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Alaska Beat
AN ALASKAN BUCKET LIST
We recently chatted with former NFL All-Pro defensive lineman and diehard outdoorsman Jared Allen for a Q&A running this month in our sister magazine, American Shooting Journal.
And while Allen is no stranger to hunting throughout the Western states and abroad, he’s aching to hunt in the Last Frontier.
“I really want to get into either Alaska or British Columbia to hunt,” says Allen, who turned 40 in April and celebrated with an Argentina bird hunt, a birthday gift from his wife Amy.
And while Allen has taken Montana elk and Idaho bears, harvested a red stag in New Zealand and hopes to plan an African plains game adventure in the future, there’s an Alaskan big game superstar he’s eager to chase.
“But I think my next adventure I’d love to do is fill my freezer with moose,” the likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer admits. “That’s so delicious. You would need a week just to process that dang thing!”
Look for our interview with Jared Allen in May’s American Shooting Journal. Go to americanshootingjournal.com for more.
Jared Allen, who registered 136 sacks in his National Football League career, wants to hunt moose in Alaska someday. “You would need a week just to process that dang thing!” (JARED ALLEN)
ALASKA BEAT
TWEET OF THE MONTH
” “ THEY SAID IT “While many factors, such as weather, climate change and changes to the historical extent and timing of caribou migration, may be contributing to lower harvests by federally qualified subsistence users, the board should act to help ensure that rural residents are able to meet their subsistence need, and to provide for a subsistence priority. Therefore, non-federally qualified harvest should be eliminated in some areas in times of shortage.” -Thomas Heinlein, acting Alaska director for the Bureau of Land Management at a state board meeting that announced the controversial closures of moose and caribou hunts in Western Alaska.
They’re back! Recently, the first bear of the spring was spotted in Denali National Park. Now it’s time to brush up on bear safety in Denali: stay at least 300 yards from bears and make noise as you hike. It’s also recommended that hikers carry bear spray when exploring the park. -@DenaliNP April 10
The Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament was pushed back when bad weather rolled in for the April 9 scheduled event. But that didn’t stop the Marley brothers’ mojo for taking the top prize in the popular derby. In 2021, 10-year-old Andrew Marley cashed in a total of $87,000 of prize and side pot money for catching the biggest Chinook – a 25.62-pounder – in the one-day event.
But older brother Weston, 15, was not about to let his younger sibling own all the family bragging rights. The brothers Marley struck again when Weston’s 27-plus-pound fish took first place last month. The Homer Chamber of Commerce reported Weston’s total prize money netted the teen $84,619. That’s quite a college fund the Marley family has gotten started for the boys!
Per a press release, the event awarded “the second largest amount of cash prizes in the tournament’s history, $218.189. Even with the tournament being postponed for one day due to weather conditions, there were 1,366 registered anglers and 408 boats that participated in the tournament.”
But the Marley brothers are head and shoulders above the rest!
FROM THE ASJ ARCHIVES – MAY 2019 SALMON SLAYING ON THE NUSH
“Alot of clients love that first couple weeks of June,” shares Scott Weedman, co-owner of Alaska King Salmon Adventures (alaskakingsalmon.com), which is situated on the banks of the Nushagak River.
“They know they might lose half a day – maybe even a full day of fishing due to high winds and heavy rain – but they also know that sitting in camp will be worth the wait, because tens of thousands of king salmon can come into the river on one storm this time of year.”
Just as Weedman says, mid-June is my favorite time to fish king salmon on the Nushagak. Many times over my more than 15 years of fishing this river, I’ve sat by the fire in camp, hoping the dining hall tent wouldn’t blow over in the incessant storm. But the day after those storms, the king salmon fishing was spectacular – some of the best I’ve ever experienced anywhere in Alaska.
One day after a storm, my wife Ti any and I landed and released over 100 Chinook. Another day after heavy rain, two buddies and I landed and released 143 kings in a day. So there’s no doubt that big numbers can happen on this river. -Scott Haugen
Scott Haugen with a nice Nushagak River king, a reason why he loves this Bristol Bay fishery.
(SCOTT HAUGEN)
Remote, Comfortable & Affordable
Our remote Alaskan fishing lodge is situated on the upper stretches of the beautiful Egegik River. You’ll watch some of Alaska’s most stunning sunrises, complete with a distant, active volcano. We are a fishing camp specializing in coho fishing, brown bear viewing, and flyout fishing adventures to even more remote destinations in the Last Frontier.
Coho Fishing e Egegik River
The Egegik River is touted by many experienced anglers as the best silver salmon stream in all of Alaska. Becharof Lodge On The Egegik River was the first fishing lodge to become established on the breathtaking Egegik River, and is less than a 5 minute boat ride from some of the best fishing holes on the entire river.
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Included in your fishing trip: • 5 days fishing/5 nights stay in camp • Experienced, fully guided fishing. • Comfortable cabins furnished with beds, cozy comforters & bedding. • Home cooked meals, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages. • Transportation from the lodge to prime fishing holes on the Egegik River. • Freezing and vacuum sealing of your fish, up to 50 lbs., per angler.
$4,350per person
Includes round trip charter from King Salmon. Call for more details. Book Your Trip Today!
