Your next fly fishing trip to Bristol Bay may be guided by a local Alaska Native teenager! In August, 14 Native youth will attend the Bristol Bay Flyfishing and Guide Academy in Ekwok, a remote subsistence community located on the Nushagak River. Thanks in part to support from ACF, the students will learn the business of recreational fishing and guiding. The program also enlists Native elders, conservation organizations, and state and federal fisheries to incorporate traditional knowledge and fish ecology. Trout Unlimited along with the Nature Conservancy will make presentations on conservation and habitat protection. Today, most fishing guides come from the Lower 48. The program is designed to keep young people in the region by allowing them to earn a prosperous living while advocating for healthy watersheds and offering visitors an authentic fishing experience.
