Compleat Thought » Salmon

Don’t Go Down That Pebble Road…

kyleindenver — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:08:13 +0000

Photo: Charlie King

When the Fly-Fishing Film Tour (F3T) rolled into Boulder last Thursday, about 40 sportsmen were preparing to head to Washington D.C. to speak with the White House, Senators, and other agency officials on the possible threats associated with creating one of the largest gold/copper mines above the most prolific salmons runs in the world. As they gathered, I was asked to head-up the show in Boulder and inform everyone of the possible significance of the year ahead.

Thanks to the fine folks from F3T, I spoke in front of a packed house of eager fish-porn enthusiasts. Most applauded the efforts, and even more had questions. “Are we going to win this?” or “People in Alaska are worried – should they be?”. While I could answer these as best as possible, my expression said, “Absolutely – we’re going to pull through this.” After all, if we lose this battle, anything is on the table.

It was a great night, but more news is coming out of D.C. today, including a new article by former Republican Representative Robin Hayes of North Carolina. He’s quoted as saying:

“We live in a time where jobs don’t exactly grow on trees, but in Alaska, it is fair to say that jobs grow on rivers.”

Please visit his article posted here, and please leave a comment with your support. This is a critical time on a critical issue. We can’t leave it alone now.

Photo: Ben Knight

Bristol Bay Road Show – Denver This Week!

kyleindenver — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:27:04 +0000

Hey Colorado! If you weren’t aware, the Bristol Bay Road Show stops through Denver this Thursday at the Oriental Theater. Don’t miss this FREE show to benefit Trout Unlimited Alaska and learn how one of the largest gold and copper mines could affect millions of spawning salmon runs. While there will be free admission and free wild Alaskan salmon appetizers, there is also a bunch of raffle items available including a Scott S4 rod!

And that’s not all. Come see one of the best documentaries ever made by Felt Soul Media – Red Gold. For those of you that have seen it, it’s even better on a big screen (trust me). There will also be a panel from people directly involved in the fight to protect the people who have voted this project down – even though large mining companies continue to seek approval from government agencies to proceed – even after they said they would listen to the people.

Come out and show your support, learn about the proposed Pebble Mine, or to just enjoy a good time with friends.

Please RSVP through the following link. Get your name on the list now, as we’re expecting a large crowd!

Thursday, October 27, 7pm

Denver, Colorado
Oriental Theater
4335 West 44th Avenue
Denver, CO 80212
Free Admission

Hope to see you there!

Ever Wanted to Fish Bristol Bay?

kyleindenver — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:42:42 +0000

Have you ever wanted to fish in southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay area? Here’s your chance.

ExOfficio and Trout Unlimited team up for the ultimate giveaway: a fishing trip for two to Alaska’s Bristol Bay

Enter online or in stores during June to win airfare, lodging, guiding and adventure clothes

Seattle – Performance and outdoor clothing brand ExOfficio and Trout Unlimited’s Alaska program will give away the ultimate getaway: a three-night fishing trip to Bristol Bay, Alaska. Anyone can enter the “Keep the Bugs Away® in Bristol Bay,” contest online at www.exofficiosweeps.com, or in more than 70 retail stores across the country from June 1 – 30.

Sponsored by ExOfficio, the Alaska Program of Trout Unlimited and the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska, the contest, with an approximate retail value of $11,000, includes:

Three nights’ lodging and board for two at the Sportsman’s Alaska Bear Trail Lodge
• Customized, guided fishing trips and nature excursions, including floatplane transportation
• Airline vouchers for two roundtrips from Seattle to Anchorage
• Adventure clothing for two from ExOfficio’s Bugs Away® line

The promotion is aimed at raising awareness for Bristol Bay, home of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery, which is threatened by a proposed large-scale gold and copper mine. More than 12,000 people earn their living from Bristol Bay fisheries and related tourism industries, which generate $450 million a year. The Save Bristol Bay effort is led by a broad coalition, including non-profit Trout Unlimited, Alaska Native organizations, commercial fisherman, and outdoor enthusiasts. For more information, see www.savebristolbay.org.

“ExOfficio is proud to help raise awareness for protecting the Bristol Bay watershed from the risks of a massive open pit and underground mine,” said Steve Bendzak, General Manager of ExOfficio, which is based in Seattle. “We stand with the Alaska Natives and others who are working to save this amazing natural resource.”

Both customers and retailers have a chance to win a three-night fishing trip to Alaska. Seventy-six retail stores across the country, including Hudson Trail Outfitters and Great Outdoor Provision Co., will feature the contest and provide in-store entry. A random drawing to select the winner will be conducted on or about August 1, 2011, and the winner must redeem the prize by December 31, 2012.

