Alaska bush pilot Willy Fulton is known for his experience in flying to remote locations, and his direct, likable personality.
Fulton is also known as the pilot who last flew Timothy Treadwell, and ultimately came upon Treadwell's remains in Katmai National Park.
While that story and the Werner Herzog film "Grizzly Man" brought attention to the pilot, Fulton is a character in his own right - with many more stories to tell.
Fly Out Ambassador, Camille Egdorf steps it up a notch with a new film showcasing the Alaska bush life on her family's Upper Nushagak Camp - titled Unbroken. This time, her film will be featured on the big screen with the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4).
From the filmmaker:
"Unbroken", a Camille Egdorf film, captures the wildlife, fishing and a way of life that has been carried on in Alaska for over thirty years. A story about a fly fishing family who's summers are spent in remote Alaska, sharing and experiencing the wilds of the North. This is their story.
We asked specialty knife maker, Gary Bolduc, to design and manufacture a special edition Fly Out knife that is extremely tough and multi-functional, and engraved with our signature bush plane logo. It is a fantastic utility, hunting, backpacking, and all purpose knife that is a tough little monster! It has a stone wash finish 3.5" blade, para cord wrap 4" handle built out of S35VN stainless steel with a kydex sheath. The knife is super slim, yet tough as nails, extremely light weight, with 2 lanyard holes for pole lashing or handle pull & spine gimping for finger control. Holes in kydex sheath allow you to tie it anywhere you want or use the belt loop to carry.
Bolduc Knives is synonymous with quality when it comes to the knife industry for sportsmen. Many of his hunting and fishing knives are inspired by Alaska, and we're proud to have one of his products bear the Fly Out brand. You can purchase a Fly Out knife by emailing us at [email protected]. These knives start at $150 + shipping. Different knife handles are available upon request.
About Gary:
Raised as a young man in Vermont attracted my interest to the views of the rolling hills, country back roads and flowing streams. Around eight or nine years of age, I started exploring the geography within a 2 or 3 mile radius of my home in the countryside. I would collect stones, odd pieces of wood, or whatever I thought was interesting. I always wondered what was over the next hill, usually climbing a tree for a better vision if I dared not to venture any further. As I grew older, I lost this fear and traveled as far as I could in one day, of course, coming home exhausted. Once I turned sixteen and obtained a driver's license, I was allowed to explore vast areas via back country roads. I would stop at interesting streams, apple orchards gone wild and maple tree stands of forest for a new exploration, all of the time watching for deer, woodchucks, partridge, hawks, squirrels and whatever else I would happen upon or would cross my path.
A fantastic look at the life cycle and nutrient cycle of Alaska's wild salmon. These fish give us so much, it is our responsible to protect the best we have left.
From the Filmaker:
Once they enter fresh water chum salmon stop feeding and morph into an aggressive creature intent only on mating. After spawning, they die and their bodies become a source of nutrients for everything in the forest and sea.
Very special thanks to Lynn Schooler, who without I could not have made this short. Special thanks to Richard Nelson, Hank Lentfer, Riley Woodford and Henk Meeuwsen for providing additional sounds. To Lynn & Michio, whose stories and adventures inspired me to come to Alaska.
UPDATE - Shot over the course of three weeks with a Canon 5d and a GoPro. Music: Smetana - Má Vlast (The Moldau) and Górecki - Symphony No. 3: Il Lento E Largo
A week on the Togiak River with Warren MacDonald, who fly fishes from his wheelchair, and with Nick Watson – disabled Army Ranger / founder of Veterans Expeditions, and Dick Watson, his father – a Vietnam Veteran.
From the trip log: "Some hours we passed through schools of salmon and Dolly Varden Char and other hours we fished through a pristine river devoid of fish but full of beauty. We travelled in all kinds of weather and that felt like we were earning our place among the wildlife on the landscape, as only those who live exposed out in the elements, can earn their passage. Some days we saw a powerboat from a fishing lodge or from Togiak Village, and they gazed at the wheelchair lashed on our raft and raised a hand of greeting.
I knew within seconds of meeting former Army Ranger Nick Watson that his outlook on life and his good attitude about challenges would help make our fly-fishing expedition a success. As he deplaned in Dillingham I reached out to shake his hand and was amazed at what he handed me! Oops I should have remembered that it was his right hand that had been re-shaped by 6 surgeries.
The partial hand that returned my handshake was strong and calloused and the human face above it smiled saying that he was pleased to meet me. His father, Dick Watson, reached out and crushed my hand saying that he'd fished for Striped Bass all his life in New England and was excited to learn to fly fish with his son for salmon and trout.
Down the hall rolled our third angler, Warren MacDonald on an all terrain wheelchair. Warren is a "double- below the knee- amputee". He had a big grin upon arrival and while we headed to the baggage claim I told him that I was surprised at how he'd deplaned so quickly. I couldn't mentally grasp how he'd descended Dillingham's old-fashioned aircraft stairs, which are like those used on DC 3's in the 1950's, as fast as the other passengers. He explained in a very understated manner that he appreciated the flight crew's offers of assistance to transfer him to an aisle wheel chair and help him down the stairs but that he'd maneuvered down the aisle and then the stairs using his arms, torso, and the stumps of legs. He said it takes him more time explaining to various airport agents how he could manage it by himself -than it takes just launching down the stairs.
Here is a complilation from video content entered in the 2012 Alaska Adventure film festival held in Anchorage, Alaska. From pack rafting to bush flying to snow machines to surfing, this video shows the spirit of AK adventure. Alaska is Awesome!
Anglo American has just announced they are divorcing Northern Dynasty in their partnership to develop the Pebble mine.
After five years of debate giant miner Anglo American (LON: AAL) said Monday it is pulling out of its polemic Pebble Mine project in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, adding it will pay a $300-million "impairment charge" to its partner Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX: NDM).
"Our focus has been to prioritize capital to projects with the highest value and lowest risks within our portfolio, and reduce the capital required to sustain such projects during the pre-approval phases of development as part of a more effective, value-driven capital allocation model," he (CEO Mark Cutifani) said in the press release.
We finally have some Fly Out hats in stock with some new colors and designs. We have truckers and 1 flex fit style (see photos above). They are $25.00 + shipping.
If you would like to order a hat, send an email to [email protected] that includes the following:
• Your Name
• Mailing Address
• Hat Style and Color Options + Quantity
We will send the hat(s) to the address and follow up with an electronic invoice via PayPal that can be paid by debit/credit.
We will have an online shop location soon for a wide variety of Fly Out apparel/gear soon (hoodies, t-shirts, knives, buffs, hats, etc.).
More soon!
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on Tuesday, 10 September 2013.
Posted in News, Gear
I personally got the opportunity to test one of Gary Bolduc's custom fillet knives in Alaska this past summer, and if I'm giving out grades - I'm handing out all A's. Honestly, I don't normally get excited about knife designs, carbon rich steel, or the like. But, this particular knife was impressive in its stiffness and specific functionality toward filleting salmon.
A good fillet knife is worth its weight in gold, and as guides and outdoor professionals, having functional equipment that works everytime is paramount. These fillet knives are not only tough, but they're also beautiful. These knives are works of art - and they add a degree of professionalism to those fishing guides that use them. If you're a serious sportsman that takes pride in the quality of your fish fillets - check out Bolduc Knives.
From Gary Bolduc himself:
My knife ergo dynamics involves human factor science for increasing the ease, comfort and control of the blade during the filleting process. Length, thickness, design, comfort, hand control and sharpness have all been equated to produce the qualities my knives provide. Almost any filet knife will get the job done, although it would be more beneficial to filet quicker, easier and more accurate to not waste valuable meat and time away from the stream.
Fishing is a very enjoyable sport, but filleting your catch is an undesirable chore to most fishermen, including myself; therefore I have challenged to reduce the undesirables in my filet knives by consulting professional Alaskan Fishing Guides thoughts and opinions with my own experiences and testing for two years to produce the finest filet knives made today.
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on Wednesday, 14 August 2013.
Posted in Article, Reviews
About Gary:
