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Volume 16 • Issue 2 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles WRITERS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Anne Kelly, Trevor Torppa SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Janene Mukai DESIGNER Katrina Ngor WEB DEVELOPMENT/ INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES media@media-inc.com

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www.aksportingjournal.com 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 ON THE COVER Last year’s Seward Silver Salmon Derby winner Tracy Squires’ 15.26-pound coho won her the $10,000 first prize. This year’s event (August 8-16) promises to be just as lucrative, with several other cash awards and prizes available. See page 28 for details. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)

CORRESPONDENCE X@AKSportJourn Facebook.com/alaskasportingjournal aksportingjournal.com Email ccocoles@media-inc.com

CONTENTS

VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 2

SEWARD COHO DERBY KEEPS CHURNING

Now in its 71st year, the Seward Silver Salmon Derby continues its tradition as a summer party on the waters of Resurrection Bay. And with affordable ticket prices and separate prize categories for boats, shore anglers and even kayakers, everyone can get involved in the fun. We caught up with Liz Marsh, communications and community coordinator for the Seward Chamber of Commerce, who detailed what to expect during the contest’s August 8-16 run.

(SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)

FEATURES

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

A KASILOF STEELIE ADVENTURE Guide Trevor Torppa is based in Washington state, but he also heads to the Last Frontier to guide for various fish species on the Kenai Peninsula’s Kasilof River, including steelhead. “I have been fishing this particular river for a very long time and have been guiding it for about four years now. It has yet to disappoint me,” writes Torppa, who shares a memorable outing with two fishing newbies in search of iconic steelies.

23 27 59

Editor’s Note: A bass fishing adventure in Colombia The Alaska Beat: News and notes from around the Last Frontier Outdoor Calendar From Field to Fire: Two great new Winchester waterfowl loads

RETURN TO JUNEAU, PART I Pennsylvanians Anne and Brian Kelly’s second trip to Juneau had special meaning, considering it lined up with Anne’s birthday and the couple’s ninth wedding anniversary. Early on, with hotter temperatures than normal, the Kellys played tourists and sampled local food and drinks and some awesome scenery. Then they got their chance to target halibut and kings. In this first of a two-part series, Anne Kelly recaps all the fun they had in and around Alaska’s capital city.

MORE SUBSISTENCE HUNTING MEMORIES In part two of his series on what it was like to be a subsistence hunter in Alaska’s Arctic, Scott Haugen turns back the clock with more stories from when seeking out caribou and Dall sheep wasn’t done for sport, but to fill freezers in a region where hunger and danger lurked just around the corner. “In the Arctic, coming home alive was always the priority,” he muses.

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. Copyright © 2026 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 GUATAPÉ, Colombia–It’s no secret that while an Alaska fishing adventure for a visitor from outside the Last Frontier can be expensive, you usually get what you pay for, and the 49th state rarely disappoints even if a trip there puts a dent into bank accounts. The price for bucket-list destinations became a talking point during my recent trip to Colombia, which included a day of bass fishing that I signed up for with guide Juan Felipe Gutierrez, who operates Anglers Colombia (anglerscolombia.com) out of his hometown of Medellin. When I found I’d be visiting the South American country with some family members, I looked into a couple different fishing options, first some possible saltwater excursions at our first stop, the Caribbean Sea port city of Cartagena on the country’s northern coast. But since I’d be fishing solo, the costs for a charter seemed like a bridge too far for me to feel comfortable reserving. When the focus shifted to freshwater fishing at the end of our two-week vacation, my correspondence with Juan offered far better value for my budget. His itinerary included a full day of bass fishing at Lake Guatapé (officially known as the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir), including pickup and drop-off at our Medellin hotel, two hours from the lake, breakfast, lunch and snacks on his boat, and all the gear supplied. The

The editor enjoyed the fishing, the food and the camaraderie with guide Juan Felipe Gutierrez on this summer day about a two-hour drive from Medellin. (CHRIS COCOLES)

The bass were small, but the editor’s day on southwestern Colombia’s Lake Guatapé made for a memorable and affordable vacation finisher in the South American nation. (JUAN FELIPE GUTIERREZ/ANGLERS COLOMBIA)

cost? Just over $300 US. Sold.

MY DAY WITH JUAN and his longtime friend, tournament fishing partner and, on this warm sunny day, boat operator Jairo, was delightful, despite us missing on big fish, though we did have fun catching plenty of smaller bass. (Juan is strictly a catch-and-release guide, telling me he’d rather have a chance to catch those same fish on future days.) But what I enjoyed most was soaking up the scene on one of the country’s largest lakes. Lake Guatapé is man-made, but it’s a gorgeous setting at 6,200 feet in elevation amid Colombia’s stretch of the continent’s Andes Mountains range. Its most famous attraction is the El Peñón de Guatapé, a large rock formation with 708 twisting steps to the top that my sister and niece climbed on the same day I fished. We saw the rock from the water, but our focus was underneath the lake’s surface, not the view from high above.

The former proved to be a challenge. It had rained overnight and continued to come down on our drive from Medellin after Juan picked me up at 5 a.m. By the time we picked up some ice and a food run with a local woman who supplies Juan’s meals, the rain stopped and the sun broke through the cloudy skies. We covered a lot of ground in Juan’s boat, as Jairo drifted us along what seemed like prime black bass habitat on rocky points, submerged tree stumps, small boat docks and exposed fencelines dipping into the water. But only small fish – less than keeper sizes – were willing to bite the orange crankbait Juan tied onto the spinning rod and reel he set me up with. My arms would get a little tired from the constant casting and reeling that morning, but I landed just enough fish to pose for some photos and soaked up the sunshine enough to feel content with the atmosphere. And Juan’s price point made it all worthwhile.

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AROUND MIDDAY, AS THE sun began to shine brighter and warmer, Jairo beached the boat in a sleepy cove and we went ashore to set up an impromptu picnic area on a shaded hillside. While dining on typically hearty Colombian cuisine – rice, plantains, pork belly, chorizo sausage and potatoes – I asked Juan if he’d heard about the epic fishing in Alaska. He said yes, and I told him what it could cost to experience such a trip. Juan, who spoke English well enough to overcome my modest amount of Spanish phrases, countered with the inflated costs anglers must pay to experience similar fishing trips to neighboring Brazil, which often cost well into five figures for comparable adventures that Alaska offers. I simply enjoyed the food, the company and the view of the lake below us. After lunch, Jairo took us to the other side of the lake, past the ubiquitous gorgeous lakeside homes, including side-byside estates owned by local buddies and former brothers-in-law James Rodriguez and David Ospina, teammates on Colombia’s World Cup national soccer team, plus a nearby abandoned, condemned home that was once a retreat for infamous drug lord and crime boss Pablo Escobar. We passed the extremely colorful city of Guatapé and switched to weedless swimbaits and cast over grass-covered sections of water, again assuming the cover would make for some hot action. But the bass simply weren’t biting, which Juan attributed to the changing water clarity following the overnight and morning rain. By the end of the day, sunburned and exhausted, I asked Juan if we could switch back to that orange crankbait since it had given us some modest success earlier in the morning. Juan grudg-

