Take two minutes to protect the Bristol Bay salmon run

Protect the Bristol Bay salmon run, and the way of life of the people who rely on it. Comment to the Army Corps of Engineers about the Pebble Mine project. This won't go away. https://t.co/RS4JCsYUaO … #nopebblemine pic.twitter.com/Vbm8ImDG1m

— flyfishmagazine (@flyfishmagazine) April 3, 2019

Video: EPA Reverses Bristol Bay Salmon Protections

That Pebble Mine thing we all got so involved with a few years ago? It's back and it's bad...  I have no idea how even a casual sportsman could support this in any way.  If you have forgotten, feel free to review our previous coverage.  If you haven't visited the Bristol Bay area of Alaska you might want to do it quickly.

Protect Bristol Bay

This week, April 16 – 18, 40 sportsmen representing 17 states are traveling to the nation’s capital to let their elected officials and the President know that protecting Bristol Bay, Alaska is a top priority for sportsmen.

Learn more about next week’s Sportsmen Summit here from the director of the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska: http://ow.ly/acglL

 

Bristol Bay Salmon Plan Massive Suicide Protest

(Iliamna, AK) Insider sources within the piscatorial community recently revealed plans for a massive protest against the proposed Pebble Mine project within the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. The source, who for the sake of anonymity we shall refer to as "Hookjaw", and who is a member of a group known as the "Bristol Bay Reds" revealed a highly coordinated plan in which millions of Sockeye and other specie of salmonid plan to give their lives later this year. The mass suicide is intended as a means of protesting the possible fouling of their birth waters by what they refer to as the "Pebble Mine disaster."

Our insider further revealed that massive numbers of the fish are planning to gather off of the Alaska coast before starting the long journey upstream to the home of their youth. Once they have made the perilous trek past commercial fishing vessels, recreational anglers, grizzly bear, and other threats, their plan is to locate a member of the opposite sex for one last fling. The female salmon will then go about the business of laying their eggs while the males stand watch and skirmish among themselves and the region's massive rainbow trout (who hope to make a meal on the salmon's eggs).

Those who survive and complete their procreation will gather one last time and die together in what they hope the world will view as a huge show of solidarity for the cause of fish everywhere. "We will be giving our lives so that both our fry and the very lifestyle of the Bristol Bay region can continue to exist" said one participant. "We only hope that the land dwelling people will take notice and stop this before it all comes to an end."

A spokesperson for company behind the mining project said, "We hear rumors of this sort of thing every year." "While we sympathize with the effect this has on the land dwelling people of Bristol Bay, we really can't concern ourselves with the actions of a radical fringe group such as the Sockeye."

Brother let me tell you it's a long hard ride...

News from Trout Unlimited:

Brothers Bicycle from Alaska to Argentina to Protect Bristol Bay

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, August 5, 2009 – Two brothers are bicycling from Alaska to Argentina to draw attention to Bristol Bay wild salmon and the threat the fishery faces from a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine.

Seth and Parker Berling, of San Francisco and San Diego, Calif., left Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in early July to begin a 17,000-mile journey to Tierra del Fuego, at the southernmost tip of South America. The Berling brothers are making the trip to raise awareness about the proposed Pebble mine and how it could harm the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery, located in Southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay. The Pebble deposit is located in the headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers, two of the major salmon-producing rivers of Bristol Bay. If developed, Pebble would be one of the world’s largest open-pit mines. A diverse coalition of commercial and sport fishermen, Alaska Natives, lodge owners, guides, outfitters, scientists and others say the project is likely to expose the region to acid mine drainage, industrial discharges and habitat destruction.

The self-described “Pebble Pedalers” first became aware of the mine project and the threat it poses to Bristol Bay from watching a trailer of the award-wining documentary, Red Gold (www.redgoldfilm.com.) The movie depicts the vital role that wild salmon play in the Bristol Bay region and how the fish are a cornerstone of Alaska Native culture. The film illustrates what how Alaska’s most valuable fishery, and one of the world’s last remaining wild salmon runs, could be lost if the massive open-pit mine gets built.

“Our Dad raised us fly-fishing and we’d always hear about California rivers and how great they once were before the salmon runs were destroyed. In Alaska, you still have an untouched working ecosystem right at your doorstep. It’s unsurpassed for wild salmon. Why would you possibly consider jeopardizing it?” said Seth.

The bicycle journey is also a fundraiser for Trout Unlimited Alaska, a non-profit conservation organization based in Juneau that is organizing efforts to stop the Pebble mine and to protect the Bristol Bay watershed.

“We’ve fished all around the world but we had never been to Alaska before this summer. Bristol Bay blew us way. It totally surpassed our expectations. We caught huge rainbow trout, arctic char, Dolly Varden and grayling. We were a little early for the salmon but we plan to go back,” said Parker.

The brothers hope to complete the bike journey across 15 countries, two hemispheres and two continents in one-and-a-half to two years. As avid fishermen, their arrival in Argentina will depend on how much time they take to catch and release along the way.

“We’re already a little behind schedule because of the fishing trips we did in Bristol Bay and in the Tangle Lakes area along the Denali Highway,” Seth said.

For more information about the Pebble Pedalers, go to: http://pebblepedalers.com.

Learn more about Bristol Bay and the Pebble mine at: www.savebristolbay.org.

Join Trout Unlimited at: www.tu.org

Native Alaskans file Suit to Stop Pebble Disaster

Bristol Bay Residents Assert Pebble Exploration Violates State Constitution
Exploration permits could be suspended as a result of lawsuit filed today

Anchorage, Alaska—A Bristol Bay Alaska Native organization and several individuals, including former Alaska First Lady Bella Hammond and Alaska Constitutional Convention delegate Victor Fischer, filed a civil suit in Anchorage Superior Court today asserting that the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) repeatedly violated the Alaska Constitution in granting permits for Pebble mine exploration. The lawsuit asserts that the agency failed to consider the public’s interest in sustaining the region’s rich salmon, wildlife, and subsistence resources, which are negatively affected by exploration activities. Plaintiffs are asking the court to halt exploration until the case is resolved.

“DNR has neglected its legal and moral obligation to protect Bristol Bay’s subsistence resources,” said Bobby Andrew, spokesman for Nunamta Aulukestai, a lead plaintiff. “Current exploration is having a serious impact on water and wildlife, yet the agency continues to rubber stamp permits and ignore the public interest.”

The lawsuit filed today asserts that DNR has violated multiple sections of Article VIII of the Alaska Constitution in repeatedly issuing exploration permits without public notice and without analyzing whether exploration or the mine itself are in the public interest.

Plaintiffs have asked the court for a preliminary injunction prohibiting the State from granting or extending permits for exploration and water use on mining claims held by the Pebble Limited Partnership, effectively stopping further exploration until the court makes a final decision – or until the State Legislature enacts a new regulatory framework for onshore mining exploration. The injunction would not apply to mining activities elsewhere in the state. Plaintiffs have also asked the court to void all exploration permits already issued by DNR to the Pebble Limited Partnership, Pebble East Corp., and Pebble West Corp.

Public interest law firm Trustees for Alaska filed the six-count civil action on behalf of Nunamta Aulukestai, an organization comprising eight Native village corporations, including Ekwok, Koliganek, New Stuyahok, Clarks Point, Aleknagik, Togiak, Manakotak and Dillingham. Joining in the suit as co-plaintiffs are Nondalton resident Jack Hobson, Nondalton resident Ricky Delkittie, Sr., Naknek resident Violet Willson, former Alaska First Lady Bella Hammond, and former Alaska legislator and Alaska Constitutional Convention delegate Victor Fischer.

Found in the urban wild

Things we are glad the wife didn't see before our Bristol Bay trip.

Leading UK Jewelers Say “No” to Dirty Gold

Leading UK Jewelers Say “No” to Dirty Gold from Alaska Mine
Pledge Support for World’s Greatest Wild Salmon Fishery

London, England—Six prestigious UK jewelry retailers and designers representing 260 stores today pledged their support for Bristol Bay, Alaska, by announcing that they will not buy gold from Anglo American’s proposed “Pebble” mine, a massive open-pit operation being considered in the bay’s headwaters. The Bristol Bay watershed supports the world’s most productive wild sockeye salmon fishery, which is critical to the state’s economy and to the livelihoods of many Alaska Native communities. The UK is the largest consumer of Bristol Bay canned sockeye salmon.

UK jewelers Goldsmiths, Beaverbrooks, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland, Fifi Bijoux and April Doubleday took this step at the invitation of local Alaskans who seek to protect wild salmon, clean water and their traditional ways of life from the damaging effects of industrial metal mines.

