Alaska Sporting Journal - June 2024

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PUBLISHER

James R. Baker

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott

EDITOR

Chris Cocoles

WRITERS

Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Cal Kellogg, John Shewey

SALES MANAGER

Paul Yarnold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Tom St. Clair

DESIGNERS

Gabrielle Pangilinan, Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Emily Baker

WEB DEVELOPMENT/INBOUND

MARKETING

Jon Hines

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Katie Aumann

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

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ON THE COVER

Some of Alaska’s best fishing locations can be reached via small planes. Cheyanne Korpi caught this gorgeous Arctic char on a remote river far away from roads but accessible through the air. See Scott Haugen’s story on planning for just such a flyout adventure on page 34. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

CORRESPONDENCE

X @AKSportJourn Facebook.com/alaskasportingjournal Email ccocoles@media-inc.com

34

LEAVING ON A BUSHPLANE

Some of Alaska’s best fishing spots aren’t easy to get to, but small aircraft like bush- and floatplanes make for an ideal way to reach those monster trout and salmon of your dreams. Scott Haugen, a frequent flier in the Last Frontier, shares the magic of fly-out adventures and how to plan one.

27 FIGHTING PEBBLE MINE FROM D.C.

While some of Alaska’s politicians – led by Governor Mike Dunleavy – have pushed hard to get the Pebble Mine back on schedule after the Environmental Protection Agency blocked the project for now, those who aim to protect Bristol Bay got another boost in May when U.S. House Representative Mary Peltola introduced the Bristol Bay Protection Act in Congress. Here’s the latest.

43 KENAI FREELANCE FISHING PROJECT

The Kenai Peninsula has so many different options for anglers – from delicious coho salmon and hard-fighting rainbows and Dolly Varden in the rivers, to battling barn-door halibut in Cook Inlet. What should you choose? How about them all?! It may seem like a daunting task, but as Cal Kellogg explains, a carefully planned trip can make for many memorable unique experiences.

63 SWAG FOR YOUR HUNTING DOG

Our From Field to Fire team of Scott and Tiffany Haugen have two pudelpointers, Echo and Kona. They are not only beloved family pets, but also skilled hunting dogs worth spending a little more on. As such, the Haugens have some favorite field-tested accessories to share. From durable dog bowls and vests to delicious and healthy treats, pamper your pup in style with their top gear picks.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Last fall, I went on a college football getaway with a good friend who is also named Chris.

We checked out a game between Central Michigan University and host Ohio University. Ohio’s scenic campus is located in the city of Athens, a small community of 23,000 in the rolling hills and forests of southeast Ohio, not far from the West Virginia border.

We walked around the campus on a crisp November afternoon before parking in a garage not far from the stadium. As Chris and I crossed between campus buildings, I was amazed to spot a deer darting across an open area before it disappeared into the trees.

I never had that encounter in my college experience at California’s Fresno State. And though coyotes are occasionally spotted near the adjacent university-owned farmland that surrounds the Bulldogs’ campus, I never saw any critters bigger than squirrels or

maybe a raccoon as I walked to and from class. It wasn’t quite a full-on urban setting, but metropolitan Fresno sure isn’t Athens, Ohio, either.

I bring this up to offer the perspective that Alaskans have sharing their state’s populated areas with critters such as bears and moose. In the middle of May, news broke around Homer that a man had come foolishly too close to a cow moose that had just birthed calves. The report said he tried to take photos of the animals when the cow, sensing a threat to her newborns, charged the man. Sadly, the protective cow’s charge killed 70-year-old  Dale Chorman of Homer in a senseless tragedy.

In reading up on the incident, I discovered that in 1995 another man was killed by an angry cow moose. Where did this incident take place? On the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage.  Eyewitness reports that day claimed that young people were inexplicably harass-

ing and throwing snowballs at the cow –also accompanied by a calf – before the agitated animal finally had enough and charged as an innocent 71-year-old man walked past, killing him.

Curious to find more info, via Google I stumbled onto the UAA website’s “Moose Safety” page. As you might guess, Ohio University’s official website also has a deer-aware PSA for its students, staff and campus visitors. “While deer mostly appear to be gentle animals, you have to remember that they are wild creatures that can be unpredictable,” the school’s environmental health coordinator Chad Keller said on the page.

While I was thrilled to see a deer while walking to that Ohio college football game, I wasn’t about to try and chase it down for a better Facebook photo opp. Let’s hope this death in Homer was a lesson to us all. -Chris Cocoles

Seeing a moose calf around town in Alaska means a protective cow moose is probably close by. The death of a Homer photographer who got too close to a moose with newborns is a reminder to keep your distance and be aware that wild animals are unpredictable and will defend their own. (LISA HUPP/US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE)

Replacing old and poorly designed culverts in the Copper River basin is expected to improve fish passage and habitat access for salmon. “This is huge for tribal members and shareholders because subsistence fishing is so important for us,” said Kate Morse of the Copper River Watershed Project. (U.S. FOREST SERVICE)

NOAA-FUNDED COPPER RIVER PROJECT TO IMPROVE SALMON HABITAT

In a state known by its famed rivers’ epic salmon runs, the Copper is among the best Alaska to offer. So esteemed are the Copper’s runs of sockeye and kings that an annual event has been made of Alaska Airlines flying the first harvested reds and Chinook to Seattle each spring.

But as is the case with several vulnerable watersheds elsewhere in the state, the mighty Copper faces threats of its own in Southcentral Alaska. In addition to past disaster declarations on the Copper due to climate concerns and pollution effects, the basin’s culverts are considered “poorly designed,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Alaska Fisheries department. And that could potentially have cumulative effects on salmon migration, for both smolts heading into the Gulf of Alaska and adults returning to spawn.

“The collective impact of many stream barriers cutting off migration routes can be disastrous. Copper River sockeye, for example, return to 126 different spawning sites and have eight genetically distinct populations,” NOAA reported in a story that noted a pledge of $4.3 million had been made to improve those habitat areas. “Blocking off access to one or more of those spawning sites results in fewer fish and less genetic diversity. A shallower gene pool makes adapting to warming temperatures and other environmental changes harder for the species.”

NOAA’s funding will allow two main partners, the Copper River Watershed Project and Alaska Native organization Eyak Corporation, to remove four problematic culverts and create a dozen new sites along the river to open up more fish passage. In total, the plan would “open up 31 stream miles and 740 lake acres to migratory fish once all projects are complete,” per NOAA.

“Salmon are a way of life for us and have been since the beginning,” said Tiffany Beedle, an Eyak Tribal member and Cordova office and lands manager for The Eyak Corporation. “They provide food for our families and create income for Natives who use salmon for other purposes like making jewelry. Our ability to replace these culverts so salmon can continue upstream allows us to continue to fish and hold on to our culture.”

AL ASKA BEAT

TWEET OF THE MONTH

As you’d expect, Alaska had some of the best views of the northern lights last month when much of the Lower 48 also got a rare glimpse of the aurora borealis.

Last Frontier residents are built differently. How many other Americans would face a May snowfall and hope for another inch and change to set a new record?

The culverts that are located under roads would be replaced with “’stream simulation’ culverts wide enough to fit the full stream, including its banks,” according to NOAA.

“Basically, we want anything traveling through the stream to not realize it’s passing under a road,” said Kate Morse, program director for Copper River Watershed Project. “We want a structure that can pass large volumes of water, sediment and debris, and also provide fish passage at low water volumes.”

