EPA Comment Period on Bristol Bay

The Pebble Mine issue. It just won't go away.

Received an email from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers over the weekend urging its constituents to sign the latest petition to let law makers know that Pebble Mine is the wrong mine for the wrong place.

Photo: https://bristolbaysockeye.org/bristol-bay

Now I don't know if these online petitions work worth a damn, but it certainly can't hurt. So if you're interested in protecting Bristol Bay, the most productive salmon ecosystem in North America from the dangers associated with open-pit mining, check out the link below (copied verbatim) from the BHA's email:

For decades, the Pebble Mine has loomed over Alaska’s Bristol Bay, threatening fish, wildlife and the people who call this watershed home.

In November, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a new timeframe for considering whether to permanently protect Bristol Bay and stop the Pebble Mine. As a next step in this process, the EPA just launched a comment period through July 5 on its proposal to finalize permanent protections for Bristol Bay under section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act.

Tell the EPA to protect Bristol Bay forever!

Sign the Petition!

Ray Troll x Eva's Wild "Save What You Love"

I love Ray Troll's art.

You occasionally see it on fly fishing websites and may not even realize it. 

I first put two and two together when I visited Ketchikan, Alaska a few years ago as a stop on a summer vacation. There's an eclectic little street (Creek Street) with several touristy traps, one of which is an art gallery/gift shop featuring the works of Ray Troll. I spent more than my fair share of time in "Soho Coho" looking at vibrant images of salmon, bears, and other forms of life... from bugs to bison to dinosaurs. It's a very distinct style, one I've come to really appreciate.

Well, fast forward to a month or so ago (this post is a little overdue), and I received an email from Eva's Wild, a wild salmon brand. As in you can buy fish from them. I'm not even sure how I ended up on the mailing list, I think because I supported the "The Wild" movie launch last year. In any event, the Eva's Wild brand touts sustainability and responsibility, and has a lot of multimedia (including a podcast) to support their message.

Anyway, that email announced a partnership with Ray Troll, and introduced not only a podcast episode featuring Ray, but an exclusive t-shirt design featuring his wonderful art. The best part is that $5 from each shirt goes toward the Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust, a group looking to ensure permanent protection for the land and waters of Bristol Bay.

So I guess that's really the point of this post. First, to introduce you to the art Ray Troll (if you are not already familiar)... and should you find yourself appreciating his art as I do, to perhaps also show a way to support the salmon that inspire both fishermen and artists the world over.

Kings of the Yukon

In an attempt to get outside, I've been taking a lot of long walks, either early evening or on the weekends, during this period of social distancing. It's been a great opportunity to get a little bit of exercise, fresh air, and catch up on the podcasts I typically listen to on my commute to and from work.

One I streamed yesterday was from The Itinerant Angler. Host Zach Matthews' podcasts are always informative and enjoyable, plus they're on the relatively short side (about a half hour) and make for an easy listen. This particular episode was an interview with Adam Weymouth, who had written a book called Kings of the Yukon, in which he canoed the length of the Yukon River, from the headwaters to the sea, tracing the migratory path of Pacific salmon, and learning more about the fish and the sub-populations of people in the region that historically relied on them.

It's a fantastic listen, one I highly recommend.



It also took me back to a few years to my family's summer vacation to Alaska... you know those simpler times when we were allowed to leave the house.

It was a great look back, and also reminded me of one of the little tricks one of our tour guides gave us to remember the five types of Pacific salmon, by referencing the fingers on your hand.

Thumb = Chum salmon (rhymes with thumb).

Pointer Finger = Sockeye (what finger would you use to poke somebody in the eye?... ok, this one is admittedly a stretch).

Middle Finger = King (the largest/longest finger)

Ring Finger = Silver (rings are made of metal, silver)

Pinky Finger = Pink (self-explanatory).

I guess the only way this could get confusing is if you're more familiar with these fish by their alternate names, as each has one. For example, the Chum is also known as the Dog salmon, Sockeye/Kokanee, King/Chinook, Silver/Coho, and the Pink/Humpback.