"We at Beaverbrooks support the protection of Alaska's Bristol Bay watershed from large scale mining,” said Mark Adelstone, managing director of Beaverbrooks the Jewellers. “We need to be mindful and respectful of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery and the communities that depend on it. We feel that the precious metals that we sell need to be mined responsibly and in environmentally friendly ways and if this means looking to other places to source gold, then so be it."

In pledging not to source gold mined at Pebble, the UK jewelers join eight U.S. retailers who endorsed the pledge last year, including Tiffany & Co. (which has seven stores in the UK), Helzberg Diamonds, and Ben Bridge Jeweler. The threat to the Bristol Bay fishery has generated an unusual and diverse array of allies, including Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, over 140 sportfishing businesses, the Alaska Intertribal Council (a consortium of 231 Alaska Tribes), and numerous conservation groups.

“The support demonstrated by these respected UK jewelers is greatly appreciated and will help us to protect the wild salmon fishery that has sustained our economy and people for generations,” said Thomas Tilden, board member of the Choggiung Native Corporation.

The proposed Pebble gold-copper mine is a project of UK-based Anglo American, one of the world’s largest mining companies, and Northern Dynasty Minerals of Canada. The mine is projected to generate an estimated 9 billion tons of waste, much of it containing acids and toxic metals to be stored on site in what is now pristine Alaska wilderness.

“Sustainable development is surely a necessary value which is core to any 21st century business,” said Vivien Johnston of Fifi Bijoux. “I am surprised that Anglo American would pursue a programme in Bristol Bay which is clearly not in the best interests of the long term sustainability of the local community or the conservation of important ecosystems. I would ask them to revise their strategy and review their CSR standards to ensure that any new mining site need not compromise their vision of environmental integrity and community consultation.”

Alaska Native communities’ way of life, and Alaska’s largest private sector employer – the fishing industry – are heavily dependent on the continued health of Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay’s commercial fishery generates $320 million a year and 12,500 jobs. Bristol Bay residents harvest and consume an average of 315 pounds (143 kilograms) of fish per person per year, making the salmon a primary source of food. Unlike many of the world’s wild salmon populations, which are in serious decline, the pristine rivers and undeveloped landscape of the Bristol Bay watershed continue to support a sustainable world-class salmon fishery that supplies healthy seafood to consumers around the world. A third of the world’s commercial sockeye salmon are harvested there, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

These UK and U.S. retailers who have signed on to the Bristol Bay protection pledge have also endorsed the “Golden Rules” of the No Dirty Gold consumer campaign spearheaded by EARTHWORKS, which has called on mining companies to meet environmental and social standards. So far, some 55 retailers worldwide have endorsed the Golden Rules. A complete list can be found on the No Dirty Gold website. More than 100,000 consumers in over 100 countries have also signed the No Dirty Gold pledge, urging mining companies to provide alternatives to “dirty” gold.

“The Pebble mine would imperil one of the world’s most pristine and productive ecosystems,” said Bonnie Gestring of international mining reform group EARTHWORKS. “We applaud the jewelry retailers for signing on to the Bristol Bay protection pledge, and demonstrating their commitment to responsible sourcing.”

FlyfishMagazine: "Non-original Content" Thursday

My week has been filled with meeting rooms, hotel food, presentations, and the occasional open bar. The jist? 2009 is a bust - let's hope for better days in 2010. This whole wanting to be "able to buy groceries thing" along with a pending move North of the Mason Dixon line, has put a kink in my time spent surfing the intertube for stuff to amuse the masses. None-the-less, here are a few items that caught our somewhat red midweek eye:

Headline of the week via the DC Examiner : The Vine Guy: Sunshine in a Cloudy Bay Get it? I've got Sunshine on a cloudy bay, When its cold outside...

After you watch the Pisgah Fly Masters on the Davidson River, you might want to catch the next Fips Mouche style fly fishing competition on Lake Lure (site of the filming of our favorite Jennifer Grey "nobody puts baby in a corner" movie), "The Olympiad Fly-Fishing Masters tournament ". Could this be the start of a Carolina fly fishing tournament trail?

Because of our slackness you didn't learn about this auction of "one of the largest offerings of fly-fishing gear seen in Dunedin for several years" until it was too late. It would have been a bit of a hike anyway, being that it was in New Zealand.

