TAGGEDOUT
I was a big fan of Benchmade’s Taggedout, then the mini version came out. I first took the Mini Taggedout ($190) to Africa and ran it through the hides of various antelope species. I let a buddy take it on a caribou hunt in the Brooks Range this fall, where he and his friend ran it through three bulls without sharpening it. It’s durable despite the light weight, holds an edge incredibly well and touches up fast and easy on a steel.
The orange Grivory handle is easy to see when laid on the tundra; the scales offer firm gripping pressure when your hands are covered in blood and slippery
Looking for quality gifts for the bird hunter in your life? Check out Yeti’s Wetland Collection, Slayer duck calls and Heyday Outdoor’s awesome bird strap. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
High Camp Flasks, Benchmade’s Mini Taggedout knife and Kuiu’s Pro Pack line all qualify as Alaska-worthy pieces of gear. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
fat. Great for skinning, breaking down game and caping, and it makes a super camp and everyday carry knife. Info: benchmade.com.
KUIU PRO PACK
I put Kuiu’s Pro Pack model 3600 ($642) to the test and instantly appreciated the easy-to-adjust fitting options. It’s a comfortable pack that sits tight to the torso, doesn’t sway on uneven ground and lets you keep going all day long. The waist belt and shoulder straps provide the ultimate in comfort and don’t slip, even when hiking across uneven tundra.
The Kuiu Pro Pack series comes in five sizes. One frame and suspension fits all the pack bags in this modular system. I like the insert that offers additional lumbar support and weightbearing relief as well. Info: kuiu.com.
SITKA OPTIFADE COVER
I never owned a piece of Sitka clothing until just over a year ago. Now it dominates my hunting wardrobe. I love the fit, functionality and performance
more fish with
in all situations I’ve tried it in, and their new Optifade Cover pattern matches Southeast Alaska as well as anything I’ve seen.
I was able to test the Optifade Cover pattern starting last spring in multiple states amid the Coast Range, valley floors and Cascades – even on Prince of Wales Island in the early fall. This pattern is made for Southeast and anywhere else in Alaska where you’re hunting amid green foliage. Predator hunters will love it!
I’ve never been a fan of photo-finish camo patterns. Camo patterns are about creating depth through the use of larger, dark and light contrasting patterns, while capitalizing on shadows and rays of light to help create the illusion. Sitka nailed it in their Cover pattern, and the name and performance confirm it. Info: sitkagear.com.
HIGH CAMP FLASKS
Last summer I took a High Camp Firelight Flask 375ml ($95) to Africa, and then to Southeast Alaska. I was going to take it on a weeklong cast and
blast on the Alaska Peninsula; instead, I ended up getting their new 9-ounce Torch Flask ($99). You can’t have just one of these sturdy, quality flasks. They come in a range of sizes and colors, which means I’ll be getting more.
The Firelight 375 has a magnetic tumbler that’s cleverly designed and secure. The 9-ounce Torch is the perfect size for on-the-go moments and features a 3-ounce shot glass that’s magnetically attached. The vacuum-insulated, leakproof construction of High Camp Flasks holds up to Alaska’s rugged standards and will keep hot drinks like coffee hot for up to 12 hours, and cold drinks chilled for over 20 hours.
The Firelight has a large top to fit ice cubes. I got the Orox Leather Holster ($49) for the Firelight Flask, which worked great for strapping to gear, carrying, and handling. Next-level flasks are here! Info: highcampflasks.com. ASJ
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram.
NORTHERN ROCKIES ADVENTURES
Northern Rockies Adventures offers guests the opportunity to partake in the wonders of northern British Columbia through fly-in fishing trips and adventure tourism.
The family-owned business was started by bush pilot Urs Schildknecht and his wife Marianne as an air charter company servicing Northern Canada. But as he explored the area as a pilot, Urs discovered many exclusive fishing and outdoor destinations.
“Seeing the potential for backcountry fishing and adventure tourism, my family would lay its roots in Muncho Lake, BC, with a lodge,” explains Daniel Schildknecht, son of Urs and Marianne and now a co-owner, guide and bush pilot himself. “Nestled in the northern tip of the Rockies, Muncho Lake offers an incredible variety of fisheries in its proximity, hot springs and scenery. The lodge is also easily accessible off the Alaska Highway, allowing travelers to visit year-round.”
