Brian Kraft is an important parter in Trout Unlimited’s work to protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed from the proposed Pebble Mine and what would be the largest open-pit mining operation on the planet. He’s the proprietor at Alaska’s Sportsman’s Lodge, and if you think the mine isn’t personal to him, or the staff of guides and support personnel at the lodge, think again.
Brian literally has everything to lose. Don’t believe me? Check out this video of the fly-outs Kraft and his team do every summer for clients who want to chase wild Bristol Bay rainbows on the fly. This is what’s at risk.
When I first saw this, my gut reaction was, “Who needs to fish Kamchatka? We have the best wild rainbow trout fishing on the planet right here in America.” Now, I realize there are some great fisheries in that far eastern Russian province, but I’m beginning to wonder if the Russians are running a not-so-subtle, subversive campaign to undermine America’s sacred fishing destinations by promoting Pebble Mine. Russians? Trying to ruin our fishing? That’s some “fake news” I can get behind!
If you haven’t fished Bristol Bay, and it’s on your list, a small-stream fly-out with Sportman’s help might be just what you’re after. And then you, too, will understand why Pebble Mine is such a bad idea.
— Chris Hunt