Photo by Todd Radenbaugh

In cooperation with Kulik Lodge and the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska, American Angler magazine will send two lucky winners on a seven-day trip of a lifetime to the heart of the world’s most magnificent—and imperiled—trout and salmon fishery. This package includes round-trip air transportation between Anchorage and Kulik, lodging, three guided Sportfishing fly-outs per person, meals, boat and guide service while at Kulik, fishing licenses, rods, waders, and complimentary cocktails.

Superb fishing is available adjacent to the lodge on the Kulik River and on Kulik and Nonvianuk Lakes. The gin-clear water, gravel bottom, and plentiful food supply of the Kulik River provide ideal habitat for the large population of native rainbow trout. In addition to world-class rainbow-trout fishing at the lodge, you’ll be able to fly out to hot spots within a 100-mile radius and fish for a variety of species, including rainbows, arctic char, grayling, lake trout, pike, and all five species of Pacific salmon. The comfortable guest cabins accommodate two people and are equipped with modern facilities. The native spruce lodge boasts a large stone fireplace, dining area, and bar where complimentary cocktails are served each evening. The retail value of this trip is $12,100.

Contest End February 31, 2010

Enter Here!

Congratulations to Christopher Gatch of Keller, Texas.  Christopher is a life member of the Dallas Safari Club and is one excited hunter who now has a really hard decision.  

What caliber should he get in his new Kimber 8400 rifle?

Is he going to hunt for Moose or Grizzly?

Christopher bought a ticket from the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska for $50.00 and somebody had to win.  He was very excited tonight to get a call from Scott Hed.  Congratulations Christopher!!!!!

Christopher won a 10 day hunt in Alaska for Moose or Grizzly, a Kimber Rifle, a Leupold VX-II Scope and a full set of Sitka Gear!

We have really enjoyed working on this promotion and are we hope to see some great pictures from Christopher upon his return.

http://www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/

Prominent West Coast chefs are supporting Trout Unlimited Alaska’s “Vote with Your Fork” campaign. The goal is to raise awareness among food lovers about the value of Bristol Bay wild salmon and the threats they face from the large-scale hard rock mining in the Bristol Bay watershed.

High-profile chef Alice Waters of Berkley, Calif.’s Chez Panisse restaurant has become an outspoken advocate for preserving Bristol Bay salmon from the risks of mining.

 “It’s our moral obligation to protect these fish and that means supporting this sustainable fishery by choosing Bristol Bay salmon,” said Johnson. “If we allow this Pebble mine to go in, the same thing that happened to us down here in California is going to happen in Alaska. The salmon won’t survive.”

A group of Seattle chefs has also recently weighed in. The board of Seattle Chefs Collaborative, a non-profit that works with chefs and others to foster a sustainable food supply, recently voted unanimously to support the efforts of Trout Unlimited to protect Bristol Bay’s salmon.

There are some great organizations that are fighting for the preservation of Bristol Bay. One would be the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska, directed by Scott Hed.

I would like to see if Barton Seaver weighs in on this! Barton is a vibrant young chef that preaches the sustainability mantra with conviction!

Read the full article here.

Volunteer extraordinaire Mark Hieronymus has just flown back north to Alaska after running the show the past two weekends. He co-hosted a terrific Bristol Bay party in Portland with over 80 folks in attendance to see Equilibrium and Red Gold. Mark said there was a standing ovation at the end of the night.

That’s what happens when folks see these films and learn about the tremendous battle being waged over the world’s most productive salmon fishery. We need to get them shown as far and wide as possible – all across the country! If you are interested in helping host a showing of these films in your area, give me a call or send an e-mail. I’m guessing if one person steps forward in your area we can get a few more to pitch in. We’re working on having a “how to” guide put together to host the movies either in a house party format or a larger venue.

