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he 10MM cartridge is more than 30 years old, but its popularity has not waned. It’s one of the top three self-defense cartridg-es in America, as well as hunting. But most 10MM loads are designed for personal protection using bullets weighing between 100 and 220 grains. They work well, with a very deep wound and penetration channels. Underwood Ammunition is well-known for innovative ammunition offerings. In 2022, Underwood is featuring a lightweight, high-velocity round
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Volume 12 • Issue 2 www.aksportingjournal.com PUBLISHER James R. Baker
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn
GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES media@media-inc.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles WRITERS Paul D. Atkins, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Brian Kelly SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker, Malena Kennedy WEB DEVELOPMENT/INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines, Jon Eske
MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120 Renton, WA 98057 (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 ON THE COVER Lower 48er Brian Kelly loves fishing for coho and chums in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, which should be one of the state’s best salmon options this summer. (BRIAN KELLY)
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann
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CONTENTS
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VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2
FEATURES 33
THE COHO TUTORIAL Continuing the silver salmon theme (see main feature), Scott Haugen’s first of a two-part series on coho fishing focuses on surefire methods for limiting out – from twitching jigs to drifting huge beads and chucking spinners. Also, do you have some big game meat still lurking in the back of the freezer? In her half of our From Field to Fire feature, Tiffany Haugen whips up a fajitas recipe that’s sure to be a hit.
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MAT-SU MAYHEM As low forecasts and poor returns prompt closures of some Chinook fisheries around the state, anglers can turn to other salmon species and waters such as the productive streams and rivers of the Mat-Su Valley. Our Brian Kelly loves fishing this Southcentral Alaska region outside Anchorage and shares some of his favorite spots to get in on great action for not just silvers but also chum and pinks throughout the summer and fall.
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MEAT AND GREET When you successfully take that caribou, moose or Dall sheep, it means a lot of meat for your freezer. But the steps right after the shot determine the quality of that meat on your dinner plate. From efficient field dressing to sacking it all up and keeping those delicious backstraps cool in camp, there are a lot of little things you need to focus on. Veteran outdoorsman Paul Atkins has you covered.
(SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)
SEWARD SALMON SHOWCASE
Created in 1956 – first prize back then was a new Chevy! – the Seward Silver Salmon Derby has been an annual summer tradition on the Kenai. As one of the tournament organizers Kat Sorensen says, “Many anglers have been fishing the Seward Silver Salmon Derby for decades with their family and enjoying the friendly competition.” Gear up for this year’s latest event, scheduled for Aug. 13-21, with our preview.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 19 21
25 46
The Editor’s Note The Alaska Beat: Tribal leaders make passionate plea to protect Bristol Bay Outdoor calendar Hunting partner compatibility tips
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, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057 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 © 2022 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. 16
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EDITOR’S NOTE
M
e time can be great, but everyone can use a friend, a buddy, a confidant, a partner in crime or, as our longtime correspondent Paul Atkins writes about this month (page 46), a partner to go hunting or fishing with. During the last two-plus-years of Covid caution, my pup Emma has been my most constant companion, but looking back in my fishing background, I’ve gone out with a variety of fellow anglers. I do remember one less than perfect partnering experience growing up near San Francisco, California. I was a junior in high school and, on a rather dull spring break weeknight, I got a surprising call from Mike, a high school acquaintance. I hardly considered him a friend since we didn’t run with the same crowds and we’d never hung out outside of school. Anyway, Mike and I had talked about
fishing before, so when he called he asked me if I wanted to do some night shore fishing down at a marina in San Francisco Bay, where his grandfather owned a boat. Bored, I agreed to tag along (sidenote: I got into a little trouble when I neglected to leave a note for my mom, who was at work). Mike’s grandfather had extra saltwater gear, so we just casually spent a couple hours casting bait and caught a couple non-keeper stripers that we threw back. I remember being cold more than anything else. The next morning, Mike called me again and asked if I wanted to go trout fishing at nearby Lake Merced, an urban fishery in San Francisco (this time I let my mom know I’d be going!). I told him my trout rods and tackle were at my dad’s house, but he insisted they had all the gear I’d need. Famous last words.
After Mike and his grandfather picked me up and we made the short drive to the lake, Mike presented me with my fishing rod, one of those “pocket fisherman” thingamajigs, which looked more like a portable vacuum cleaner than a rod and reel. Needless to say, my fishing experience that day was miserable, as I couldn’t cast the contraption very far, while Mike’s conventional rod and reel landed him a couple rainbows. He and his grandfather playfully teased me over my lack of success, and overall our two days of fishing together were hardly miserable but hardly wonderful either. But the next time he mentioned fishing to me – the night after high school graduation and our class’s Grad Night celebration – I turned him and his friends down. Some folks just aren’t cut out to be fishing (or hunting) partners. -Chris Cocoles Paul Atkins (right, with fellow Alaska Sporting Journal correspondent Scott Haugen) knows something about finding the right hunting and fishing partner. The editor once had a less than memorable fishing experience with a high school classmate.
(CHRIS COCOLES)
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TRIBAL LEADERS MAKE PASSIONATE PLEAS FOR BRISTOL BAY
P
erhaps no other main characters in the story of the fight to preserve Bristol Bay’s salmon from the proposed Pebble Mine have as much at stake as those from the Native community. For generations they have been harvesting these fish, which are every bit as sacred as they are a means to make a living. So in early June, a group of local leaders gathered for a Zoom/Facebook Live press conference. In attendance were representatives of the United Tribes of Bristol Bay, Bristol Bay Native Association and Bristol Bay Native Corporation. As you might guess, some of the most pointed comments were made by these folks. “You do not save Mount Denali by just saving the tip of the mountain,” said Tommy Tilden, United Tribes of Bristol Bay board member. “We save the whole mountain. And that’s what needs to take place here in Bristol Bay. We need to save all of Bristol Bay – the total watershed – from all the way to the north and to the south.” “We’re talking about a product that’s world-renowned and needs further protection.” Alannah Hurley, UTBB’s executive director, opened her comments by reminding her audience of what this region has meant to her and so many before her. “We are here today because we are preparing to welcome home the salmon as our people have for thousands of years,” she said. And that’s a heritage Hurley and her colleagues can’t afford to be put at risk from a project as daunting as the Pebble Mine. Hurley did think that permanent protection had an excellent chance of surviving despite the expectation of changing political landscapes going forward. Still, the EPA implementing Clean Water Act mandates to protect Bristol Bay is a significantly overdue start. “The people of Bristol Bay have been seeking these protections for more than two decades and while this is an important step, we need comprehensive protections so that future generations are not left with this threat,” said Gayla Hoseth, Bristol Bay Native Association natural resources director. “There will be several opportunities for the people of Bristol Bay to make our voices heard on these protections and call on EPA for comprehensive protections for the headwaters of Bristol Bay for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.”
TWEET OF THE MONTH
From @Take1STEPwNIK, Nik’s Wish “grants wishes to enrich the lives, stimulate encouragement, and strengthen the faith of young adult cancer patients 18-24.” Go to nikolasritschelfoundation.org for more.
NOTABLE NUMBER
460,000 Bristol Bay leaders, including several with Native organizations, gathered to reinforce the need for the Environmental Protection Agency to provide more permanent safeguards for the region. (FACEBOOK LIVE)
By June 13 the number of acres burned throughout Alaska by at least 45 wildfires. According to Alaska Public Media, the acreage represented the second largest amount of land burned to that point of the state’s wildfire season of the past three decades. aksportingjournal.com | JULY 2022
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“
THEY SAID IT
“Right now, with all indicators we have available, these Cook Inlet king salmon runs are projecting to be the lowest escapements we’ve seen in all of the Kenai Peninsula streams. Closing king salmon sport fishing in Cook Inlet north of Bluff Point is a conservative approach for maximizing escapement with our local stocks.”
”
–Alaska Department of Fish and Game area management biologist Mike Booz after his agency decided to close Lower Cook Inlet king salmon fishing between June 15 and July 15.
FROM THE ASJ ARCHIVES – JULY 2016
A 12-YEAR-OLD’S FIRST HUNT
W
Then 12-year-old Kiah Dihle and her dad Luke shared Kiah’s big moment together. (LUKE DIHLE) 22
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hile my grandfather and dad looked and as the wind gently caressed my face, I dozed off for a short time. By the time my dad prodded me awake, I had 32 mosquito bites on one hand and multiple bites all over my face. “Hey,” my dad whispered, nodding to a minuscule brown spot in the distance, “you see that buck over there?” I squinted. “Yeah,” I mumbled groggily and stretched. I had a feeling that he would want me to go after it, so I stood up readily. “Do you want to go get it?” he whispered excitedly. I frowned at him, failing to see his enthusiasm at hiking a halfmile and attempting to make a nearly impossible shot at a deer half concealed by brush. But I shrugged anyway, and said, “Sure, let’s go!” My dad and grandfather stared at me in disbelief. I felt a certain excitement about making an attempt to get the blacktail that made me forget the difficult climb down. I already had my pack on and was reaching for my gun, ready to go, when my grandfather said to my dad, “Luke, that looks to be a long shot and a steep climb. I think maybe you should do it before the buck runs away.” I looked at him and was disappointed, but, after some thought, I agreed and watched my dad race across the ground, stopping behind trees every now and then. I memorized how he did it – the way he stayed low to the ground and concealed himself at every chance he got. Soon I heard a shot and watched the buck tumble to the ground. My grandfather and I met my dad to gut the deer and put the meat in game bags. I was overwhelmed with emotions as I walked up to my dad, who was holding the deer by its antlers. The animal was indescribably beautiful; its brown coat shone in the sun, and its eyes, glazed over, still held intelligence that gave me yet another reason to respect this great beast and ask questions about it. -Kiah Dihle
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OUTDOOR CALENDAR*
The Valdez Kids’ Pink Salmon Derby is set for July 23. Go to valdezfishderbies .com/kids-derby for more information.
(VALDEZ FISH DERBIES)
July 1 July 4
2022-23 hunting regulations take effect Mount Marathon Race, Seward (mountmarathon.com) July 23 Valdez Kids’ Pink Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/kids-derby) July 23-Sept. 4 Valdez Silver Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/silver-derby) July 29 Valdez Big Fish Friday (valdezfishderbies.com/ silver-derby/big-prize-friday) Aug. 12-14 Golden North Salmon Derby, Juneau (goldennorthsalmonderby.com) Aug. 12-Sept. 4 Valdez Tagged Fish Contest (valdezfishderbies.com/tagged-fish-contest) Aug. 13 Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/womens-derby) Aug. 13-21 Seward Silver Salmon Derby (seward.com/ event/67th-annual-silver-salmon-derby/10) Aug. 17-19 Ted Stevens Kenai River Classic (krsa.com/events/ ted-stevens-kenai-river-classic) Sept. 13-18 Kenai Silver Salmon Derby (kenaisilversalmonderby.com) For more information and season dates for Alaska hunts, go to adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.main. Note: Check with local contacts on events that could be postponed/ cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
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Started in 1956, the Seward Silver Salmon Derby is still going strong and kicks off over a week of competitive fishing on Aug. 13. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)
SEWARD’S SILVER SHOWCASE POPULAR SALMON DERBY RETURNS FOR 67TH YEAR ON AUGUST 13 BY CHRIS COCOLES
S
eward is gearing up for an annual tradition that dates back to Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency. “The Seward Silver Salmon Derby is a long-time family favorite for Alaskans and visitors alike. It is one of the oldest and largest in the state and derby days are Seward’s busiest fishing days each year, with thousands casting their line for the chance to win,” says Kat Sorensen, executive director of the Seward Chamber of Commerce. That first event in 1956 was known as the Resurrection Bay Silver Salmon Derby (daily tickets cost $5 and first
prize was a new Chevy automobile). Renamed the Seward Silver Derby two years later, the tournament has evolved over time and trudged on, including holding the 1964 derby despite the damage done from that year’s Good Friday Anchorage earthquake, which destroyed the Seward Boat Harbor. The U.S. Army and Air Force Special Services’ construction of a temporary dock made it possible to have an event. Years later, the Covid pandemic also complicated things, but the community managed to come together to hold the silver derby in both 2020 and 2021. “We had a lot of Covid protocols in
place, but luckily with a fishing derby, most of the action is confined to an individual’s boat or spot along the beach,” Sorensen says. “We found it to work really well, and saw success both years.” And that kind of resiliency has made this gathering a yearly source of pride within Seward and this salmonfishing-crazed area all through those 66 previous years. Proceeds benefit salmon restoration and are an important part of maintaining the waters as fertile habitat. Last year’s derby netted almost $20,000 to fund those projects. “The derby is a great event for
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Juneau’s Ben Cheesman took first place for the heaviest coho in 2021, a 14.03-pounder that won him the $10,000 first prize. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)
Seward and the fishing community as a whole. Many anglers have been fishing the Seward Silver Salmon Derby for decades with their family and enjoying the friendly competition,” Sorensen says. “We are also proud of the fish restoration aspect of the derby. Every
fish caught helps to fund fish restoration through Cook Inlet Aquaculture.”
EXPECTATIONS FOR 2022 There is excitement in town for the week-plus-long 2022 Seward Silver Salmon Derby in mid-August, with ticket
Anglers young and old get excited about the fishing in Seward. Kat Sorensen of the Seward Chamber of Commerce is hopeful for another good 2022 derby after a strong run of fish last year. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)
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sales set to open up on the Wednesday before the Saturday opening day (Aug. 13). Daily derby tickets are just $10 and $50 for a full-season derby ticket. “We’re hoping that anglers can expect full coolers, big fish and a big payout. We’re also continuing to have side bets, which allows for more chances to win,” Sorensen says. “While we love rewarding the largest fish in the derby, we’re excited to provide many different ways to win prizes each day, from the side bets to the randomly drawn weights.” The prizes will range from cash to Cabela’s gift cards and sponsored giveaways from companies such as Alaska Airlines and Royal Caribbean. “There will be daily prizes for randomly selected weights and the overall top prizes. We’ll also have tagged fish, allowing people the chance to win big at random,” Sorensen adds. The biggest prize is a $10,000 check for the heaviest fish caught. And it doesn’t always take a seriously stout silver for an angler to score that special payday. In 2020, David Frenier’s 13.61-pounder was the lightest grandprize-winning fish on record.
Besides the $10,000 first prize, there are several cash awards and prizes available for lucky winners in Seward. “The derby is a great event for Seward and the fishing community as a whole. Many anglers have been fishing the Seward Silver Salmon Derby for decades with their family, and enjoying the friendly competition,” Sorensen says. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)
CHARTER BOATS READY FOR ACTION According to the derby’s website, “Anglers may only fish one group division category per daily ticket, i.e. fishing boat, shore, kayak, or sailboard.” And those visitors who buy a ticket will have no shortage of local charter boat skippers
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who should stay busy during the week of the tournament. But as the rules state, there are plenty of methods anglers can use to catch coho in or around Seward. Full derby regulations can be found at seward.com/ salmon-derby/rules.
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“We have a whole fleet of engaged charter boat captains. You can find your perfect charter at Seward.com. All derby tickets are sold online, so it’ll be easy to purchase the ticket on the boat in the morning before you head out, or as you’re about to get into your waders in the morning on the shore,” Sorensen says. “It all depends on the run this year, but we’re hoping that there will be plenty of opportunities to catch silvers from a boat, the shore, a kayak, or even a sailboat.” Sorensen says that there was a good run of coho around Seward in 2021, and she’s hopeful good numbers of returning fish test anglers’ lines again this August. The derby is a showcase for a busy summer around town. “There’s always something exciting going on in Seward in the summer,” she says. “Head downtown for a live show or explore any of the awesome restaurants and coffee shops in town when you’re not on the water.” ASJ Editor’s note: For more information, check out seward.com/salmon-derby and follow at facebook.com/SewardChamber.
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FIELD
BnR Tackle’s 32mm Soft Beads are a hot item for many coho anglers in Alaska, and with good reason. Silvers might be your best chance to load your freezer with fillets this season. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
KEYING IN ON COHO AN ANGLER’S TIPS FOR LIMITING OUT ON ALASKA’S SILVERS (FIRST OF TWO PARTS) BY SCOTT HAUGEN
I
featured Alaska’s coho in my May column, and I earmarked the species as the possible new king of salmon in the Last Frontier. With decades of dwindling Chinook runs, my intentions are real. So real, I’m devoting the next two columns to helping anglers catch more coho. I know, I know; it’s July. Sockeye are showing up in record numbers, trout
fishing is on fire and there’s a host of other fish to pursue. But if you’re looking to prepare for coho season and put as many of these great-eating fish as you can in the freezer, this will help. When fishing rivers for coho throughout Alaska, sometimes the key to success comes in diversity. The coho bite – as with any fish – can turn
off and on, and oftentimes giving them something different to look at is all that’s needed to get them biting again, especially if you’re concentrating your efforts in a single hole.
TWITCHING JIGS “Twitching jigs is all about a quick drop,” shares my buddy David Stumpf, who is
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FIELD
Get that big game meat out of your freezer and into your pan, where you can create delicious fajitas this summer heading into your next hunts. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
CLEAR OUT THE FREEZER WITH SPICY GOODNESS BY TIFFANY HAUGEN
S
ummer is here, meaning it’s a great time to dig through the freezer and make sure there’s room for upcoming hunting seasons. Be sure to take out any of last fall’s game meat – or anything older – to cook with. We are constantly rotating our fish, venison and game birds in the freezer so selections are as fresh as possible. The fresher the fish and game, the better tasting it will be. If you end up with more than you can eat, smoke up a few batches of jerky or get creative and make sausage. This is also a good time of year to have your meat commercially processed into pepperoni or sausages, as the butcher is less busy than at the peak of hunting season. Here’s a recipe that works well with all big game, from moose to bear. We’ve enjoyed it over the years with ptarmigan, brant, cranes and a wide range of ducks too, meaning the options are limitless.
BIG GAME FAJITAS 1 pound wild game (or bird) steaks 34
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One sweet onion, thinly sliced One or two bell peppers, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil
FAJITA SPICE RUB 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon oregano ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon granulated garlic ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper Slice game steaks into desired sizes. In a medium bowl, mix spice rub ingredients. Completely coat meat with rub and let sit 20 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate up to six hours. Heat oil in a large skillet, sauté onions and bell peppers on medium heat until they reach desired doneness. Push vegetables to the side of the pan, add more oil if needed and add seasoned wild game. Continue stirfrying two to three minutes or until meat
JULY 2022 | aksportingjournal.com
reaches desired doneness. Do not overcook; venison is best served medium rare. Mix onions and peppers into meat and add salt to taste. Serve over warm tortillas and all the usual fajita fixings.
MEAT CARE TIP Prior to cooking, trim away any freezerburned portions of meat that may have formed, which will taint the overall quality and flavor of the recipe. Also, when cutting steaks into chunks for fajitas, trim away any silver skin. While silver skin cooks down in slow-cooking methods, with this hot and fast cooking approach for the fajitas, the silver skin could turn out tough and chewy. Remember that any game recipe is only as good as the meat you start with, so make sure it’s been properly cooled, cleaned of all hair, dirt and blood prior to storage, especially before cooking. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular book, Cooking Big Game, send a check for $20 to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489 or visit scotthaugen.com for this and other titles.
FIELD
good for casting into heavy winds and working through fast water. In smaller, more calm and clear water, ⅜-ounce twitching jigs are effective. I’ve been very pleased with Yakima Bait’s new line of feathered Twitcher Jigs, as well as BnR Tackle’s rubber-legged Twitching Jigs.
SOFT BEADS
Lures are hard to beat for silvers. A Flash Glo Spinner tipped with a squid skirt is one of the author’s all-time favorite coho catchers. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
the best twitcher I’ve fished with. “Many people think twitching jigs is about quickly jerking the jig off the bottom, but all that does is snag fish. What you want is to methodically raise the rod tip while slowly reeling, then quickly drop it by actually throwing the rod tip down toward the water. Just listen.” I listened as Stumpf rather slowly raised his rod tip while reeling, then broke the silence with a swoosh as the rod tip quickly sliced down through the air. His 36
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rod tip went from straight over his head to almost touching the water in one fast, downward motion. It was intentional; fast but under control; quick but smooth. And that’s when the bites came: on the fall. Twitching jigs is all about movement. It’s the movement that captures the attention of coho and creates a reactionary bite. Once an initial bite stops in a hole, twitching jigs can turn it back on. In deep water or where clarity is low, ¾-ounce jigs are nice. Big jigs are also
JULY 2022 | aksportingjournal.com
Bead fishing is nothing new to coho anglers, but using big beads is. For the past two coho seasons I’ve been fishing BnR Tackle’s 32mm Soft Beads and loving them. So are anglers I’ve shared them with. When people lay eyes on a 32mm bead, you’ll see two reactions. One is a laugh – those folks who think it’s a novelty. The other is a blank look followed by a stare into the bead, then a smile. That reaction comes from egg anglers; they get it. A 32mm bead simulates a cluster of eggs, not a single egg from a salmon that’s spawned, obviously. BnR Soft Beads are neutral buoyant and heavy enough to cast and fish by simply sliding it, and only it, onto the leader; no sinker; no bobber, nothing. When fished in calm, slow-flowing holding water ranging from 2 to 8 feet deep, the effectiveness of a big bead is one of the most impressive things I’ve ever witnessed in coho fishing. One morning a buddy caught 53 coho before having to change out his 32mm pink Soft Bead. He also added a medium-sized split-shot above his bead, casting into deep, fast-moving, main currents and did very well. BnR Tackle’s extra-large T-stop firmly holds the big bead in place; place it an inch or so above a 2/0 or 3/0 hook. I’ve seen hundreds of fish caught on this setup, mostly drift fished. The Magnum Soft Beads can also be fished beneath a float.
LURES While fishing beads is a subtle, natural presentation, casting lures and spinners is just the opposite. Fishing hardware is comparable to twitching jigs; it invades the space of coho, eliciting a strike from the aggressive fish in the school. Statewide, more coho are likely caught on lures than any other terminal gear. They’re easy to use, work in a range of waters, and come in many shapes,
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FIELD
Following several short strikes, the author trimmed the tail of this Yakima Bait Twitcher Jig and landed five coho in a row. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
sizes and colors. Coho are not leadershy, so lures can be tied directly to braided line, meaning not many are lost due to hangups. I don’t know how many coho I’ve caught over the years that hit big spoons on a steel leader intended for pike in sloughs and calm water.
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The standby Pixee is a hard lure to beat, and it’s one anglers have had success with for years. Blue Fox’s classic Vibrax Spinners are also a favorite of many anglers, as are an array of custom-made spinners designed by Alaskans for fishing Alaska. The last few seasons Yakima Bait’s
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Flash Go has been a go-to for many anglers. These spinners with squid skirts can do the trick when nothing else seems to work. Coho love the action of the pink and green skirts. Spinners are easy to cast and are a great way to cover water. They can be cast and quickly retrieved in shallow water or slowly worked in the deeper, lower portion of a hole. If you think coho are in a hole but they’re not biting, spinners are excellent searching tools for fish and can ignite a bite when nothing else seems to work. Next month we’ll detail more very effective coho methods, as well as rod setups. Until then, it’s not too early to start gearing up, as coho season will be here before you know it. ASJ Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling book, Egg Cures: Proven Recipes & Techniques, or to book an Alaskan coho fishing adventure with him, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME ‘MAT’ SALMON ARE PLENTIFUL IN THE RIVERS, STREAMS OF THE MAT-SU VALLEY BY BRIAN KELLY
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laska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley – locally known as the “Mat-Su” – has long been a tourist hub for those heading to Denali National Park to get a glimpse of its majestic mountain. While a visit to Denali is a worthy trip on its own, visiting anglers should take advantage of the world-class salmon fishing in the area. Whether you travel by road or by air, there are plenty of river systems to access.
ROAD SYSTEM BASICS The Mat-Su road system is a fairly easy jaunt from Anchorage. Take the Glenn Highway north to the Parks Highway north and the fun begins. Wasilla tends to be our group’s headquarters when visiting the Mat-Su, as there are ample accommodations available around town. The stretch of the Parks Highway from Wasilla to Talkeetna should be the focus for the traveling angler; there are as many as a dozen tributaries of the Susitna River along this route, along with the hallowed banks of the Little Susitna River. Sheep Creek, Fish Creek, Willow Creek and Montana Creek are the most popular along this stretch, as they have easy access along the road with trails to take adventurous anglers down to where many of these streams meet the Susitna. While the Susitna is a glacier-fed system – with limited visibility – the aforementioned creeks are spring-fed and clear-flowing, and they offer resting places for salmon as they migrate up the Big Su.
Author Brian Kelly slammed silvers on the Little Susitna River. The Mat-Su Valley’s rivers and streams should have plenty of salmon to catch this summer. (BRIAN KELLY) aksportingjournal.com | JULY 2022
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Majestic Mount Denali is a common sight for anglers who fish the Mat-Su Valley waters. (BIG DAVE’S ALASKAN BUSH LODGE)
SALMON BONANZA
It’s more than coho in Southcentral Alaska. Here, Jim Step holds a typical Little Su chum salmon. (BRIAN KELLY)
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While all five Pacific salmon species are available along the road system, the Chinook run is managed closely by Alaska Department of Fish and Game and tends to be closed or limited to catch and release with single-hook artificialonly lures. Be sure to check ADFG’s website (adfg.alaska.gov), where emergency fishing orders are posted based on run strength or weakness. My humble advice after traveling to this region for over a decade would be to pass on Chinook and focus on the other species, namely coho (silver), chums and pinks, as these species are far more prolific in tributaries along the road system. Run timing can vary from stream to stream, but typically the chums and pinks will show up in early July and carry into mid-August most years. Both species aren’t shy biters, so the usual assortment of flies, spinners and jigs will keep you busy most days. But if you are there when the chums pile in thick, try using a piece of shrimp under a float; it will be all you can do to keep a bait in the water some days! Silvers begin to make their presence known along the road system throughout the month of August. The local pressure can be substantial during the early part of the month but tends to
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thin out in mid- to late-August as schools reopen and local hunting seasons open, which can lead to empty streams and lots of eager silvers. Drifting eggs under a float is by far the most popular technique and is often so effective that ADFG will ban the use of bait if the run counts are low. But the beauty of silver salmon is that they will readily take a variety of techniques – from spinners and jigs to swung Bunny Leeches on a fly rod. Our group’s favorite technique is twitching jigs; we call them the “fish finder” because even if silvers don’t hit them on the retrieve, they will oftentimes follow a twitched jig, which lets you know the fish are there!
FLY OUT FOR FAST ACTION The western side of the Mat-Su is only accessible by float plane and offers the remote Alaskan experience without the hassle of multiple flights to reach your destination. While there are many lodges spread out on the west side of the valley, a trip with Big Dave Manners is highly recommended. Located on the banks of the Kichatna River, Big Dave’s Alaskan Bush Lodge (bigdavefishing.com) is only a 45-minute flight from Anchorage. No sooner than you land on the river, the guides will have you on the water, and a prime stretch lies within a short jet
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Party of 2, fishing 2 per boat...$5537.00 + tax USD PP Party of 3 fishing 3 per boat....$3633.00 + tax USD PP Party of 4 fishing 4 per boat... $3185.00 + tax USD PP How to book your Combo Salmon/Sturgeon 5 Night 6 Day Package for 2023: Go to https://www.zeballostopguides.com/contact and complete and submit the Submissions Form. If you have any questions or would like information on availability, just give us a call at 1-250-337-2158 or send an email to doug.zeballostopguides2022@gmail.com Here are the Dates for the package: May 1st to May 6th, May 6th to May 11th, May 11th to May 16th, May 16th to May 21st, May 21st to May 26th May 26th to May 31st, May 31st to June 5th, June 5th to June 10th, June 10th to June 15th, June 15th to June 20th June 20th to June 25th, June 25th to June 30th, June30th to July 5th, July 5th to July 10th, July 10th to July 15th July 15th to July 20th, July 20th to July 25th, July 25th to July 30th. September 1st to September 6th, September 6th to September 11th, September 11th to September 16th, September 16th to September 21st, September 21st to September 26th and September 26th to October 1st.
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sled ride from camp. As with the Big Su, the mainstem Kichatna is a typical lowvisibility and muddy glacier-fed river with a series of spring-fed feeder streams that are loaded with silvers. When we fished here, we were amazed at how bright the salmon were this far from the ocean. While we did have to pick through some blush fish, there was no lack of chrome-sided silvers bearing bright orange fillets! Dave’s team of guides had the clients on a daily rotation, so we weren’t just fishing the same creek mouth every day. Some mornings, we would pull into a creek mouth and the backs of the fish would be poking out of the water. These were the times you could apply any popular technique and hook fish until your shoulder was burning. While the morning bite was always good, the afternoons would light up as well. As with any situation, there are just times when the fish pile into an area in the middle of the day and our guides were clued into
Step and his buddy, known affectionately as “The Brad,” show off a remote creek mouth coho that couldn’t resist an Arctic Spinner, a favorite option for Mat-Su anglers. (BRIAN KELLY)
“The Mat-Su Valley will always hold a special place in my little salmon angler heart, as I landed my first Alaskan silver on the banks of the Little Susitna River many years ago,” says the author, who is sure to be back again and again. (BRIAN KELLY)
which creek mouths were fishing best. The typical assortment of Vibrax spinners were usually deployed, but our group brought along some pink Arctic Spinners that we buzzed just under the surface, which made for some awesome takes, as two or three salmon would come out of nowhere to inhale our offerings.
A GORGEOUS SETTING While the fishing and home-cooked meals were off the charts, the scenery was truly breathtaking on the days when the skies parted. To be able to see the peaks of Mount Denali and Mount Foraker on the boat ride back to camp is something special. I will always cherish the memories of my adventure to this special place. The Mat-Su Valley will always hold a special place in my little salmon angler heart, as I landed my first Alaskan silver on the banks of the Little Susitna River many years ago. While there are so many options for the salmon angler in the state of Alaska, the Mat-Su does have it all; from small spring creeks to wide-flowing glacier-fed rivers, the options are endless, and the scenery is something you will never forget. ASJ 44
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Author Paul Atkins (bearded hunter, both images) feels that compatibility is important when it comes to choosing hunting partners. One of those types is fellow Alaska Sporting Journal correspondent Scott Haugen (clean-shaven hunter, both). The two collaborated on this Adak Island hunt. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
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THE BUDDY LIST LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT HUNTING PARTNER? HERE’S WHAT YOU BOTH NEED BY PAUL D. ATKINS
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dak Island in Alaska’s Aleutians archipelago is bigger than you might think, and weird too. The ghost-like town, the apocalyptic buildings and abandoned boats all reflect a movie set instead of a place to hunt. But hunting is what my good friend Scott Haugen and I were doing (Alaska Sporting Journal, June 2020). High above town in tall grass and ankle-breaking rocks, we were putting a stalk on a caribou without horns. I wondered why, but
it wasn’t about that. Remember the phrase, it takes two to tango? That certainly applies to having a successful hunt with your partner. Finding that man or woman to join you on an adventure in Alaska is a crucial task every hunter understands. I’ve gone afield in the Last Frontier with many different teammates, and we’ve experienced a wide range of emotion – from the excitement of a successful harvest to a downright awful experience. I hated losing some of these folks as
hunting partners for whatever reasons, and there were others who I couldn’t wait to see split. But just what makes the perfect hunting partner? Try these five must-haves to make it work.
ENTHUSIASM REQUIRED Having a common excitement for what you are about to do would be a good start. This will depend on what you’re doing and whether you share that enthusiasm for the task at hand. That could be being fired up for the climb-
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You can tell a lot about hunting partners by the camp they keep. “I’ve been with all kinds,” says the author. “Some were awesome, never blowing off camp tasks nor failing to try and make the camp better, while others sat on their butts and watched me do all the work. Those kinds only hunt with me once.” (PAUL D. ATKINS)
ing and physical challenges of hunting sheep or mountain goats, or perhaps chasing caribou for days, which also includes the daunting task of hiking miles and miles of tundra. These are not easy expeditions, and both of you must understand the sacrifices of being fit enough to handle it. Mountain hunters must have rigor and the want to succeed, which always outweighs the need to just be there. Have this in common and you’ve found your match. If he or she wants to do it every year, it’s a perfect union. I remember one fellow hunter who always booked trips, but once he got there he normally just stayed in camp and made excuses for why he wouldn’t go out. After a week of this pattern, he packed up and headed home. He may have had a passion for hunting in theory, but he was satisfied with just being there. I want to be with someone who 48
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can’t get out of camp fast enough so they can hunt the wilderness.
SPLIT UP THE CHORES A lot goes into a big hunt – from planning it months ahead to splitting up the workload that things of this magnitude require. This can both form and ultimately end a hunting relationship. Great hunting partners take pride in each having these traits. Most times it begins long before the hunt begins. The planning and preparation of any hunt is indeed a team effort, with everything shared equally to make it happen. There’s deciding where you are going to hunt, solving the logistics of how you’ll get transported to the region, and the biggest challenge of all: splitting up the costs. Too many of my hunts have gone awry due to expenses and how we’d pay for it. And it’s gotten so bad at times that I’ve seen relationships shat-
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tered over these financial obligations. We’ve all heard these horror stories about how one hunter had to pay more than his share, or that he ultimately didn’t get his fair cut when it came to divvying up the spoils. Once, a cohort changed the rules about payment while we were in the middle of a hunt. I was so frustrated that the remaining days we were afield were lost. Moral of this story? We never hunted together again. Bottom line: We’re all in this together and the best hunts are when everybody looks forward to the process together. Contribute to it all ahead of time – both financially and in the prehunt to-do list – and you’ll have a successful time. And then there’s what needs to be done once you’re actually on your adventure. Your camp – or, if you’re in more luxurious accommodations, a lodge or a cabin – is your home for the duration,
Lew Pagel (left) is one of Atkins’ dearest friends, and while many of their adventures took place when they both lived in Alaska, they’ve also hunted together in Africa. The author is scheduled for another trip there this year. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
and it’s important to make that temporary home a pleasant experience for all. How you behave in camp will shape the perception your fellow sportsmen and -women will have for you. “Take care of camp first” is a mantra we all need to have. From being organized with all of the gear, finding wood for the fire, and helping with the cooking and cleaning, all are just as important to the hunt as the hunt itself. There are those who live to take on these duties, and some never leave camp just to make sure all of us are taken care of and happy along the way. They serve just as much as a guide, and you want to make sure these helpful partners get their share of the spoils. Of course, there are others who won’t 50
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lift a finger to do much more than gobble up the last piece of bacon and then complain for a week about the rain, the bugs and ramble on about when we’d be going home. That’s not the kind of person I want to hunt with. Make sure you’re going with someone who truly wants to be there and won’t make you do all the work.
THE LATEST AND BEST TOYS This type of hunting partner is special and it’s always good to have someone in camp who shares his or her passion when it comes to the latest and greatest in gear. I wouldn’t say I’m that guy; instead I feel like I’m more of the “What has worked for me in the past will usually work this time” kind of hunter. I still have
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some of the best-quality gear available, but it’s usually an improvement on something that has worked for me in the past. I was once a novice, very green and clueless when it came to the gear I needed when I first arrived in Alaska. I learned the hard way that wearing cotton shirts made for whitetail hunting weren’t going to cut it in the Kobuk Valley. I realized that with more adaptable gear, I’d be a better hunter. It did and it worked, but generally the same gear was what I carried along the next time out. There are others I hunt with who, like clockwork, invested in the very latest and greatest equipment that money could buy. To each their own, I guess. Then again, if you are hunting with someone with that fancy stuff, being in the wild
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with something new to test out can be both fun and educational!
BE PICTURE PERFECT If you’ve been reading my articles in this magazine over the years, you’ll know that I take a lot of pride in snapping epic photographs that chronicle my hunting and fishing adventures. In a lot of ways, these physical visual memories are all we have to reminisce about a trip we’ll never forget. It’s one reason why we do this.
It sure helps to be with someone who takes equal pride as I do in capturing our camp, the scenery, the chase and, of course, the harvest itself, on our smartphones and cameras. Two close friends who most understand what I’m getting at are the aforementioned Scott Haugen and Lew Pagel, who have shared many of the hunting and fishing trips I’ve written about and illustrated in the pages of this publication. Scott and Lew are skilled when it comes to recording the moment this
Someone who will pack out two deer in exchange for you doing the field dressing is a plus and a great hunting partner in Atkins’ book. (PAUL D. ATKINS) 52
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way, and often it’s usually when you least expect it. It’s part of what I’ve been talking about above. Great hunting partners make great hunting adventures better, and that extends to being able to take photographs of one another’s harvests and high times.
PREPPING FOR ADVENTURES YET TO COME We all have friends who have the next great hunt or fishing adventure in mind. They come to you and say, “What do you think?” It’s ongoing and usually happens
as soon as the previous season is done. Always planning, always thinking about two questions: What can we do next? How much fun can we have next year? These are the kind of hunting partners I want to be around. I have three hunts coming up in the next few months that I’m really looking forward to. One is to Africa to hunt with my good pal Pagel, who I’ve missed greatly since my move back home to Oklahoma from Alaska. We had planned this hunt a few years ago, but once Covid hit we had to postpone. I’ll also be taking two hunts to Colorado for elk and deer, which I plan to write about when I return. I’m also really looking forward to fall
time in Oklahoma and what the next few years bring for my son Eli and myself in the deer woods. Our adventures in Alaska were grand, but now hopefully I can help him capture some of that same passion down south as I did when I was his age in the Last Frontier. That hunt on Adak with Scott was fun, and we were really lucky as I think back on it. That stalk on the cow caribou was a long one for sure. We went almost straight up hills that were more like mountains – well, compared to my home around Kotzebue, they were. The ground was solid, though, and there was no tundra – just sharp rocks that would hurt you if you fell. After a sweat-induced crawl, Scott and I got to within 400 yards and
that was it. The roar from the .300 Win. Mag. was fatal and we had our caribou. We would get four more that week, but like I said, it was more than hunting. We had fun, told stories and got to add another place to our adventures. And we did it together as a team. ASJ Editor’s note: Paul Atkins is an outdoor writer and author formerly of Kotzebue, Alaska. He’s had hundreds of articles published on big game hunting in Alaska and throughout North America and Africa, plus surviving in the Arctic. His book Atkins’ Alaska is available on Amazon and everywhere good books are sold. For an autographed copy, contact Paul at atkinsoutdoors@gmail.com. Paul is a regular Alaska Sporting Journal contributor.
Of all the teammates Atkins has hunted with, none can match his son Eli. Now that they are both back in the author’s native Oklahoma, they look forward to sharing more time in the field together. (PAUL D. ATKINS) 54
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OUTDOOR TIPS OF THE MONTH
Game bags are one of the most important pieces of gear to consider when hunting in Alaska. They must be dependable, durable, able to protect the valuable commodity they’re intended for, and result in the best-tasting meat possible. Caribou Gear is No. 1 when it comes to producing top-quality game bags, according to author Paul Atkins. They have one for just about every species on the planet. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR HARVEST’S MEAT Editor’s note: Each issue, our Paul Atkins will offer a tip outdoorsmen and -women can use as they prepare for an Alaska adventure. This month: Sacking up your harvest. BY PAUL D. ATKINS
R
iding for 80 miles in an open boat while searching for caribou makes for a long day, but it was our last chance. I was literally soaked from climbing riverbanks, checking old crossings and traversing through miles and miles of tundra only to see nothing, so we headed home cold, wet and tired. Then I noticed something in the willows. Are those
ptarmigan, I wondered, or something much bigger? Upon closer inspection with the binoculars, the “ptarmigan” in the thick willows turned out to be caribou. The flecks of white mixed with brown were actually a herd of about 15 animals moving along the bank of the river. Luckily they didn’t notice the boat as we inched closer to shore. Ever careful,
I climbed out and eased up the bank into shooting position. The bull dropped on the second shot and after a few photos the work began.
MEAT AND GREET Many years ago, when I first moved to Alaska you could count on seeing caribou the first weekend in September. Labor Day weekend was the ultimate
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time for catching big bulls as they moved south through the hills and along the rivers. Hunting camps were full, joyous and every game bag was loaded after a couple hunting days. And trophy game means trophy meat for all of us, whether it’s a legal cow or the biggest bull in the herd. How you take care of that trophy is just as important as the hunt itself. Alaska laws are strict and if you’ve hunted here long enough, then you know that meat comes first, hides and horns second. Taking care of your trophy in the field is where it all starts.
FIELD DRESSING Every hunter should know how to field dress and care for meat long before heading to the tundra or the mountains. Some hunters waste a lot of valuable meat because they simply do not know how to properly field dress big game. For example, moose are huge and the amount of edible meat is enormous,
not to mention some of the finest the wilderness has to offer. Knowing how to salvage that meat no matter where the animal has fallen is the responsibility of the hunter. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has a great online instructional video (vimeo .com/30516617) that includes a step-bystep process for field dressing moose and other big game animals like caribou.
STAYING COOL The biggest threat to game meat is heat and bacteria. This can be critical, especially during the early part of the season when temperatures are still relatively warm during the day. If you are on a five- to seven-day drop hunt and fill your tag or tags quickly, then you will have to make plans to ensure your meat doesn’t spoil before you get it back to civilization. This might require a call to your transporter for an early pick-up. The most important thing is to keep
the meat cool, clean and dry as possible. Spoilage occurs when the meat gets warm and bacteria forms. You should get the hide off as quickly as possible to reduce the heat trapped under the skin. The large pieces that are cut from the carcass should be kept clean and free of dirt and hair if at all possible. The next step is to get the meat in game bags. Quality bags, like those made by Caribou Gear, are ideal. They are big, durable and allow air to circulate around the meat to help keep it dry. You should also make sure that all the meat is bagged before packing it back to camp. Flies will immediately find it and start to lay eggs if it is left unbagged.
CAMP MEAT CARE When the last frame pack makes its way into camp and your back has recovered, store the meat in a cool place far from camp. Not so far that you can’t see it, but a safe distance in case a bear decides to
Last September was pretty tough on caribou hunters in the Arctic, and searching each weekend left the author “’bou-less” for the entire month. “Lucky for us we were able to take this great bull in early October,” Atkins says. “I was a little worried about the meat having what the locals call ‘stink,’ but he was fine.” Caribou are getting a bit tougher to find these days, making the meat that much more valuable. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
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It doesn’t matter how or where your moose or caribou fall, proper field dressing and meat salvage is a must and a responsibility. The first step is to get the hide off so the carcass can begin to cool. Ultimately all game meat should be bagged before making the long trek back to camp or the boat, which keeps it as clean as possible and free of flies. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
show up. If you’re hunting an area that has a tree or two, then hanging it is a great option. Getting it up off the ground where it can air dry will help keep it preserved until you get back to town. You should also bring along a tarp in case it decides to rain.
In moose and caribou country, bears are a real threat. Store your game meat away from camp, but still within sight. Trees are ideal for storage, but sometimes you might only have a gravel bar or tundra to work from. This large chunk of driftwood made for a great rack – though unfortunately the entire caribou was gone the next morning. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
BONE IN There are certain units that require the bone to be left in the meat. With a history of wanton waste in some units this makes good sense, but it does make the packing job a long and heavy one. However, bone-in does have advantages, especially if you plan to hang the quarters and let them age for a couple of days. Boned-out meat thrown into a game bag will take longer to cool down and dry and, if you’re like me, you’ll have the different cuts mixed up. 60
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
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They say that packing an animal out is the heaviest and at the same time the lightest burden for any hunter. “I would have to totally agree, especially after you’ve taken down a bull moose,” Atkins says. “Pulling the trigger is only a small part of the experience, and with hard work and effort, your hunt will pay off big time, not only in memories but each time you sit down at the dinner table.” (PAUL D. ATKINS)
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There are many rewards that come from hunting in Alaska. The experiences of taking a trophy bull or ram after grinding it out for a week in the mountains, or spending quality time with friends and family are great, but being able to fill your freezer with meat in order to provide for your family or others is also very gratifying. Alaska is bountiful when it comes to what nature can offer; just make sure you check all the regulations before and after your hunt. If your plans include a trip to Alaska or if you’re here already and plan to go out your back door, the rewards are endless. Hard work in the field and paying special attention to detail will pay off, especially in late winter when you make a trip to the freezer to plan a gourmet big game meal. ASJ Editor’s note: Got a tip question for Paul? Email ccocoles@media-inc.com with your query.