Gutierrez, based in the once infamous crime- and drug-infested city of Medellin, offers great value for his full-day trip to Guatapé. (CHRIS COCOLES)

ingly agreed to tie it back on and we made a last-ditch effort to fish the area around where the lake feeds the river Rio Negro. It had been a while since the last fish, though Juan had angrily lost what felt like our biggest bass of the day a little earlier. But sure enough, the naranja, as I showed off my miniscule knowledge of Spanish, caught me one final small bass. “That’s really your favorite lure, isn’t it?” Juan joked to me shortly before we headed back to beach the boat and then take the long, traffic-congested drive back to Medellin. As we caught a spectacular sunset dipping behind the mountains of Me-

Known for its long climb up winding stairs, the striking El Peñón de Guatapé granite monolith as well as the colorful nearby city of Guatapé make for spectacular scenery. (CHRIS COCOLES)

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

AUGUST 2026 | aksportingjournal.com

dellin, now a fascinating and mostly safe city after being considered one of the world’s most dangerous and violent places during the 1980s and ’90s, I thanked Juan for the chance to fish and not cripple my cash supply. He’s definitely someone you should reach out to if you get to Medellin for an affordable and fun day on the water in a country full of friendly locals, gorgeous beaches, quaint mountain communities amid lush coffee farms, and just enough grit and chaos to keep you engaged (check out his Instagram page @AnglersColombia for some of his successful outings). Viva Colombia! -Chris Cocoles

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LOCAL ENTITIES SKEWER FEDS FOR NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE DRILLING PLAN

s the Bureau of Land Management attempts to make it easier to drill for natural gas on public lands that are also Alaska caribou calving grounds, local conservation/environmental organizations are in strong opposition, saying that it could threaten sacred and critical tribal traditions. In May, BLM announced a 45-day scoping period to accept public comments amid an aggressive Trump Administration push to drill for natural gas on the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, despite it previously being protected. The federal agency wants to prepare an environmental impact statement to permit drilling on behalf of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. During the public input period, which expired in early July, two vocal groups that have been at the forefront of pushback against the plan, Grandmothers Growing Goodness and Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic, made a joint comment that reinforced their argument against drilling. The wide swath of land is important caribou migration and calving habitat for the Arctic and Teshekpuk Lake Herds. “We want to be clear about one thing, because it is easily misread. Our hunters still bring caribou home, but they increasingly do so by driving farther, hunting in new places, changing when and how they travel, and working around the roads

ALASKA BEAT SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE MONTH

In joint public comments against a bid to drill in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, two local tribal organizations warn that stable caribou harvest statistics shouldn’t be read as energy development projects not having an impact on the herds. (BOB WICK/BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT)

A trip to the Naknek River’s King Salmon Lodge (kingsalmonlodge.com) means you never know what may show up to get in on the action, considering the lodge’s location is so close to the ubiquitous bruins of adjacent Katmai National Park.

The Birds director Alfred Hitchcock would probably approve. Reports of an aggressive goshawk led to trail closures around the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus in July.

(ANTHONY GRAY/US FOREST SERVICE)

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

and rigs. That we have adapted does not mean the development has done no harm – it means our whole way of hunting has been forced to change,” the comment read. “Nearly half of our people now say there are places they once harvested that they no longer go to at all. A steady harvest number on a page hides all of that, and a rule that reads it as proof that development has little effect would be reading it exactly backwards.” Grandmothers Growing Goodness executive director Rosemary Ahtuangaruak also penned a guest column in the Arctic Sounder that offered further perspective from Alaska Native communities, which feel like their way of life continues to be compromised. “While we may have different opinions, I hope we can remain united in prioritizing our lives, health and safety over speculative development projects that carry uncontainable risks,” Ahtuangaruak wrote. “The Special Areas, the Refuge, the caribou, the clean water – these are not political abstractions. They are what we pass to our children. They carry our languages, our food, our practices, and the knowledge of how to live here. Protecting them is not a negotiation.”

“

THEY SAID IT

-Palmer resident Brett Nelson telling Valdez Fish Derbies about his annual tradition of buying Valdez Halibut Derby tickets, amid the news that local charter boat Captain Josh Hughes reported that a non-ticket buyer who fished with him recently caught “the biggest halibut he had ever seen in Valdez.”

FROM THE ASJ ARCHIVES – AUGUST 2022

YOUNG HUNTER MADE HER UNCLE PROUD

e spotted two does before a small buck appeared downwind. We were busted, but Kiah slowly sat down and took a rest with her rifle off her knee. Before she was able to work the rifle’s bolt, the buck was gone. We walked to the edge of an area I figured would have deer. It was too foggy to see anything, so we lay on our bellies and hoped the clouds would clear. I began to whisper a life lesson about the importance of patience, but Kiah hushed me and told me to stay focused. Swirling clouds began to break and, sure enough, a big buck stood sky-lined on a ridge 400 yards away. We belly crawled over wet deer lettuce and heather to a rise. A number of other deer were closer on the mountainside. Alarming any of them would spook the monarch. I glassed the different animals and spotted three smaller bucks. “He’s big!” Kiah whispered, staring at the distant ridge. “These young bucks will eat better,” I whispered. We crawled to within 150 yards of a fork-horn and, slowly, Kiah eased her pack off and laid her rifle atop it. At the sound of her shot, the buck collapsed. I gestured to one of the other bucks, a big spike, and asked her to shoot it for me. She calmed her shaking hands, then waited for the animal to turn broadside and offer a clean shot. Hunting, at its most basic and honest, is about having a direct relationship with nature and your food. There are few things I find more rewarding than this privilege. I knelt and put my hands on each animal and whispered my thanks and apologies. Kiah did the same in her way. Then, we set to butchering. -Bjorn Dihle

NOTABLE NUMBER

18,623

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s reported count of king salmon that passed the Miles Lake Sonar section along the Copper River, which ADFG called “the lowest, large king salmon cumulative count on record for this date since species apportionment at the sonar project began in 2019.” On July 8, ADFG announced a closure of the upper Copper River king sport fishery.

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

”

“I think two of our group have even ended up in the top three for the year. Having a derby ticket just adds a little spice to the whole adventure.”