It’s hoped that this venture will help perpetuate the way of life tribal organizations and subsistence fishers rely on via the Copper for years to come. Partners include state and other federal agencies, among others.

“I was not fortunate enough to have been born here, but when I landed in Alaska, I realized that there are not many places like the Copper River on this planet,” Morse said. “It’s very difficult to restore ecosystem integrity when it’s lost. However, I feel like we have a fighting chance with this river. We don’t have major irrigation diverting water or major dams being proposed. There are no giant communities or city development. We still have a chance to keep this watershed functioning and protect the tradition of harvesting salmon for the future.”

” “ THEY SAID IT

“The more fish you mark, the more successful you can be in actually implementing a mark-selected fishery. It would also require hatcheries to support the idea of mass marking for a mark-selected fishery. And that’s not the case presently.”

–Anne Beaudreau, who led a year-long study that concluded Southeast Alaska isn’t yet equipped to hold a hatchery-only king salmon fishery, as told to CoastAlaska.

FROM THE ASJ ARCHIVES - JUNE 2020

A MEMORABLE FATHERSSONS COMBO HUNT

As the day moved along, our pace slowed. We were forced into acrobatics in trying to summit the mountain. Goat country is dangerous territory, but we kept going.

Pulling and pushing each other up ledges, we were one slip away from catastrophe.

We jumped a couple of goats and made our way into an area where we could glass the tops of the mountain. We found a group of goats that were in a stalkable area, so we made our way over and set up for the shot.

At 200 yards, we were able to all set up and each take a goat. Four guys on a father-son hunt and four goats’ worth of harvests!

The real work was about to begin, as we had an animal each to pack back to camp. It took two days to pack the animals back, but we accomplished what we had set out to do.

Number of wood bison sent to Alaska from Canada’s Elk Island National Park as part of a continuing effort to restore the species to its historical range in the state.

We had our transporter come pick up the meat, but we weren’t done hunting, as we also had deer tags to fill. I knew of a spot with decent deer hunting and asked the pilot to move us there. We packed camp and set out.

The weather was set to turn into the standard Kodiak 60-plus-mph winds and rain. But since we had time to hunt, we went! Over two days we found deer and were able to harvest three in one drainage. It was a hunt that will live forever in our minds. -Brian Watkins

Brian Watkins (far left), his dad Tom, friend Mark (far right) and Mark’s father Mo celebrate during a memorable fathers-andsons Kodiak Island goat and deer hunt. (BRIAN WATKINS)

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

June 15 Brown bear season ends in several game management units

June 30 Black bear season ends in several GMUs

July 1 2024-25 hunting regulations go into effect

July 4 Mount Marathon Race, Seward (mountmarathon.com)

July 20 Valdez Kids’ Pink Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/kids-derby)

July 20-Sept. 1 Valdez Silver Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/silver-derby)

July 26 Valdez Big Prize Friday (valdezfishderbies .com/silver-derby/big-prize-fridays)

Aug. 10 Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/womens-derby)

Aug. 10-18 Seward Silver Salmon Derby (seward .com/salmon-derby)

Aug. 10-Sept. 1 Valdez Tagged Fish Contest (valdezfishderbies.com/tagged-fish-contest)

Aug. 30 Valdez Big Prize Friday (valdezfishderbies .com/silver-derby/big-prize-fridays)

Sept. 10-15 Kenai Silver Salmon Derby (kenaisilversalmonderby.com)

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

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

(Roasted in a peanut/tree nut FREE facility)

Last call for spring brown bear hunting – the early season closes on June 15 in several Alaska game management units. (LISA HUPP/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE)

Alaska U.S. Representative Mary Peltola recently introduced legislation that would help prevent Bristol Bay’s Pebble Mine, drawing praise, but her newfound support for the Donlin Creek gold mine stunned some in the region. (AIRMAN FIRST CLASS MOISES VASQUEZ/U.S. AIR FORCE)

ALASKA REP. PELTOLA GOES TO BAT FOR BRISTOL BAY

BY CHRIS COCOLES

Alaska’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives had an eventful month, taking stances on both sides of the state’s mining versus fish and wildlife debate.

Representative Mary Peltola, a Democrat who won the open seat that the late Rep. Don Young held from 1973 to his March 2022 death, voiced her

support for two controversial projects, then days later introduced legislation to help snuff out another.

Peltola joined Alaska Senate Republicans Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski in a joint statement that disagreed with the federal Department of the Interior’s decision to reject plans for a proposed 211-mile-long gravel road

connecting the Dalton Highway with the Ambler Mining District. Opponents have argued that the road threatens fish and wildlife habitat along the way (Alaska Sporting Journal, May 2024).

Also in April – and in another rare moment of bipartisan unity in Congress – Peltola, Sullivan and Murkowski filed a joint legal brief in support of another

PROTECTING WILD ALASKA

proposed mining operation, the Donlin Creek gold mine that could threaten salmon runs in the adjacent Kuskokwim River.

“Preventing the responsible development of the Donlin Mine Project and its associated infrastructure would undermine the Statehood Act’s key goal of Alaskan economic self-sufficiency and would prevent one of Alaska’s largest ANCSA regional corporations from developing the natural resources granted to it by Congress for the express purpose of resource development,” the brief stated.

Supporting the project was a flipflop for Peltola, who despite once being employed as Donlin Gold’s community

manager, came out against the mine as part of her platform, which seemed to favor protecting Alaska’s fishing interests.

Sophie Swope, executive director of the anti-Donlin project organization Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition, referred to Peltola’s change of heart as a “very sad day for our region.”

“We met with Representative Peltola’s staff  in Washington, D.C., and she is well aware of the widespread opposition to the mine in our region. The opposition of our regional health corporation, Regional tribal consortium and many individual tribal governments shows that Donlin lacks the social license to operate,” Swope said.

“Tribes’ request for a supplemental environmental impact statement, as well as our demands for sound science and adequate tribal consultation, are entirely justified. We are deeply

disappointed by Representative Peltola’s lack of responsiveness and dismissal of our concerns.”

Several tribes that utilize the Kuskokwim River’s bounty for subsistence purposes are united in their opposition to the Donlin mine, and they could only express disappointment that Peltola, once an ally to their cause, had changed allegiances. Only the Village of Crooked Creek is on record in support of the mine.

“We elected Representative Peltola to represent us, and by signing this amicus brief, she is going against us,” said Tuluksak Tribal Council secretary/ treasurer Bernice Andrew.

“It affects our village and our people, who have already been affected by mining in so many ways. If our lands and waters are harmed, it affects our fish and wildlife. If there is a catastrophic tailings breach, our entire village may

Kuskokwim River tribal interests were disappointed in Peltola’s about face on the Donlin project, which could potentially damage the river’s subsistence salmon fishing. “We are deeply disappointed by Representative Peltola’s lack of responsiveness and dismissal of our concerns,” said Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition executive director Sophie Swope. (NRCS ALASKA)

ALASKA

For her part, Peltola’s platform has mostly focused on preserving Alaska’s fishing industry. “I came to D.C. to stand up for fish – to make fishing and the livelihoods of our fishing communities the national issue it deserves to be,” Peltola said. (RUSS TAYLOR/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE)

need to relocate quickly — how can first responders relocate 500 people?”

SUPPORT FOR BRISTOL BAY SALMON

On the same side of the state – but the opposite side of the coin – is Peltola’s opposition to the higher-profile Pebble Mine, which has divided Alaskans for decades now. Bristol Bay’s multibilliondollar salmon fishing industry is threatened if Pebble is permitted.

