Description
Departments
4 Fish Alaska Online
6 Alaska Traveler
8 Creel
10 Gear Bag
12 Fishing for a Compliment
14 Salmon Sense
16 Fly
18 Saltwater
20 Coho Chronicles
22 Flyfishing
24 Conservation
54 Recipe
57 Ad Index
58 Final Drift
On The Cover
Big, beautiful rainbow trout are one of the signature fish of American Creek. © Melissa Norris
26
Celebrating Bristol Bay by Melissa Norris
“To celebrate the EPA’s final decision to issue Clean Water Act safeguards for the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Fish Alaska, Trout Unlimited, Bristol Adventures, Yellow Dog Flyfishing and Simms teamed up to give away a trip of a lifetime to Kulik Lodge. And the very lucky Phil Shugart of Medford, Oregon, was randomly selected as the winner of a four-night trip for two to Kulik last September.” Publisher Melissa Norris summarizes the trip to Kulik Lodge with Phil, his daughter Kali, Kali’s fiancé, Tim, Phil’s stepson, Josh, and Melissa’s brother, Marcus.
34
Come on up Uncle Steve—Let’s go fishing! by Steve Lumsden
Steve Lumsden and his brother, Jeff, joined nephew Paul at Kodiak Island for a smorgasbord of fishy action in both salt water and fresh. The salt chuck produced a mixed bag of Chinook, halibut, and other bottomfish, while the overland ride to Saltery River produced limits of prime sockeyes.
42
Surprise! Ketchikan is Still for Fishermen by Terry W. Sheely
Whether you’re a hardcore angler intent on unguided saltwater fishing, a tourist on a cruise ship, or a serious angler looking for top-notch charter-boat fishing, Ketchikan has a fishing option for you. Non-anglers also have plenty to do in this tourist town with shopping, entertainment, history, culture, flight-seeing adventures, and other attractions available.
48
Dolly Varden, Arctic Char by E. Donnall Thomas Jr.
Is it a Dolly Varden, or an Arctic char? That question may never be fully resolved. In some places, it seems easy to tell the two apart, but in other places, the lines are blurred. Despite obvious phenotypic