The Bristol,TN Tri-Cities Herald's aptly named "Continuous News Desk" provides a "Long History Of Fly Fishing." It is 504 words.

Finally, Google's News Search reports that there are currently 492 articles with headlines that are variations on the ever popular title, "Hooked on Fishing." Even as we type, journalism schools throughout the civilized world are preparing to withdraw degrees.

Bristol Bay News

We ran into Scott Hed of the Sportsman's Alliance For Alaska at the Charlotte Fly Fishing Show and got the latest news from the Bristol Bay area about the fight against the Pebble Mine disaster. After you watch it check out some of these other videos created by folks who will be directly impacted by the mine.

Bristol Bay Online Auction Active

The Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska's annual fund raising auction is currently in full swing. Last year this auction raised over $50,000 for the fight against the Pebble Mine which would put its caustic tailings in the heart of the world's largest Salmon run. This year, according to Scott Hed of the SAA, anglers will have a chance to get a major deal on the "trip of a lifetime":

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.

In addition to the trips there are many other items of great gear with starting prices of just 65% of retail. Click here to visit the auction's ebay page. New items are added each Monday.

Bristol Bay Artist and Guide: Tim Pearson

"The Chase" by Tim Pearson

Tim Pearson is a hard working Alaskan fishing guide who is also a talented artist. Both of these skills come in handy when you spend your summers taking people fishing for big rainbow trout around Alaska's Bristol Bay Drainage. Tim was my guide in Alaska and I can say first hand that he has a passion for fly fishing, art, and the environment that shows up in his work. Visit Tim's website TSP Nature Art and pick out a last minute holiday wall hanger for the angler on your list. We think you will find his work to be an excellent value.

Editor's Note: We keep in touch with Tim, so look for more from him in the near future.

Sure we'll replace your lake...

Scott Hed, Director of the Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska points us towards this article via WLTribune.com that tells of one mining company's plan to replace fish habitat lost due to mining operations by building a lake.

Taseko Mines presented a new $10 to $12-million fish compensation plan for its Prosperity project to the provincial and federal governments late last week.
It calls for a brand new lake, similar in size and depth to Fish Lake, to offer fish habitat and improved fish spawning channels.

Prosperity Lake would be created using a dam, and sit roughly eight kilometres east of Fish Lake, and would be 113 hectares in size and 17 metres deep. Fish Lake is 111 hectares and 14 metres deep.

The plan is to compensate for the loss of fish habitat if the copper and gold mine is built, and Fish Lake, 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, is drained. A dam would be built to create a tailings pond upstream of Fish Lake.

From Scott's email:

Hopefully you guys will appreciate this…especially the part where citizens of the area will get to vote on whether this newly created lake will be home to big fish or little fish.

Taseko, the mining company in this article, is a sister company to Northern Dynasty with the Pebble project. Maybe if this is successful in Canada, we’ll get to choose what kind of fish we’d like to have in Bristol Bay. I vote for really big rainbow trout and lots and lots of wild salmon. Oh yeah, that’s what is already there.

Thursday "Wild Ass" Photo and Rant

I don't know about you but I am so over all of this election talk that wild asses couldn't get me to post anything even remotely related to it. North Carolina has been overrun of late with the trophy wife having to dodge motorcades to get to work yesterday morning.

As an aside, I seem to vaguely remember some talk in journalism school (yes, believe it or not, I am somewhat semi-professionally trained and no my Alma Mater has not yet revoked my sheepskin) about impartial reporting of the news. I am guessing that all that got cut from the budget.

For your information the above "Wild Ass" photo was taken in close proximity to Colorado's Dream Stream near the town of Fairplay. I post it because I just got a phone message from our pal "The Sultan of large Western Rainbow Trout" informing me that while I am chained to my desk here in Carolina, the bite at Spinney Mountain Reservoir is on and he will be sending mondo photos of the large trout the tells me are in that lake. Don't feel bad for me though, with some luck and the help of another good friend, this weekend may find me chasing sea run trout of another sort.

In other "Wild Ass" news this week:

Nestle got a bit of a rocky reception when they sent their shills to meet with the good people of the McCloud community to get comments about their proposed bottled water plant. Ridicule ensues while we play "Where's Tom Chandler" with the meeting photos at MtShastaNews.com.

The Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska (a group fighting the Pebble Mine) is drafting a letter to the Bureau of Land Management asking them to not release their record of decision on protections for the Bristol Bay Area until they have heard from groups with concerns about it. Email Scott Hed for more information and to sign the letter to the BLM.

Finally our retirement just got more promising as FlyfishMagazine.com's Editorial offspring lost his amature status as an actor by being paid as an extra in the filming of "The 5th Quarter" starring Andie McDowell. We are not sure but we believe him to be "concerned guy #12" with a close up during the hospital scene. PS. you know your kid is growing up when the waiter asks if you want him to split the check at dinner.

Pebble Mine Update: Battle Lost / War Rages

Last week while standing knee deep in a massive sockeye salmon run throwing egg and occasional mouse patterns to wild rainbow trout, very few things worried me. For the most part I was content to concern myself with drag free drifts, radical application of bug spray, the landing fish, and keeping abreast of the position of the area's resident grizzly bears.

I found myself not really thinking about the proposed Pebble Mine project and plans to plop a cyanide laced tailing pond and world's largest open pit mine right in the middle of what I now know first hand to be one of the world's best fisheries. In Anchorage it had been top of mind as our hotel television was filled with ads imploring Alaskans to vote for the clean water act and against the "mining shutdown" as the opp/for would have it spun. Even more signs began showing up just as soon as we got off the air taxi in the village of Iliamna, Alaska.



Not "Black Helicopters" but no less nefarious

Iliamna is a town with a booming population of 102 people and oddly enough a rather busy airport. What made it different from many of the other back country landing strips I had seen was the seemingly never ending stream of helicopters carrying under slung cargo from the tiny air terminal to an unknown location. Later I would learn from my fishing guide that most of these loads were destined for the "Pebble Project."

The signs were visible on our lodge's jet boats in the form of No Pebble Mine stickers on each bow. Talk around the dinner table was of the fellow who came to the lodge by boat a few days before, on his way into Iliamna to cast his vote on Proposition 4. No one had asked him how he planned to vote but it was clear from the distance that he covered that he was quite committed to his point of view.

When I asked the lodge staff about the "Pebble Project" I got a lot of pained expressions and head shakes indicating that things could go very badly. When one guest asked about why the staff was so worried, a quick course in gold extraction and tailing ponds was given with emphasis on cyanide and its effect on salmon runs.

On one of our fly outs I overheard our pilot talking on the radio to a beaver pilot and asking where he was heading. The reply of "coming back from hauling some big wigs up to the Pebble Project" took my attention from a view of the American River in my window. I was reminded that this project is fast becoming an integral part of the economy of this region and that in and of itself is going to be difficult to fight.

One guest from another part of the world looked at me at one point during our stay and said that with the economy the way it is and the price of copper and gold so high, it's pretty much inevitable, isn't it?

A young fishing guide and exceptionally talented artist who's livelihood comes from fishing, made a point to ask me if, I was "planning to write something about the Pebble Mine?"

Sitting in my hotel room in Anchorage later that week nursing a bad chest cold and upon learning that the Clean Water Initiative failed by what some might call a large margin, I found myself worrying that if I ever made it back to this part of the world, it might turn out to be a very different place.


Copper River Rainbow (you'll just have to trust me about the front end of the tape)

Now for some good news from the midst of this cough syrup induced gloom, even with this major setback, support for the fight against the Pebble Project continues to grow thanks to groups like the Renewable Resources Coalition and the Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska who have garnered support from thousands of retailers, manufacturers, and outdoor enthusiasts. This quote from Scott Hed, Director of the Sportsman's Alliance sums things up nicely:

I’ve said it before, and it rings true today more than ever. Nothing worth saving comes without a fight. And the fight for Bristol Bay will continue to be a monumental battle that the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska is proud to engage in.

Editor's Note: More excellent information on this subject was recently posted by Tom Chandler over at Trout Underground. Be sure to read his take.

Bristol Bay: Checking it out First Hand...

I'll be heading for Alaska this weekend to spend a few days at the Rainbow Point Lodge where I plan to do just as much fishing for Rainbow trout as the Editorial Trophy Wife will allow. One part of the trip I am excited about is getting a first hand look at the fishery that stands to suffer most at the hands of the forces behind the Pebble Gold Mine. If things go against those who are trying to protect the fishery such as the Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska, this may turn out to be a true "once in a lifetime" trip. I am bring along a few gigs of digicam memory and an ample supply of Mini DV tapes in hopes of documenting what I find.

Don't expect much in the way of blogging while I am in the area. The laptop will be left behind in Carolina (my 70lb float plane allotment being taken up with more important things) and the crackberry should be well out of its operational range. I asked the proprietor about Internet access and he mentioned that they might be able to make something work with the satellite phone. I wisely told him not to worry about it.

By fortuitous coincidence we might even run into FlyFishMagazine.com's Western Correspondent, Ali Hassan as he has rescheduled his "work" trip so that our paths might cross on Sunday night. He will be refining processes and trying to get his allotment of Silver Salmon. Me, I am looking for big bow's on mouse flies (however, eggs are more likely this time of year). The trophy wife wants to see glaciers, Moose, Elk, and Grizzly Bears. Hopefully all will be successful.

With all that said, Here is a dispatch we received from the American Fly Fishing Retailers Association that calls for action by Alaskans and concerned fly anglers.

VOTE YES ON BALLOT MEASURE #4

AFFTA and the fly fishing industry are adamantly opposed to the development of The Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. All Alaska residents need to stop this potential environmental boondoggle next week by voting YES on Ballot Measure #4. If you are not a resident of Alaska but you know someone who is, urge him or her to vote YES on Ballot Measure #4 on August 26.

Robert Kaplan with Alaskans for Clean Water asked AFFTA to forward the following information to all fly fishing enthusiasts

The mining industry has just dropped another $3.5 million into the campaign to defeat Ballot Measure #4. They have pulled out all the stops and are saying and doing whatever they can to defeat us. The result of this unprecedented onslaught of lies is that voter support for Ballot Measure #4 has started to slip.

If we are to stop the slide, and undertake additional efforts in the face of this unprecedented onslaught, then we now must raise money NOW to ensure we are competitive with our media and mail, and to turn out our voters on election day. Because our message is stronger, we still don't need to match the mining industry dollar-for dollar, we just need to remain competitive with our message. If we cannot do that, then we will lose the election. There are no limits on how much anyone can contribute and corporate contributions are acceptable. Contributions of $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 or more are urgently needed and would be greatly appreciated. Checks can be payable to "Alaskans For Clean Water" and sent via overnight mail to 1503 W. 31st Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Contributions can also be made online at www.alaskansforcleanwater.com.

The website also has updated information on the campaign, including several of our recent television commercials. Without a change of law by a vote of the people, change is slow... if it ever comes. In the fight to stop Pebble Mine, time is not on our side. Passage of Ballot Measure #4, creates the change we all want...now.

Wolves in Salmon's clothing?

We received an interesting heads up from the folks fighting against the Pebble Mine project at the Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska. It's a copy of an ad allegedly being shopped to outdoor publications. The ad is sharp looking with pretty fish and a conservation message. However, anyone giving it more than a glance will notice that it is not all that it appears to be. It seems the folks behind the project are taking a page from the SAA's media playbook and attempting to purchase pro-Pebble ad space in publications aimed directly at hunters and anglers.

The purported ad (see the leaked photo above) states that Alaska is home to healthy fish and wildlife populations and also to one of the world's most important mineral (be sure to get enough vitamins and gold in your cereal boys and girls) discoveries. It also goes on to say that any final decisions on the project are years away but their commitment to fish and wildlife is already firmly in place.

Scott Hed, Director of the Sportsman's Alliance for Alaksa, wasn't exactly surprised by this latest development. "They understand the clout that sportspersons have, and they are obviously concerned that we’ve been doing such a good job bringing this issue onto the radar screens of so many hunters and anglers." Mr. Hed continued to remind his fellow sportsmen and women that, "We must counter any attempts to cloud the fact that what is being proposed in Bristol Bay would forever change one of the most incredible places for fish and game on the planet – and not for the better."

In our opinion, the real story here will be which, if any, "outdoor" publication chooses to accept the ad.

Be sure to remember the Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska's Bristol Bay charity ebay auction. Lots of great gear, great prices, and a worthy cause.

Link to our previous coverage of this issue

Get Some...