Bjorn Dihle was a proud uncle after helping his young niece Kiah score a Sitka blacktail. (BJORN DIHLE)

AUGUST 2026 | aksportingjournal.com

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR AUGUST 1 ■ Most deer hunting seasons open in Game Management Unit 1 (Southeast Mainland) ■ Most goat seasons open in GMU 1 ■ Deer season opens in GMU 2 (Prince of Wales Island) ■ Deer, goat and wolf seasons open in GMU 4 (AdmiraltyBaranof-Chicagof Islands) AUGUST 1-SEPTEMBER 6 ■ Valdez Silver Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/ silver-derby) AUGUST 5-6 ■ Kenai River Junior Classic (alaska.asymca.org/kenaijunior-classic) AUGUST 7-9 ■ Golden North Salmon Derby, Juneau (goldennorthsalmonderby.com) AUGUST 8 ■ Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/ womens-derby) AUGUST 8-16 ■ Seward Silver Salmon Derby (seward.com/salmon-derby) AUGUST 10 ■ Caribou season opens in GMU 7 (Seward, north of the Sterling Highway and west of the Seward Highway) ■ Goat season opens in GMU 7 ■ Brown bear season opens in GMU 7 ■ Wolf season opens in GMU 10 (Aleutians) ■ Brown bear, caribou, wolf, moose and sheep seasons open in GMU 14 (Mat-Su Valley) ■ Caribou season opens in GMU 15B and 15C (Kenai) AUGUST 19-21 ■ Ted Stevens Kenai River Classic (krsa.com/program/classic) AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 6 ■ Valdez Salmon Slam Tournament (valdezfishderbies.com/tagged-fishcontest) SEPTEMBER 4 ■ Valdez Big Fish Friday (valdezfishderbies.com/silver-derby/big-prizefridays)

For more information and season dates for Alaska hunts, go to adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.main.

The popular Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby will be held on August 8. The derby not only includes a cash prize for the biggest coho caught and other categories, but also a costume contest and additional special events. See the Valdez Fish Derbies website (valdezfishderbies.com/womens-derby) for more information. (VALDEZ FISH DERBIES)

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

SEWARD’S SENSATIONAL SILVER SHINDIG FISHING FROM SHORE, BOAT OR KAYAK, YOU COULD WIN MONEY, PRIZES AT 71ST ANNUAL SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA COHO DERBY

BY CHRIS COCOLES

ccessibility is one of the main attractions of this month’s Seward Silver Salmon Derby. And over the seven-plus decades of this iconic annual Kenai Peninsula event, its organizers have always delivered a memorable experience for anglers. “Seward is traditionally a fishing community, and that’s how it started in the 1950s – basically as a celebration of all the coho that we get every year; just an abundance (of fish). It was started by locals, and it’s been a community event ever since,” said Liz Marsh, Seward Chamber of Commerce communications and community coordinator. “And now a lot of people from out of town – throughout the state and even out of state – come up for the tournament.” And while fishing from boats – both private craft and local charter vessels that book guests during the derby – is popular with participants, it’s not the only avenue. There are also separate categories for those anglers who fish from shore – a popular option – and a kayak division that Marsh hopes will continue

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

to attract new entrants during this year’s August 8-16 derby. “I think it is unique to have so many different categories. And it removes that barrier if you don’t have a boat. You don’t need a boat,” Marsh said. “You can’t snag, but you can definitely catch fish from shore. And if you don’t have a boat, you can get on a charter boat and register as an individual.” As for the kayak division, Marsh is making a push to attract more entrants. She and her husband are also avid kayakers, but there hasn’t been a lot of fishers in kayaks in recent years. Marsh plans to send fliers to kayak-centric businesses throughout the area and statewide to get more buzz about this portion of the derby. It can be a very enjoyable experience fishing for silvers out of a kayak in and around Seward’s harbor. “I’ve kayaked in the bay lots of times, and at times it’s really, really nice when it’s like a lake,” Marsh said. “And we did have to put out a weather warning last year for rougher waters. But it’s usually

AUGUST 2026 | aksportingjournal.com

Tracy Squires’ 2025 Seward Silver Salmon Derby-winning 15.26-pounder was among over 14,000 pounds of coho weighed in by more than 1,200 anglers. This year’s 71st edition of the tournament is set for August 8-16. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

not bad in the bay.” “If not many people are doing it, then you have a good chance of winning. Hopefully there will be more out this year.” Regardless of whether you fish from the bank, a boat or a kayak, daily derby tickets are $20, or you can buy the $100 full derby ticket, good for all nine days.

TAKE SHORE LEAVE OR SET SAIL? Anglers fishing from shore might not have the same advantages as those fishing from boats, but it’s a great and economical way to target silvers and have a chance at one of many cash awards and prizes.

“It’s such a good vibe, and a lot of people who were walking around the harbor would say, ‘What’s this derby about?’ And we told them about the prizes and how you can do it from shore,” said Marsh. “They’d go out and start fishing the day of. So it’s pretty fun. Some people do prefer fishing from shore to a boat.” Still, fishing from a boat remains the best chance to get in on some of the biggest coho weighed in. Besides the private boats, for the second consecutive year charter boats will have their own contests – not including the many side pot bets that get made – with it a little bit

The weigh-in station is where some of the derby’s best action takes place as anglers check to see if their catches will win cash and other prizes. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)

easier to enter this time around. “Last year we were playing around with the charter competition idea. And we kind of simplified this year to where everybody registers as an individual and not just the charter,” Marsh said. “You give the charter company name that you fish with, and the charter company can also win prizes. It’s just a little extra something. And it’s a little lower barrier for charter companies to register each of their clients.”

PRIZES GALORE “It’s really exciting, especially when somebody thinks they might have a winner, or when a couple people have big fish and they want to see who has the bigger one,” says Liz Marsh of the Seward Chamber of Commerce. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

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Like in the past, the heaviest silver weighed in during the nine-day Seward Silver Salmon Derby wins the $10,000 grand prize. (Last year’s winner, Tracy Squires, weighed in a 15.26-pounder, part of 14,206 pounds of coho that were re-

corded by over 1,200 registered anglers. The overall weight was nearly three times greater than 2024’s total haul.) But there are also plenty of other opportunities to win cash awards or prizes, highlighted this year by a partnership with outdoor gear brand Frogg Toggs (froggtoggs.com). “Frogg Togg gear will be awarded to the top three derby winners, along with several other smaller Frogg Togg prizes for daily winners,” Marsh said. Bass Pro Shops gift cards will also be distributed throughout the duration of the derby. And continuing a fun tradition, in this 71st year of the event, the 71st-place finisher will win a cruise from Royal Caribbean. Also returning is the opportunity to catch some tagged

“It is so satisfying and makes us so happy to put on this event and see both the community and tourists enjoy something,” Marsh says of the derby. “It was started by locals, and it’s been a community event ever since.” (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)

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fish, which will include a blind draw that could win a lucky angler up to $20,000. “Nobody caught a tagged fish last year, but people definitely have caught them before,” Marsh said. Shoreside Petroleum is also a sponsor this year and is helping to provide fuel for boats out of the harbor in Seward.

A COMMUNITY EVENT TO BE PROUD OF Seward is proud of its longtime association with this event. “It is so satisfying and makes us so

happy to put on this event and see both the community and tourists enjoy something,” said Marsh, who recently took on a big role with the derby. “It has a bit of everything; the excitement of winning prizes for heaviest fish; you have giving back for fish restoration (see sidebar). It’s kind of a cool end-of-the-summer celebration.” Marsh mentioned the excitement of the daily weigh-ins of derby fish. Last year’s winner Squires caught her grand prize silver on the second day of competition, so you never know when that

big-money coho will hit the scales. “It’s really exciting, especially when somebody thinks they might have a winner, or when a couple people have big fish and they want to see who has the bigger one. It’s really fun to see everybody weigh their fish,” she said. “We change the daily leaderboard. That’s my favorite part of the day.” ASJ Editor’s note: For more info on the Seward Silver Salmon Derby, check out its website, seward.com/salmon-derby.

WHEN SALMON CATCHES LEAD TO MORE SALMON

s has been the tradition for Seward’s late-season silver salmon contest, the Seward Chamber of Commerce has made it a point to replenish the waters of Resurrection Bay with more coho through proceeds from the derby. “Whether people buy back their fish or donate them, all of that goes to fish restoration,” said Liz Marsh, the chamber’s communications and community coordinator. Seward Silver Salmon Derby participants who catch and weigh in a coho can buy back their fish for $5, money that goes directly into a fund to get more young salmon into these waters. They can also donate the fish to one of the derby’s partners, Silver Bay Seafoods, which also helps keep silver runs healthy in the Seward area, including getting involved with local sportfishing boat fleets and their clients on trips from the port. “We’re really focusing on that, and we’ve also partnered with the Seward Charter Boat Association,” Marsh added. “And we have a new salmon partnership fund with them, and it’s crowdfunding for people in the community and visitors who go out on boats.” That means individuals can, as Marsh put it, “Basically sponsor a fish – a baby salmon – to be put back into the bay to replenish the waters. And it’s only like $2 or $3 per salmon. The idea is for people who go out and fish, maybe if they caught five fish, they can donate to cover the fish that they took out. We’re really hoping to spread the word on that. It’s special because it’s not only a fun event for people to fish and win stuff, but it’s also an opportunity to give back for fish restoration.” CC

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Anglers who catch and weigh their Seward Silver Salmon Derby coho have the option to buy back the fish for $5 each. Funds are used to produce smolts that are released into Resurrection Bay. (SEWARD SILVER SALMON DERBY)

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A guided trip down the Kasilof River with two first-time anglers proved to be memorable for both the clients and their guide, author Trevor Torppa. (SOLDOTNA FISHING GUIDES)

MAGIC MOMENTS ON THE KASILOF

FATHER, SON TRIP ON KENAI PENINSULA RIVER YIELDS MONSTER STEELIE, PLENTY OF OTHER TUGS

BY TREVOR TORPPA

he Kasilof River is an amazing fishing destination for all sorts of fish, including steelhead. I have been fishing this particular river for a very long time and have been guiding it for about four years now. It has yet to disappoint me. The Kasilof fishery usually starts in September on the upper section of the river from Tustumena Lake down to the Sterling Highway Bridge boat ramp, which is located just off the highway headed towards Homer. This fishery runs all throughout the winter, receiving its fair share of healthy wild steelhead that can be up to 20 pounds or bigger.

The techniques we use include nymphing, spey fishing and conventional methods such as spin casting slip bobbers with our offering below.

MULTIPLE TARGETS ON THE RADAR During this time of year, coho salmon may be caught and retained as well. This is what most people are here for, as silvers are highly desirable table fare. Luckily for we fishermen who like a multispecies outing, you may catch both on the same day, given they often strike the same things as one another. On this specific day, I was guiding a father and son who didn’t need to take home any fish and just wanted to

feel the tug. I knew where I would take them and knew what we would target. Don’t get me wrong, coho are fun, but steelhead are often praised for their acrobatic jumps, strength and size, depending on your luck. Needless to say: We went steelhead fishing on the upper Kasilof River, and this is how it went.

MOOSE AND MONSTERS This trip started out fantastically. Right across the lake from the launch we were surprised with a moose and her calf. We motored over to check them out a little more closely, then continued downlake until we entered the riv-

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er. I then showed them how to use the fly rods, as they were first-time anglers. When I thought they were ready, we continued our trek downstream to fish our first hole of the day. We hadn’t made two casts before the son hooked into a nice 32-inch steelhead that ripped drag all the way into the backing with a tight drag. When the river is big like this, steelhead use that current to their advantage and will put up a tremendous fight. I got out of the boat once we realized we didn’t have to chase the fish, and I put the net on him. I then dragged the boat over to the side of the river to get a quick photo – all while keeping the fish in the water, of course, as this is a rule for this species of fish in this particular river during this time.

The Kasilof below Tustumena Lake is where some of the river’s best multispecies fishing gets cranking in late summer and early fall. (USER BEETLEBROX/WIKIMEDIA)

The Kasilof is one of the Kenai Peninsula’s premier salmon and steelhead fisheries. (USER BEETLEBROX/WIKIMEDIA) 36

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“When the river is big like this,” Torppa writes of the Kasilof, “steelhead use that current to their advantage and will put on a tremendous fight.” (JOHN HEIL/US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE)

MORE ACTION INCOMING Once we got to shake hands with the fish and snap a quick photo, we released it and went back to fishing. At this point I knew there were more fish in this particular area and got the dad

to get a cast in there. His indicator didn’t make it 10 feet before it sank like a rocket in reverse. Before you knew it we had another fish on. I was still out of the boat at this point and this fish had a mind of its own, so

GUIDING ALASKA FOR MASSIVE STEELIES

e offer steelhead trips from September through October on the Kasilof. There is really no better time to get out. This time frame is when you want to be here. We can cater to anyone, whether you have never fished in your life or are a seasoned pro, and we target these fish with all sorts of techniques. Although you cannot retain the steelhead, there are still often many silver salmon that may be kept at this time. Fall on the Kenai Peninsula is not only an awesome fishery on both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, but it is beyond gorgeous. I grew up in Washington state, where we have extraordinary colors that cover our trees as the seasons change, but Alaska is next level. It is so hard to explain how much the colors pop, the color of the glacial water, the season-changing trees and beautiful chrome fish. It’s how I would ideally spend every month of the year. It may be a little cold during this time, and the anchor rope is often frozen in the morning, but the opportunities are endless as long as you are willing to fight the elements. TT

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we had to chase it. So I did the drift boat shuffle, hopping back in the boat and rowing down at the fish, because we were once again running out of line. The fish didn’t want to cooperate and we ended up fighting it down about a mile of river before we got eyes on it. When we did, we knew we had something special. The dad and son didn’t quite know the extent of how awesome this fish was, but I knew the caliber we had. I knew we had to land it. I beached the boat while the fish had one last run in it, got the net out and it barely squeezed into it. Whenever I land fish like that – whether it is me or my clients – I always have so much joy and enthusiasm when it hits the net. It makes me look back to what rooted my joy in fishing when I was a kid. And in this particular instance I got to share it with a father and his son, and I know all of us will never forget that moment.