“We want to thank ExOfficio for bringing awareness to Bristol Bay through this amazing contest,” said Tim Bristol, Director of Trout Unlimited’s Alaska Office. “The winner will get to see firsthand why Alaskans are working so hard to stop Pebble Mine and protect this one of a kind natural resource, and all of the jobs tied to it.”

Bristol Bay is:
• A 40,000-square mile wetland (that’s about the size of Kentucky) with nine major rivers
• Home of the world’s largest sockeye salmon run and one of the biggest king salmon populations
• Epicenter of a $450 million a year fishing industry and 12,000 fishing and tourism jobs

Pebble Mine would:
• Dig an open-pit mine up to two miles wide and 1,700 feet deep; and an underground mine of similar scale
• Dump up to 10 billion tons of toxic mine waste in perpetuity in the heart of the Bristol Bay watershed
• Be operated by and profit two foreign companies
• Potentially destroy the salmon runs, other fish, habitat, and wildlife of this productive and wild area

About ExOfficio:
ExOfficio is devoted to enhancing worldly exploration through clothing and footwear that packs-well, performs and is durable enough for a lifetime of adventure. ExOfficio is sold internationally in specialty outdoor, fly-fishing, travel and luggage stores.Products are available in ExOfficio retail stores and online. For more information visit www.exofficio.com.

About Trout Unlimited:
Trout Unlimited is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people. With more than 150,000 members and volunteers organized into about 400 chapters from Maine to Montana to Alaska, the organization is firmly behind the effort to stop the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay. www.tu.org/
About the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska:
The Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska is a program sponsored by the Alaska Conservation Foundation and consists of hunters and anglers working together to preserve fish and game habitats and hunting and fishing opportunities on our public lands in Alaska. www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org

Pebble Debate Is Heating Up…

kyleindenver — Thu, 19 May 2011 00:51:42 +0000

It’s that time of year again. Lodges, Guides, and anglers from all over the world will flock to Bristol Bay in Alaska to experience some of the best salmon and trout fishing in the world. As we look at the coming year, it’s going to be an important one. The Pebble Partnership is moving forward and expects to start the permit process to drill one of the largest open pit mines in the very near future. This has caused many organizations to ‘put up their dukes’ and again express concern over such a massive project that will most inevitably harm one of the most prolific salmon runs in the world.

When you go to a store or restaurant and order wild salmon, it’s most likely coming from this region in southwest Alaska. For me, living in Colorado, I release every trout I catch, then on the way home, buy a big slab of wild Alaskan salmon to grill up for the family (yes, the dogs like it as much as we do). I catch heat from my wife because every restaurant we visit that says it has ‘salmon’, I always ask if it’s wild Alaskan.

There are so many reasons to disagree with this proposed mining project that I can’t begin to start writing about them. The fact is, this takes place in a region that where millions of salmon return every year to spawn. What happens when the earthen dams that will be developed to hold back toxic waste fail, or are left behind once all gold and copper are extracted? Remember folks, there’s a lot of earthquakes in this area. It’s a down right scary situation. We’ve seen from other similar processes that the track record is not the best. Pebble says that everything can co-exist, but give me one example where it has be environmentally safe with no exceptions.

I call on everyone reading this to simply look at the research and make your own opinion – I think that you will agree with the local people of Bristol Bay and oppose it. Maybe some of you won’t, and that’s ok, but I don’t live there, and most of you don’t either, so why not listen to what the locals want and don’t want. Education is key – everyone should at least pay attention to this process and feel free to state your opinion. We’re Americans, and we’re given that right.

Here are a few links to keep up with the news and process of the proposed Pebble Mine:

Save Bristol Bay

Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

Renewable Resources Coalition

Also, some social media outlets:

Save Bristol Bay on Facebook

1 Million Strong on Facebook

Save Bristol Bay on Twitter

No Pebble Mine on Twitter

Thanks to everyone who opposes or questions this mine and what it could do to the region. If you’re interested, leave a comment below. I have a limited amount stickers available if anyone would like a few to show your support.

Red Gold | trailer from felt soul media on Vimeo.

A Little Fish Porn

kyleindenver — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:00:32 +0000

There’s been lot of new videos coming out lately – just thought I’d post a few for your liking. Of course, friends at No Sports Allowed have a new trailer to admire:

The Costa Rica Challenge from N.S.A. on Vimeo.

Don’t forget to check in often to what Yukon Goes Fishing is putting out. Sick stuff:

sometimes whitefish eat sex dungeons from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

And lastly, check out the Kola Fly Fishing Channel and Salmon Junkies:

Red Autumn from Kåre Lundquist on Vimeo.