The North Carolina Delayed Harvest season ends this Saturday. With "harvest" no longer being delayed, trout anglers are free to open up a can of niblets and jerk a limit of the tasty little creatures from our once pristine, yet heavily poached, waters.

Lest you fret, fisheries folk tell us that most of the pellet munchers stocked in waters that fall under these regulations would never be able to survive the heat of a Carolina summer. Thus catch and release becomes corn meal and hot grease and the circle of life continues. The good news is that next year North Carolina will have added additional streams to the program and the catch and keep on the first half of the first day will be limited to anglers age 16 and under.

Me? I'll be fine. I plan to focus on warm water close to home with the occasional foray to our area tail waters. I even have a trip planned to check out this Bristol Bay / Pebble Mine thing first hand during late August. Don't forget to support their charity auction. My goals for that trip include not being eaten by a grizzly and to catch something on a mouse fly.

SAA eBay Auction Update

The good folks fighting to keep the Pebble Mine out of Alaska's Bristol Bay region are still hard at work with their eBay fundraising auctions.

Ending soon:

Cloudveil 8x Pro Waders and 8x Boots in M’s or W’s (ends Thursday, 5/22) – current high bid is $400

Trip for two with Reel Wilderness Adventures in Alaska for open dates in August or September 2008 or any open dates in 2009 (ends Thursday, 5/22) – could be yours for $5,500

March Brown Hidden Water 8-weight travel fly rod (ends Saturday, 5/24) – could be yours for $275 (PRICE DROP)

Trip for two to Alaska’s Rainbow Point Lodge for open dates in August or September 2008 (ends Saturday, 5/24) – could be yours for $7,750 (PRICE DROP)

Scierra CTC #9/11 fly reel (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $175

Trip for 1 woman with Women’s Flyfishing Alaska in July 2008 plus book, dozen flies, ExOffico shirt and hat (ends Saturday, 5/24) – could be yours for $500 (PRICE DROP)

Abstract brook trout print by Derek DeYoung (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $127.50

Orvis ZG Helios 8-wt rod + Battenkill large arbor reel and line (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $760

Full-day float trip for two with Yellow Dog Outfitters in Montana for any open date in 2008 season (ends Saturday, 5/24) – current high bid is $300

Hardy Zane Saltwater combo (10-weight rod and No. 2 reel) (ends Monday, 5/26) – could be yours for $950

Fishpond Shooting Star Tech Pack (ends Monday, 5/26) – current high bid is $117.50

Trip for two to Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize for any open week in 2008 (ends Monday, 5/26) – could be yours for $5,100

New Listings this week:

Simms G4 Pro jacket
Trip for two to Pesca Maya Lodge in Mexico for any open week in 2008
Full-day float trip for one with Kirk Deeter and Tim Romano from Field & Stream magazine’s “Fly Talk” blog + Kaenon polarized sunglasses and Jim Teeny fly line
Trip for two to Painter Creek Lodge in Alaska for any open week in 2008 or 2009
Premium Alaska fly selection from Orvis
Certificate for your choice of any fly rod in TFO’s lineup

SAA Auction Update: Help Save Bristol Bay

We just got an update from the folks at The Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska about their giant eBay charity auction.

Ending soon:
Scierra CTC #9/11 fly reel (ends Saturday, 5/17) – could be yours for $225
Trip for one woman with Women’s Flyfishing Alaska in July 2008 (ends Saturday, 5/17) – could be yours for $600
Scott G2 2-weight fly rod (ends Saturday, 5/17) – current bid is at $450
Islander Precision Reels LX3.8 fly reel (ends Monday, 5/19) – could be yours for $375
Leupold & Stevens Katmai 8x32 binocular (ends Monday, 5/19) – current bid is at $250

New Listings this week:
Cloudveil 8x Pro Waders and 8x Boots (men’s or women’s)
Trip for two with Reel Wilderness Adventures in Alaska for open dates in August or September 2008
Abstract brook trout print
Orvis ZG Helios 8-wt rod + Battenkill large arbor reel & line
Full-day float trip for two with Yellow Dog Outfitters in Montana for any open date in 2008 season
Trip for two to Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize for any open week in 2008
Hardy Zane Saltwater combo (10-weight rod & No. 2 reel)
Fishpond Shooting Star Tech Pack

Proceeds will be going to help the SAA in their fight against the Pebble mine. For more information about the Sportsman's Alliance and their cause visit this link.