Alaska Sporting Journal - February 2019 PDF

FISHING • HUNTING • ADVENTURE AKSPORTINGJOURNAL.
COM
UxaHBEIGy01370tz]v+:#
2 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com
aksportingjournal.com
aak
aksp
aks
kksp
ks
ssp
poorrrt
orti
ortrti
ting
tingj
ngjo
n gjo
gj
g jjo
ournal
urna
urn
rna
nal.com
l co
com | FEBRU
FE
F
FEBR
FEBRUARY
EBR
EBRUARY
E UARY
UAR
RY 2019
201
019 ALASKA
A
ALA
LASKA SPORTING
LASKA SPORT
SP ORTING
ORT ING JO
JOURN
JOURNAL
URN
UR
R AL 3
“BEST KEPT SECRET
ON THE WEST COAST
OF VANCOUVER ISLAND”
We are at FULL Limits for Salmon, Halibut & Ling
2019 Charter All-Inclusive Drive-In Pkg. Special

“Bring Your Large Coolers. You Will Need Them When You FISH With US”
4 person Drive-In Fishing/Catching
$1700 ea. CA $$ | $1300 ea. US $$
• 4 Nights Lodging
• 3 Full days of Guided Fishing / Catching
Salmon, Halibut, Ling Cod & MORE
• Includes All your meals from our large
restaurant menu while you are with us.
*Limited time offer must be BOOKED by March 30, 2019 *US $$ at today’s exchange rate
(250) 934-7672 | info@westviewmarina.com | www.westviewmarina.com
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 5
The Xtreme Defender *Falling within FBI guidelines
is based on the popu- This round offers: A permanent
lar Xtreme Penetrator Wound Cavity (PWC) that is 2
product line. The XD ammunition has an optimized nose times greater than any expanding
flute, total weight, and velocity to achieve a penetration bullet reduced recoil.
depth up to 18 inches* with a permanent wound cavity CNC machined from solid copper
(PWC) that is just simply enormous; no other expand- to overcome barriers to penetra-
ing hollowpoint comes close to achieving anywhere near tion Radial flutes that force the
this diameter and volume. Not only is the PWC over hydraulic energy inward to build
100% larger than any other expanding bullet, expansion pressure Minimal surface area to
is achieved despite being shot through barriers. The sol- increase the force at the point of
id copper body ensures that wallboard, sheet metal, and contact and sharp cutting edges
automotive glass will have no effect on the PWC. that defeat barriers.
%RWWRP5G6SDUWD &DOOXV

,OOLQRLV
6 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com ZZZXQGHUZRRGDPPRFRP
aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL 7
TER SALES EVE
IN NT
W
With Special Offers For the 2019 Boat Show Season
Your Suzuki Marine Dealer has exceptional deals in store for you when you purchase a
new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 350 horsepower during the winter Boat Show Season.
Get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3 years of Extended Protection at no extra
charge.There are Instant Savings on select models, and Low-Rate Financing is also
available. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details.
ALASKA
REPOWER ANCHORAGE
Anchorage Yamaha
INST
SELEC ANT SA
T SUZU VING
FINANCE Suzuki Marine
SO
TBOA N
KI OU
RDS
3919 Spenard Rd
(907) 243-8343
SIX YEARS OF PROTECTION INSTANT SAVINGS REPOWER FINANCE www.anchorageyamaha.com
3 Years Limited Warranty + 3 Years Extended Protection
Six Years of Protection Instant Savings on select models Rates as low as 5.99% FAIRBANKS
at no extra charge on all new when you buy at the boat show. on new Suzuki outboards on Northern Power Sports
outboards 25 to 350 HP. See your dealer for details. approved credit.* [60 Months] 1980 Van Horn Rd
(907) 452-2762
www.northernpowersports.com
OREGON
EUGENE
Maxxum Marine
1700 State Highway 99 N
(541) 686-3572
www.maxxummarine.com
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to
buyer between 01/01/19 and 03/31/19 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US
and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter
and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowl-
edgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com.
The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select
Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 01/01/19 and 03/31/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.
com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn,
credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change
or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99%
APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and
any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical
figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors
such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki
dealer between 01/01/19 and 03/31/19. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always
wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

Volume 10 • Issue 9
www.aksportingjournal.com
PUBLISHER
James R. Baker
GENERAL MANAGER
John Rusnak
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Andy Walgamott
EDITOR
Chris Cocoles
WRITERS
Paul D. Atkins, Lauren Dean, Tony Ensalaco,
Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tony Lolli,
Mary Catharine Martin
SALES MANAGER
Katie Higgins
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold
DESIGNERS
Kayla Mehring, Jake Weipert
WEB DEVELOPMENT/INBOUND
MARKETING
Jon Hines
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Kelly Baker
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Katie Aumann
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
media@media-inc.com
ON THE COVER
U.S. Coast Guard yeomans Ashley and
Branson Wallace, both first class petty
officers, are dedicated outdoors lovers who
take advantage of the fishing and hunting
opportunities around them while serving
at Base Kodiak. For more, turn to page 41.
(ASHLEY WALLACE)
MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP

WASHINGTON OFFICE
14240 Interurban Ave South • Suite 190
Tukwila, WA 98168
(206) 382-9220 • Fax (206) 382-9437
media@media-inc.com
www.media-inc.com
CORRESPONDENCE
Twitter @AKSportJourn
Facebook.com/alaskasportingjournal
Email ccocoles@media-inc.com

CONTENTS VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 9
41
AT HOME ON KODIAK
The U.S. Coast Guard has a base on Kodiak Island which,
thanks to its relative isolation, offers USCG personnel some
outstanding outdoor opportunities. It’s been a perfect duty
station assignment for Petty Officer First Class yeomans
Ashley Wallace and her husband Branson, who trade their
dress blues for camo every chance they get to fish and hunt.
Petty Officer Third Class Lauren Dean of Base Kodiak’s public
affairs detachment profiles the happy sporting couple. (P
(PETTY
PETT
ETTY
TTY OFFI
O
OFFICER
FFICER
FFICER
ER
R FIRST
FIIRST
R T CLASS
RS CLASS ASHLEY
ASHLE
ASH Y WALLACE)
HLE WALL
WALL
ALLACE
AL AC )
FEATURES
19 DUSTIN’S DESTINY 63 THE RABBIT WHISPERER
Growing up on the tough streets in and around New For all the game animals Alaska offers, sometimes it’s
Orleans, Dustin Hurt admittedly “grew up with tough easy to overlook smaller species to target like snowshoe
knuckles.” The fights he was constantly getting into were hare. Some of Scott Haugen’s most memorable experi-
part of the problems he had. But Hurt found himself ences when he was a schoolteacher in a remote North
after getting away from the bad influences and demons Slope village were hunting for these swift white rabbits
around his home. He eventually joined his dad Fred in that provided meat for not just himself but fellow Native
Alaska mining for gold on the Discovery Channel series residents of Anaktuvuk Pass. And to top off our Field to
Gold Rush and returns for another shot at riches on the Fire feature, Tiffany Haugen whips up a zesty rabbit dish.
spin-off show Gold Rush: White Water. He chats with
editor Chris Cocoles about what it’s like to mine for
precious metals in the Panhandle’s McKinley Creek.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
71 Alaskan apparel, gear company’s school-bus roots
51 LET ME BE YOUR GUIDE 77 Steelhead fishing is a father-son tradition
Our Arctic adventurer Paul Atkins has both gone on 87 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament preview
and taken many friends on hunting and fishing trips
throughout Alaska. Along the way, he has pondered DEPARTMENTS
whether or not he should have pursued a career as a big
game hunting guide in one of the continent’s – if not the 29 The Salmon State: Worldwide summit teams up for
world’s – premier outdoor playgrounds. Atkins offers his salmon research
own take on the question: to guide or not to guide? 37 Outdoor Calendar
74 Gear Guy: Optics options
89 Guide Fly: The Bunny Muddler
Alaska Sporting Journal is published monthly. Call Media Inc. Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become
the property of Media Inc. Publishing Group and will not be returned. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues) or $49.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to
Media Inc. Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168 or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues may be ordered at Media Inc.
Publishing Group, subject to availability, at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Copyright © 2019 Media Inc. Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication
may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written
permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.

EDITOR’S NOTE
“When I left Oklahoma

for Alaska I wanted to go
on far-off adventures, up
rivers, across tundra and
into the hills, all the while
hunting the mighty beasts
of the wilderness,” says Paul
Atkins (right, with fellow
ASJ correspondent Scott
Haugen). (PAUL D. ATKINS)
W
hen I was a kid, Saturday morning cartoons were argu-
ably less a priority than tuning in to Superstation WTBS
in midafternoon. I can’t remember if it was a double- ALASKA FISHING & RAFT ADVENTURES
header or if they were on during separate seasons, but I rarely
missed Fishin’ With Orlando Wilson and especially Fishing With Ro-
land Martin (YouTube allowed me to catch an old show recently).
Most of my childhood fishing excursions where I grew up in
Northern California were for trout, but watching Orlando and
Roland fight bass in faraway lakes in Florida, Georgia, Alabama,
Tennessee, etc., and talking about their experiences on the Bass- ALASKAN WILDERNESS FLOAT TRIPS! We are Interior Alaska’s
master tour convinced me I was destined to be a pro bass angler. prime year-round summer and winter fishing and wilderness adventure
guide service! We specialize in small group and private first-class
Of course, I made the massive mistake of combining my love
guided fly fishing and float fishing trips for Arctic grayling and Interior
of sports – then the outdoors – and writing into a journalism Alaskan salmon and Northern pike. Rain and shine, snow and ice, we
career. But I still play the what-if game, like our Paul Atkins does provide fishing guide services in all 12 months of the year.
this month as he wonders how his Alaska life would have been You can choose from our selection and combinations of float fishing
trips, wildlife viewing & photography tours, ice fishing, snowmobile,
different had he become a professional guide (page 51).
aurora viewing tours, and wilderness dog mushing tours in Fairbanks
Atkins and I traded emails about his boyhood passions. and the wild Interior and remote Alaskan wilderness! We have the top
“I never really dreamed of becoming a big game or fishing guides and instructors for fly fishing, spin fishing, ice fishing, and wild-
guide in Alaska, not until I had lived here for a few years,” says life viewing adventures. We permit and provide access to Fairbanks’ and
Interior Alaska’s most beautiful and productive rivers, including the
Atkins, who’s originally from Oklahoma. “I think after learning the Chena and Chatanika Rivers, Delta Clearwater Creek, as well as numerous
area, land and water and then seeing how accessible everything local lakes such as Quartz Lake, Birch Lake, Chena Lakes, Fielding Lake,
was (here in the Arctic) and the abundance of wildlife available, I etc. We offer fully outfitted half-, full-day, and overnight camping float
thought, ‘You know, I could do this.’ I thought about it hard.” and hike-in fishing tours and wilderness viewing tours.
Alaska Fishing & Raft Adventures’ programs will take you to fishing
“I had a chance to buy a plane a couple times, but didn’t for grounds off the beaten path and wilderness settings you have always
my fear of flying – or I should say crashing – and in hindsight hoped to experience. By providing our guests with the quality equip-
I’m glad I didn’t. I was offered apprenticeships but turned them ment and highly personable and experienced resident guides, we have
down. I do think though that if I had come earlier in life I would defined ourselves as one of the high-quality operators in the Alaskan
outdoor industry. Contact us today and reserve dates for your once-
have went through with it.” ASJ in-a-lifetime fishing adventure!
Agreed. -Chris Cocoles 1-800-819-0737 • www.akrivertours.com

Dust
Du
Dustin
sti
tin
in Hurt
Hur
urtt is
is ffrom
rom
rom Ne
New Or
New O
Orleans
rle
lean
lean
anss bu
but fo
but foun
found
und
un da
homee iin
home
ho n Al
A
Alaska
lasska
ka aass a go
g
gold
ld m
miner.
iner
in er. Hu
Hurt
rt is
is le
leading
ead
adin
ing
ing
hiss cr
hi ccrew
rew
w iinn Mc
M
McKinley
cKi
Kinlleyy C Creek
reekk iin
re n th
the
he sessecond
seco
econd d sseason
easo
ea son
so n
o Go
of Gold
oldd Rush:
Rus
ush:
h: White
h: Whih tee Water.
Watater
ter
er. (DISCOVERY
(DISCO
(DI SC VER
SCO RY CCHANNEL)
HAN
HAAN
NNEL
NEL)
NE
CHASING GOLD CAN

HURT SO GOOD
MINER DUSTIN HURT FINDS PURPOSE IN ALASKA ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL SERIES
BY CHRIS COCOLES – where fishing both inland waters and ry of growing up as a troublemaker in
the Gulf of Mexico is a way of life. Yet New Orleans and his redemption as a
D
ustin Hurt is the exception to the Dustin’s time in the Last Frontier doesn’t hard-working gold miner.
rule: the transplanted Alaskan include casting for the state’s iconic fish.
who’s not here for the salmon. “I used to love bass fishing when Chris Cocoles What has your Alaska ex-
The Last Frontier’s gold is on Hurt’s I was young. I would try to skip school perience been like given the highs and
mind. He’s been mining the state for and skip work so I could go bass fishing,” lows gold mining are sure to create?
years now and has been chronicled on Dustin recalls. “For whatever reason, Dustin Hurt I think I experienced Alaska
the Discovery Channel shows Gold Rush once I got to Alaska I’ve become a land- differently than most people do when
and now Gold Rush: White Water. The lubber. Here I am near all this ocean and they come up there, because I go to
show recently premiered its second sea- I keep putting myself in the mountains some of the hardest-to-get-to places
son following the “Dakota Boys,” Dustin, where there’s no fish. Everyone around in this land. Some of the places have
his dad Fred Hurt (Alaska Sporting Jour- me fishes. And it’s not something that been explored but don’t get a lot of traf-
nal, March 2018) and their crew’s ups I’ve embraced about Alaska.” fic. It’s led to me to love the area, but
and downs seeking riches on McKinley But while some anglers may consider everywhere we go we have to try hard
Creek, a rugged and treacherous stretch Alaska’s sockeye, coho and Chinook to to get there. There’s no easy way to do
of water in Southeast Alaska. be worth their weight in gold, the Dakota anything here. I was born and raised in
Dustin and Fred both have ties to Lou- Boys are after the real thing. We asked New Orleans, (where) everything’s flat
isiana – Dustin’s accent is straight out of Dustin Hurt about his obsession to strike and you can pretty much ride a bicycle
A Streetcar Named Desire central casting it rich, plus his rather diverse backsto- through it. So it’s quite a change.

CC Has the state driven you crazy a few McKinley Creek’s fast-rushing waters,
steep canyons and resident bears can
times and has it been an exhilarating make life difficult for Hurt and his crew.
place at the same time? “I’ve never been in more danger in my
DH I’ve done a lot of different things in entire life,” Hurt says of his most recent
season mining the stream near
my life and this is the one thing that I Skagway at the northern end of the
keep coming back to. Because it makes panhandle. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)
me feel great about myself. I love to work
hard – I’m a construction worker – so this
kind of combines all the things that I’ve
done in my past all into one, with an ad-
venture ahead of it. Every day you really
don’t know what you’re going to get. It is
dangerous; we try to mitigate everything
we can, but it does just make it exciting as
hell. Every day is kind of a new adventure.
CC When I talked to your dad last year,

he talked about what an amazing place
McKinley Creek was. Is that how you
see it?
DH I hiked through these (mining) claims
many years ago and I fell in love with the
difficulty of them. The place is trying to
shut you down every day. Every time I couraged enough to walk away or mo- tough times personally growing up
go to McKinley Creek it feels like there’s tivated to go back and try again. I can around New Orleans. Was there a turn-
something there trying to stop you from guess what you got from it. ing point for you that changed your life
being there. And it’s a fight to the finish. DH In my life I’ve found out that there are for the better?
To try to have the lowest impact and try two different types of people: People who DH The turning point. It’s been a gradual
to mitigate all the dangers is a daily goal. use failure as an excuse or who use fail- battle to figure out who I am. I was defi-
I don’t know; it’s just been one hell of an ure as inspiration. And I fall into the latter nitely raised in an area to where I could
adventure. It maxes out your creativity category. When something challenges have definitely gone the wrong way, and
every single day. me I really like to try to complete my task was headed that way for sure. But I got
– whatever that might be. To fail or win, I turned around somehow and it was a
CC During the last season of mining just want to do it the best I can. I’m not gradual exposure to literature and differ-
McKinley Creek, you and your crew had to proving it to anyone else but myself. I ent experiences; traveling; seeing my little
endure a landslide and subsequent flash need to know that I can do it. It’s some- world from an outside vantagepoint while
flood that damaged your mine site. How thing deep inside me that has to come out. stepping out and seeing different coun-
did you handle such a letdown in a project I don’t know how to begin any other way. tries. I forced myself to do these things
that surely sees a lot of highs and lows? to look inward and see what was actu-
DH It’s hard to explain what it feels like to CC Your dad told me that you had some ally happening in my life. It opened up a
spend months and months and months whole new world that I knew I had to have
doing just grueling hard work with just a piece of. I’m still expanding my knowl-
the most difficult uncertainty after push- edge of the world and looking at my tiny
ing forward, and then in an instant, it just life seeing how I can make it better.
all gets taken from you. From all the lift-
ing and the pulling, the countless hours, CC You probably had to be pretty tough
it kind of crushes your heart when you as a New Orleans native.
see it happen. It can be taken away in 20 DH I grew up with tough knuckles. I
seconds. It’s incredible to see and feel learned to fight at a very young age. I
it. I don’t know how else to explain it. It don’t like to fight as an adult and I won’t
would have to be like building a house do it. But what it did do was give me some
and just about to finish it and it starts to sort of drive to know that I did not want
burn down. It definitely pulls the heart “Dakota” Fred Hurt (right) and son to be a part of that world – the street hus-
from your chest. Dustin are close enough that they can tles and all those types of stuff that I grew
fight, bicker and disagree often but some- up around. New Orleans can be a pretty
how find a way to get along. “I don’t know
CC You can probably react to something that we communicate like normal people harsh place where I was. It did give me an
like that multiple ways, from being dis- do,” Dustin says. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL) outlook on life that a lot of people don’t

Water-View Cabin Repo Duplex & Studios Garden Estate
$180K - Coffman Cove $240K - Thorne Bay $350K - Harris River
Rustic Cabin on 12 Acres N-Side View Home R&R Lodge

$125K - Coffman Cove $370K - Ketchikan $265K - Harris River
View Cabin Hilltop Home (Two Unit) Waterfront Home & Garage
$130K - Kasaan $375K - Hollis $599K - Craig
Log Cabin in the Woods 8QÀQLVKHG:DWHUIURQW/RGJH Lots, all sizes & locations
$149K - Harris River $960K - Craig, Port St Nick $19K to $205K
Water-View Starter Float House & Shop Executive Retreat

$185K - Klawock $45K - Thorne Bay $425K - Harris River
BROKER,
PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND REALTY LLC
CELL 219-781-1825 | OFFICE & FAX 907-826-6600
EMAIL chucksrealestate@yahoo.com
www.alaskaislandrealty.com
Gold mining rarely follows any script, as Hurt (second from right) and his crew found out
last season, when a landslide and flash flood wiped out their claim. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)
get to see. I did grow up fighting and as need to get done, and faster than you you just have to prepare the best for them
an adult, I think I can look back and say it ever thought it could happen. and get out of the way when you can.
did make me as tough as nails. But now
I’d rather use my mind instead of my fist. CC How did you react over the last year CC Is it safe to say that your time in Alas-
That’s what I’m doing now. or so given that many places in California ka and gold has changed your life and
have been devastated by these blazes? your dad’s life?
CC Part of your life journey was spent in DH Well, I don’t want to come across as DH Well, I was on track after the fire crew
California fighting wildfires as a hotshot. insensitive in any way, but for me being to be a construction worker. It’s always
What was that experience like? born and raised on the outskirts of New my fallback to be a construction worker.
DH I moved to California when I was 24 Orleans, we flooded constantly. Almost And now that I’ve found adventure in the
years old and joined the hotshot crew and every year people would lose houses mountains and something I truly love to
fought fires for maybe four years in differ- by the hundreds. Finally a big hurricane do, it’s made me a different person. I have
ent areas. It was a perfect match because (2005’s Katrina) came through and al- to think out of the box constantly and I
I was used to the heat, being from New most wiped out the whole city. It’s just don’t just have to put my head down and
Orleans. Most of the people around me been a part of my natural life watching dig ditches. It’s attracted me to Alaska
couldn’t stand heat as well as I could. I natural disasters. With fires, I’ve seen in a way that I had no idea that I would
was accustomed to it. What they thought the destructive force of it and it can be love a place. Sometimes you just hate it
was really hot standing next to a fire with the equivalent of a real big hurricane. because of the weather, and the ice gets
a chainsaw, I was pretty comfortable. When I see it I can sympathize with the there way too fast. Sometimes the rain
With my fitness level at the time, that people, but I’ve become so accustomed doesn’t stop for months. Then when it’s
made me perfect for the job. I excelled to losing stuff – I’ve lost seven vehicles to beautiful out you just fall in love all over
for a couple years fighting wildland fires. floods as a young adult. again. It’s a love-hate relationship, and
It was some of the hardest work I’ve ever I can understand how it feels to lose Alaska’s been really good to me. I love it
done in my life. Every time I see one of all your things and people dying because here. I see it forever changing my world.
these fires I think about the work that it of these natural (disasters), and it’s hor-
takes to put them out by hand. It’s abso- rible. I’ve just become used to natural CC Can you share some experiences about
lutely incredible what a group of people forces destroying things. That may sound the wildlife there – specifically all the bear
can do with some hand tools and chain- harsh, but I just see it that way. It’s a hor- encounters you’ve had in Alaska?
saws in putting out a fire. It taught me rible thing but part of living on this earth, DH [Laughs] There have been a lot of bear
that with a good group of people, you as far as I’m concerned. I’ve never lived in encounters up there with us – some of
can almost get anything done that you a place that doesn’t have its dangers and them stranger than you can ever imagine.

Hurt
Hu rtt hhad
add a ttroubled
roububl
ble
led ch
led chil
childhood
hilldh
dhooood
oo d
g ow
gr
growing
owiin ing up p in
in tough-as-nails
to
oug gh-
h asas-n-nnai
ails
ls
New Orleans,
New Orle
Or leean
ans,s b
s, but
ut hhee rre
realized
eal
aliiz
ized
th
that
hat he he was
was on a d
wa downward
o nwar
ow nw war
ard d
sp
spiral
pir
iral
iral
a before
bef
efor
oree he left
or lef
eftt to ttravel
raave
vell
and fin
an
and find d some
s me purpose
so pur
urpo
p see iin
po n
his life,
his liife
fe,
e, in
including
nclud din
ing fig
ing fighting
ght
htining
in g
wildfires
wild
wi dfirfi ese iin California.
n Ca alilifo
forn
fo rnia
rn iaa.
(DIISCO
(DI
(DISCOVERY
SCOVER
VERY
VERYCCHANNEL)
HAN
AN
NNEL
N )
NE
“I have to think out of the

box constantly and I don’t
just have to put my head
down and dig ditches,” Hurt
says of his new life as a gold
miner. “It’s attracted me to
Alaska in a way that I had
no idea that I would love a
place.” (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)
Sometimes we’ll get these juvenile back, roll around, climb a tree and they’ll
bears that are just bullies. And they just want you to come and play. Then they’ll
won’t take no for answer. And my crew bluff charge you again.
and I were against shooting the bears, so You’ll just look at this bear and say,
we haven’t harmed any. But man, has it “What are you doing?” And you realize
come close? Bluff charging and some- that it doesn’t know if you’re a young
times they want to take over an area. bear because it’s never seen a human
You almost have to hit him with a stick before. And this bear wants to play and
or a rock or something to get them to then wants to challenge you, and then it
respond at all. We’re not going to shoot doesn’t know what to do. It’s not afraid
them unless we absolutely have to. of you; it’s just confused about what you
But there have been a few times are. You’re just an upright, skinny pink
where I wish the film crew was around bear to them. And they want to play and
for some of these instances. Because then they want to fight.
we get bears that don’t know that you’re Thankfully we’ve never had to hurt
not a bear. They’ll run into you on a trail a bear, but they get ornery, especial-
and they’re really young bears by them- ly when the berries aren’t out and they
selves. And they want to test you, so want to come into your house or your
they’ll bluff charge you, they’ll stop, run tent. They just won’t take no for answer.

Sometimes you have to put up the little
electric fences to stop them.
CC Tell me about your relationship with

your dad. On camera you guys seem to
live for arguing and bickering with each
other. But is that relationship also stron-
ger because of it all?
DH Well, every season is a surprise for
Fred and I. I worked for him for nine or 10
years when I was younger and he taught
me quite a lot of stuff. I got a lot of my
construction skills from him. We fought
tooth and nail back when I was just a
young dumb fella.
Now we even fight worse sometimes.
I often start every season wondering if
we’re going to be friends at the end of that
season. But we keep working together be-
cause we see value in each other’s minds.
Because even though he has some crazy
ideas, one in 20 of those ideas is brilliant
and I’d never be able come up with it. It
works perfectly. But those other 19 ideas
can be absolutely ludicrous.
I think he enjoys fighting with me to
a point and I (do) too, just a bit. I don’t
know that we communicate like normal
people do. There’s no one on Earth I
would communicate like that to and still
be able to stay around him. So some-
CLOSEST SEAPORT how we have this way of communicating

that’s understood that we’re gonna be a
TO PORTLAND, OR!
little rude to each other. That’s just how
it’s going to be, and we both accept that.
We’re not offended and one year we’ll
come away and swear we’re never going
to talk to each other again, and the very
next season we’re best friends. It’s just
the weirdest situation ever.
CC Without giving much away, what can

viewers expect from the Dakota Boys
this season on Gold Rush: White Water?
DH I’ve never been in more danger in
my entire life. My hair’s gotten a little
bit grayer from it. Some of the scariest
things I’ve ever done – and I’ve done a
lot of crazy stuff. If I go past that, I’m not
The Port of Garibaldi encompasses three coastal
sure I’m going to survive to make anoth-
towns, including Bay City, Garibaldi and Rockaway er season. ASJ
Beach. Besides housing RV parks and lodging,
restaurants, seafood processing, a lumber mill, and
commercial and charter fishing, the Port’s harbor
has moorage for 277 vessels. The Port’s property Editor’s note: New episodes of Gold Rush:
also features the Lion’s Club Lumbermen’s Park and an antique
train display. A walking path is also a popular draw for locals as
White Water air on Friday nights on the
well as visitors to Garibaldi. Discovery Channel (check local listings).
Follow us for updates! For more on the show, check out discovery.
www.portofgaribaldi.org | 503-322-3292 com/tv-shows/gold-rush-white-water.

MAXXUM MARINE
Built for Adventure!
Thunder Jet, Boulton, Fish-Rite
With our factory-trained

technicians for Yamaha,
Suzuki, Mercury, Tohatsu
and Honda motors, we
can handle any project
from electronic installs to
complete boat and
motor overhauls.
Need a new motor for your current boat? Best prices around on Repowers!
MAXXUM MARINE Toll Free 877-4-Maxxum

1700 Hwy 99 N, Eugene, OR (877-462-9986)
NEW LARGER LOCATION! Local 541-686-3572
YEAR OF SALMON
EFFORT RESEARCHES
STOCKS’ STRUGGLES
NEW GLOBAL PROJECT ASPIRES TO STUDY FISH IN ALASKA AND BEYOND
BY MARY CATHARINE MARTIN Experts from around the world will come together in 2019 to do exten-
sive research on salmon as part of the International Year of the Salmon.
2
(JASON CHING/INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SALMON PHOTO CONTEST)
018 was a mixed year for Alaska
salmon.
Bristol Bay saw its biggest run
on record when 62.3 million sockeye re-
turned to the bay. Other Alaska runs, in
contrast – the lowest number of sockeye
returned to the Chignik River since state-
hood in 1959 – were disastrous.
In 2019, however, salmon in Chignik
and Bristol Bay will have something in
common – not only with each other but
with populations across the Northern
Hemisphere. This will be the Internation-
al Year of the Salmon, when researchers
around the world will be collaborating to
help solve shared problems.
POND TO POND SALMON STRUGGLES

Atlantic salmon were once just as abun-
dant as Alaskan salmon were during
their healthiest periods. Roman sol-
diers invading Britain wrote home about
feeding the army with vast quantities of
salmon fighting their way up the Thames
River, which flows through London.
On the East Coast of the United
States, salmon were once taken for
granted as a food source and used to Saunders, International Year of the Salm- A GROWING MOVEMENT
fertilize fields. The plight of salmon in on director for the North Pacific Region. It has now grown into an effort to en-
the Lower 48’s Pacific Northwest – their In the 1990s, Saunders says, salmon sure the “resilience of both salmon and
historically impressive populations were populations in very different parts of the people” in a changing climate. In one of
damaged due to dams blocking fish pas- world began to change “at an almost ex- the first research efforts under IYS, more
sage, overharvesting, development and ponential rate.” Fewer were coming back than a dozen scientists from every coun-
other human-created problems – is an- from the ocean. Those that did were try participating in NPAFC, or the North
other familiar story. coming back smaller. Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
But whether their populations are A now-retired Canadian scientist, Dr. (Japan, Korea, Russia, the United States
healthy compared to historic levels or Dick Beamish, suggested the Interna- and Canada) will be on board the ship
not, Pacific and Atlantic salmon now tional Year of the Salmon, or IYS, should the Professor Kaganovsky from mid-Feb-
share many of the same threats and are promote research on how ocean condi- ruary to mid-March. They’ll do trawl sur-
displaying the same trends, says Mark tions are contributing to those changes. veys of surface-level fish in “a checker-

The Russian research vessel Professor as to test for 46 pathogens. They’ll also
Kaganovsky will host scientists from the be noting the salmon’s overall physical
United States, Canada, Russia, Japan and health and measuring ocean conditions
Korea for a high seas survey in the Gulf of
Alaska from mid-February to mid-March. by taking plankton surveys and testing
(PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FISHERIES CENTER) temperature at depth.
SEEKING FUTURE ANSWERS

The overall hope is to figure out what’s
going on in the high seas in the winter – a
critical time in a salmon’s life.
By 2021, they hope to expand the
surveys beyond the Gulf of Alaska to in-
clude the entire North Pacific, Saunders
says.
“The salmon can teach the clima-
tologists and ecologists a lot. What the
salmon are telling us can really help us
understand what is changing out there in
the open ocean,” he says.
board” of around 40 stations in the Gulf Scientists will keep some salmon to The North Atlantic Salmon Conser-
of Alaska, Saunders says. collect their otoliths, ear bones which, vation Organization (NASCO), which
Some fish will be funneled into an like tree rings, carry information about includes Canada, the United States, Rus-
aquarium-like tank, allowing all five spe- a fish’s life history. Otoliths can be used sia, Norway, the Kingdom of Denmark’s
cies of salmon to come on board in good to determine the age of a salmon and Faroe Islands and Greenland, and the Eu-
condition to be tagged and released. where it has been in the ocean during ropean Union, is an equally central part
Special satellite tags will help scientists different stages of its life. Scientists will of IYS.
track the migration routes of salmon use the latest genomics technology to “If we’re not collaborating, we’re
while they’re feeding in the open ocean. figure out salmon’s natal streams as well missing an opportunity to find the an-

aks
aaksp
ak
kksp
sport
poorti
ort
rti
rrt
tingj
ng
ngjo
n gjjou
urna
r al.l.c
rna l.co
l.co
..cco
.com
com | FEBRUARY
FEB
FEBR
EB
EBR
EB
BRRU
UA
UARY
UAR
ARY
A Y 2019
201
20
201
019 ALASKA
ALA
AL
A LASSKA
LA SK
KA
A SPORTING
SPOR
SP ORT
O RT
RTING
IN
NG JJO
NG JOURNAL
OU
URN
RN
NAAL
L 31
31
Dignitaries of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission member countries gathered during the launch of the
International Year of the Salmon, held last October in Vancouver, British Columbia. (INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SALMON)
swers much more efficiently,” Saunders “We can’t solve it all in four or five not thousands, of populations that are
says. One of the main goals is to encour- years, but our institutions and people experiencing these changes differently.
age scientists, governments and organi- can be connected,” he says. “The clues A lot of 2019 is about bringing people to-
zations to share data. lie in comparisons across hundreds, if gether to work on setting the conditions

Mark Saunders, the director for the North Pacific Region for IYS addressed for resilience for both salmon and peo-
the crowd at the Vancouver event and hopes the connections among so
many fisheries’ experts will help solve a lot salmon mysteries. “If we’re not ple. I liken it to an intelligence network.”
collaborating, we’re missing an opportunity to find the answers much more A central part of that intelligence net-
efficiently,” he says. (INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SALMON) work is indigenous knowledge in Russia,
Alaska and Canada. So is looking at how
climate change and its effect on salmon
will impact people.
“Sometime in the next 10 years, At-
lantic and Pacific salmon are going to
meet in the mid-polar region,” Saunders
says. “What does that mean to people?
What does it mean, culturally, as these
distributions change?”
Saunders suggests those interested
in getting involved with IYS go to the
website, yearofthesalmon.org. People
can also alert IYS about local salmon-re-
lated events, knowledge and studies.
“There’s something in it at every level
if you’re interested in sustaining salm-
on,” Saunders says. ASJ
Editor’s note: Mary Catharine Martin is the

communications director of SalmonState,
a nonprofit initiative that works to ensure
Alaska remains a place wild salmon thrive.
For more information on their work, go to
salmonstate.org.
COFFMAN COVE BEAR’S DEN Prince of Wales Island, Alaska SELF-GUIDED
(907) 329-2327 (BEAR) (518) 705-2862

info@coffmancovesbearsden.com COFFMANCOVESBEARSDEN.COM
OUTDOOR
CALENDAR Residents can hunt
caribou bulls this month
in Game Management
Unit 23 (Kotzebue).
(ZAK RICHTER/NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE)
Feb. 1 Spring resident bull caribou hunting season opens in

Game Management Unit 23 (Kotzebue)
Feb. 2 Yukon Quest sled dog race begins, Fairbanks;
yukonquest.com
Feb. 1 5 Draw, Tier I, Tier II, and Community Subsistence
Harvest results expected to be available online at
adfg.alaska.com
Feb. Alaska Hunting Expo and Sportsman’s Banquet,
22-23 Dena’ina Center, Anchorage; aksafariclub.org
Mar. 1 Spring bison hunting season opens in GMU 19
(McGrath)
Mar. 2 Expected start of Iditarod sled dog race; iditarod.com
Mar. 15 Spring brown bear hunting season begins in GMU 1
(Southeast Mainland)
Mar. 15 Resident spring brown bear hunting in GMU 3
(Petersburg-Wrangell)
Mar. 15 Spring brown bear hunting opens in GMU 4
(Admiralty-Baranof-Chichagof Islands)
Mar. 24 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament;
homerwinterking.com
2019 OUTDOORS SPORTS SHOWS

Feb. Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show, Expo Center,
6-10 Portland; otshows.com
Feb. 28- The Idaho Sportsman Show, Expo Idaho, Boise;
Mar. 3 idahosportsmanshow.com
Mar. International Sportsmen’s Expo, Mountain America
14-17 Expo Center, Salt Lake City; sportsexpos.com
Mar. Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show, Menard Center,
22-24 Wasilla; chinookshows.com
Apr. Great Alaska Sportsman Show, Sullivan and Ben
4-7 Boeke Arenas, Anchorage; greatalaskasportsman
show.com
Apr. Fairbanks Outdoor Show, Carlson Center, Fairbanks;
24-26 carlson-center.com/outdoor-show

THE PERFECT DESTINATION
FOR YOUR ALASKAN ADVENTURE
WELCOME TO THE YAKUTAT LODGE
One of Alaska’s finest world-class fishing

destinations, we offer affordable vacations
where you can tailor a trip to your “taste and
budget.” Easy access, with daily jet service
right to the lodge door, river and ocean
guides, a full-service restaurant and cocktail
lounge, and comfortable yet rustic to
downright fancy lodging accommodations in
rooms or cabins, at our airport facility, or on
the bay.
We also have a tackle shop, gift shop, and sell

¿VKLQJOLFHQVHVDVZHOODVDUUDQJHYHKLFOH
rentals. Let our staff welcome you home, and
our professional and experienced guides and
captains “Share Alaska with you!”
THIS IS WORLD-CLASS FISHING, AS

GOOD AS IT GETS!
STEELHEAD | SOCKEYE | PINK SALMON

SILVER SALMON | DOLLY VARDEN
RAINBOW TROUT | HALIBUT | KING SALMON
LINGCOD | PACIFIC ROCKFISH
1-800-925-8828
yakutatlodge.com
A KODIAK LOVE STORY
U S.
U.
U.S.
S CCoast
oaast
s GGuard
uaard
d yyeoman
e maan As
eo Ashl
Ashley
hley
hley WWallace
alla
al
lla
lace
ce aand
nddh her
er h
husband
ussba
band dBBranson
raans
nson
on aare
on ree
sstationed
stat
sttat
a io
ione
ned
ne d at
a BBase
a e Ko
as K
Kodiak
diakk aand
di nd
d tthey
hey ta
hey
he take
ake
k aadvantage
dvan
dvan
dv anta
taage
ge ooff tth
the
he is
island’s
sla
landd’s h
hunting
unti
un t ng
ti g
and fis
and
an fishing
shi
h ng
gwwhen
hen
hen no
n
not
ot on d duty.
uty.
ut
ty.
y. (PETTY
(PE
PETTY
TTY
Y OFFICER
OFFIC
OF FICER
FICER
R FIR
FIRST
IR
RST CLASS
CLA ASS ASHLEY
ASHLEY
ASH Y WALLACE)
W LLA
WA LLACE)
COAST GUARD WIFE AND HUSBAND CHERISH THE OUTDOOR

OPPORTUNITIES WHILE STATIONED IN ALASKA
BY PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS LAUREN DEAN
F
or Petty Officer First Class Ashley culture and lifestyle. They went camping
Wallace, a Coast Guard yeoman, almost every weekend, and often this in-
occasionally her blue uniform is cluded hunting and fishing.
hung in the closet and replaced with Hunting has been in Wallace’s blood
camouflage, zero-degree thermals and since those days, and it all began with
hunting boots. her father’s steady guidance, she says.
On weekends, she and her husband, “My dad used to take me hunting started.”
Petty Officer First Class yeoman Branson with him and I’d go to what he called Wallace also mentioned that this ex-
Wallace, layer up, pack their rifles, emer- ‘man camp,’” Wallace says with a smile. perience was invaluable for her unfore-
gency signaling devices and a surplus of “It was awesome. I got to go to man seen life in Kodiak, where her dreams of
food and clothing. They like to escape camp and hang out with a bunch of re- Alaskan adventure came to life.
the daily grind while experiencing some tired chiefs. My father was an active-du-
of the world’s best hunting and fishing ty Coast Guard chief damage control- WALLACE SAYS SHE WENT from shooting
opportunities on Alaska’s Kodiak Island. man at the time and his two best friends milk jugs with her first shotgun, a .410
Wallace says when she was a child were both recently retired Navy chiefs.” gifted to her by her father, to shooting
growing up in a military family in Chey- “It was very neat to be a female in a bow and arrow at targets when she
enne, Wyoming, her father made every that world, and to be accepted. I feel like picked up archery in high school. This
effort to immerse the family in the local that’s where my love of wildlife really was the first place she learned to shoot a

W lll ac
Wa
Wallace
acee gr
g
grew
eww upup in
in B the
By the
he time
tim
ime Ashley
Ashl
Ashl
As hley
e aand
ey nddB Branson
raans
nsonon
on
Cheyenne,
Ch heyyen
e nee, Wy
W
Wyoming,
omiin
om ing,
g weree assigned
we
were ass
ssiig
igne
nedd to
to d duty
uty at B
ut Base
asee Ko
as K
Ko--
where
wher
wher
wh eree sh
shee jo
joined
oined dh her
er
er diak
di
diak,
ak,, they
th
hey began
beg
egan
ann tteaching
each
chi
hin
ing at
ing a No North
rtth
dad,
dad,
da who
d, w was
ho w
ho ass aalso
lso in
lso
ls in Star
S ar
St ar Elementary
Eleement a y school,
ntar scho
sc ol, where
hool w er
wh eree sh
shee
the
thhe Coast
Cooas Guard,
astt Gu
Guara d,
ar d oonn taught
taug
ta h students
ught stu
tude
dent ts archery,
nts arch
ar e yy,, a ssport
cher
her p rt
po r
many
many outdoor
ma out
utd
tdo
door
dooror aadven-
dven
dven
dv en- she
she learned
leear
arnen d early
ne earl
ea rlyy in
nhher
er C
er Coast
oaastt
tures.
turees.
tu s (ASHLEY
(AS
(AS
ASHLE
HLEY
HLE Y WALL
W
WALLACE)
ALLACE
AL
ALL AC ) Guard
Guar
Gu a d ca
ar ccareer.
areeer
er. (ASHLEY
(ASHLE
(AS
ASHLE
HLEYY WALLACE)
WALL
WALL
ALLACE
AL ACE)
AC
compound bow. of lined me up for hunting.” “My husband and I got orders to
“I’ve been an archer since high school,” She says she went to Traverse City Kodiak in 2013 and knew nothing about
Wallace says. “When I first came into the for her first tour in the Coast Guard, left Kodiak, but we were so excited,” Wal-
Coast Guard, I was in an archery league in for specialized schooling for her job as a lace says.
Traverse City, Michigan. I was one of the yeoman, met Branson and then traveled “We started helping teach at North
only females in the league and that kind on to New Orleans and Texas. Star Elementary where they were intro-
•Complimentary Breakfast •Airport Shuttle

•Restaurant & Lounge •Barber Shop
•Fitness Center •Laundromat
•High Speed Internet •Business Center
•Cable TV/Free HBO
•In-Room Microwave & Refrigerator
www.valdezharborinn.com
907-835-3434
888-222-3440 - Toll Free Reservations
100 North Harbor Drive, Valdez, Alaska 99686-0468

HARVESTING FOR A GREAT CAUSE ducing the National Archery School pro-
gram in town,” says Wallace. “It’s been
part of the Alaska school curriculum
As part of several charitable activities or extracurricular activities since 2013,
they are involved in, the Wallaces will
donate fish from their freezer when where they teach kids how to shoot
they don’t catch enough salmon and compound bows. It was a very cool ex-
rockfish with the veterans they take out perience to see them fall in love with ar-
on their boat. (ASHLEY WALLACE)
chery at such a young age, like I did.”
From there, Wallace says she and her
husband got into fishing. But, after the
thrill of fishing, it wasn’t long before it
gave Wallace an itch to begin hunting,
since hunting from a boat is common in
parts of Alaska.
“I wanted to spread my wings a little
bit, so Branson and I bought a boat,” says
Wallace.
“I think it’s important that they [wom-
en] see that you can be the girl that puts
on makeup and dresses up, and then all
of a sudden you’ve got war paint on, and
you’re in camo, and guttin’ something
and haulin’ meat out.”
From there, they branched out to fox
F
or Petty Officer First Class Ashley calling, which entails a lot of thought be-
Wallace and her husband, Petty cause foxes are very intelligent animals,
Officer First Class Branson Wal- often cautious and simultaneously curi-
lace, being stationed at U.S. Coast Guard ous. With some beginner’s luck, she got
Base Kodiak not only means they can get a silver fox on her first hunt.
their hunting and fishing fix on the island Ashley and Branson also got into bea-
but also eat and share the wild fish and ver trapping.
game with others. “I think it’s really important to note
“Branson and I love living off of the the importance of beaver trapping,”
meat/fish we harvest and we love shar- Wallace says. “They wreak havoc on the
ing our passion with other members,” Giving back to those organizations ecosystem. They block off the stream so
Ashley says. “We started canning and and helping fellow servicemen and – salmon can’t get upstream.”
have given both canned and vacu- women is important to both Ashley and She noted that she and her husband
um-sealed fish to several of our co-work- Branson. are completely against using foothold
ers who aren’t able to get out.” “We take military veterans out on traps because they think the traps are in-
The Wallaces’ send their fish and our boat fishing and teach them how to humane, and they also make every effort
some game for canning to Indian Valley fly fish on the rivers. We also donate a to use what they harvest.
Harvesting in Anchorage and brought box of fish for the Wounded Warriors in
back some delicious protein-packed Action veterans every year when they WHEN SHE’S NOT TRAPPING, Wallace seizes
treats from their previous hunts. come up,” she says. “Every veteran who unique opportunities for special hunts.
“We had deer bacon, caribou beef gets underway with us takes home all “I just went on two of the most in-
sticks and goat jerky made with our har- the fish we’ve harvested for the day. If credible hunts I’ve ever had in my entire
vests this year,” Ashley says. “We will use we don’t catch anything that day, or get life,” she says. “I can check those off my
them on our upcoming Dall sheep hunt.” too little to fill a 50-pound, box then we bucket list.”
Ashley and Branson are involved with top it off from our personal freezer.” One was a rigorous mountain goat
several veterans groups that help intro- And some of their USCG colleagues hunt, where they had to battle sketchy
duce the outdoors to those who have also get to be a part of their Alaskan ad- terrain, extremely high elevation, sheer
served in the armed forces, including ventures. cliffs and the world-renowned Kodiak
Project Healing Waters (projecthealing- “We enjoy taking our coworkers brown bears.
waters.org), the Wounded Warrior Proj- out hunting and teaching them,” Ash- “Planning ahead is super important,”
ect (woundedwarriorproject.org) and ley says. “We just took (Branson’s) Wallace says. “You constantly have to be
the Wounded Warriors in Action Foun- co-worker out deer hunting, and he har- ‘bear-aware.’ You’ve got to know about
dation (wwiaf.org). vested his first deer here in Kodiak!” ASJ the weather change, that the floatplane

Base Kodiak Island has been a great jumping-off point
for a wide variety of fishing, hunting and even trapping
opportunities for the Wallaces. (ASHLEY WALLACE)

6ZLQJIRUNLQJVZLWKXV
NEW tent camp

located on the
world famous
Nushagak River,
premium location
in tidewater for
Please inquire about access to our main tent lodge
chrome kings, on the Alagnak River for even more options from
“glamping” at our home base, in its 26th season.
LWV¿QHVW June 18 – July 4
6 guests max with durations of 3-7 days
Access to our main lodge location and world class Alagnak River via a 20 minute float plane ride
In addition to the best king salmon run, we have the some of the finest trout and grayling fishing available
We specialize in fly fishing for kings as well as utilizing conventional tackle
www.AnglersAlibi.com | John@AnglersAlibi.com | 561.222.9416

Ashley
A
As shl
hley
ey iiss gl
g
glad
lad
d tthat
hat att a young
ha you
oung g aage
ge sshe
ge he mount in the woods, but there are some
a co
ac
accompanied
omp pan
a ieiedd he
herr dad
dad on m
da multiple
ullti
tipl
p e hu
pl hunt
hunts
ntss
nt
a what
at whahat wa was kn
was kknown
nowwn as “man
“maan ca camp.”
amp p.” big benefits of hunting that tie back into
“IIt wa
“It w
wasas ve
veryy n
very neat
eaat to b
be
e a fe
fema
female
maale iin n ththat
hat
a wildlife conservation.
worl
wo
world,
rld,
d, and
d, and d to
to bee aaccepted.
c ep
cceptte
ted.
tedd. I ffeel
eel lilike
ee ike
ke “The majority of the money that
th
that’s
hata ’ss where
wheheree m
here myy lo
love
ove o
off wi
w
wildlife
ild
dlilife
fe rreally
eallllly
ea
star
st
started.”
a te
ar ted.
ted.d ” (ASHLEY
(ASHLE
(AS
ASHLE
H YW WALL
WALLACE)
ALLACE
ALLAC )
hunters pay for tags, for guns, for bullets
– a portion of that money actually goes
back to wildlife conservation,” Wallace
says. “It’s important that people realize
there is a purpose to it.”
It takes a lot of work, experience,
safety and skill to hunt safely, so she
is extremely grateful to have a spouse
who loves to hunt as much as she does.
Wallace says she couldn’t do it without
Branson and she also really appreciates
the native influence on the island, the
creativity of the people here and the
blending of cultures.
“You fly out to this island and you
forget all the problems of the Lower 48,”
Wallace says. “I feel at peace in Kodiak.
I’ve never felt so much a part of a com-
munity as I have here.” ASJ
may not be able to get in to get you back camp. We also carry a Delorme, which
out. We always pack an extra bag, a dry is a Garmin product that has a built-in Editor’s note: For more on U.S. Coast Guard
bag with another set of clothes, an ex- map, and we can text on it too, which is Base Kodiak, go to dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Or-
tra coat and extra food for at least two pretty great.” ganization/Director-of-Operational-Logis-
or three days, and we leave that at base For Wallace, hunter safety is para- tics-DOL/Bases/Base-Kodiak.
When they were assigned duty on Kodiak, Ashley and Branson weren’t quite
sure what to expect. But they love it. “I feel at peace in Kodiak,” she says. “I’ve
never felt so much a part of a community as I have here.” (ASHLEY WALLACE)

Taking You Where Tires Can’t Go!
100% Made in USA

• Great For Use on Ice or Snow
• Easy Bolt-On Install
• Nearly Maintenance Free
• Satisfaction Guaranteed
00
Save $3 re
e fo
Order B 019
Feb. 28, 2
AmericanTrackTruck.com 1-800-900-0995
Choose quality
Alaskan-made gear
when planning your
next adventure.
GUN SCABBARD
waterproof gun bag.
ATTENTION ASJ READERS:

MENTION THIS AD FOR A FREE CARRY STRAP
WITH PURCHASE OF THE GUN SCABBARD
Shop nomaralaska.com to see all the

gear we make for outdoor adventures.
Homer, Alaska • 1-800-478-8364 • nomaralaska.com
TO GUIDE OR
NOT TO GUIDE
A LONGTIME ALASKAN SPORTSMAN PONDERS WHAT IF
BY PAUL D. ATKINS and have you guide me for a moose or a looking into becoming one, but spending
bear sometime.” I just smiled. three years as an apprentice guide and
I
ran into an old friend the other day I get asked about guiding all the time also trying to be a schoolteacher wouldn’t
while I was visiting back home in and I guess it makes sense. Hunting and have worked out too well.
Oklahoma. After the usual long-time- fishing consume most of my free time, I imagine guiding would have been
no-see greetings, he asked me, “Are you and the fact that I’m a hunter who writes fun – up until the time you get the one
still guiding up there?” and is in the “business,” people naturally client who nobody can please. That’s
“No,” I said, “never was.” think that it’s what I do. Sometimes I wish probably where it would end with me.
He looked at me funny. “But what that I was a guide, even though those days You know the guy – the one who com-
about all the animals you kill?” are long gone. If I could go back, maybe it plains about everything from the food
“Most of them were DIY-type hunts would have unfolded that way. There was to the weather. Nothing you can do will
and just for me,” I told him. a time when I first arrived in Alaska that ever please him. God forbid if he doesn’t
“Well, I sure wish I could come there it did cross my mind. I remember even kill animal! I’ve been in camps where this
Being able to spot and stalk and help a

friend get his first blacktail in remote
Alaska is something Paul Atkins (right)
wishes all could share. It even has him
wondering if, with all his years of hunting
and fishing in Alaska, he could have been
a guide given his prowess and knowl-
edge of the outdoors. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

Dall sheep represent one of Alaska's toughest hunts, so Atkins has great respect for guides who
can somehow get hunters on the ram of a lifetime. It’s hard work, but if the client and the hunter
are in sync and the hunt proves to be a success, it’s an incredible experience. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
happens and it isn’t pretty to watch. via the internet, I’ve wondered about hard work you’re destined to match wits.
I do tip my hat to those guys who do the future of hunting. It’s been tough to There is nothing better if you’re a hunter.
take it on, though. It’s hard, laborious watch, but here lately I’m starting to see There are basically two types of hunts
work that requires grit, patience and hu- a change and it’s a good one. that a person can participate in, either
mility, plus the ability to bite your tongue People are getting back to the basics guided or unguided. Even though each
when something is said or directed in and pleasure of hunting and not worrying offers a different path, it doesn’t really
your direction. about what others think and the number matter which you choose; it’s still hunt-
Going guided versus unguided is an of clicks they can get on Facebook or In- ing and in my opinion the quality of any
easy choice for some and not so much stagram. I hope it continues. hunt is what you get from it.
for others. Living here has made it easy These days I like to see others suc-
for me. Being able to venture out and do TO ME THERE IS nothing better than the ceed and share the joy of what transpires
the things that I like to do, hunt the in- beginning of a hunt. Nothing. The antic- on their adventure. Hunting with good
credible species we have here and then ipation of what is to come and what can friends and seeing them make a stalk
write about it makes me very lucky in- happen is almost as good as Christmas. with me following behind or in front and
deed. It’s not something I take for grant- You have all the gear you hopefully then finally pulling the trigger and mak-
ed. Having to only please myself has need, your bow or rifle is dead on, and ing a good clean kill is special.
served me well. you’ve researched and found the per- The high fives and the sheer joy while
In this era of social media, with its fect spot to set up camp. You know that taking photos and then the Herculean
seemingly never-ending need for “likes” somewhere out there is the animal of task of getting the animal back to where
and people trying to become “famous” your dreams, and with a little luck and you came from are all memories shared

by each in the group. I think this is what
it would feel like to be a guide, or I hope
so anyway.
I have been asked many times,
“Which is better: being guided or doing
it yourself?” That is easy to answer for
some of us, but for others it might not be
as clear. There are a ton of factors you
have to consider.
I have been lucky enough to take
most of my animals with a bow or rifle
on DIY hunts, with most all having tak-
en place with good friends. There is a
certain satisfaction in doing it this way.
For some of us it is the only option, es-
pecially when all of your effort combined
with a little luck comes together and the
result is an animal you’ve been dreaming
of for years. Nothing is more satisfying
for everyone involved.
Guided hunts also provide that same
satisfaction. A hunter still has to be out
there trudging up and down mountains
or crossing rivers trying to find what
they’re looking for. The anticipation is
the same and the physical effort isn’t
any different.
But the big difference is that these
Hunting with friends for caribou (Jerry Banta) and muskox (Lew Pagel) bulls make hunts are conducted by an outfitter or a
for satisfying memories. “These days I like to see others succeed and share in safari company and you’ll have a guide.
their joy from what transpires on the adventure,” Atkins writes. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
You basically are paying them for their
services in which all the pre-work has
been done for you.
They’ve scouted for you, hung stands,
placed blinds and hopefully know what
the animals are doing before you get there.
In addition – but not always – they will pro-
vide food and accommodations. You ba-
sically are paying for their expertise, land
access and the use of their equipment.
Yet not all guided hunts are created
equal. You’re relying on the guide’s knowl-
edge and the more research you do about
an outfitter, the better off you’ll be.
One of the best hunts I have ever
been on was for mountain lion a few
years ago in Arizona. The guide was
renowned around the world for getting
hunters their lion.
Due to a freak blizzard I had to go
back a second time, but we got it done.
The thing I remember the most was how
happy my guide felt and the pure joy he
showed me once the cat was down. That
is something I would like to think I would
have felt if I was a guide.
Being a fishing guide is the same, mi-

GO GREEN
PLASTIC
MODERN RIMFIRE PARTS SPECIALIST
We at DIP designed a Picatinny Scope mount for the TIKKA T1X in both our
Z[HUKHYKHUK46(JVUÄN\YH[PVU(SZVH]HPSHISLHYLYLWSHJLTLU[IVS[
OHUKSLZ^P[OHKKP[PVUHSHJJLZZVYPLZMVY[OL;022(;?JVTPUNZVVU
ORDER DESK: 208-660-9974

www.diproductsinc.com
chance at bagging an animal or catching
a fish that otherwise they would never
be able to do.
It has been fun and to tell you the
truth, I have enjoyed each one of those
trips, even though I ended up usually do-
ing a lot of the “guide” work. However, the
best camps were those where my friends
jumped right in there and helped as much
as they could. Those really stick out in my
mind and have all made great stories.
I have also been on a lot of guided
hunts, where I paid the outfitter for his
or her experience and a chance to take
whichever species we were looking for
or could hunt. I have to say that I have
never had a bad one and each time they
gave everything to help make it happen.
Most times we were successful,
while in a few others we weren’t. But
even when we didn’t score, we had fun
and the hunt was enjoyable. Memo-
ries are all we have anyway, so some of
those hunts when we came home emp-
ty-handed actually have ended up as
These days Atkins’ “guiding” tends to involve hunting with family and friends, espe-
cially with his son Eli. “They have become my best moments,” he says. (PAUL D. ATKINS) some of my favorites.
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, you truly enjoy seeing

nus having to be an indentured servant fully leave your clients happy, satisfied new country and hunting in places that
for three years. Here recently my good and with an experience that they will you’ve never been. Being in the Arctic all
friend and hunting/fishing partner Lew carry with them forever. That’s one these years and living in a place that is
Pagel and I have ventured into the guid- must-have for all guides. about the size of Indiana, I get to see a
ed fishing business – ice fishing, that is. lot of those. But Alaska is much bigger
Is it easier than hunting? Yes, I would OVER THE YEARS I’VE had a lot of friends and being able to venture to other parts
say so, but you still have to follow the come north to hunt with me. Each was always provides the awe of being some-
same rules, provide a service and hope- looking for the “Alaska experience” and a where else too. I’ve written about that
Whether you go guided or not, bush and floatplanes are the best ways to get to some
of North America’s most remote, wild and beautiful places and the adventure they
offer – and back again. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

many times, and for some hunters that's
all they need.
So to sum it up, I’m guessing that
being a guide, whether it’s in Alaska or
elsewhere, is something you set out to
do when you’re young. I don’t know for
sure, but it makes more sense.
I’m too old now; the mountains, hills
and deep tundra are a lot tougher to nav-
igate these days. Even though the knowl-
edge is there, the ability may not be.
I look toward the new year, and like
usual, I have many adventures planned.
Most would be considered unguided
hunts with good friends. I like it that way.
There’s less pressure to get it done and
it's more about the experience of sharing.
It can be hanging out in camp or helping
pack meat back to the plane or the boat.
Yes, I would have liked to try the
guide life, as it would have been fun if
not lucrative. But not so much now. I’ll
leave that to the young guys coming
up and the old professionals who have
it down to a science. May they provide
adventure and hopefully make dreams
come true for those who seek adventure
outside. ASJ
Paul Atkins is an outdoor writer and author

from Kotzebue, Alaska. He has written hun- The author and a friend have become ice fishing
dreds of articles on big game hunting, and guides targeting the Kotzebue area's plentiful
fishing throughout North America and Africa, sheefish, and while Atkins says it's easier than
being a hunting guide, client happiness is still key,
plus surviving in the Arctic. Paul is a monthly he notes. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
contributor to Alaska Sporting Journal.
Atkins
A
Atki
Attki
k ns calls
cal
alls
ls this
thi
h s hi
hiss “m
“mixed
mix
ixed
ed b bag”
ag”” of
ag of ffriends,
rien
riien
e ds
ds, gu
ds, g
guysys w
who
ho ccame
a e fr
am from
rom d different
iff
ffer
ffer
eren
entt
en
paart
rtss of tthe
parts he ccountry
oun
ou ntryy tto
ntry
nt o se
see hi
see him
m an
aand
d ha ang
hang gooutu o
ut n th
on he tu
the und dra
tundra. ra.. So iin
n ma
m any
many
w
wa y , he’s
ys
ways, hee’ss b een
ee
beenn a gu
g ide al
id
guide all al
all aalong
alon
lon
ongg du
duriring
duringinggh iss ttime
his ime in
ime
im in A laask
skaaa.. (PAUL
Alaska. (PA
(PA
AUL
UL D.
D AT
ATKINS
ATK
ATKINS)
INS))
INS

&XPEHUODQG·V
Northwest Trappers Supply, Inc.
&XPEHUODQG·V1RUWKZHVW7UDSSHUV6XSSO\LV\RXURQHVWRSWUDSSLQJ
VXSSO\KHDGTXDUWHUVIHDWXULQJRQHRIWKHODUJHVWLQYHQWRULHVLQWKH
86:HDUHIDFWRU\GLUHFWGLVWULEXWRUVRQDOOEUDQGVRIWUDSVDQG
HTXLSPHQWZKLFKDOORZVXVWRRIIHUFRPSHWLWLYHSULFHV*LYHXVDWU\
2XUIDVWIULHQGO\VHUYLFHZLOONHHS\RXFRPLQJEDFN
2YHU<HDUV2I6HUYLFH7R7KH
7UDS )XU,QGXVWU\
:HDUHWKHQHZKRPHRI
5HTXHVW$&DWDORJ2U3ODFH$Q2UGHU ´7UDSSHUV+LGH7DQQLQJ
%\3KRQH0DLO2U2Q2XU:HEVLWH )RUPXODµLQWKH
EULJKWRUDQJHERWWOH
,I\RXJHWLQWKHDUHDYLVLWRXUVWRUH 5HWDLO GHDOHU
LQTXLULHVDUHZHOFRPH
32%R[2ZDWRQQD0LQQHVRWD

WUDSSHU#QZWUDSSHUVFRPZZZQZWUDSSHUVFRP
Hair On and Leather Tanning • Taxidermy
Englewood, Colorado • (303) 293-2882 • www.rockymountaintanners.com

KENAI PENINSULA
SOLDOTNA
KENAI COOPER 2
5 LANDING
6 SOLDOTNA 7 3
HOMER 4
8 SEWARD
1
HOMER
KEY
1. Alaska Adventure Cabins
www.alaskaadventurecabins.com
Located in the Heart of Soldotna,, Alaska 2. Alaska Canoe & Campground

on the World Famous Kenai River! www.alaskacanoetrips.com
*Kenai Riverfront Suites
*Full kitchens, 2 bedrooms
*Jacuzzi Suite 3. Alaska’s Fish Catcher
*Private River access for Fishing www.alaskafishcatcher.com
*Open year round
kenairiversuites@gmail.com
4. The Fish House
www.kenairiversuites.com | (907)262-1992
www.thefishhouse.net
5. Kenai Airport Hotel

www.kenaiairporthotels.com
6. Kenai River Suites

www.kenairiversuites.com
7. King Salmondeaux Lodge

www.kingsalmondeauxlodge.com
• Kenai Riverfront Cabins • Bank Fishing
• Over 700 ft. of River Frontage 8. Nomar
www.nomaralaska.com
907-260-FISH (3474)
kingsalmondeaux33126@gmail.com
www.kingsalmondeauxlodge.com

.HANDY.SHARP.
. . .
TOOL & KNIFE SHARPENERS with FIRE STARTER
New Product announcement!
Survival Sharp-N-Fire
Five features built into one easy-to-carry product:
• Whistle (loud & piercing) • Straight carbide sharpening piece
• V-shaped carbide sharpening slot • Ferrocerium rod (strikes
against carbide producing massive sparks) • Small compartment
Ful
Full
u l Size
z Sh
Sharp
arp N Spark
Minii Shar
Min harp
p N Spark
Han
aandy Sha
Sh rp L g Handle
Lon
Mi i
Min
((“P
Poke
ker Chip
hip”)
hi ”))
Handy
Ha
Hand Sha
dy Sh rp
p Rec
Rectan
ngle
“Never a dull moment”

handysharp.com
(208) 446-4519

Pistol Bullets and Ammunition
Zero Bullet Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1188
ZER Cullman, AL 35056

Tel: 256-739-1606
Fax: 256-739-4683
Toll Free: 800-545-9376
www.zerobullets.com

FIELD
KEEPING WITH
TRADITION
SNOWSHOE HARE PROVIDE FOOD, SMALL GAME HUNTING
EXPERIENCE AND EVEN FAMILY RITES OF PASSAGE
BY SCOTT HAUGEN
H
unting small game is how many of
us cut our teeth in the outdoors.
After all, when it comes to
Alaska there are some pretty big ex-
tremes in the size of animals being
hunted and the physical demands re-
quired for success.
Enter snowshoe hares, which are
abundant in much of the state and the
perfect game on which to build hunting
skills.
WHEN I LIVED AND taught school in the

remote Arctic village of Anaktuvuk
Pass, the elders taught me how to make
snares from the sinew of caribou. They
took me out and showed me how and
where to set the snares in the willows.
We searched for fresh hare sign
such as droppings, tracks, trails and
places where the hares had been eating
the bark off willow branches. The bigger
the willow patches, the more hares they
seemed to hold.
As snow levels rose and fell, you
could clearly see where the hares had
stripped the willow bark. In late spring,
when the snow melted for good, bark
was often stripped 10 feet or higher
from the willows, marking the deepest
snow level of winter.
I set only a handful of sinew snares.
In the old days, the people of the vil-
lage would set hundreds of snares.
In addition to snowshoe hares, they
caught willow ptarmigan.
The people of Anaktuvuk Pass were
nomadic and followed the caribou herds Author Scott Haugen hoists a pair of snowshoe hares taken
as their primary source of food. But near Kotzebue. These are fun animals to hunt – no matter what
your level of experience – and great eating. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

FIELD
TAKE CARE OF
YOUR HARE
Just like caribou, moose and other
Alaskan big game, the best part of a
snowshoe hare is its delicious backstrap,
which Tiffany Haugen likes to let simmer
in a slow cooker until the meat is tender.
(TIFFANY HAUGEN)
BY TIFFANY HAUGEN
S
nowshoe hare is a fantastic, low- care not to damage these delicate cuts. Don’t crowd your pan; if you need
fat, high-protein game animal that to do this in two batches you will have
is available to hunt year-round. Two to four snowshoe hare backstraps a better caramelization on the meat.
There are no bag limits throughout most 2 tablespoons soy sauce Once meat is browned, add it all to the
of the hares’ range in Alaska. 2 tablespoons gochujang or chili sauce pan as well as the remaining marinade.
Not only are they versatile to cook 2 tablespoons honey Stir-fry two to three more minutes or
with but also easy to butcher and prepare. 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil until hare reaches medium doneness. It
Hare is mild tasting and can be cooked up Two or three cloves garlic, pureed is not recommended to eat hare meat
as you would free-range chicken or up- 2 teaspoons fresh minced or grated ginger rare or medium rare.
land game birds. ½ teaspoon black pepper Try serving it with or without rice in
They are very lean, so be sure to use 1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil for frying large lettuce leaves.
a quality oil when frying and keep them Fresh basil and/or cilantro for garnish
moist if slow cooking. The legs, thighs, Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany
backs and ribs cook up nicely in a slow In a medium bowl, mix soy sauce, Haugen’s best-selling cookbook, Cooking
cooker or pressure cooker. But as with big goghujang, honey, oil, garlic, ginger and Big Game, send a check for $20 (free S&H)
game, the backstrap of the hare is consid- black pepper until thoroughly combined. to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Wal-
ered the finest eating. Slice hare backstrap into bite-sized piec- terville, OR 97489, or order online at scot-
In order to optimize the flavor of your es across the grain. Marinate hare in soy thaugen.com. Follow
hare meat, take proper care of it. Be sauce mixture 20 minutes at room tem- Tiffany on Instagram,
careful not to handle it too roughly, as perature or refrigerate overnight. Facebook and Twitter.
the meat can bruise. Clean all meat of If hare has been refrigerated, bring to Watch for her on the
bloodshot and trim any wound channels. room temperature about 20 minutes pri- online series Cook With
Quickly cooling the meat will also help or to cooking. Heat olive or coconut oil in Cabela’s, The Sporting
enhance its quality. Quarters are easy to a large skillet on medium-high heat. Stir- Chef TV show, and The
remove, as are the backstraps; just take fry hare until browned on all sides. Hunt on Amazon Prime.

Get a legendary chain saw
for under $300
HAINES
Canal Marine Co.
10 Front St
(907) 766-2437
www.canalmarinecompany.com
JOIN US.
All prices are DSRP. Available at participating dealers while supplies last. © 2018 STIHL

FIELD
when they settled in the present-day
village site amid the towering peaks of
the Brooks Range, the men continued to
chase caribou.
Sometimes they would be gone
for weeks, if not months. The women
and children who were left behind to
await the return of the hunters had no
way of knowing when or if the hunters
would make it home. They didn’t know
if they’d bring any meat back to the vil-
lage either.
So snaring hares and ptarmigan be-
came a life-saving responsibility for the
women and children of the village. The
elders who taught me to snare were the
very children who 60 years earlier kept
the people of the village alive.
Today, many youths in villages
throughout remote Alaska hunt snow-
shoe hares. Not only is it a food source
– it’s admittedly not as vital as it was
decades ago – but it’s a right of pas-
sage that helps build hunting skills, and
Anaktuvuk Pass is proof positive of this
grand tradition.
HUNTING SNOWSHOE HARES REQUIRES

first spotting them, and this is done by
locating animal sign this time of year.
Snowshoe hares are white as snow in
the winter, so finding them with the na-
ked eye is very challenging.
Once hares are located, hunters
must connect on the shot. Be it with a
rimfire or shotgun, it’s not always easy
getting within range or hitting the mark. Fresh snowshoe hare tracks atop the snow give
Using shooting sticks when hunting hunters a solid starting point. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
in the snow helps achieve a solid rest,
which greatly helps with shot accuracy. world of big game hunting, and Alaska’s shoe hares out of Kotzebue, something
This winter, taking a kid hunting abundance of snowshoe hares makes I had not done in years. It was a blast,
should start by targeting snowshoe them a quarry worthy of pursuit. and I can’t wait to do it again soon. ASJ
hares. Even if there’s an adult you know Snowshoe hares are excellent eating.
who wants to learn how to hunt big They can be cooked multiple ways. Due Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott
game, snowshoe hares are the perfect to their thin skin, if the entrails have been Haugen’s best-selling book, Hunting The
training ground for all ages. Heck, even ruptured by the shot, quickly remove Alaskan High Arctic, visit scotthaugen.
veterans can have fun hunting hares. them. This will optimize the quality of com. Scott is the hoswt of The Hunt on
The skills acquired through hunting the meat, thus its flavor, once cooked. Amazon Prime. Follow him on Facebook,
small game naturally transition into the Last winter I hunted Alaska’s snow- Instagram and Twitter.

Nomar, a Homer-based company, offers outdoor gear and apparel
that can handle the toughest Alaska conditions. (NOMAR)
THEY’VE GOT YOU

COVERED
BUSINESS NAME Nomar
LOCATION Homer, Alaska
CONTACT INFO nomaralaska.com; (800) 478-8364
A
laska Sporting Journal Tell us a little about how stove in it and camped all over Alaska in
Nomar got started and how it got its name. it. We bought it, drove it to Homer and
Founder Kate Mitchell The business started in Ket- the town thought we were just an-
chikan in 1976 and it was named Mitchell's Boat Tops. We were other (group of) hippies in an
in an area with 12,000 people, 6,000 boats and it rained 200 old school bus. The bus was
inches a year! We were stationed there with the Coast Guard. parked at a small storage yard.
We owned a boat and it needed canvas. Slowly it became a When we didn't leave with the
business and there were certainly enough people there who cold winds of fall we slowly
needed a cover to keep the rain off. got a little sewing done. The
In 1978 the Coast Guard moved us to Homer, where there next year, we moved into a
were not many sport boats, but lots of commercial boats. The dirt floor Quonset hut there
fishermen needed a better way to hold and move the salmon at the storage yard.
they were netting. Because I owned a commercial sewing ma-
chine and knew how to sew, they came with an idea for a bag ASJ You take a lot of pride in
that would gently hold the salmon without marking the skin, then being an Alaskan compa-
quickly pick out of the hold to deliver a bag that No-Marka the ny. What does that mean
fish. (It) became the Nomar brailer bag, and that became the to you?
company name. It was the large Alaskan commercial fishing fleet KM We’re creating a
that boosted us out on a one-machine-in-a-school-bus kind of product that so many
business and into manufacturing. Slowly, the town found us. Alaskans needed for their fishing
businesses. They were able to get
ASJ You literally did work out of that bus in the early days. There a higher price for their salmon in our Nomar brailer, which in turn
must be some great stories about that. helped my Alaska business. I am proud to be a part of improving
KM We were a new Coast Guard family in town. Small commu- the quality of the salmon going to market.
nities are suspect of new people and no one would rent me a ga- The Nomar brailer is built so well that they use this bag
rage or small building to get started. We found the bus on the sale year after year to deliver their catch and make their living.
lot in Anchorage. Five airmen had stripped it out, put a pot-bellied Your product becomes a family friend almost – something
that they count on.
When we were not building prod-
ucts for the commercial fisheries there
was time to listen to other Alaskans
who love the outdoors. They gave us
ideas for products they wished they
owned but no one was making. We con-
tinued to expand our offerings. First, it
was to keep our well-trained employees
with us full time year-round. Second was This
Thiis
Th is school
sch
hoo
ooll bus
bus became
bu becaame the
beca
be the
he company’s
com
ompa paanyy’ss
p
to have unique, high-quality items that first
fi st
firs workspace
wor
orks
kspa
kspa
ksp cee in
in its
itts early
eaarl
rlyy days.
days
days.
s. (NOMAR)
(NO
NOMAR
NO MAR))
MAR
people would own for years. These items ASJ It looks like you, your husband – ASJ Is there anything new that you're
became trusted friends too! “head fisherman and fixer of things” planning for 2019 that you'd like to
We did not send these ideas over- Ben Mitchell – and a lot of your employ- share about Nomar?
seas to be produced. We hunkered in, ees love the outdoors as well. Can you KM Our two kids, who grew up living
accepted smaller profits but employed share some of your favorite fishing/out- and working in the business, are buy-
Alaskans and helped build a community. door memories? ing the business and taking it forward.
BM We came to Alaska in 1970 as young The marketing and website seem
ASJ What are some of your most popular people with a boat. We were on every to set a 40-year established busi-
items that you sell? beach within 50 miles of Ketchikan. We ness on a path to success, with the
KM Of course, our commercial fishing fished and hunted when it seemed like same high-quality, well-made items
items continue to be important. The there would be no end to the resources that serve the Alaskan outdoorsman
outdoor items that are our best sellers of Alaska. Ben has been on many great and visitors who want to buy quality
include the waterproof gun scabbard, hunting trips to Nome and Kodiak. As items, then get outside and enjoy the
the Seatarp duffels and gear bags, Po- old timers we love to troll for king salm- adventure. ASJ
lartec Windbloc jackets and pants. We on year-round here in Kachemak Bay.
have really warm clothing for Alaskan And we’ll drag a line on the bottom for Editor’s note: Like Nomar at facebook.
weather conditions. a halibut once in a while com/nomaralaska.
TRUCK CAMPERS / TOY HAULERS / TRAVEL TRAILERS / 5TH WHEELS

CUSTOMER FRIENDLY PRICING!
1-5 Exit 36 • Kelso, WA www.UNEEKRV.com

Right on the Freeway – Right on the Price
800-248-6335
Hand & Forearm Protection
that prevents nearly any injury!!
®
• Protects Hands, Wrists, and Forearms while

keeping fingers fully exposed
• Prevents “Bruising” and Protects “Thin Skin”
• Prevents Cuts, Scratches, Abrasions, and Burns
• Provides “Adjustable” Warmth & Air-Flow
- Bow & Gun Hunting - Mechanic Work

- Wrist Support for Fishing - Tree Service & Logging
- Clearing Brush 100s of Uses - Gardening & Landscaping
- Sheet Metal Workers Here’s just a few! - All Construction Work
- Many Industrial Uses - Farmers & Ranchers
- Wood & Metal Fabricators - Vet & Animal Control
www.Armchaps.com 651-492-4830
TAKE GLASSING
TO A NEW LEVEL
You can’t hunt what you can’t find. While optics can be way out
of your price range, make sure you spend enough to get a good
pair of glasses to help your success rate. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
74
7 4 ALASKA
AL
ALA
ALLA
ASK
SKA
SKA
KA SPORTING
SSP
POOR
RT
RTIN
ING
NG JO
JOURNAL
OURN
UR
UR
RN
NAL
L FEBRUARY
FEBR
FEB
EB
BRUARY
RUARY
ARY 2019
A 20 9 | aksportingjournal.com
201
20 a spor
ak p rtting
tin
ti
in
in
ing
ng
gjour
jou
ou
our
o urrnal.
u nal
na
alll..cco
aal. com
om
om
BY PAUL D. ATKINS
ILLUSTRATION BY
JOSEPH FRUEAUF
D
“ o you see a bull in the
gel asked me
herd?” Lew Pagel
while I peered through my
binoculars.
“No, not yet,” I said.
I was trying to focuss with the thhe
temperature at minus 30 and snow w
blowing in my face. Even more so, itt
nguish thee
was hard trying to distinguish
tiny dots peppered on the moun moun- n-
tainside a mile or more awayway from u I
us.
knew it was time to break out the sp
spot--
pot-
ting scope.
Being able to see while ile hunting g iss
the key to success on any adventure. uree. Gear Guy PauPaul prefers
ul Atkins pre
efe binoculars
f rs bin
noc
ocullars in a 10-pow-
magnification.
er magnificati They
ion T allow
h y allo
he ample
ow am
ampl
p e clarity and good
pl
Having good glass, whether it’s a good light in a variety of situations. These made by Leica
set of binoculars or spotting scope, or are among his favorites. The built-in rangefinder
both, plays a major part in that success. makes them even better. (LEICA)
It’s the difference between “Should we
venture over there and have a closer
look” and “Man, that’s a great bull; let’s
make a plan and go after him!” Swarovski
Deciding on what glass to buy usu- spotting scopes
are among the best on
ally has a lot to do with the environ- the market. They come in
ment you’re hunting in or what your a variety of powers and
quarry may be. If you’re hunting sheep can be purchased either
with an angled or straight eye-
compared to maybe deer, it can be piece, depending on what you are most
considerably different, but in the end, it comfortable with. (SWAROVSKI)
doesn’t really matter. You still need to
be able to see.
It took me years, but eventually I
saved up to buy the best optics I could
afford. I personally like the Leica brand
and Swarovski, and each has served
me well over the years. These are high
heap,
end, meaning the price tag isn’t cheap,
but they worked well and allowed d me
to see in some of the harshest shest envi-
e
ronments. However, there are several sevveral
really good brands out there re that can
c
be had and won’t cost you u an arm m
and a leg.
Still, the saying “you get et what
what Vortex
V
Voort
rtex
e h
ex has become very
you pay for” has never been een truer
trueer popular
p
poopu
pu with hunters
than when it comes to choosingosing op ptics.
optics. ever
ev
everywhere.
e
er For the
co
cost,
ost the quality you
There are a lot of factors or decis sions
decisions g
ge
gett is solid. Leupold is
you’ll have to make before you buy y, but
buy, a ho
h
household
usse
use name, and
a rule of thumb is to get the he best you tthey
hey aare
re kknown
n for quality,
pl
p
plus
lus tthey
heyy ccome in a variety
he
can afford. ASJ of o
of objectives
bjec
bj ecti
ecti
tive
vee and power ar-
rangements.
raang
ngeemmen nts
t . (V
(VORTEX/LEUPOLD)
Editor’s note: Follow Paul Atkins
kins on Twit-
T
ter (@AKtrophyhunter).
ak
aaks
aksp
ksp
ksp
sp o
ort
or
orti
rttiingjo
rt
rti ing
ngj
ngjo
n gjo
gj
g jjo
ourn
urn
ur
urna
rna
naal.c
n ll.co
.co
.c
cco
om | F
FEBR
FEB
FEBRUARY
EB
EBR
EBRUARY
BRRUAR
UARY
UA
UA
ARY
ARR 2019
20
201
2 01
019 ALASKA
AL
ALA
A LASK
LASSKA
KA
KA SP
SSPORTING
PORT
OR
OR
RT
TIING
IN
NG
NG JO
JOURNAL
OUUR
URN
RN
NAL
A 75
THE MEN OF STEEL
FATHERS AND SONS AND A LIFETIME OF STEELHEAD FISHING
BY TONY ENSALACO
I
could have grown up normal. I could with a creature that may or may not be that didn’t involve sleep deprivation,
have been like most teenagers by within 100 miles of my location. twisted ankles, hard falls on a slippery
staying out late on weekends – I could have grown up rational. I trail, periodical baptisms in 36-degree
chasing girls and stirring up trouble. should have learned to embrace warm river water, and dismissing early signs
Instead, I went to bed early so I could summer days instead of despising of hypothermia.
wake up at some ungodly hour in the them. While other people were bask- I could have grown up accepting
middle of the night and voluntarily leave ing in the sun, I was secretly wishing myself as an angler rather than having
the sanctuary of my warm cozy bed. It for fall to arrive sooner than later and a deep desire to become a steelheader.
was all done just so I could secure a de- wanting the inclement weather to be One of the many differences between
cent hole on an ice-cold stream before as harsh as possible. the two species is that a fisherman will
daybreak. My intent was to pick a fight I could have easily chosen a sport select his time on the water wisely, and
From the time he was a Midwestern teenager, author

Tony Ensalaco was more interested in chrome-bright
steelhead than hanging out with school buddies. The
migrating sea trout so prevalent in coastal Alaska rivers
have been inspiring him ever since. (TONY ENSALACO)

Memories of Midwest fishing: Above: Tony’s father Bob with a beauty from Wisconsin’s
Sheboygan River and caught in 1988; Upper right: Father and son with a couple of steel-
head; Lower right: 14-year-old Tony and his coho caught at a warm-water plant discharge
in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1982. (TONY ENSALACO)
he will know when to say when if the known to do. And if you happen to dis-
conditions become unfavorable. He agree or take offense to any of these
understands that there will be better statements, then you, my friend, are not
days in the future. familiar with the world of steelheading.
But steelheaders let it rip. They will What I failed to mention in that sto-
assault a stream like it is their last day ry is how someone discovers steelhead
on earth. Then, after going fishless for 10 fishing. That’s an interesting conversa-
hours without taking a break, they will tion that will result in a wide variety
have to decide if it’s really worth sticking of answers, depending on which river
around until dark, which is usually an- rat you ask. Some come from a back-
swered with a “Hell yeah” attitude. ground of steelhead fishing in their shortly thereafter.
In the January 2019 issue of Alaska bloodlines and will have been exposed It’s amazing how violent head
Sporting Journal, I discussed how the to the sport at a young age. shakes and 5-foot aerial displays just
behavior of steelheaders – even the Although growing up around experi- before you get your ass handed to you
most intelligent ones – will change from enced steelheaders will definitely help result in a life-changing event. This
their everyday demeanor by allowing shave time off of the learning curve, type of brief encounter has caused
their cognitive thinking to become con- having the pedigree alone doesn’t guar- more than one person to veer off the
sumed with visions of gray ghosts hold- antee that they will have the desire. I righteous path of life in favor of the
ing in the current within casting range. have known guys who come from steel- twisted and sadistic angling subculture
They allow their normal thought head royalty and who have tried it, but known as steelheading.
process to become severely dimin- they decided that all of the misery and
ished. Translation: When steelhead madness wasn’t for them. SO, WHAT’S MY BACKSTORY? It can be
fishing penetrates their souls, even The fact is that most steelheaders summed up in two words: Bob Ensal-
the smartest dudes will do some out- happen to be like myself – guys who aco. That’s my father, and it’s his fault
rageous s%$# when pursuing fresh have made the transformation after that I got into fishing in the first place
chrome, and they will exhibit the com- spending years fishing for other spe- and later became an addicted steel-
mon sense of a billy goat in heat. cies. It doesn’t take someone long to head junkie. He tried it, so I tried it.
I shared some of the quirky traits convert once they connect with their What was I supposed to do, not emu-
and an assortment of offbeat antics first ocean-bright steelie and experi- late my hero? In his defense, he did the
that steelhead enthusiasts have been ence all of the mayhem that ensues best that he could and I don’t think he

could have predicted how it was going It was brutal and it was miserable,
to turn out. but you know what? I survived. To be
It all started when I was very young, fair, he never forced me to go. I vol-
when my dad wouldn’t hesitate to in- unteered, fully knowing what I was
clude me on most of his outings. They getting myself into. My dad refused
were mostly day trips, but there were to coddle me like some fathers often
a couple of overnighters as well. I re- do with their children, and he made it
member those days being long, and a point to treat me like a small adult
when the fish stopped biting, which when we were fishing, which I attribute
always seemed to happen, it became to my development.
very boring. It’s because he gave me the oppor-
There was nothing for me to do tunity to figure things out for myself
– other than fish, of course. There and allowed me to learn from my mis-
weren’t video games or other electron- takes. He hoped that I’d learn disci-
ics back then to keep me occupied, so pline and build a strong sense of forti-
I learned the virtue of having patience tude, which I still use to my advantage
sooner than any young man should. every time I step into a stream. My dad
All of the modern rules of childcare, didn’t know it then, but he was already
along with the proper way to introduce laying down the foundation for my fu-
a 6-year-old to fishing, were obliterated ture obsession with steelhead.
in one afternoon’s worth of bass fishing.
He also would take me night fishing in IF I HAD TO DEFINE my father, I would say
the fall for walleyes in Wisconsin – that he is a complex individual. He’s a
close to our home in Chicago – and to psychologist by trade and a fishing fa-
this day, I have never felt colder. natic when at play. People who know
him would describe him as a cerebral,
Tony’s (left) and Bob’s trips to the Situk down-to-earth man who would never
and other Alaska rivers put them in steel- let his emotions interfere with making
head paradise. (TONY ENSALACO)
a wise decision.
He subscribes to the philosophy of
measuring twice, contemplating cut-
ting and then measuring it again – just
in case. But even though his person-
ality makes him look before he leaps,
there have been times when he didn’t
let sound judgement get in the way of
a good fishing trip. Here is one of the
many things that he’s done that I am
still questioning to this day.
When I was 7 years old, my dad
purchased a used, 12-foot aluminum
jonboat to go along with his Shake-
speare Wonder Troll 606 trolling mo-
tor. It was an ideal set-up for fishing
some of the small Midwestern lakes
and ponds that were near our home.
The only problem was that we didn’t
have enough money to buy a marine
battery to power the electric motor.
My dad wasn’t going to let a minor de-
tail like that to keep us off the water.
To compensate for the lack of juice, he
would disconnect the car battery from
the same vehicle that we came in, and
used it to run the motor all day.
I might have only been in the second
grade, but I knew the consequences if

Bob
B
Bo b En
Ensa
Ensalaco,
salla
sa laco
c , a Ch Chicago
hic
icag
icaggo
psyc
ps
psychologist,
y ho
yc holo
logi
g st
st,
t, iss aalso
lso some-
lso
ls some
some
so me--
th
thing
hinng of
o a steelhead-ol-
ste
teel
teel
elhe
head
he ad-o
d-ool-
ogis
ogi
og
ogist
ist himself,
hims
himsselelf,
f a ttrait
f, raait
it h
hee
pass
pa
passed
sseddo on
n to T Tony
o y an
on and d
some
so
something
meth
me thin
th
hin
ng ththey
hey ccontinue
onti
on t nu
ti ue
to
o sshare.
haree. (TONY
ha (TO
(T
TOONY
NY ENSALACO)
ENSALA
ENS ALA
LA
ACO)
C )
there wasn’t enough wallop left in the learning curve, but when you live on the bag’s construction. It only took one
battery to turn over the car’s engine. the outskirts of Chicago, finding any drift to instantly turn it into a milky
Can you picture what it must have been material pertaining to river fishing for white glob of snot.
like to see my father under the hood, steelhead was hard to come by. When I tried using them the follow-
reconnecting the clamps to the bat- Nothing came easy for us. We tried ing weekend, another fisherman saw
tery terminals while his adolescent son to tie flies, but our thread was too what I was using. “What the hell do
stood there, shaking his head in disbe- light, so it would break before we could you have dangling on the end your line,
lief with a disgruntled look on his young finish tying the fly. We attempted to son?” he asked me.
face? Who does that? I’ll tell you who build our own rods without the prop- When I sheepishly told him that it
does: future steelhead anglers. er equipment, and that was a debacle. was a “spawn sac,” he immediately
The equipment we owned was com- laughed and called his partner to come
IT WASN’T UNTIL YEARS later that my pletely wrong. Our rods were too light, over and investigate my strange con-
father and I decided to try our luck at the line was too weak and the hooks coction. I was so embarrassed that I
steelhead fishing. Our early attempts were too small for most of the places decided to cast spoons for the rest of
could by summed up in two words: we fished. the day.
train and wreck! I didn’t own waders, so my feet The difficulties we experienced
We made so many mistakes that were always soaked when I fished. I should have been enough for us to
could have been easily avoided – if only can remember the first time my dad hock our meager supply of fishing gear
we had had some guidance. The world and I took on the modest task of tying and use the money to purchase a cou-
is different now than it was back when spawn sacs. We had to resort to using ple sets of golf clubs.
we were learning how to fish for steel- previously frozen untreated salmon But then it eventually got better. We
head. skein and tying material purchased met anglers who were more advanced,
The internet did not exist, so we from a local bait shop. The mesh was and they became a tremendous asset
weren’t able to refer to YouTube to so rigid that it felt like it had the same to us. They were able to answer most
help guide us through the simple pro- properties as Kevlar. of our questions, and they were willing
cedures that I now find ridiculously Because the skein was uncured, we to share some of the tricks and tactics
easy. We tried to find literature that needed to start with 15 to 20 eggs just they had learned.
would help navigate us through the so four or five of them would survive We were finally making small im-

FOR INSTANCE, I WAS recently intro-
duced to one of my firm’s clients, who
somehow found out I’d just returned
from a steelhead trip to Alaska. With-
in seconds of meeting him, he told me
that he also was a devout steelheader,
and a darn good one at that.
This immediately captured my at-
tention, because what chrome junkie
wouldn’t want to take a break from
his job to swap stories with a fellow
metalheader? He began the conversa-
tion by showing me several pictures of
his most notable conquests, including
shots of a couple of steelies that ap-
peared to be in the 16– to 18-pound
class. I was beyond captivated.
It’s not an everyday occurrence that I
have another river lunatic sitting across
the desk from me. And then the bottom
fell out. He told me that he has been
going out with the same guide, twice a
year since 2000-and-something.
Fair enough, I’ve hired guides in the
past to extract information, and I don’t
feel that my status as a competent steel-
“I own more sets of waders than I have pairs of dress pants. What hasn’t changed over header should be tarnished because
time is my passion for steelheading,” Tony Ensalaco writes. (TONY ENSALACO) I reached out for some help. But then
he completely lost me for good when
provements on every outing. We went It wasn’t easy persevering through he started describing his “adventures,”
from catching one steelhead every few all of the trials and tribulations that I which included being served hot meals
trips to landing a fish or two every time underwent when learning to unlock the by the guide in the boat’s heated cab-
out to ultimately experiencing multiple secrets of the elusive steelhead. But in while his choice of music was being
hookups each day while bringing sev- after nearly four decades, things have piped in via satellite radio.
eral fish to the beach. changed for the better. He actually used the word “toasty”
The fishing was good back then – off- I used to walk the streambanks for when he talked about the boat’s ame-
the-charts good – which helped compen- hours with wet, frozen feet. Now, I am nities, and boasted that the only time
sate for our inexperience. It finally felt that able to stay dry because I have the right he needed to wear his winter coat was
we could swing a bat in the big leagues. gear and do the majority of my fishing when it was his turn to go outside to
Of course, we still got hit by a pitch once from a boat. I have accumulated a for- fight a fish. That was the last thing I re-
in a while. But even when we stumbled, est of graphite rods that lets me select member. The rest of his drivel remind-
we were able to get back on track. the correct one for any situation that ed me of when Charlie Brown’s teacher
The success we were enjoying en- the fish gods can throw at me. was speaking to the class: “Waaaa,
couraged us to expand our horizons to And to my wife’s dismay, I own waaaa, waaaa, waaaa.”
different states and eventually brought more sets of waders than I have pairs Finally, he excused himself, saying
us to the Last Frontier. of dress pants. What hasn’t changed that steelheaders should stick togeth-
over time is my passion for steelheader and we’ll probably see each other on
STEELHEAD FISHING IN ALASKA felt like ing. Although the mystique isn’t quite the river someday. Yeah, right!
an unobtainable pipe dream when I the same as it once was when I first I didn’t show my true feelings at
was growing up because I thought it started, I still maintain a deep respect the time, but I was infuriated. This guy
was too expensive, that it was only for this magnificent creature. I would actually believed that he had the right
for the most hard-core anglers. I could never have felt that way if it weren’t for to classify himself as a serious steel-
have never imagined that someday an all of the pitfalls that I was forced to header because he reeled in a few fish
annual spring steelhead pilgrimage endure. So forgive me if I take offense – when it was his turn.
would become a normal part of my when I feel genuine steelheaders are He thought that just because he
fishing regimen. being disrespected. went out periodically and sat in a tem-

perature-controlled floating box while
wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt – which
was probably purchased at an all-in-
clusive resort in Cabo San Lucas – and
chowing down on a made-to-order
omelet waiting for a rod to bury that
he was steelheading.
If that qualifies him to classify himself
as a steelheader, then I can legitimate-
ly call myself a mountain climber every
time I have to step over dog poop left in
my front yard whenever the neighbor’s
German shepherd leaves a deposit.
Damn, how dare that guy think that
he deserves the entitlement without
paying his dues like the rest of my steel-
header brethren had to do? Did he ever
experience what it was like to struggle
to regain his footing on moss-covered
rocks in midstream while his legs were
completely numb?
I’m sure he’ll never know what it’s
like to feel the excruciating pain that
a person suffers when he becomes
impaled by devil’s club or the stinging
sensation from frostbite after his fin-
gers become exposed in the cold for
too long. There is no chance that he will
ever walk through a pitch-black forest
two hours before dawn, attempting to
race other fishermen to “the sacred
spot.” And then praying to the heavens
that there isn’t a mama grizzly bear
bedding down with her cubs along the
trail. This poser will never be one of us!
But then, as my mental dustup be-
gan to settle, I started to feel sorry for
him. That man truly believes that he’s
crushing it, but we all know the truth.
He doesn’t get it and probably never
will. He’ll never know what it’s like to
stalk, hook and land a wild steelhead all
on his own, plus feel the overwhelming
sense of accomplishment that follows.
He’ll never truly appreciate that it
took thousands of years of evolution to
create this magnificent creature, and
how rapidly it can all be taken away with
a few bad environmental decisions. He
will never experience the jubilation
that overcomes someone when they’re
about to release one of God’s perfect
specimens to continue its journey up-
stream so it can complete its mission.
He doesn’t get it, but authentic steel-
headers like my dad and me do. ASJ

HOMER
EVENT FIT
FOR KINGS
MARCH SALMON TOURNAMENT OFFERS
MASSIVE PRIZE MONEY
Local angler Charlie Edwards won the 2018 Homer Winter King Salmon Tour-
nament with a 24-pound, 6-ounce Chinook, taking home over $56,000 in prize
money. The 2019 event is March 23. (JIM LAVRAKAS/FAR NORTH PHOTOGRAPHY)
M
ark your calendar, get your anglers take to the waters of Kachemak Edwards’ fish was also best in the
boat ready, buy your fishing Bay in search of king salmon that could white king salmon category as part of
license and new salmon tack- win them some great cash prizes. the overall competition.
le and prepare to fish in one of Alaska’s The one-day tournament awards His total winnings, including the side
largest fishing competitions. tens of thousands of dollars in prize bets that are a big tradition with this
The Homer Chamber of Commerce money for the largest kings caught. tournament, totaled $56,902.50.
and Visitor Center will host its 26th an- In 2018, Charlie Edwards of nearby The total payouts in 2018 included
nual Winter King Salmon Tournament Fritz Creek caught the tournament win- $160,000 in cash and prizes
on March 23. ner, a 24-pound, 6-ounce Chinook while For this year's derby there have been
This is considered the premier fishing fishing with Capt. Daniel Donich on his substantial efforts towards king salmon
tournament in the state and every year boat, the Optimist. conservation.
The tournament committee and Ho-
mer Chamber of Commerce directors
are committed to the long-term sus-
tainability of the winter king fishery, and
the chamber would like to say a special
thank you to the anglers this year who
have supported the tournament’s con-
servation efforts by harvesting one fish.
Prizes will be offered every hour of
the 2019 tournament.
After the fishing lines are pulled
from the water, join the festivities at the
weigh-in located at Coal Point on the
Homer Spit (4306 Homer Spit Road).
For more information, contact Deb-
bie Speakman, executive director for the
Homer Chamber of Commerce (907-
235-7740; exdir@homeralaska.org).
You can also go to homeralaska.
org/winter-king-salmon-tournament
Edwards (left) joins the other two anglers who finished in the top three for 2018. Jerry
Huff finished second with a 20.95-pounder caught on the Olyjohn and Janet Donnell and facebook.com/HomerWinterKing-
was third with a 20.75 caught on the Drag N Bait. (JIM LAVRAKAS/FAR NORTH PHOTOGRAPHY) SalmonTournament. ASJ

TRAVEL ALASKA
Barrow/Utqiaġvik
Nome
Fairbanks
Bethel
Anchorage
1
Kenai Valdez
Dillingham
KEY
Juneau
1. Alaska Family Motorhome Rentals
Sitka 5737 Old Seward Hwy
Anchorage, AK 99518
Ketchikan
(907) 223-9351
alaskafamilymotorhomes.net
There’s a Tohatsu outboard

that fits your needs.
4 Strokes 2.5-250 HP • TLDI 40-115 HP • New 40/50 HP • Lighter Weight • More Efficient • Less Friction • 4 Trolling Speed • 21 Amp. 12 DC Alternator • Electronic Fuel Injection
EUGENE
EU GEN
GE NEE, OR
OR
Maaxxxxum
m Mar arinne
(5
5441
1) 6
6886-
6-35
3572
35 2
17
70
000 Sta
t te
e Higghw
hwa ayy 99 N
ww
ww
www..ma
w axxxxum
xu
ummma
marriine
mari ne.c
com
om
www.tohatsu.com

THE BUNNY MUDDLER
I
went to high ed wood, he hooked and landed another you’re out there, I can get a net. I already
school with Bunny nice rainbow. Soon, I heard him yell and have a garter belt. But, I digress, again.
Muddler. Of all the recognized the unmistakable rod bend If you’re a guide with an innovative
girls, she had the big- of a good fish. In a short time a gorgeous, fly to share, contact me (tonylolli@yahoo
gest pair of … ears. fat, chrome 23-inch hen was laying in the .com) and I’ll send the details. ASJ
But, I digress. net. Laughing out loud, we slapped cold
GUIDE FLY Josh Hayes owns high-fives and admired the beautiful na- Editor’s notes: This new column rotates each
By Tony Lolli and operates Alaska tive rainbow. I couldn’t tell you how many month between Alaska Sporting Journal
Trout Guides (alaska- fish we managed to catch that short, cold and sister titles California Sportsman and
troutguides.com; Instagram: alaskatrout- February day. But more importantly I Northwest Sportsman. Autographed cop-
guide). For 20 years he’s been guiding on shared time on my home water with an ies of Tony Lolli’s new book, Art of the Fish-
Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula on the Kenai Riv- angler who had a lifelong dream realized.” ing Fly, with an intro by President Jimmy
er, a river that’s produced more fly-caught I’ve had some dreams of Bunny Mud- Carter, are available from Tony Lolli, 1589
rainbow trout over 30 inches than any dler too, but none involved a net, unless Legeer Rd., Grantsville, MD 21536 for $30
other river in the world. you count net stockings. Hey Bunny, if with free shipping.
Hayes reports he has always swung
flesh flies because Kenai River rainbows
prefer to look up and ambush from be-
low. When swinging, he likes a fly with a
strong profile/silhouette. It needs to be
something that holds its shape but still
has an undulating action.
His favorite flies are those that will fish
with any style (dead drift, swung, cast and
strip, jigged) and in all water conditions.
He also wanted a fly that has some buoy-
ancy, allowing the fly to hover a bit in
the strike zone when on the hang down
or wash around a bit when dead drifted.
Hence, the deer hair head as opposed to
wool or some other material, something
Hayes learned from watching Larry Dahl-
berg videos.
He fishes his Bunny Muddler mainly
in the winter and spring. In the former
months, once the major salmon spawn-
ing events are done, trout become more
opportunistic feeders. They will eat any-
thing they can easily acquire with mini-
(ALASKATROUTGUIDES.COM)
mal effort.
“My best guide day with the Bunny
Muddler was the result of a last-minute MATERIALS
call during an especially cold day,” Hayes Hooks: Front: Aqua Flies Round Eye Shank 26mm; rear: No. 4 Owner Cutting Point bait
recalls. “I wasn’t expecting much but the hook turned-up eye
angler wanted to go anyway. To my sur- Thread: Black GSP 100
prise, fishing from the anchored boat in Hook connector: 12-pound Maxima Mono loop
the first hole, my client managed to hook Tail: Flesh/tan rabbit is small tail, then wrapped forward one-third of the front hook shank.
four fish and land three, two of which Wing: Darker rabbit (grey or black) with a slight overhang as a mini “wing” and wrap the
came on the hang down directly below rest forward over the second third of the forward hook shank.
the boat.” Flash: Four strands of copper flash/tinsel
“I pulled anchor and rowed to a gravel Collar: Copper/black chenille
bar to build a warm-up fire. As I collect- Head: Deer hair (black or brown) in a mini Dahlberg Diver shape.

LIGHTWEIGHT.
The lightest 200-hp four stroke
on the market
POWERFUL.
2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft
Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio
of any 200-hp four stroke
COMPACT.
Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our
four-stroke V6 F200
THE ALL-NEW F200 IN-LINE FOUR.

FORWARD THINKING.
Show the water who’s boss with the new F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient,
it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers
the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either
mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience
legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the all-new F200 In-Line Four.
ALASKA OREGON
ANCHORAGE KETCHIKAN EUGENE
Alaska Mining & Diving Supply Alaska Outboard Maxxum Marine
3222 Commericial Dr. 1405 Tongass Ave. (541) 686-3572
(907) 277-1741 (907) 225-4980 1700 State Highway 99 N
www.akmining.com www.maxxummarine.com
PETERSBURG
HOMER Rocky’s Marine Inc
Lower Peninsula Power Sports 245 Mitkof Hwy
61284 East End Rd. (907) 772-3949
(907) 235-6341 www.rockysmarine.com
www.lppowersports.com
YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™
REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal
intended to be an endorsement. © 2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

92 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2018 | aksportingjournal.com

Alaska Sporting Journal - February 2019 PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alaska Sporting Journal - February 2019 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

FISHING • HUNTING • ADVENTURE AKSPORTINGJOURNAL.

We are at FULL Limits for Salmon, Halibut & Ling

2019 Charter All-Inclusive Drive-In Pkg. Special

%RWWRP5G6SDUWD &DOOXV  

8 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP

10 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

12 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

“When I left Oklahoma

aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL 15

CHASING GOLD CAN

aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL 19

CC When I talked to your dad last year,

20 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

Rustic Cabin on 12 Acres N-Side View Home R&R Lodge

Water-View Starter Float House & Shop Executive Retreat

22 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

“I have to think out of the

24 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

CC Tell me about your relationship with

CLOSEST SEAPORT how we have this way of communicating

CC Without giving much away, what can

26 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

With our factory-trained

MAXXUM MARINE Toll Free 877-4-Maxxum

POND TO POND SALMON STRUGGLES

aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL 29

SEEKING FUTURE ANSWERS

30 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

32 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

Editor’s note: Mary Catharine Martin is the

COFFMAN COVE BEAR’S DEN Prince of Wales Island, Alaska SELF-GUIDED

(907) 329-2327 (BEAR) (518) 705-2862

Feb. 1 Spring resident bull caribou hunting season opens in

2019 OUTDOORS SPORTS SHOWS

aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL 37

WELCOME TO THE YAKUTAT LODGE

One of Alaska’s finest world-class fishing

We also have a tackle shop, gift shop, and sell

THIS IS WORLD-CLASS FISHING, AS

STEELHEAD | SOCKEYE | PINK SALMON

COAST GUARD WIFE AND HUSBAND CHERISH THE OUTDOOR

aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL 41

•Complimentary Breakfast •Airport Shuttle

100 North Harbor Drive, Valdez, Alaska 99686-0468

44 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

46 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

NEW tent camp

www.AnglersAlibi.com | John@AnglersAlibi.com | 561.222.9416

48 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

100% Made in USA

ATTENTION ASJ READERS:

Shop nomaralaska.com to see all the

Being able to spot and stalk and help a

aksportingjournal.com | FEBRUARY 2019 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL 51

52 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

54 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

MODERN RIMFIRE PARTS SPECIALIST

ORDER DESK: 208-660-9974

IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, you truly enjoy seeing

56 ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

Paul Atkins is an outdoor writer and author

%RWWRP5G6SDUWD &DOOXV

32%R[2ZDWRQQD0LQQHVRWD