Outdoors/Adventure

Russian River red anglers' limits cut in half

With the second run of Russian River red salmon en route, anglers' limits will switch back to three per day, six in possession beginning Wednesday on the Russian and upper Kenai rivers.

The Russian River's early red run was sizeable. Even though the Alaska Department of Fish and Game doubled the bag and possession limit midway through, the run exceeded the maximum goal of 42,000 fish past the weir below Lower Russian Lake. As of Sunday – with two days left in the early run – 48,690 sockeyes had been counted.

Biologists hope to put 30,000-110,000 late-run reds on the Russian's spawning grounds.

Tanner crab fishery closed

A troubled population of tanner crab in Cook Inlet and the North Gulf Coast will force Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists to shutter the fishery again this season. The sport, subsistence, commercial and personal-use tanner crab fishery has been closed in Kachemak Bay since 2011, and since 2012 in the North Gulf Coast.

Carol Kerkvliet, assistant area management biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said there hasn't been a commercial tanner crab fishery in the area since 1995.

The last Kachemak Bay tanner crab population survey was in 2013, with the population "well below that which is needed to open the fisheries," according to a Fish and Game press release. No survey was conducted this year.

When healthy, the fishery supports a harvest of about 9,000 tanner crab, Kerkvliet said.

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New leaders in Valdez, Homer halibut derbies

Willow angler Fred Hyder grabbed the top spot in the Valdez Halibut Derby on Friday with a 254-pound flatfish that made Josh Hughes, the captain of Hyder's charter boat, the Jamie Lynn, edgy.

"It was the first fish of the day and it was caught on a jig, which is easier to lose a fish on," Hughes said in a press release. "It made me real nervous. I was thinking, 'It's a big fish, and it's on a jig, oh no. Luckily, Fred did awesome. He kept the line tight."

The top prize in Valdez is $15,000, with $5,000 for second and $2,000 for third.

Even though a bigger fish could knock Hyder out of the top spot, it's been quite the derby for the Jamie Lynn. Milton Jujino's second-place fish (217 pounds) and Scott Widdison's third-place fish (194 pounds) were all caught on the same boat, aboard which the captain has strict rules.

"There is no question someone onboard the Jamie Lynn has a (derby) ticket," Hughes said. "They get a derby ticket or they don't go on my boat."

Fish derby fans will have other Valdez competitions to choose from by the end of the week. Saturday is the Kids Pink Salmon Derby, with weigh-ins 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for anglers ages 5-16. There's no cost to participate.

Saturday is also the start of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, with $15,000 going to the angler who brings in the biggest coho. Derby tickets are $15.

At the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, Linda Scott caught a 224-pound halibut July 10 aboard the Grand Aleutian, captained by David Bayes to take the top spot. One tagged fish has been caught this month.

Mackey headed for another hall of fame

Champion musher Lance Mackey of Fairbanks, who's won four championships in both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest, will be inducted into the Mushers Hall of Fame at the Knik Museum on Sunday during the annual picnic social beginning at 1 p.m.

Mackey has already been inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and the Alaska Dispatch News Iditarod Hall of Fame.

The event is open to the public at the Knik Museum, located at mile 13.9 of Knik Goose Bay Road. In addition to a potluck picnic and Mackey's induction ceremony, there will be a tour of the archaeological dig nearby at 4 p.m.

A raffle will be held the day of the picnic. Prizes include two roundtrip tickets on the Alaska Railroad and original artwork. Contact the museum at 376-7755 for information.

Tutka Bay, Winterlake lodges honored

Two remote Alaska lodges operated by The Wild Adventure Company have been added to the prestigious list of National Geographic Society's Unique Lodges of the World program.

Both Tutka Bay Lodge near Homer and Winterlake Lodge along the Iditarod Trail are run by Within the Wild Adventure Company run by Carl and Kirsten Dixon and their daughters, Carly and Mandy Dixon. Kirsten and Mandy are Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs, who have cooked and studied with such chefs as Julia Child and Thomas Keller.

Thirty-eight properties on six continents made the list, billed as the most authentic, sustainable and luxurious lodges in the world. Winterlake Lodge and Tuka Bay are two of only three U.S. lodges included. "To be a part of such a group is an immense honor," Kirsten Dixon said.

Tutka Bay Lodge consists of a main lodge and six guest cabins connected by a wooden boardwalk above the beach. It offers bear viewing, beachcombing or hiking; kayaking and fishing. All food ingredients used are grown, foraged or purchased locally.

Winterlake Lodge is a fly-in lodge with six guest cabins. Hiking, fishing, rafting, wildlife viewing, glacier trekking and other helicopter-assisted excursions are offered in the summer. Dog mushing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing are popular in winter.

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