Written by: Jon Bash
Youth learn what it takes to become guides
Photo by Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy
The future of some of Alaska’s best salmon and trout waters is in great hands. The Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy has taken its annual youth program to the Kulik Lodge in the Katmai National Park. Becoming a fly fishing guide involves more than just fishing; students learn skills from fly tying to cooking shore lunches for clients.
The academies are one-week instruction courses that are highly interactive and educational. Organizations like Orvis, Trout Unlimited, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust, and the Bureau of Land Management make these $50,000 weekly programs possible.
KTVA Alaska decided to wade into the cold Alaskan waters and take a deeper look at the Bristol Bay program and the future of guiding in the region.
“Providing them with the tools and opportunities and the guidance they need to be employable in this region is a critical step for the future of Bristol Bay” – Bristol Bay Instructor Chris Little.
Jon Bash is the new Orvis Conservation intern.