Anyway, just a little salmonid knowledge for today. If you get a chance, listen to that podcast, maybe pick up a copy of the book, and let's all dream of days we can once again travel without concern to places such as Alaska to see them in their natural environment.

The New Way Forward: Wetlands

It's crazy all the information that's out on the internet. What do rice fields & salmon have in common? I'm not talking about sushi either.

I absolutely love the videos that California Trout posts to Vimeo. The New Way Forward: Wetlands, an almost nine-minute short from River Garden Films is no exception, and is definitely worth the watch if you're into the inner-workings of ecosystems.

Without giving away the whole narrative, when California changed the way rice farmers had to turn over fields at the end of the season back in the 1990's, it created some interesting positives initially for waterfowl, but now trout and salmon.

Check it out... if nothing else the nature footage is stunning.

Merry Christmas 2018

Happy Holidays to all of my fishing friends!

Hope you are enjoying the nitty GRITTY of your Christmas Vacation...

*Pre-Photoshop components "liberated" from Sportquest & Philly.com 

A continuation of prior "Festive Fly Fisher" posts found HERE, HERE, & HERE

Vacation Roundup: Ketchikan, Alaska

Well, if you don't want to see vacation pictures... umm... you should probably pick another blog to read this week. Wanted to write a few Alaska vacation posts for posterity's sake, and well, that's going down for the next few days... starting now. if you're new to the game and want to see a bit of our pre-cruise side trip to Mount Rainier, go back in time HERE.

Ketchikan, Alaska

So after a day at sea, our first port was Ketchikan, Alaska. Evidently Alaska's first city, it's also very, very touristy, at least down by the cruise ship docks. Souvenir store after souvenir store after souvenir store. While those couldn't be avoided, I did try to point the camera in the other direction, so show off some of the less "in-your-face" scenery.

Back to the touristy stuff...

Our morning in town took us on a tour bus for a twenty or so minute ride to the "Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary." There we were led on a guided tour of part of the Tongass National Forest...

Our guide, Shannon, explaining banana slugs

A juvenile bald eagle

We saw a lot of bald eagles, but they were all at a distance

After the walking tour, we stopped by Tsimshian master totem carver Wayne Hewson's workshop. He was working on a pole that was going to tell the story of the spider. He also had a furry friend pop in as he was demonstrating the hand tools used on the pole.

The non-profit Alaska Raptor Center also had a small satellite operation on premises, and we were able to finally see a bald eagle up close. This beautiful bird, unfortunately, suffered an injury to its wing so it will not be able to return to the wild. There were other birds as well, including a hawk & owl.

Directly outside the complex were more of Wayne's totems, as well as Bifrost Blacksmithing, a two-man team of metalworkers that utilize reclaimed materials and turn them into beautiful knives and jewelry.

Once our tour concluded, we were brought back to downtown and were left on our own for a few hours. We spent a bit of the time in the Tongass Historical Museum, which was exactly what it sounds like, a display of Ketchikan's history, primarily through the dual lenses of the native Alaskans and the late 1800s salmon industry.

A steel sculpture around a bear skull

Artwork of Ketchikan resident Ray Troll,
his work is also available in town at Soho Coho.

After the museum, we spent the rest of our time in Ketchikan casually walking up and down Creek Street popping in shops and taking in the sights. Creek Street was pretty interesting as it was all elevated on a boardwalk above a creek that ran below. The creek was full of salmon and featured a fish ladder at the upper end. It was fun watching the fish swimming in the creek from above. We were even surprised by a harbor seal.

Once upon a time, Creek Street was considered the "red light" district of town, and many of the signs of the stores reflected that... um, heritage.

We were basically in Ketchikan for about seven hours, but they went by pretty fast. We did a lot in a little bit of time but didn't feel rushed. We even had time to stop and get some lunch. Although I didn't take a picture, if somebody offers you King Crab tacos, don't say no...

On the way back to the boat, there was a Sasquatch sighting... but like everyone else down by the docks, he was just trying to sell you something...

Bon voyage Ketchikan... next stop, Juneau...

2018 Vacation Posts

Seattle | Ketchikan | Juneau | Skagway | Victoria | Seattle II