Peltola has gone against other state politicians – most notably, Governor Mike Dunleavy – and showed her disdain for the project.

In early May, Peltola introduced legislation that would solidify the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act safeguards that have, at least for now, halted the mine from ever being constructed. (The U.S. Army of Corps of

Engineers also recently rejected an appeal by Pebble’s parent company, the Pebble Partnership, to overturn its refusal to issue a permit for the mine.)

Peltola’s Bristol Bay Protection Act was described in the congresswoman’s press release as “New legislation that would codify a 2023 Environmental Protection Agency decision to veto the Pebble Mine.”

“I came to D.C. to stand up for fish – to make fishing and the livelihoods of our fishing communities the national issue it deserves to be,” Peltola said. “Whole communities rely on Bristol Bay’s watershed for subsistence and as a deeply interwoven part of their social and cultural practices. In introducing this bill, we’re moving to protect our fisheries and streams, water supply and the deep value that these waters

have had to Alaska Natives who have relied on them for thousands of years.”

While it’s of little consolation to Swope, Andrew and others in the Kuskokwim River fighting against the Donlin Creek mine, Bristol Bay’s salmon community praised Peltola’s aggressiveness in trying to add further protections against Pebble ever coming to fruition.

“I am glad to see Representative Peltola taking action to ensure the well-being of our state and establish a legacy all Alaskans can be proud of by protecting this critical resource,” said  Brian Kraft, Bristol Bay lodge owner and president of Katmai Service Providers.

Peltola’s bill was a much-needed vote of confidence from Alaska’s political delegation, given Governor Dunleavy’s ill-fated state-led amicus brief pleading with the Supreme Court

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“We can’t stop until durable, watershed-wide safeguards are put in place, and Representative Peltola’s legislation is a good start in that direction,” she said. (BEAR

of the United States to intervene late last year. (SCOTUS declined.)

Nanci Morris Lyon owns and operates Bear Trail Lodge in King Salmon. She’s been one of the most passionate voices opposing Pebble from the beginning. Her statement following the Peltola bill reflects what a painful journey this has been. And while the mine is as good as dead for now, Lyon has been in this fight for too long to feel too comfortable.

“I thought that I could finally fully focus on running our business without the constant worry of Pebble Mine on the horizon. But the lawsuits brought by the state of Alaska and Pebble Partnership threaten to erase the good protections for our fish and wildlife that local people have long advocated for,” she said. “We can’t stop until durable, watershedwide safeguards are put in place, and Representative Peltola’s legislation is a good start in that direction.” ASJ

Editor’s note: Details on Representative Mary Peltola’s  Bristol Bay Protection Act can be found at peltola.house.gov/ uploadedfiles/peltol_058_xml.pdf.

Nanci Morris Lyon, owner of Bear Trail Lodge in King Salmon, has battled for decades to prevent the Pebble Mine from ever breaking ground.

TRAIL LODGE)

FROM FLIGHT TO FISH

FLY-OUT TRIPS PROVIDE ANGLERS REMOTE EXCITEMENT

It’s a great feeling when the bushplane takes off, leaving you to fish in solitude with friends in the most remote streams and lakes of Alaska. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

As the buzz of the floatplane’s engine faded in the distance, my buddy and I looked at one another and shared smiles. We were alone for the day to hike a remote Alaskan stream in search of trophy Arctic grayling and char. It would be just he and I, fishing amid brown bears and experiencing what real Alaska is all about. By day’s end, we had released over 20 grayling, two of which eclipsed the coveted 20-inch mark. We’d landed dozens of Arctic char, the biggest being about 8 pounds, and I lost a dandy pushing 12 pounds, a fish that I still see in my dreams. It was one of the best days I’ve ever experienced in Alaska, and it all started with a floatplane.

FOR 34 YEARS I’VE been traveling throughout Alaska and fishing many remote streams. The early part of those decades were spent living in the Arctic, where my wife Tiffany and I were school teachers in Point Lay, then Anaktuvuk Pass. Accessing remote waters from our home was easy by boat and snowmachine.

Today, my travels take me to many parts of the state, but year after year my most memorable experiences come when fishing with Becharof Lodge, located on the Egegik River. Becharof Lodge is home to the best coho fishing I’ve experienced in Alaska,

and the Egegik is made for fly fishers. Swinging flashy flies always produces, as does working Wogs and poppers. Drifting, swinging and chugging surface poppers are my favorite ways to target silver salmon on the Egegik. Many spey casters rave of the fishing to be had here.

But a person can only catch so many coho before they want to try something different – or at least have a change of scenery – and this is where flyouts to remote streams come in.

Whether taking to Alaska’s desolate places on wheels or pontoons, the

adventures on every trip are more than worth the price of admission. What you’ll likely discover is that before your first fly-out adventure is complete, you’re already planning the next one.

If you really want to get lost in nature, a fly-out trip to remote Alaska will not disappoint. You’ll be well out of cell range, exploring vast wilderness and often mesmerized while watching wildlife. There’s nothing more Alaskan than observing massive brown bears catch salmon, or hearing the echoing calls of sandhill cranes carry across the

vast tundra. Seeing bald eagles on the wing is always therapeutic, no matter where in Alaska you may be.

ONCE YOU TOUCH FOOT in remote Alaska, you often get an instantaneous jolt of reality as to just where you are. On a recent flyout with a trio of friends, we piled out of the floatplane, walked along the pontoon to reach the sandy shoreline, looked down and saw it was covered in fresh brown bear tracks. One of the guys gave me a look, one I’d seen before from first-time fly-out anglers. “It’s going to

Flyouts take you to wondrous Alaska places you’d otherwise never see and provide experiences unlike any other. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

be a great day,” I confirmed, shooting him a wink.

And if the stunning scenery of faroff Alaska isn’t enough, there are the fish. If you’re yearning to experience world-class angling for bigger and lesspressured fish, flyouts are the way to go. Sometimes it’s not always easy to escape fellow anglers, but hopping on a bush- or floatplane can quickly remedy this.

Flyouts typically eliminate the frugal angler. Fear of flying or encountering bears discounts others. Facing the

Author Scott Haugen with a plump grayling caught on a small stream. Haugen has been enjoying flyouts to remote places for decades, and he highly recommends them to any angler looking to experience the ultimate in Alaska. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

unknown also forces folks to abort flyout opportunities even before they commence, sadly. Yet from my experience, bushplanes are much safer than driving busy highways in the Lower 48, plus much more relaxing.

In addition to grayling and char, Becharof Lodge also offers flyouts for beautiful rainbow trout. The fishing here is in small, easy-to-wade streams. Some are lined in thick alders; others gently cut through the open tundra.

If you tire of catching coho on the Egegik River, there are plenty of streams to fly to and catch them. In July and early August, fresh sockeye salmon can also be caught on the Egegik, as well as at remote streams accessible only by bushplane.

LAST

SUMMER, WE CAUGHT fresh sockeye –complete with sea lice – during the first few days of September on the Egegik. In fact, I went home with 50 pounds of bright-red filets, as there were actually

more sockeye in the river than coho at the time.

Catching fish all day long can be the norm more than the exception on many flyouts. Then again, some factors can impact fishing, not the least of which are rain and high winds. If weather forecasts are questionable, planes won’t fly. Wise bush pilots won’t take unnecessary risks in remote Alaska, as they know too well how quickly the seriousness of a weather situation can escalate.