In the meantime, here’s what’s left for the SAA road show 2009 edition:

• Feb. 21-22                   Pasadena CA
  • The Fly Fishing Show
•  Feb. 27- Mar. 1          Pleasanton CA
  • The Fly Fishing Show
• Feb. 27 – Mar. 1          Glendale AZ
  • International Sportsmen’s Expo
• Mar. 5-8                      Fort Worth TX
  • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 25th Anniversary Elk Camp
• Mar. 6-8                      Bloomington MN
  • Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo
• Mar. 7-8                      Warren MI
  • Midwest Fly Fishing Expo
•  Mar. 12-15                 Minneapolis MN
  • Northwest Sport Show (show being covered by Renewable Resources Coalition)
• Apr. 18-19                   Waynesboro VA
  • Virginia Fly Fishing Festival

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you are interested in volunteering at any of the shows listed above, please contact scott@sportsmansalliance4ak.org. We could really use a few hands for the shows in Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, and Michigan. Reports from volunteers at earlier shows this year are very positive, and many of these fine folks are looking forward to helping again in 2010.

Bristol Bay Coverage in Men’s Journal magazine
Men’s Journal magazine’s March issue features an article about the Bristol Bay issue and a rafting trip north of the Pebble Mine site. One of the participants on the trip is Carol Ann Woody, one of the most prominent fisheries scientists in Alaska (and also a face familiar to those who’ve seen Red Gold). Pick up a copy at the newsstand, or read it here.

Tell Fred Meyer Jewelers “No Gold from Bristol Bay!”
Seven leading jewelry retailers, including Tiffany & Co., Ben Bridge Jeweler and Helzberg Diamonds have pledged to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale gold mining.

We’re asking Fred Meyer Jewelers – the third largest US jewelry retailer – to join this leadership group. As a signatory to the Golden Rules, Fred Meyer has declared its commitment to more responsible sourcing of gold. Signing the Bristol Bay Pledge will make that commitment real.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Fred Meyer that their customers want to know that the gold they buy won’t come at the expense of the world’s greatest salmon fishery and the communities it supports.

Bristol Bay Online Fundraising Auction Update
The second annual fundraising auction for Bristol Bay is off to a great start, with gross proceeds already topping $14,000. Thank you to the blogs, web sites and magazines who are helping spread the word. The greater the number of people visiting the auction, the better the odds that we can raise some serious money to help fight for Bristol Bay. Last year’s gross was over $50,000 which is helping raise awareness about Bristol Bay all across the country.

This auction is possible due to the very generous contributions of so many companies, lodges and artists. Please support them and support the campaign for Bristol Bay’s future by bidding on an item or two. There’s a great selection, and you should be able to find something you need or want. All starting bids are set below 65% of retail value (with one exception noted by an asterisk below), so you could get a good buy and help a great cause at the same time.

The inventory for the auction is basically set up on a rolling basis, with new items being added every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All listings run for seven (7) days, so there are always items nearing the end of their run.

To see active listings, click here.

Completed listings:

• St. Croix “Avid” Series 6-wt fly rod – Sold to Jerry in TX for $194.90
• Koktuli River float trip for 2 – Sold to Mike in AZ for $4,000.00
• Fishpond “Dakota” rod & reel carry-on – Sold to Mike in AZ for $90.00
• “Tarpon-Red Streamer” print by Derek DeYoung – Sold to Travis in CA for $152.50
• Rainbow River Lodge trip for 2 – Sold to Paul in MI for $7,600.00
• Cloudveil 8x Pro Waders and Boots – Sold to Michael in NC for $380.00
• Nautilus FW5 fly reel + SA line – Sold to Steve in IN for $276.50

Items up for bid right now:

• Trip for 2 to Kulik Lodge (ends Wed., 2/18) – offered at $6,600
• Ari ‘t Hart “Trilogy” fly reel by Exclusive Reels (ends. Wed., 2/18) – selling at $1,580
• Ross Worldwide “Essence” 7/8 fly rod/reel outfit (ends Wed., 2/18) – selling at $110
• Leupold 8×42mm “Cascades” binocular (ends Wed., 2/18) – selling at $202.50
• Smith Interlock Spoiler polarized sunglasses (ends Wed., 2/18) – selling at $61.08
• Trip for 2 to No See Um Lodge (ends Fri., 2/20) – offered at $8,500
• Simms “Rivershed” boot w/ Vibram sole (ends Fri., 2/20) – selling at $112.50
• Waterworks “Force” LT2 fly reel + SA line (ends Fri., 2/20) – offered at $265
• Trip for 2 to Rainbow Point Lodge (ends Mon., 2/23) – offered at $7,495
• CA School of Fly Fishing choice of class (ends Mon., 2/23) – offered at $500*
• “Taku” polarized sunglasses by 7eye (ends Mon., 2/23) – selling at $65
• “Three Hiltons” artistic photograph by Jeff Bright (ends Mon., 2/23) – offered at $150

Items to be listed in next seven (7) days:

• Women’s Flyfishing Alaska’s Denali Highway trip for 1 woman angler + dozen flies + Redington “Chena River” women’s waders – offered at $525 (great package deal!)
• Breathable 5-Layer stockingfoot waders by Filson – offered at $180
• “Guide” boots by Korkers – offered at $90
• Spey line + tips from Rio Products – offered at $160
• Trip for 2 to Royal Coachman Lodge – offered at $7,500
• Original rainbow trout painting by Tim Pearson – offered at $1,000
• “Hidden Water” 8-wt travel fly rod by March Brown – offered at $100
• Galvan T-8 fly reel – offered at $250
• Drift boat accessories package by Clackacraft – offered at $150
• Simms “Guide” boot w/ Vibram sole – offered at $110
• Trip for 4 to Legend Lodge – offered at $8,400
• Orvis ZG Helios 910-4 fly rod + Orvis Vortex VO2 V fly reel – offered at $655

The entire schedule of auction items with opening bid amounts is viewable online at the SAA Web site.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON AUCTION TRIP LISTINGS: In a nod to the economic reality of the present time, the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska is offering what may possibly be the best deals you’ll ever find on a bunch of fine fishing trips. Here’s the deal: The starting price for all trips will be just $500 over the regular price for 1 angler. That’s right. Basically, book a trip for 1 angler at regular price, and the 2nd person comes along for as little as $500 more! Find a buddy, split the cost, and start packing for your dream trip.

If the trips don’t sell on the auction, nobody wins. If the trips do sell, everybody wins. The top bidder will get a fantastic deal on a “trip of a lifetime.” The lodge will host 2 enthusiastic anglers. And the SAA gets a little more in the bank to help fight the battle to save Bristol Bay.

The SAA recognizes the fact that some of these trips, even at discounted prices, may be difficult to pay for in a single lump sum. SAA is willing to work with buyers on a payment schedule if necessary.

However, all trips musts be paid for in full at least 60 days prior to the departure date. Please contact me if you have any questions on this policy.

Other Opportunities to Support the Cause

• A limited supply of “No Pebble Mine” James Prosek sockeye salmon t-shirts are available. Full details can be found here. The donations for these shirts just keep rolling in, so get yours before they’re gone!
• Have you seen the No Pebble Mine reels by Abel? Only 100 of these were made, and $200 for each reel sold goes to the fight for Bristol Bay.
• Find out how you could go on a once-in-a-lifetime Alaska moose hunt and get some incredible gear for the trip too. Chances to be drawn are capped at 1 in 500, and one donor will be very happy to have helped the cause through this special promotion. (For you non-hunters, we are offering a $5,000 cash option instead of the hunt.)
• For you wine lovers, how about an order of your favorite vintage from Stonefly Vineyards? Stonefly is the official winery of the Federation of Fly Fishers, and they’re offering a great way to support the Bristol Bay campaign.

That’ll do it for this edition of the SAA E-News and Auction Update. Throughout the course of the auction, weekly updates will continue to be issued on Tuesdays.

Thanks for all you do for Alaska conservation!

Scott Hed
Director – Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska