We drove to Chitna to witness Alaska residents taking red salmon with long-handled dip nets. The Copper River’s water near Chitna is filled with glacial silt. Thousands upon thousands of returning red salmon run the river to their natal clear-water stream entering the silty Copper. The State allows residents to subsistence-fish using dip nets. Experienced …
Sportfishing is Alaska’s number one sport and outdoor recreation activity. More people participate in fishing than in all other Alaska leisure activities combined. Alaskans spend their vacations, holidays, days off, and time before and after work in pursuit of fish. A large percentage of visitors to the Great Land spend their time with rod in …
Bill Johnston from Omaha, Nebraska, and I met at Anchorage International Airport, where our trip to fish Iliamna began. Bill had won Alaska Outdoors magazine’s Alaska Dream Trip Contest, the prize being a fishing trip to Alaska fishing for a week with the magazine’s editor. We were whisked to Era’s flight to Iliamna almost before …
Gary Chilcote, our pilot-guide, informs Lee Fisher, my fishing partner, and me that the species of fish we intend to do battle with is “Chum salmon!” “Chum salmon?” my mind asks. “Chum salmon! Call them by their real name. Dogs!” Dog salmon, I’m told, inherited their name from Alaska Natives who use the four other …
Margaret’s rod tip drops quickly, and she shouts, “Oh, oh, oh, fish on!” It’s obvious there is no king on the other end, but the first fish, nevertheless. In less than a minute, the team of Don, the guide, and Margaret boat a small Dolly. No sooner is the Tad Poly back in the water …
Something got me thinking about fishing the Newhalen River. Although putting the trip together may require more planning than a trip along the road system, it can be satisfying and within almost anyone’s budget. My first trip to the Newhalen River was in my old 1948 Stinson Voyager. My daughter, her friend, and her friend’s …