One variable to keep in mind when scheduling a flyout in Alaska is that the pilot is always right. They are the ones calling the shots and their decision is totally dependent upon weather and sometimes unforeseen circumstances that develop when you’re out fishing and have no idea about.

If the forecast is iffy, they won’t fly for fear of you being stranded overnight. If there’s an emergency elsewhere in the

region, they may abort plans to help out or come pick you up early. If they show up 15 minutes late, so what? If they show up 30 minutes early to pick you up, it’s for a very good reason. Be flexible, accepting and understanding and you’ll reap the benefits of remote flyouts.

One week a few years ago, I had three flyouts scheduled in August, and all were canceled due to bad weather. The following year, I went on three flyouts, as the weather was perfect. Again, stay flexible and always have a backup plan or two.

Where flyouts really set themselves apart are in the bonuses they offer. Yes, we’d all like to catch big fish all day long. And it’s true that we’d all love to fish an entire day without bumping into fellow anglers. Those are often givens when it comes to flyouts in Alaska, but there’s more; much more.

IF I HAD ONE day to spend fishing in

Capable of living beyond 30 years in Alaska, Arctic grayling like this strikingly colored one are the ultimate reward for many anglers on remote flyouts. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Alaska, it’d be on a remote stream loaded with brown bears. I love watching giant bears search for fish, navigate rushing rivers, effortlessly slip through thick alders and obey the pecking order where competition with other bears runs high.

The patience, desire and tenacity of these giant bruins that sit atop the food chain is something I wish every fellow adventurer could witness. As long as they have fish, big bears are content, usually.

I’ve only had one bear charge in all my years of fishing in remote Alaska. A buddy and I took a group of four anglers to a remote stream. After getting dropped by a wheel plane and hiking a

mile to the stream, we started rigging fly rods. That’s when I saw a brown bear headed to fish in the creek above us.

I grabbed my camera in hopes of capturing some of the action. Instead, what I got was a full-on charge. The bear covered 60 yards in only a few seconds. Once I sensed it was going to happen, I motioned to my buddy David Stumpf to pull his pistol from its chest holster. “Bear’s coming fast!” I hollered.

I hit the gravel bar when I saw Stumpf pull his pistol. He sent a shot over me and just over the bear’s head, which was now 15 yards from me. Fortunately, it was enough to turn the enraged sow. We had

a great day fishing, but everyone had their head on a swivel until the bushplane returned to pick us up late that afternoon.

The feeling of solitude one acquires from a flyout is the best stress reliever I know – as long as a bear doesn’t charge, of course. From the wide-open spaces on sunny days, to feelings of confinement emanating from spending an entire day wrapped in rain gear, your mind can run free.

Your level of self-sufficiency on these journeys takes the experience to another level. On these outings, your senses are on a constant high and the experience is unlike any other form of fishing you can imagine.

Some streams are technical and the fish finicky, causing you to think deeper in order to find success. The act of getting lost in those thoughts is indelible, especially when goals are achieved. Here, you set your own standards and reach them if you can. You and only you can determine if your goals were met. Sometimes, the remote experience isn’t about reaching goals or hitting high numbers but simply enjoying nature and letting what happens happen.

THE FEELINGS THAT WELL up when you hear an approaching bushplane are tough to describe. The whining engine can be a letdown because you don’t want a glorious day to end. Then again, it’s nice knowing you’ll have a ride back to the lodge, especially if it’s rained hard all day!

Admiring Alaska’s beauty from the sky as you pull away from a stream you’ve fished all day is enchanting. Grappling for words in an effort to bring fleeting moments back to life pales in comparison to the real thing, especially when trying to relive experiences for someone who wasn’t there.

The best way to fully appreciate an Alaska fly-out fishing adventure has to offer is to simply do it. But be warned: Once you discover what they’re all about, you’ll be planning more trips to remote destinations in America’s Last Frontier. ASJ

Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is the author of A Flyfisher’s Guide To Alaska. To learn more about booking a trip to Becharof Lodge, visit scotthaugen.com.

Cheyanne Korpi traveled to a remote stream and got right into the char fishing that lasted all day long. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

sculpin

opening

made

FREELANCE FUN IN THE KENAI

HOW TO GET MULTIPLE ALASKA FISHING ADVENTURES OUT OF THE SAME TRIP

BY CAL KELLOGG

From January through May I guide for trout and landlocked salmon in Northern California almost every day. Most of my clients know I worked as editor/owner of a fishing magazine for nearly two decades and that I’ve fished almost every major location from the Rockies to the Pacific, and from the Gulf

of Alaska to Puerto Vallarta. As a result, between hookups anglers often ask me about destination fishing.

Some of them are curious about longrange fishing for monster tuna out of San Diego, while others are interested in fishing along the Baja Peninsula. But the place I get asked about most often is Alaska. The questions come from guys who have been contemplating a trip north

for years, but because the state is so large and intimidating, they haven’t pulled the trigger. Here’s what I tell them: Alaska is a big place and I certainly haven’t sampled everything. You can focus on lake fishing, river fishing or ocean fishing for a variety of species that range from pike to lingcod. Personally, I’m a saltwater junkie. River fishing is fun, but I go north to battle big halibut and world-class lingcod.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that ... Longtime outdoors writer Cal Kellogg suggests a “freelance” trip to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula to make the most of its varied and plentiful fisheries. The region’s large halibut put up epic battles that will test the resolve of any angler. (CAL KELLOGG)

The coastal islands of the Gulf of Alaska beyond Homer offer world-class lingcod fishing and beautiful scenery. (CAL KELLOGG)

If you love hunting hard-fighting lings and haven’t sampled Alaska’s rich bottomfishing grounds,  stop wasting time and plan your adventure now! (CAL KELLOGG)

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

I think a first-time visitor in Alaska should consider putting together a freelance trip that provides a chance to sample a variety of options rather than staying at a lodge offering strictly saltwater fishing or river fishing.

And for a freelance adventurer, especially for an Alaskan greenhorn visiting from the Lower 48, I don’t think there is a better region to explore than the Kenai Peninsula. Not only does the Kenai/Cook Inlet area offer diverse opportunities in terms of fishing, it also offers easy access and a wide range of services, including lodging, restaurants, grocery stores and tackle shops, and there is a diverse community of guides and outfitters ready to serve you as well.

A rewarding trip begins with research, drawing up an itinerary and then coordinating a schedule. Let’s say you decide to visit during the peak of the summer season in mid- to late July: You might want to do a self-guided trip on the Russian River for sockeye and hit the

Kenai the next day for a guided sockeye or silver salmon trip.

After two days of river fishing, you may choose to recharge with some sightseeing before spending a day with a skipper battling halibut on Cook Inlet.

With a supply of halibut filets secured, perhaps you’ll wrap up your freelance adventure with a classic bushplane flyout trip to the far side of the Cook Inlet, where there are few people, lots of bears and unbelievable coho fishing.

A trip like this is very doable, but you’ll need to figure out what outfitters you want to utilize, contact them and lock in dates that work with your timeline. Honestly, the research and planning for such a trip does nothing but add to the anticipation and excitement you’ll feel when you board a big Alaska Airlines jet headed for Anchorage.