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We took some pictures of it, measured it at 39 inches and sent it on on its way. It was the buck to the hen that his son had caught two casts earlier. We celebrated, took a good break, ate some lunch and then strolled downriver again.

A KASILOF CLASSIC

Measuring one of the steelhead the guys caught before its release. “Whenever I land fish like that – whether it is me or my clients – I always have so much joy and enthusiasm when it hits the net,” the author writes. (SOLDOTNA FISHING GUIDES)

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We proceeded to catch seven more steelhead that day, but the first two set the tone. It would have been a good day no matter what the next four hours had in store for us. At the end of our outing we all felt like family, and these guys continue to come year after year – as well as visit me in my home in Washington in winter. What we learned is that steelhead are addictive, and once you start fishing for them, you can’t stop. ASJ Editor’s note: Trevor Torppa is the owner and operator of Soldotna Fishing Guides in Alaska (soldotnafishingguides.com) and Chrome City Guide Service in Washington (chromecityguideservicellc.com).

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SAVORING M JUNEAU’S CHARM

BY ANNE KELLY

BEFORE KICKING OFF THEIR FISHING ADVENTURE, A COUPLE EXPLORES ALASKA’S CAPITAL FIRST OF TWO PARTS

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y husband Brian and I started planning our June trip to Juneau almost a year ago. It would be my first time fishing for king salmon in Alaska. I requested teal waders, which he made happen. We went out one afternoon onto Lake Erie, which is near our Pennsylvania home, so I could practice casting with a 10-foot rod with heavier spinners, as most of my fishing experience is catching bass on lighter equipment. It didn’t take long before my technique was deemed acceptable. I was ready to go.

WE MADE IT INTO Juneau a little later than expected due to an Alaska Airlines plane issue that was never disclosed to the passengers waiting to board for eightplus hours. We were originally scheduled to land around 1 p.m. Juneau time, but made it in just after 9:30 that night after we rebooked our travel on a milkrun flight. We were able to see our beloved Ketchikan from the airport as we waited in the plane while it was emptied out and reloaded. My last and first trip to Alaska was two years ago, when we spent 10 days exploring the beauty of Ketchikan and viewing her magnificent marine life (see the February 2025 issue). It made me sad to stop and not stay, but Juneau was calling with new adventures to be had! We stayed in a lovely Airbnb in Juneau that overlooked the Mendenhall Flats. Our view was gorgeous – snowcapped mountains in the distance and beautiful green marshland below. Our apartment was fully furnished and even included a can of bear spray. After a 24-hour day of travel, we slept like babies in the perfectly comfortable bed. We started our morning with breakfast at a local greasy-spoon joint, Valley Restaurant. Portions were large – even for the small breakfasts we ordered – and there were fun breakfast options such as fried rice and homemade Filipino sausages, both of which we ordered, along with a traditional breakfast of eggs and toast. The food was delicious and the restaurant was soon filled with a mix of locals and visiting fishermen and tourists. The weather was hot and sunny,

Anne and Brian Kelly’s second Alaska adventure together included spectacular scenery around Juneau, some delicious food and drink, and, after the weather cooled, epic salmon and halibut fishing. (ANNE KELLY)

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The author’s birthday helicopter ride was followed by a celebratory glass of bourbon – with ice straight from Mendenhall Glacier – in the parking lot. (ANNE KELLY)

which allowed us to enjoy some more touristy adventures before we started the fishing aspect of our trip, which wouldn’t occur until the weather was cooler with less sun. We took the trail through the Tongass National Forest to Nugget Falls on Mendenhall Lake near the mouth of the Mendenhall Glacier. The trail is well-maintained, and we went early enough to avoid the large crowds that would occur once the incoming cruise ships began unloading. The falls were stunning and the lake was a beautiful teal/gray murky color only found in glacial-fed water. The Mendenhall Glacier is not far from where the trail ends and presents a great opportunity for taking photos.

BRIAN CONTINUED MY WELCOME tour of Juneau, with our next stop being the 44

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Shrine of St. Therese, a beautiful Catholic sanctuary built on a small wooded tidal island that overlooks the Lynn Canal. The onsite chapel and the land around it exude peace and blend perfectly with the landscape, as they were clearly designed to work with the land and not against it. We walked quietly around the chapel and through the surrounding gardens, pausing to watch three sea lions as they hunted in the nearby water. After hiking around all morning, our next stop was Forbidden Peak Brewery on Auke Bay. Brian had a glass of their delicious AukNess Black Lager, while I ordered their homemade root beer. If you’re a root beer fan like I am, I strongly suggest making a point to try different root beers as you tour Alaska. Alaskan brewers spice them more than the ones I get at home in Pennsylvania,

The fishing at Brian’s secret spot started out slow with just the occasional sculpin for Anne ... (ANNE KELLY) Whale watching has become one of the couple’s favorite memories on their Last Frontier adventures. (ANNE KELLY)

... But switching to a new secret spot saw Brian, Anne and a local friend begin to dial in the bite. (ANNE KELLY)

and you will be hard-pressed to find better. Another great find (not at Forbidden Peak) was Frontier Alaska Soda Root Beer, which is served at many local restaurants and available to ship from Alaska to home, which I promptly did upon discovery of it! Our 21-year-old son Ryan is also a huge root beer connoisseur and can confirm the quality of root beer produced in Alaska! Dinner was at Deckhand Dave’s, an outdoor tent-covered food court with various food trucks, full-service bar, oyster bar and plenty of seating. We had Deckhand Dave’s local fish tacos (halibut), with sweet crepes for dessert, which were amazing and highly recommended.

THE NEXT MORNING, BRIAN and I went out early with the tide and decided to try some fishing, even though the weather

was still warm and sunny and not conducive to great success. That proved to be true; we caught some sculpin, but our coveted king salmon remained elusive. However, the day was not a loss, as my amazing husband had planned a Temsco helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier for us since it was my 45th birthday. We lucked out with front-row seats (I think that’s where the heaviest people go; a perk for liking ice cream so much?), and had the best view as we flew over 6,000 feet into the air and over mountains until we finally landed on the glacier. There are obviously things you can’t see well from the base of a glacier or from a distance that are so beautiful up close. We landed in the compression zone of the glacier, which is where the ice compacts closer together as it moves towards its outlet. Glaciers are

essentially ice rivers, and the Mendenhall Glacier moves 12 inches per day. We were next to the glacial falls where the higher sides of the glacier move down towards the compression zone. There were small rivers of meltwater moving along the surface of the glacier, and Brian and I both did “glacier pushups” to drink straight from those rivers. The water is as cold and clean as you would expect! So delicious! We were privileged to see two DIPAC hatchery employees, who were also our helo passenger friends, get engaged on the glacier (congrats Anna and Eric!). We had planned to bring a pour of one of our favorite bourbons to the glacier for a birthday toast with some glacial ice, but as we were not allowed to bring any containers on the helicopter with us, Brian put a large chunk of ice into his jacket

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Finally, as the Southeast Alaska weather cooled, the kings started biting better, leading to quick limits and a lot of fun. (ANNE KELLY)

pocket for the ride back down. We enjoyed our drink in the parking lot, which was questionably legal. If you have time to spare in Juneau, I would highly recommend this adventure, as it will be one of my favorite travel memories of all time!

THE WEATHER HAD FINALLY changed and it was time to start fishing. We woke early with the tide and headed out to one of my husband’s “top secret fishing spots” that he’s explicitly told me I cannot reveal to the masses. I don’t know why, because this TSFS wasn’t as productive as promised. I stood casting and reeling for over three and a half hours, watching fish rolling and jumping around us but showing no interest in our fishing lures or the lures of the other people fishing around us. Brian managed to catch one king early on, which gave us enough hope to continue trying, but after all that time without so much as a nibble from a salmon (I caught several sculpin), I was ready to head back to the car to warm up my frozen toes and get a snack, since my husband/guide forgot to pack any in the backpack he hiked down with. I admit, I was getting hangry. As a first-time salmon fisherwoman, 46

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I understand fishing without catching is a common occurrence and not out of the ordinary when vying for these migratory fish. I highly enjoyed the beautiful views, which never get old, and watching the eagles and seals as they moved around us. But as cool as it is (literally freezing) to stand in a creek surrounded by mountains, I was ready to catch some fish and Brian’s TSFS was not the spot to do it. We had an amazing late breakfast at Donna’s, another great local breakfast joint, and enjoyed some down time at our Airbnb before going out to fish again with the next tide. While enjoying the view from our living room window, Brian suddenly shouted out that he saw a bear. He told me to grab my camera and go get some photos of it. I asked if I could go outside and he said yes. I’m not a professional when it comes to bear behavior, but if I were, I would have probably known better than to run outside a house after a bear, even if it was just a black bear. However, as a nonprofessional, in my bear-addle-minded excitement I did indeed run out of the house with my camera in hand to get photos of the pretty, cinnamon-colored black bear, which promptly spooked said

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bruin, making it stand on his hind legs. It was at that moment that I realized I was quite close to the bear and would probably lose the race back to the safety of our rental if the bear decided to chase me (not that you should ever run from a bear). It was a puckering moment, and while I only got a bad picture of its back end as it ultimately chose to run away from me and not towards me, I was decidedly OK with that.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, WE were able to hook up with Brian’s Alaskan-made fishing friend Euming, who took us to his favorite top secret fishing spot, which turned out to be much more productive than my husband’s (sorry, babe). We hiked out onto what I lovingly referred to as “Euming Rock,” where we rerigged our rods for bobber/egg fishing. Euming graciously supplied the eggs and suddenly we were catching salmon. I’ve caught fish on the Great Lakes as well as on charter boats fishing in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but there is something so wonderfully unique about catching salmon while standing on a bank in Alaska. First of all, these kings fight more than any other fish I’ve ever caught.

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The way the reel screams as they race away from you, shaking their head and trying to get away, is such a rush. Then, when you first see that beautiful flash of silver in the water as you draw them closer to you, it’s easy to see why people fall in love with salmon fishing. I caught three kings, my biggest at 23 pounds, and one lovely silver chum. Brian limited out with three that afternoon, plus the one he caught that morning. I caught the biggest fish of all, and was officially crowned as the “Queen of Kings.” The following morning, we went back to Euming Rock for more bobber/ egg fishing, and the trio of us limited out within an hour and a half. As soon as Brian rebaited my rod, I had another

fish on the line or Euming had one on his, and it was all Brian could do to keep up with the two of us to get our fish gilled out and put on stringers. Our gear was covered in fish blood and slime; so much fun. Brian caught his fish in short order after Euming and I limited out. It was such a great day!

OUR NEXT ADVENTURE WAS a halibut charter on our ninth wedding anniversary, which also occurred on our trip. Our charter, Adventures in Alaska, only books private outings, so it was just the two of us with the husband/wife duo of Alan and Tanja running the boat. The water was flat, making for a perfect boating day. Their boat, Narwhal, is “As with my first trip to Alaska two years before, I was completely blown away by the beauty Alaska has to offer,” Anne Kelly writes. “I am grateful to have built a life to enjoy these adventures and will never stop being grateful for them or for my husband, who shares them with me.” (ANNE KELLY)

clean and updated with top-quality fishing gear. We were able to catch our two halibut within 30 minutes, and then we asked if we could spend the remainder of our charter whale watching. It was a short ride to a pod of five humpback whales, including a mom and her young calf. It wasn’t long before they started diving and showing off their tails for us. Captain Alan graciously kept the back of the Narwhal facing the whales so we could have the perfect viewing and photo opportunities. I am always so grateful when I am blessed to be in their presence. Whales are such magnificent creatures. On our last day of fishing, we spent six hours at Euming Rock, where we caught more salmon, but not our limit and not nearly as quickly as we had earlier in the week. By this point in the trip, I’d learned my lesson and made sure to layer more socks and pants to stay warmer in my waders. Plus, Brian made sure to throw a granola bar or meat stick into his bag for me so that I had a snack when I burned off my morning yogurt cup. We enjoyed watching sea lions tossing salmon around not too far from us and listening to eagles as we fished. We already had about 100 pounds of salmon filets coming home with us, and our fishing this day filled half of a third box, leaving room to bring home some other Alaskan seafood treats that we purchased before leaving.

ON ONE OF OUR last evenings in Juneau, we drove north on Glacier Highway to its end, stopping to take photos at Echo Cove along the way. The forest is wild and untamed with a presence that only gets stronger the further you drive into it. We saw a black bear crossing the road and a mother moose and her calf were reported to have been along one of the creeks there. Yet again, as with my first trip to Alaska two years before, I was completely blown away by the beauty Alaska has to offer. I am grateful to have built a life to enjoy these adventures and will never stop being grateful for them or for my husband, who shares them with me. ASJ Editor’s note: Next month, Anne Kelly’s husband Brian will focus on Juneau’s DIPAC hatchery salmon scene. 48

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FRIGID TEMPS, DANCING LIGHTS, FILLING FREEZERS MORE SUBSISTENCE HUNTING ADVENTURES IN ARCTIC ALASKA (SECOND OF TWO PARTS)

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

once skinned seven wolves in the school shop of Anaktuvuk Pass. I was the shop teacher, along with being the science, social studies and health teacher.

The wolves were ones I caught on a 200mile trapline with the late Ben Hopson Jr. They were frozen solid in the snares. It took a few days for them to thaw. They

stunk, but no one complained – not in a subsistence and trapping culture. Minus-20-degree temperatures are fairly comfortable to hunt in. But when

Author Scott Haugen with a double on Dall sheep in the Brooks Range when he called Anaktuvuk Pass home. Hunting for subsistence purposes wasn’t for the faint of heart, given the weather and other challenges. But it was quite satisfying and critical to himself, family and fellow residents. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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the wind picks up, things change – and fast. In the Arctic, a cold day can quickly escalate into a life-threatening one when high winds hit. Proper clothing and survival gear are of utmost importance. Back then, navigation was done with a paper map and compass. I always told my wife Tiffany where I was going, my planned route and a timeline of when I was expected to be home. There was no way to communicate from the field. Many unplanned nights were spent on the tundra and in the mountains. There were sunken boats, a plane crash, broken-down snowmachines and ATVs, and more. But we always came out on the good end.

I HUNTED WITH BEN Hopson Jr. a lot. Hopson was an Iñupiat man who was born and raised on the North Slope. He’d spent most of his life in Anaktuvuk Pass and was a renowned wolf trapper and hunter. We shared many outings together. I learned so much from Ben. I entrust-

ed him with my life more than once. One hunt found Hopson killing a caribou late in the afternoon. It was high on a mountain and meant a long, arduous pack. We spent the night as planned. The next morning we spotted a band of Dall sheep in the mountains above camp. Three hours later we were in shooting position. Hopson shot first and missed. The band of six rams ran. I dropped one that toppled over the edge of a cliff. Hopson emptied his rifle but hit nothing. The five rams dove into a massive ravine. We lost sight of them for several minutes. Then they emerged on the opposite side, over 300 yards away amid some of the most rugged, rocky terrain in the central Brooks Range. “You shoot; it’s too far for me,” Hopson encouraged. Taking a steady rest on a rock, my shot toppled a big ram. It freefell more than 300 feet, bounced off rocks, tumbled end over end, then slid down a shale chute. It came to rest 10 paces from the first ram. Both were

Willow ptarmigan, Alaska’s state bird, was a staple for the Haugens during the 1990s when the North Slope was their home. (SCOTT HAUGEN) 52

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bloodied from the fall. But we each had a fat sheep for our families. Back then, I could take four Dall sheep a year – one on a sport hunting license; three on a subsistence permit. We could get five caribou a day each all year long under subsistence rules. This was in place for a good reason. Some years the caribou were sparse – their migrations shifting or being delayed for whatever reason. They’re an odd animal. When caribou were hard to find, residents struggled to get meat. If a local and I were out and ran into a herd of caribou, we could shoot five each. This meat was shared with multiple families. Seeing 10,000 caribou in a herd was common and something I wish every hunter could experience.

LATE ONE FALL I went sheep hunting in the mountains east of the village. I counted over 150 rams by noon. I shot one and headed home. On the way I spotted a bull moose in a river valley.

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I found the bull the next morning. It was over 800 yards away on the open tundra. It was too open to sneak up on, so I called to lure it closer to me. It thrashed the tundra with its rack and big hooves. Piles of sod flew through the air. Some of it landed in its antlers. It was cold. The bull’s white breath mingled around its flared nostrils as it lip-curled. Then it came at me, looking for a fight. Amid sparse willows, I hunkered on the edge of a stream and occasionally called. The bull approached to within 12 yards; I shot it in the neck. I drove the Argo to it, quartered and loaded it up. You appreciate the easy packing jobs,

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

which are a rarity it seems. One afternoon, Hopson and I were headed home with an Argo full of caribou meat and camping gear. Four of the eight tires eventually popped, stranding us in a valley just before sundown. Snowcapped mountains surrounded us. We built a fire and ate fresh caribou. We pitched a tent, figuring someone would come looking for us in the morning. Just after midnight we heard an Argo approaching. When we got out of the tent, a faint line of northern lights danced above the snow-covered peaks. Three Iñupiat men who’d come looking for us were glad we were OK and thank-

AUGUST 2026 | aksportingjournal.com

ful we had broken down on a trail. Over the next four hours we all sat, drank coffee and watched the most brilliant light show we’d ever seen. The men had lived their whole lives on the North Slope and said it was the most spectacular, colorful display of the northern lights they’d witnessed. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. When the northern lights dissipated, we fixed the tires and headed home.

I WAS 2 YEARS old in 1966 when the last picture of me and my grandfather was taken. He carried me on his shoulders through a Douglas fir forest. The family was hunting

Columbian blacktail deer near our Oregon home. After a lunch break at the truck, I stayed with Mom. Grandpa, Grandma and my dad went hunting in the woods. Grandpa hiked down his favorite ridge, sat on his favorite stump and waited for a buck to walk by. Grandpa died of a massive heart attack – his pre-1964 Model 70 Winchester .30-06 in his hands. When I turned 12, my grandmother gave me the rifle. It’s the one I used to do all my subsistence hunting with in Alaska in the 1990s. It carried the same 4x Leupold scope and military-issued sling. I hand-loaded 180 Nosler Partition bullets for it. Due to the scope’s limita-

tions, my maximum shooting range was nothing like it is today. I had to get close before pulling the trigger. I took a tundra grizzly and a man-eating polar bear with that rifle. The experiences honed my hunting and shooting skills. Hunting for meat to live on is quite different from how I grew up hunting. Back home, if you didn’t fill a tag, someone had extra venison or a cow to share, or, God forbid, there was always the supermarket. No one was going to starve. To this day, Tiffany and I eat only wild game. It’s what we raised our sons on, and we still do our own butchering and processing.

Subsistence hunting initiates a sense of pressure I never knew before. There’s an urgency to be successful because someone was always in need of meat. Miss a shot and two months’ worth of meat could be negated. That’s just the start. In the Arctic, coming home alive was always the priority. Survival is rarely a thought in other parts of the world. One mistake in the Arctic in harsh conditions can result in death. Little did I know at the time, but the experience gained during seven years of subsistence hunting in the Arctic would provide me with the necessary skills to live a dream career.

