Competitive fly-tying? Sure enough, a group of enthusiastic fly-tyers will gather at Koots next week for an "Iron Chef" style competition, featuring more beer than truffles.
Trout Unlimited's Alaska Program and Pig Farm are sponsoring the program, called Iron Fly. Expect a fly-tying battle for all abilities that challenges the creativity of experts and help beginners acquire new skills.
Feathers begin flying at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The free event is open to beginners as well as experienced pros. Prizes include a Yeti cooler and sunglasses from Costa.
Contact Eric Booton with Trout Unlimited for details at 770-1776.
Learn more about kayak fishing
Rudy Tsukaka, an Alaska pioneer in saltwater kayak fishing who consistently catches king salmon and halibut year-round in Cook Inlet, will host a training session next week in Homer.
The Sept. 17-18 event at Lands End Resort features a 6-9 p.m. indoor training session Saturday and an on-water session, weather permitting, at noon the following day.
The sessions — a suggested donation is $50 for both days — is a fundraiser for the Kachemak Bay Water Trail Committee. Land's End Resort is offering a 15 percent room discount Friday night.
For more information, contact Dave Brann at 235-6018 or write to kachemakbaywatertrail@gmail.com.
Steer clear of collared Prince William Sound black bears
Biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are asking hunters to not shoot Prince William Sound black bears wearing a collar.
While harvesting such bears is legal, it harms a study seeking to learn more about the home ranges, movements and habitat use by the dwindling population. Twenty bears in Game Management Unit 6D were collared and fitted with ear tags this summer.
"Declining black bear harvests in Prince William Sound have led to conservation measures, including short hunting seasons, a maximum allowable harvest of 200 bears, and managing the hunt by registration permit," area wildlife biologist Charlotte Westing said in a press release.
Before the population crashed, Prince William Sound black bear harvests nearly tripled from the late 1990s to 2007. But the harvests in 2012 and 2013 fell 25 percent and 47 percent from the previous year, respectively. Since then, the harvest decline has continued at a slower rate.
Any hunter taking a collared bear is asked to bring the collar to Fish and Game when the hide and skull are presented for sealing. Successful hunters must report harvests within five days of taking a black bear.
The season will close when the harvest limit of 200 bears — or 50 sows — is reached. For more information, call Westing at 424-3215.
Debris piles will burn in Denali
Officials at Denali National Park and Preserve are planning to burn debris piles Sept. 12-23 at the Toklat Road Camp (Mile 53 of Denali Park Road) and in Kantishna (Mile 91) beginning next week, weather permitting. Smoke will be visible in the area.
Trees, brush and other natural material will be burned to provide defensible space around buildings and along the road in the event of a wildlife.
Sept. 15 is the final day to ride a shuttle bus in the park. The Denali Road Lottery openings and Military Appreciation Day are Sept. 16-20.