CLASSIC KENAI

As I mentioned, the Kenai Peninsula offers outstanding access. Highway 1, also known as the Sterling Highway,

GONNA FLY NOW: TRAVEL BY AIR TO GREAT FISHING SPOTS

Fly-out trips via bushplane equipped with pontoons for water landings are an amazing experience. You leave the civilized side of Cook Inlet and 20 to 45 minutes later you touch down on the uninhabited side of the inlet, where a guide or guides with small boats are waiting to take you out.

I don’t really think of fly-out trips as fishing trips. The silver salmon fishing you’ll encounter in the coastal rivers is so good that your entire group will likely limit out in minutes rather than hours by simply tossing out uncured chunks of roe on spinning rods.

The real allure of air-travel fishing is the total experience. Flying in a small plane at low altitude across Cook Inlet is an exciting experience in itself. The nearly pristine wilderness and the wildlife you encounter upon landing are awe-inspiring.

You’ll likely see bald eagles by the dozen, otters and bears chomping on flopping salmon they’ve plucked out of the water. Top that off with some dragsizzling coho and you’ve made a memory that will last a lifetime and Alaska will forever be emblazoned in your DNA. CK

These anglers scored limits of coho salmon and halibut while working the waters of Cook Inlet during a July fishing trip with Captain Steve Smith. (CAL KELLOGG)

Big sockeye like these are common on the Kenai River. Not only do they put up epic battles, but they provide the best-eating salmon filets Alaska has to offer. (CAL KELLOGG)

connects Anchorage to Homer, some 223 miles to the south. Along the way, the highway passes through a number of towns and hamlets, including Portage, Cooper Landing, Sterling, Soldotna, Ninilchik and Anchor Point.

Having arranged for a rental car, you’ll pick up your vehicle in Anchorage. You might opt for a standard car or SUV and spend your nights in motels, hotels and lodges. For the more independent, you can opt for a camper van or even an RV.

When you compare cost and flexibility, traveling with a well-organized backpack full of supplies and living out of a camper van roving from one campground to another makes sense. You’ll save money by skipping the restaurants and utilizing store-bought groceries supplemented with blood-red sockeye filets!

The fact is, an entire book could be written about freelance fishing along the Kenai Peninsula when you factor in the various seasons, species and options. Rather than going in depth, I’m going to give you a thumbnail sketch of what’s available to start the gears in your mind churning.

SEASONAL FISHING

Let’s begin with the seasons. Peak season in terms of tourism and fishing activity takes place from roughly June

The Kenai also offers outstanding action for coho and monster rainbow trout. (CAL KELLOGG)

15 to the middle of August, perhaps extending to the third week of August. If you live in the Lower 48, you’ve got to remember that early spring for us is still winter in Alaska.

Fishing really doesn’t get going until May, with May and the first half of June considered the “early” season. Likewise, when it’s late summer in places like California, fall is in the air in Alaska.

Some species of fish are available all year long, such as halibut, but salmon runs typically begin and peak during summer, with July 15 being sort of a center point for sockeye and silver fishing.

Lingcod fishing is also a summer fishery for anglers leaving the sheltered waters of Cook Inlet to explore the remote reefs in the Gulf of Alaska.

King salmon fishing is highly restricted along the Kenai Peninsula and opportunities have been reduced for the 2024 season. Having said that, there are opportunities for both saltwater and river anglers to harvest kings. Be advised, the regulations are confusing and game wardens will be out and about. Knowledge is power. Do research, make phone calls and send emails so that you know what the restrictions are before

you wet a line. When fishing with a guide, they will know the rules and keep you on the straight and narrow in terms of harvest and gear restrictions.

While crowds are light in the early season, they are even lighter as summer gives way to fall, say, beyond August 15. Fall offers outstanding halibut fishing and reliably calm water on Cook Inlet, but the key attraction for anglers is the rainbow trout and steelhead action.

TROPHY TROUT FACTORY

The Kenai River, especially the upper river, is home to massive 10-pluspound wild rainbows that grow big and muscular while gobbling salmon eggs all summer. Rainbows are best chased from a boat with an experienced river guide who will help you drift your eggimitating bead through the perfect slot.

Steelhead fishing is the most overlooked opportunity on the Kenai Peninsula because the best fishing takes place after almost all the tourists have gone home. The action starts in early September and extends until the snow flies in October.

One of the awesome things about Kenai Peninsula steelhead fishing is that the action takes place in small coastal streams such as the Anchor River, which offers drive-up access. This is a catch-and-release fishery with special regulations and gear restrictions. Just make sure you know where you are and what the regs are on that body of water.

Don’t expect to encounter 10-pluspound monsters, but rest assured, you’ll have your hands full when you hook a 4- to 6-pounder that has only been out of the salt for an hour or two on light spinning gear or a fly rod!

THE MARQUEE SPECIES

When anglers travel up to Alaska, salmon, halibut and to some extent lingcod are the species on their minds. Here are my notes on these species from a boots-on-the-ground perspective.

Salmon: Kenai king salmon grow to massive proportions, but again, fishing for the species is highly restricted, and for the most part kings are off limits. That’s OK, since sockeye and silvers provide plenty of sport.

A guided trip on the Kenai almost always ends with a pile of beautiful salmon filets. (CAL KELLOGG)

Massive

Sockeye runs have been so strong on the Kenai River that the limit in 2024 has been raised to six fish per day and 12 in possession throughout the season. Not only are Kenai sockeye energetic fighters – they run anywhere from 5 to 11 pounds – they also offer the best table fare of any Alaskan salmon.

Sockeye aren’t biters, so you’ll be flossing or lining the fish, a sophisticated type of snagging. Don’t let the term snagging turn you off. It’s a ton of fun and a visit to any tackle shop will provide you with both the needed tackle and a

tutorial on how to hook them.

Guided sockeye trips are fun, but honestly, when the fish are running, you can do well on your own.

Unlike sockeye, silvers are biters that go absolutely nuts when you hook them. Drifting roe is an effective method, but spinners hook plenty of fish, plus you’ll likely find that working a spinner is a lot more fun than bouncing roe along the bottom. The average coho runs 4 to 8 pounds, but I’ve seen fish over 12 landed on multiple occasions.

If you are going to book a guided river

trip, I’d opt for silver fishing. The boat will give you access to the best areas and the guide’s instructions and advice will give you an edge.

Halibut: Cook Inlet is filled with halibut that range from 10 to 300-plus pounds. Do your research and book with a skipper focused on landing quality fish. Some operators will limit you out quickly on small fish. That’s not what you want.

The limit is two halibut; one has to be a smaller fish (28 inches or less) and one can be a larger keeper. For your larger halibut, you are looking for something in the 40- to 60-pound class. These fish offer a lot of high-quality meat. Fish beyond 60 offer great eating, but in my opinion, fish that are 40 or 60 pounds offer the best table fare.

Halibut fishing is typically done with bait such as cut herring or salmon heads. Cook Inlet-style halibut fishing is something you’ll want to experience, but be warned that it can be physically demanding.

Much of the time the current is strong in Cook Inlet, plus big halibut can pull so hard they’ll make your soul sweat. But the sense of satisfaction you get when you see a halibut weighing from 50 to 150 pounds coming over the rail is the stuff dreams are made of.

A big Pacific halibut is definitely a bucket-list achievement for anyone who enjoys West Coast saltwater fishing.

Lingcod: The trip from Homer and Cook Inlet to the lingcod grounds in the Gulf of Alaska is long and the aluminum six-pack boats most skippers fish from are light, rigid and unforgiving, yet the 70-mile run is worth the effort.

