January 2021

Description

Celebrating 20 Years: Anniversary Edition

Departments

6 Traveler
10 Creel
12 Gear Bag
14 Fishing for a Compliment
16 Salmon Sense
18 Fly
20 Boats
26 Saltwater
30 Flyfishing
32 Conservation
60 Fish Alaska Online
62 Recipe
65 Ad Index
66 Final Drift

Features

Conserving the Titans of Togiak and Family Ties that Bind 34
by Marcus Weiner
Publishers Marcus Weiner and Melissa Norris visited Togiak River Lodge last summer to again experience its phenomenal Chinook fishery. Despite the healthy run of Chinook in the Togiak, new lodge owners Zack and Jordan Larsen are aware that it’s still a finite resource and are taking steps to ensure the sustainability of the Titans of the Togiak. Be sure to check out the sidebar on revolutionary sockeye techniques, too.

Legendary Fish Care in Larsen Bay 42
by Melissa Norris
The bounty from an Alaska saltwater trip ought to result in fish boxes filled with well-cared-for, high-quality fillets from multiple species, including halibut, salmon, rockfish, and lingcod. It should be paired with postcard-worthy scenery, great food and comfortable lodging. Melissa’s trip to Kodiak Legends Lodge was outstanding in every way.

Kings Rule, in the Land of the Midnight Sun 48
by John Cleveland
Steve and Nadine Burak’s Bent Prop Lodge in southcentral Alaska is the scene of this remote lodge trip, targeting Alaska’s state fish. By fly or by gear, John Cleveland and his buddy, Adam Gore, enjoyed multiple king salmon hook-ups daily while fishing a remote tributary of the Kahiltna River. Adam even landed a catch-and-release, line-class record Chinook.

The Aniak – Alaska’s American Classic 54
by Troy Buzalsky
A 10-day, DIY float down the Aniak is an extraordinary angling adventure—a bucket-list trip by any angler’s standards. Dropped off by Aniak Air Guides near the river’s origin at Aniak Lake, Troy and company floated and fished 100 miles downstream and enjoyed sky-high adventure as well as outstanding angling for a variety of species.

On the Cover: Publishers Marcus Weiner and Melissa Norris with a pair of chrome king salmon from a sibling trip to Togiak River Lodge this past summer. © Melissa Norris