The Northern Rockies and Cassiar
Mountains vary greatly in terms of geography and climate, which allows the company’s guides to select the ideal locations and timing to target trophy fish.
“In addition,” says Daniel, “our 60-degree-
north latitude allows us to have a typical northern, action-packed summer (think Alaska) and a slightly longer growing season than locations in the Arctic Circle (which means bigger fish for us).”
... and 40-plus-inch pike are on tap on a Northern
Wild native rainbow trout ...
Rockies Adventures trip.
At Northern Rockies Adventures, guests can expect to fish for six different trophy species (rainbow trout, bull trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike, lake trout and walleye) throughout the company’s 70 remote fly-in destinations. This allows guests to catch big 20- to 24-inch rainbows one day and switch to 30-plusinch pike the next, or chase any other species daily. According to Daniel, “We have plenty of options to catch trophy fish of all six species.”
“Most of our guests have been returning for decades,” he continues. “I think second to our tremendous fishing, they enjoy our family. My father, mom, brother, wife and I are all actively guiding our guests. We all enjoy a personal connection with our guests; at nine to 12 guests, it feels like we’re with friends all summer long.”
Northern Rockies Adventures offers all-inclusive packages from Vancouver,
BC, which include in-house charter flights, lakeshore accommodations, meals and guided fishing trips. Even the non-angler will have plenty to do with activities like hot springs, guided hikes, ATV tours, canoes and yoga, all of which are accessible to all ages and fitness levels. One of their most popular trips is a New Year’s Eve package – a memorable way to ring in the new year and see the northern lights.
Whether you’re seeking out a big trophy fish, relaxing in the hot springs or enjoying the sights, at Northern Rockies Adventures, says Daniel, “guests can count on a premium and unforgettable trip with us.” Find out more at nradventures.com/fishing.
These waters are home to big Arctic grayling.
Lake trout are the monsters of northern British Columbia.
BC is also famous for bull trout.
Relax in comfort at the lodge’s full-service resort.
Ketchikan Fishing Charters
Capt. Colby Slanaker has expert knowledge and years of experience when it comes to navigating the waters of Ketchikan and catching all five species of Alaska Salmon, halibut, lingcod, pacific cod, rockfish, and crab.
Based out of Ketchikan, Alaska only an hour and 40 minute direct flight from Seattle, a prime location for anglers looking to catch their fill of Halibut and Salmon. Our charter service offers a thrilling Guided Fishing Trip for anglers that are looking for heart pumping Salmon & Halibut Fishing.
Please take some time to view our website where you can find more info about us and fishing packages.
Our brand new lodge and the boat are booked 100% private to your group only.
Teeny, Inc. Fly Lines
jimteeny.com
Teeny, Inc. Fly Lines is offering their $50 coffee table book for $25, which includes free shipping in the United States. This book is hardbound, full-color, and full of stories and photos. A great personal gift!
Liberty Game Calls
libertygamecalls.com
Liberty Game Calls are predominantly made of rubber, setting them apart from plastic game calls on the market. Rubber is soft and flexible and has exceptional sound transmission properties. Rubber’s high elasticity enables it to absorb and dissipate sound energy more effectively. This ensures that sound waves are not reflected or prematurely absorbed, allowing them to carry further and more efficiently. Rubber’s low density and significant internal damping produce deeper, more resonant sounds. Rubber is the perfect material for calling game where the highest sound transmission and quality are essential for attracting game.
Alaska Butcher Equipment & Supply
alaskabutcherequip.com
Hunting and fishing processing equipment. Alaska Butcher Equipment & Supply has all you need to process your own hunt or catch! Local and family-owned. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.
KatchKooler Deluxe
www.silverhorde.com
The KatchKooler Deluxe “Keeps Your Catch Fresher.” The compact design makes it easy to stow. A high-density closed-cell foam layer will keep your fish extra cold. Made with durable waterproof outer fabric and equipped with a strong handle. Excellent for transporting fish. It’s the perfect gift for the angler in your family.
Pocket Ox
PocketOx.com
The stocking-stuffer-size Half Calf is the tiniest mini hoist offered by Pocket Ox. A cut-down version of their 1,000-pound 8:1 Calf hoist, hence the name, the Half Calf is truly a block and tackle that will fit in a pocket. Standard 50 feet of “rope” has a block-to-block reach of 12 feet. May be ordered with 100 feet, doubling that distance while adding less than an ounce of carry weight.