Lingcod fishing takes place over reefs connecting small, evergreentipped volcanic islands. Black bears walking the beaches are a common sight as you drop jigs to tempt lingcod, rockfish and the occasional magnum halibut that has come to rest on a sandy spot among the rocks.

I’m a passionate lingcod angler. I originally went to Alaska looking for something over 30 pounds. I’ve caught a lot of fish in the 40- and 50-pound class, and my personal-best Alaskan ling hit 61 pounds.

100-plus-pound Pacific halibut like this impressive “barn door” are common catches for anglers soaking bait in Cook Inlet’s fabled waters. (CAL KELLOGG)

Lingcod addicts are a special breed. We love battling the toothy predators and will endure long boat rides and rough seas to get a shot at a new personal best. If you are part of the fraternity, you know what I’m talking about. If you are a lingcodder and you haven’t dropped jigs in the Gulf of Alaska, you need to make it happen.

Let me put it this way: There is baseball and then there is pitching in Yankee Stadium wearing the pinstripes. The waters beyond the Cook Inlet are the Yankee Stadium of lingcod fishing. ’Nuff said!

WHAT TO BRING

For a trip along the Kenai Peninsula, the minimum requirements are rain gear, waders, high-performance layered clothing, a pair of spinning rods and perhaps a fly rod.

Fancy one-piece, high-end graphite rods are awesome, but if you’re traveling from the Lower 48, leave them at home and go with something rugged that breaks down into two pieces. I know, I know, you’re a pro and only fish with the

best stuff, but nevertheless, grab a pair of two-piece Ugly Stiks and thank me later.

You want one 6.5- to 7-foot rod rated for 6- to 15-pound line with a fast action. This is the rod you’ll use the most. The other rod should also be a 7-foot fastaction unit rated for 8- to 20-pound test. This rod may come in handy should you decide to try your luck at saltwater shore fishing for flounder, Pacific cod or halibut. Yes, you can catch these species from the bank!

The rods should be matched with appropriately sized spinning reels loaded with braid. If you’ll be fishing for silver salmon, bring some large Rooster Tail and Arctic Fox spinners, along with a collection of slinky weights, octopus hooks in random sizes and maybe some brightly colored steelhead fishing yarn. Finally, bring an extra spool or two of braid and some fluorocarbon leader material in 10-, 15- and 25-pound test.

For fly gear, a low-cost 8-weight outfit will cover most situations. If steelhead are on the menu, stock up on egg patterns in both bright and subtle colors.

Beyond the minimal lures and flies

I’ve listed, leave everything else at home and stock up on local favorites at regional tackle shops. The folks working at these stores know what the fish are hitting on now and they will steer you in the right direction.

Rather than traveling with a knife, bring a simple knife sharpener and buy a cheap filet knife in Alaska and give it to another angler before you depart.

When fishing with outfitters, gear and fish cleaning will be included in your trip. If you decide to take my advice and rent a camper van, utilize backpacking equipment for day-to-day living, including a lightweight down sleeping bag and a quality minimalist sleeping pad.

Beyond what I’ve outlined, do plenty of research, plan ahead and ask a lot of questions when you contact guides and outfitters. Preplanning and planning some more set the stage for success! ASJ

Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California-based outdoors writer and guide. Check out his YouTube channel – Fish, Hunt, Shoot – at youtube.com/ @FHSTackle.

TO CATCH A STEELHEAD ON THE FLY

ORVIS-CREATED BOOK OFFERS TIPS FOR, ODE TO SOME OF THE MOST DIEHARD FLYRODDERS ON THE RIVER

Longtime fly fishermen such as lead author Tom Rosenbauer have come together for a book that in part celebrates a rare breed of dedicated, if not a bit crazy, anglers.

“I’m here not because I’m such a great fly fisher or great writer. I’m here, and I chose the other contributors, because as a group we’ve never lost sight of what it’s like to be a novice standing in the middle of a river or ocean far from home with very little idea about what to do with that long skinny pole in our hands,” Rosenbauer writes in a book published earlier this year by iconic outdoors company Orvis. In all, eight different authors provide content that includes tips for catching trout, steelhead, salmon and saltwater species, among others, on fly gear.

“All of us have days, after 30 or 40 years of fly fishing, when we feel like we don’t have a clue how to catch a fish, as if we’ve started all over,” Rosenbauer adds. “No one in this book has anything to prove or any hidden agenda, beyond the satisfaction of helping other people solve problems on a trout stream, steelhead river, or saltwater flat.”

In his chapter titled “The Wet Fly Swing”, Oregonbased steelhead savant John Shewey, whose works include the book Classic Steelhead Flies, discusses presentations for summer- and winter-runs and also hammers away at the importance of confidence for every insane steelhead angler who casts flies.

The following is excerpted from The Orvis Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing: Secrets from the Orvis Experts, by Tom Rosenbauer and published by Lyons Press.

A new book from iconic outdoor retailer Orvis focuses on catching fish like this wild summer steelhead, which couldn’t resist a wellexecuted wet fly swing.

(THE ORVIS ULTIMATE BOOK OF FLY FISHING)

BY JOHN SHEWEY

The learned British author John Ashley-Cooper, in his book The Salmon Rivers of Scotland, could as easily have been discussing western steelheading when he wrote: “In big pools, and in these rivers the majority of them are big, you should normally fish quickly, especially when fish are scarce. On no account pause to do two or three casts in the same place (this is almost an endemic fault in nervous waders).

This leads to a deplorable waste of time. Keep moving on steadily at a rate of two or three yards between each cast and so get the water covered. Only if you locate a spot where likely takers are lying, or if you rise fish that do not take hold, should you slow up. It is much better to fish a big pool twice, fairly fast, in a given period of time than once, slowly.”

Specific current structures dictate the angle of the downstream cast, but generally speaking, the steeper the angle, the easier it becomes to control the fly’s speed as it swings across the flow. In fact, the speed of the fly and its depth in the water column comprise the two critical elements in steelhead presentation.  When fishing floating lines and wet flies during the summer, fly depth more or less takes care of itself, especially when you control the more important element of fly speed. Steep angles of presentation and some timely mending control the speed of the fly. In short, a slow, controlled swing accounts for more hookups than a fly zipping rapidly back across the river. Controlling depth and speed

“The importance of fishing at steep angles may be the best justification for casting a long line on large western rivers. Basically, it’s a matter of geometry,” author John Shewey writes. “When thrown at identical down-and-across angles from the same position, the longer cast covers a wider swath of water at the appropriate speed than does a shorter cast.” (CHASE

GUNNELL)

stack mend. In other words, as soon as the fly touches down, make a quick roll cast, shooting a loop of line that rolls the floating portion of the fly line part way out. This stack mend gives you a few feet of slack line – and thus dead drift – that helps the sinking portion of the line gain depth before the fly begins to swing.

Your choice of casting stations often dictates the methods used to control fly speed and the degree to which these methods prove effective. An often overlooked pool on one of our local rivers exemplifies the importance of the angler’s position: Located at the lip current, deep in the tail-out of a much larger pool, a narrow pocket in the bedrock allows migrating steelhead a respite after negotiating the falls immediately below.

We can fish this slot from either side of the river but only if we position ourselves above and within a rod’s length laterally of the pool. In other words, we stand almost directly upstream from the holding area. Try to fish the slot from a steeper angle, and the fly and line either latch onto ledge rock or dash across the pocket so quickly as to render the presentation ineffective.

becomes a more critical issue with winter steelhead, which won’t chase down a fly as aggressively as will summer-run fish. Thus, you must present the fly closer to the steelhead’s level. You needn’t dredge the bottom but you must swing the fly deeper in the water column, often just a foot or two above the streambed.

A couple tricks help with fly control during winter: First, you can hold a large loop of line in your hand during the swing and steadily release this slack line to slow the fly’s speed and thus increase its depth. Second, try stepping downstream after the cast rather than before. In summer, the typical pattern is to fish out one swing, take a step or two downstream, and then cast again. During the winter, however, try fishing out one swing and then making the next cast from the same position. After making the cast, take those two steps downstream, allowing the line a few more feet of drag-free drift to gain depth.

Another trick is to cast down and across but at the end of the cast leave the rod tip elevated in preparation for a quick

I could cite countless similar examples. In short, the steeper your angle of presentation, the easier it becomes to control the speed of the fly without mending. The importance of fishing at steep angles may be the best justification for casting a long line on large western rivers. Basically, it’s a matter of geometry. When thrown at identical down-andacross angles from the same position, the longer cast covers a wider swath of water at the appropriate speed than does a shorter cast. Initial positioning in the pool allows you to fish the best possible angle of presentation, but rod position and rod movement also play critical roles in fly control. You can either follow the fly or lead the fly with the rod, depending again on particular current structures in relation to the path of the line and fly. Following the fly means that once the line straightens, you keep the rod tip pointed out over the river. Doing so allows you direct contact throughout the presentation and gives you the opportunity to hang the fly in particular places, at least toward the end of the crosscurrent swing. One of my favorite local pools perfectly illustrates

the principle of following the fly. The pool features a major current seam well out in the flow, formed by a huge submerged slab of rock. Steelhead often hold on the far side of the seam in the slower water 30 feet below the rock. To present the fly effectively to these fish, you must cast well across the flow and then make a big upstream mend. Then you must hold the rod tip as far out toward the middle of the river as possible so the fly can come around and begin its swing in or near the seam. If you fail to do this, the fly darts through the seam as the current pulls it quickly to your side of the river …

CONFIDENCE COUNTS

Steelhead fly anglers constitute a decidedly twisted lot. We have little choice in the matter because our chosen pastime assures that we spend far more time fishing than actually catching. We operate on faith, on the assumption that if we just keep fishing we will, sooner or later, hook a steelhead.

Here in the Northwest, most of us fish big water – the Deschutes, Skykomish, Thompson, North Umpqua, Clearwater, Skagit, and many more. For some of these rivers you can watch the fish counts at the dams and garner at least some rough

“This diagram shows one of the author’s favorite pools that requires the angler to first ‘follow’ the fly (1) and then ‘lead’ the fly (2) with the rod tip on each presentation. A cobblestone bar extends to midriver and then drops off, creating ideal steelhead water. But owing to the curvature of the current structure, the angler must swing the rod to the downstream side at the end of each presentation to make the fly swing in toward the drop-off, where fish often hold.”  (THE ORVIS ULTIMATE BOOK

guess as to how many steelhead have migrated up to your favorite reaches. Even so, you simply assume that each pool holds fish, because only rarely on these rivers can one actually spot fish in the water. Your faith must never falter. You must always believe that fish are in the river, in your favorite pools, and

in a mood to chase your flies. In fact, confidence may well constitute the single most important attribute of the successful steelhead angler.

A HIGHER LEVEL

Confidence transcends technique and strategy. More than that, confidence

Shewey says that positive reinforcement, if not swagger, are critical when it comes to enticing a wily steelie to bite a fly. “Your faith must never falter. You must always believe that fish are in the river, in your favorite pools, and in a mood to chase your flies,” he writes. “In fact, confidence may well constitute the single most important attribute of the successful steelhead angler.” (CHASE GUNNELL)

OF FLY FISHING)

elevates your angling skills because it instills in you a belief that there exists no doubt about the fact that you will hook a steelhead. Not burdened by doubt, you come to decide that casting, wading and reading water are skills at which you will tirelessly try to better yourself. Any doubts about hooking steelhead are pushed far out of your mind.

As you deliver a cast, there exists not a shred of doubt that a steelhead will grab the fly on that presentation. When this fails to happen, you are at the very least mildly surprised. Your confidence doubles on the ensuing cast – after all, if the last cast failed to tempt a fish, there is simply no question that the next one is sure to score. When this next presentation goes fishless, you find yourself quite flabbergasted, and when you fish out the pool without touching a fish you are entirely astounded. Your astonishment only redoubles your confidence. No question about it: You will certainly hook a fish in the next pool. Should the day pass without a hookup, you find yourself brimming with confidence about your chances

the following day. Should a week pass without a hookup, your confidence has reached epic proportions: It builds in direct proportion with your astonishment over not catching fish. Never does your confidence wane; rather, it follows this inverse relationship, mounting appreciably with the passage of fishless casts, pools, and days. Your reasoning is simple, fundamental. How can there exist any doubt that the next cast will hook a steelhead since the last 500 have failed to do so? Indeed, doubt never enters the confident steelheader’s mind. In this way you become a better angler, concentrating fully on your efforts. When your fly hangs in the current directly downstream at the end of the swing, you stand there entirely befuddled that a steelhead did not give chase. Then you can’t wait to deliver the next presentation because you are more certain than ever that the forthcoming cast will hook a fish.

The confident steelheader, unencumbered by doubt, appreciates that reading water and effectively covering water rank as the two most significant

factors in hooking fish. The confident angler never worries over pattern choice. He chooses a favorite, ties it on, and forgets about the fly. The confident angler believes in every pool and fishes each one from top to bottom, knowing full well that giving up even one cast short of the lip current might spell the difference between success and failure.

Unburdened by worries, the steelhead angler now begins to appreciate the fact that few angling pursuits place him in more intimate quarters with a favorite river. As the seasons mount and the wading and casting miles add up; as those cherished hookups become many; as lifelong angling friendships are forged; as new rivers become old stomping grounds, the steelhead angler learns that he persists in this game simply because he loves to fish and because these noble gamefish and the rivers in which they live deserve a special reverence. ASJ

Editor’s note: Order The Orvis Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing: Secrets from the Orvis Experts at amazon.com/Orvis-UltimateBook-Fly-Fishing/dp/1493081551.

The right gear is not only beneficial to you as a hunter. Your gun dog can also benefit from optimal accessories like the MOmarsh VersaVest, worn here by author Scott Haugen’s pudelpointer Echo. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

TOP GEAR FOR GUN DOGS

OUTFIT YOUR FOUR-LEGGED HUNTING BUDDY WITH THESE FIELD-TESTED PRODUCTS

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

With summer here, now’s the time to make sure your canine companion is well taken care of. Be it for training sessions, upcoming hunting seasons or if you’re just looking to make your four-legged hunting partner’s life more healthy and enjoyable all year long, here are some dog gear items I’ve used that are worth considering.

WILEY X WX DETECTION GLASSES

OK, this one serves both you and your dog because they’re the best shooting

and upland bird hunting eyewear I’ve worn. I never wear sunglasses when training dogs because I want them to see my eyes and be able to read them.

Wiley X’s WX Detection glasses come with five interchangeable, large lenses, meaning your field of view is wide open; you can easily see your dog and they can see your eyes. Simply pick one of the shades that blocks glare when training on sunny days and get to work. If lighting changes, switch lenses on the spot.

