What’s it like to fish Alaska?
Is fishing Alaska on your bucket list? Get a glimpse at fishing Bristol Bay and other legendary waters from Nutmeg TU member John Jinishian on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at Port 5, 69 Brewster St., in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport.
Jinishian is general manager of Alaska’s Wild River Guides, a small, float-based fly fishing company.
His talk will celebrate the love Alaska’s Wild River Guides have for the fish, the anglers, the still pristine rivers of Bristol Bay, the wildlife and the environment. After a series of introductory slides the show follows the format of a weeklong river trip on the Kanektok, or Togiak or Goodnews Rivers. We operate seasonally in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, specifically on the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.
“We strive to put you in the mind of the angler as we move through the the wilderness we travel through and the waters we fish. We are seeking to increase awareness of the fishery that will be impacted by the proposed Pebble Mine,” Jinishian said. “While we are not in the immediate area of the proposed project, the waters that we call home each season will be undeniably affected. It is our hope that we can raise awareness about the incredible fishery that is at stake in addition to showcasing the unique wilderness rivers and fly fishing expeditions we lead each summer.”
Born and raised on the shores of Long Island Sound, John grew up fishing for striped bass and bluefish in his home waters. He worked in at his local fishing shop, Westport Outfitters for five years, where he taught fly-casting instruction, tied flies, and began shore guiding in saltwater.
John attended the University of Vermont where he was the president of the UVM Fly Fishing Club and cultivated a passion for freshwater fishing.
John earned his USCG captain’s license in 2012 and began guiding during the summers in the Norwalk Islands on his 25-foot center console. He still guides Connecticut during the shoulder seasons when he is not guiding elsewhere in the country.
In 2013, John was named one of the first ambassadors for the American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, Vt. From 2013- 16, John worked to build the fly reel manufacturing company 3-TAND as a product specialist and sales representative.
John has been a contributing author for Anglers Journal since 2014 and his published works cover a wide range, including Alaskan wilderness explorations, Great Lakes steelheading, and East Coast Striper fishing.
In 2015 and 2016, John produced and directed films that were accepted into the International Fly Fishing Film Festival.
In 2014 John began guiding fly fishing float trips for Alaska’s Wild River Guides, where he now serves as general manager.
During the spring and fall of 2017, John began running social media operations and guiding for the Bighorn Angler on the Bighorn River in Montana.
John has worn many different hats in the fishing industry but he finds his sense of home chasing fish with a fly rod in the saltwater or exploring the Alaskan Bush.