“Subsistence hunting initiates a sense of pressure I never before knew,” writes Haugen, whose primary big game target was caribou. “Miss a shot and two months’ worth of meat could be negated.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

Wolves were plentiful in the Brooks Range. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

FOLLOWING FOUR YEARS OF teaching overseas after our time in the Arctic, I was offered a job as a TV host. For the next 14 years I made my living hosting hunting TV shows around the world. Two of those years I hosted two shows, where going on upwards of 60 big game hunts a year was the norm. I learned a lot in those years too. In the TV world, time is money, and missed shots are costly. It was a different form of pressure than shooting to put meat on the table. Nonetheless, it was pressure. Accurate shooting was a must – I hate missing, period – and advanced hunting skills, the knowledge of animal behavior, outdoor navigation, and survival further made the transition into filming hunts around the world efficient. I stepped away from that job in 2014 and have no regrets. I was in it when times were good. Today, my dream job, which I’ve been living for 26 years, is organizing and rearranging words that have already been invented, with the hopes of bringing joy and knowledge to fellow hunters. Writing is my true passion. ASJ

Haugen with a Brooks Range grizzly. Becoming a TV hunting show host after his Arctic subsistence days reinforced the importance of accuracy. (SCOTT HAUGEN) 56

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Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling book, Hunting The Alaskan High Arctic, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

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With its tight patterns and hard-hitting power, Winchester’s Last Call Double Shot custom blend load impressed author Scott Haugen so much in its Inaugural season last year that he’ll use it for his 2026-27 waterfowl hunts. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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ast season, I tested two of Winchester’s latest waterfowl loads. And when it comes to testing shotgun ammo, I like having a surplus of shells and a variety of settings in which to hunt. I like patterning the load on paper at 20, 30 and 40 yards, then going on as many hunts as possible.

Initially, I tested the loads on a variety of hunts. I first hunted a river in two different locations. Both offered closerange shooting on decoying birds, but also longer-distance shots at birds that wouldn’t finish. Two hunts took place in fields. One afternoon in the field saw sustained winds

of 8 to 13 miles per hour. I shot ducks and lesser Canada geese that day. The other field hunt was on a calm day and a fresh push of lessers had come in with a cold snap. Geese decoyed well and some pass shooting was done. I also hunted on a creek. Ducks decoyed in close on the open water. Everything else around was frozen.

aksportingjournal.com | AUGUST 2026

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

PB&J IN BIG GAME? BELIEVE IT FOR SLOWCOOKED NECK MEAT BY TIFFANY HAUGEN

he neck is one of the most flavorful cuts of big game meat. This is because it’s one of the most heavily used muscles. As when cooking shanks, many people think neck meat is tough. That’s because it’s usually overcooked, making it tough and gamey tasting. It’s honestly one of the easiest cuts of meat to prepare. Low and slow in a Crock-Pot is the best way to cook tough muscle cuts like neck and shanks. Letting the heat work into the muscles, breaking them down to melt-in-

your-mouth tenderness, is a game changer. Adding coconut milk helps replace the missing fat in venison while amplifying flavor and texture. The sweet and savory ingredients in this recipe are reminiscent of the special flavors of Southeast Asia. This recipe works great with any big game meat. I’ve prepared it with moose, caribou, deer and bear. All are delicious.

PBJ VENISON NECK 3 pounds venison neck roast One can full-fat coconut milk 1 cup beef broth 3/4 cup peanut butter 3/4 cup jelly or jam 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced 4 cloves garlic Salt and black pepper to taste Garnish with fresh herbs (cilantro, basil and/or chives) Place cleaned neck roast into a Crock-Pot (there’s no need to separate muscle groups, as the connective tissues add flavor and texture). In a medium bowl, whisk all other ingredients together until smooth. Pour over roast and

Chef Tiffany Haugen makes the most of the necks of big game by using the sandwich staples of peanut butter and jelly and cooking the meat low and slow to a melt-in-yourmouth tenderness. (TIFFANY HAUGEN) 60

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flip roast so it’s coated on all sides. Cook on high for four to six hours or until meat shreds easily with a fork. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Big Game, visit scotthaugen.com.

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marine mammals bison • goat • bear • moose aksportingjournal.com | AUGUST 2026

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

Final Pass 3.5-inch shotshells with size 1 1/2 plus BB steel shot did a number on lesser Canada geese. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

DON’T PASS UP THIS LOAD I shot two loads of Winchester Final Pass in 12-gauge: a 3-inch load of size 2 1/2 plus 4 shot and a 3.5-inch load of size 1 1/2 plus BB shot. When I cut these loads open, the first thing that impressed me was the near perfect roundness of each zinc-plated steel pellet. I’ve always been a fan of round shotgun pellets, as simple physics confirms round flies with efficiency. Both loads patterned well in a Browning Maxus with a modified choke. The 2 1/2 plus 4 payload was impressive on ducks out to 45 yards. When I swatted a cripple on the river at 40 yards, the mist that consumed the mallard caught my attention. It was a very tight pattern for a steel load. The blended shot delivered noticeable energy and tight patterns on closer ducks, killing with consistency. On the field hunt for mallards and geese, I upsized to the 3.5-inch shell with 1 1/2 plus BB blended-steel payload. I was on the blind’s downwind side with three other hunters, so I batted cleanup. It was windy with gusts exceeding 20 mph. A number of shots I took were over 50 yards at birds that were speeding away 62

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

with a stiff tailwind. The load dropped ducks and geese with impressive authority. I shot the last goose of the day as it flew straight overhead, all of 65 yards. There’s something to this Final Pass 1/2-size steel shot, as not only does it deliver dense patterns, it kills birds with consistency. Back home I shot the Final Pass 2 1/2 plus 4 payload in 20-gauge. On one hunt I shot at eight surf scoters and killed a limit of seven. All were shot from a layout boat, all were head shots and all birds were stone dead. I shot it on multiple puddle duck hunts in a range of conditions. For a steel blend in both 20- and 12-gauge, Final Pass gets the job done and at a very affordable price point.

TWICE THE WALLOP On two hunts I shot Winchester’s Last Call Double Shot. The first three shots I fired dropped fat greenheads. The custom blend of sizes 2 1/2 steel and 9 tungsten super shot was addicting to shoot. Every time I pulled the trigger I knew that ducks would die. The performance of the high-density 18 g/cc TSS blew my mind, as I wasn’t sure what to expect from

AUGUST 2026 | aksportingjournal.com

the tiny pellet. I cut open two shells and counted pellets. They were within one pellet of each other, which speaks to the precision of this stacked payload. I couldn’t wait to test the Last Call Double Shot when back home. Using a 12-gauge Benelli SBE3 with the new AI barrel, this load hammered ducks out to 60 yards. I shot it on two hunts, limiting each time on mallards, pintails, wigeon and wood ducks. Every shot from 50 yards crushed birds dead in the sky. When cleaning the birds, high counts of TSS wound channels were the norm, yet I never found a pellet because they blew right through. The Last Call Double Shot clearly maximizes pellet count and pattern density, as well as downrange power delivery. In my 50 years of waterfowl hunting, this ranks as a top-performing load. With waterfowl season just around the corner, these are two loads I’d not hesitate to pull the trigger on. ASJ Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.