These glasses have no bulky frame;

just two flexible extensions on each side that the lenses quickly snap into. Wrap the extensions around your temple, over the ears, and you’re set. They’re so comfortable that you’ll honestly forget you have them on. I use mine when training on sunny days as well as when the wind, pollens and bugs are bad. I’ve worn them on several hunts, as they’re the perfect shooting glasses. And yes, the dogs can still see my eyes when on the hunt. I also wear them when doing yard work, mowing fields and cutting wood.

TZATZIKI UP YOUR TROUT

BY TIFFANY HAUGEN

Whether you’re catching them in lakes planted around the Anchorage area or in remote waters throughout Alaska, trout is a great-tasting freshwater fish.

Trout meat is mild; therefore, it easily takes on the flavors it’s being cooked with. The key is not going too heavy on ingredients carrying strong flavors, as doing so will mask the flavor of the trout.

To attain the best-eating trout, take proper care of it once caught. These aren’t like bluegill, so don’t put them on a stringer and dangle them in a warm lake. Trout meat needs to get quickly cooled. Once caught, kill the fish, snap a gill rake and let it bleed out in the water, then place in a cooler with ice. Sometimes people complain about the fishy flavor of trout, and this often comes down to how the fish was handled once caught – especially improper cooling – not how the cook prepared it.

This recipe is for half of a large trout. Simply multiply the ingredients if you

want to cook more fish. Enjoy!

1 large trout filet

1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 fresh lemon

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

Chives or scallions (optional)

Rinse fish filet in cold water and pat dry. Remove as many bones as possible without damaging the meat. Leave skin on. Cut to desired serving sizes. In a small bowl, mix garlic, paprika, salt and pepper. Squeeze lemon juice over the meat side of fish filets. Sprinkle spice mix generously on both sides of the fish.

In a large skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-high heat. Place fish filets meat-side down and cover pan. Let cook for one to three minutes or until

golden brown. Carefully turn filets skinside down and finish cooking to desired doneness. Serve with tzatziki and fresh chives or scallions if desired.

TZATZIKI SAUCE

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1/2 cup grated cucumber

1 teaspoon finely chopped dill or mint

1/2 teaspoon puréed garlic

In a small bowl, mix ingredients until thoroughly combined. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood, as well as other best-selling titles, visit scotthaugen.com.

Chef Tiffany Haugen’s tzatziki-topped trout makes for a delicious meal. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

FIELD

YETI RAMBLER HALF-GALLON JUG AND BOOMER DOG BOWL

I know what you’re thinking: “Spend $100 on a water jug for a dog? You’re nuts!” I’ve been called worse.

Let me put it into perspective: I’m on the road a lot and my dogs go on over 100 hunts a year for upland birds, waterfowl, squirrels, shed antlers and more. I got so tired of cheap water jugs bouncing around in the truck and spilling liquid everywhere. The time a 5-gallon plastic jug ruptured was the last straw.

Based on a buddy’s suggestion, I got the Yeti half-gallon Rambler. I haven’t regretted it. It holds more than enough water for my dogs for a full day of hunting, and it’s rugged and stands up to my lessthan-stellar off-road driving. In no time, the Rambler paid for itself, and after 22 months it’s still performing flawlessly.

I got the Yeti Boomer dog bowl as soon

“Wiley X’s WX Detection glasses come with five interchangeable, large lenses, meaning your field of view is wide open,” Haugen writes. “You can easily see your dog and they can see your eyes.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)

which is ideal for my two lean and very active gun dogs.

When NutriSource offered the formula in a freeze-dried option, I was pumped. Animal ingredients provide at least 90 percent of the protein ingredients in the freeze-dried bites and sliders. They’re high in nutrients and flavor, and my dogs love all three options – beef and lamb, chicken and duck, turkey and venison.

If providing the freeze-dried option as a complete meal, I like adding bone broth, goat milk or water to it to soften it up and add further health benefits. It’s supplemented with NVGEN that’s designed to optimize the microbiome necessary for full utilization of a highanimal-protein diet. No matter when I feed it to my dogs, they love it. And like all NutriSource dog foods I feed, it’s high protein, so you actually can feed less, meaning you save money meal for meal.

MOMARSH VERSA-VEST

as it came out. I liked it so much that I got a second one for my other dog. My dogs have eaten from them twice a day every day for years, and the insides of each are as slick and clean as when we first got it. Made of the same durable, foodsafe BPA-free materials as Yeti’s famed Rambler drinkware, these bowls are easy to clean. I take them on road trips and toss them in the back of the truck for drinking water on day hunts. I went through lots of dog bowls over the years, and nothing I’ve found comes close to the quality and longevity of the Boomers.

NUTRISOURCE FREEZE-DRIED TREATS

Used as a treat, topper or even a complete meal, this high-protein option is available in bite sizes or sliders. I’ve been a fan of NutriSource Pet Foods Element Series of dog food since it first came out, as it’s very high in protein,

I almost threw this vest in the trash before I even got it on my dog. Then I took a deep breath, read the directions, watched a YouTube video on how to customize the MOmarsh VersaVest, and the rest is history. I got this vest for Kona, my big male pudelpointer that tips the scales to 63 pounds. He’s long-legged, deepchested and narrow at the waist. He’s thin-skinned and muscular, too, which means it’s a challenge to find a dog vest that truly fits him.

With its six points of multidirectional Velcro fastening points, I was able to adjust the vest to securely fit Kona’s unique build. It took a while, but once I got it figured out and put it on Kona and he took off running through the field, I knew we had a good thing.

A few weeks later, I got one for Echo, my 45-pound female. They’ve hunted in the vests dozens of times and there’s been no rubbing under their legs, chests or necks. The rubberized chest panel is sturdy and does its job protecting against thick brush, submerged sticks and more. The paracord handle and metal leash loop are sturdy and well-placed. And the 5-millimeter rubberized Neoprene and water-repellent-coated poly fabric keeps the dogs warm and helps them float.

A day in the field will make your dog thirsty, and a durable jug and water bowl from respected company Yeti will always do their jobs.

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

The best thing with this vest is it can be adjusted anytime to fit your dog’s body, even as it ages over the years. There are interchangeable side panels in blaze orange, snow and black shadows.

YETI TRAILHEAD DOG BED

This Yeti product is the best dog bed I’ve used. Both of my dogs love this bed. I got the first one for Echo in 2019. Whenever it was nap time, both dogs raced for the bed; sometimes I’d find them both squeezed into it. No matter where in the house I put the bed, both dogs sought it out. So I got a second Trailhead bed for Kona. Today, five years later, both beds are in great shape, have withstood multiple washings and my dogs sleep in them every single day.

The Trailhead features a removable travel pad, so when I’m on the road each dog can enjoy it. The pillow bolster is sturdy and hasn’t broken down at all, which makes it a great and comfortable headrest. The tough bed and its waterproof outer bottom cover is great for road trips and putting in the garage or entryway.

We used both beds when we lived in Hyder and they held up through intense exposure to Southeast Alaska snow, rain and mud. With a three-year warranty, you can’t beat this bed.

There’s more – lots more – to make your dog’s experience better, but suffice it to say, you’ll save money with these items, which every gun dog and their owner will truly appreciate and enjoy. ASJ

Editor’s note: For more on Scott Haugen and his wife Tiffany, follow at facebook.com/thehaugens.