Davis Tent
davistent.com
The sleeping bag cover from Davis Tent is a great way to protect your sleeping bag and add a little warmth. You can even sleep under the stars on a starry night! Roll your sleeping bag, pillow and sleeping pad up and it’s a perfect bedroll to keep all your sleeping gear organized.
Fisherman’s Gold
fishermansgold.com
Flounder Pounder
Cinnamon Twist three-pack for $11.99. Best soft bait for bottomfishing. These high-quality baits won’t degrade over multiple uses and are made specifically for West Coast fisheries.
McOmie’s Custom Lures
mcomiescustomluresllc.com
McOmie’s Custom Lures’ 3.5 Colorado spinners with squid skirts and 3.5 Colorado blades make perfect stocking stuffers for the fishing family.
Michlitch Company
spokanespice.com
Black Hills Ammunition
black-hills.com
The Black Hills 6mm ARC 90-grain Dual Performance load is designed to shoot flatter to 600 yards compared to the 103-grain ELD-X introduced last year, plus open immediately upon impact to create a large, 7-inch-diameter wound channel. Velocity is 2,650 feet per second with over 1,400 foot-pounds of energy.
Uncle Norm’s Marine Products
youtube.com/@UncleNormsMarine
Uncle Norm’s Performance Fins cut through the water, decreasing turn radius and boat wander for better slow-speed control and docking ability. The horizontal fluke area across the top blocks the prop from drawing water from the surface, effectively eliminating ventilation. You’ll get on plane faster and gain a smoother ride.
Michlitch Company offers a wide variety of jerky and sausage-making seasonings and supplies. For the holiday season, they have gift boxes available for $30 each. Each box includes three seasoning blends and one sauce. Visit the website to see their variety of products and gift boxes.
exquisiteknives.com
Selling some of the finest and most collectible custom knives in the world. Owner Dave Ellis is a retired ABS mastersmith as well as a lifelong collector of valuable custom knives. Specializing in Bob Loveless, Bill Moran, Michael Walker and CAS of Argentina. Pictured is the Dragonfly Knife by Dr. Fred Carter. See more on Instagram @daveellis44.
coastalmarineengine.com
Get 10 percent off labor on any scheduled maintenance between January 2 and February 28. Please use discount code NWSM2025 when booking your service.
2024 Holiday Gift Guide
GoDark Faraday Bags
godarkbags.com
Safeguard your satellite phone with the GoDark Faraday Bag, designed to be highly water- and puncture-resistant. This innovative bag effectively blocks satellite signals, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 5G and EMP interference. It features MOLLE straps on the back for convenient attachment to belts or bags, along with a secure magnetic buckle that allows for easy one-handed access.
Safe Jack
safejacks.com
Safe Jack solves century-old stability and safety issues related to farm jacks and the classic bottle jack. The most common failure is not linked to the jack itself but to stability, too much ground loading in one spot, and the lift point. Check out these kits!
Westview Marina
westviewmarina.com
Epic British Columbia, Canada, fishing/ catching adventure. Drive or fly-in, four nights’ lodging, three full days of guided fishing/catching salmon, halibut, lingcod and much more, with all your meals off a large restaurant menu. Price is $2,100 USD each for a crew of four to six people.
Salmoncrazy Adventures
salmoncrazyadventures.com
Early bird deals on package trips! To qualify, book three days of fishing or more for private boat charter fishing. Call now to secure your dates!
Stonefly Nets
stoneflynets.com
Stonefly Nets make a perfect holiday gift for the fly fishing enthusiast in your life. Whether wading through rivers or casting from the shore, this thoughtful gift adds joy to their favorite outdoor adventure, enhancing their experience with quality, ease, and the perfect balance of function and craftsmanship.
Northern Rockies Adventures
nradventures.com
Join Northern Rockies Adventures’ signature fly-in fishing trips and enjoy the gold standard of Canadian trips! The secret to their great fishing lies in over 70 remote fly-in fishing destinations. Catch all wild native freshwater fish: trophy rainbow, bull and lake trout, northern pike, Arctic grayling and walleye. Premium all-inclusive trips from Vancouver, B.C.
