Fishing has always been integral to Triston Chaney’s identity. Born and raised in Dillingham, the 26-year-old got his first fly rod as a toddler. Today, he works not only as a commercial fishing boat captain in his home waters of Bristol Bay, but also as a fly fishing guide at premiere lodge near the Naknek River. He gives back to his community by instructing courses for the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy, the organization that originally set him on his own path to guiding.
Chaney began commercial fishing as a young kid on his grandfather’s boat, the Robin Darlene. “I started when I was nine, and I’ve just been fishing with them every year since,” he says. Chaney gradually took on more responsibility, and around 2017, he began learning to captain the boat.
It was also around this time that Chaney interned with the University of Washington’s fisheries research program in Southwest Alaska for four years. Each August, he helped with data collection during the day, then took researchers fishing in the evenings on the Wood River. “That’s how I got used to taking people out,” Chaney reflects. He didn’t realize it at the time, but this experience laid a foundation for his future as a fly fishing guide.
In 2018, Chaney attended the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy. The program was started by Nanci Morris Lyon, Tim Troll and others to create opportunities for youth from the Bristol Bay region in the local guiding industry. The academy is a one-week program typically held at a lodge, designed for beginners with little or no experience in fly fishing. It teaches the basics of fly fishing, fly tying and knot tying, as well as regional knowledge, river and land management, and client interaction.
Chaney says that students of the Academy always want to fish more, but the program focuses on giving them a broad introduction to both the technical skills and the opportunities available in their home region. “That’s what a lot of them need nowadays,” Chaney says. “Just an understanding about where they’re at, and the potential of this place.” Guiding jobs can be very lucrative, but Chaney says most guides in the region come from out of state. “If everybody here in the Native villages wanted to guide, we could be running lodges just off locals,” he says.
In 2019, after attending a second academy, Lyon invited Chaney to guide at Bear Trail lodge. Though he started as a dock boy and backup guide, Chaney’s strong background in fishing quickly propelled him into a successful role as a lead guide. He quickly fell in love with guiding, thanks to relationships formed with colleagues and clients — but also thanks to the world-class fishing he got to experience. “The Naknek, it’s the best fishing for wild rainbow trout. There isn’t a better river anywhere,” he says. But it’s not all fun and games on the river — Chaney says the job is extremely rewarding, but it’s also hard work.
In the hopes of growing the ranks of locals working in fishing lodges, Chaney now instructs with the Guide Academy. As one of two Alaska Native instructors for the Academy, he has an opportunity to provide unique mentorship to young adults from his region. “There’s some kids who don’t get to do as much fishing as I do. So when I get to bring my expertise and help them catch fish and watch them light up, it’s just great,” he says.
Two years ago, Chaney bought the Robin Darlene from his grandfather, and he looks forward to fishing more seriously as he invests in his business. He plans to take a short break from guiding, but will likely return to it in the future. Looking ahead, he hopes to see more locals get into guiding. He says the career path encourages learning about the land, communicating with others and enjoying time outdoors. “Who knows the area better than people who’ve grown up there?” he adds.
Emily Sullivan is a photographer and writer focused on outdoor recreation, environmental wellness, and community empowerment. She is based on Dena’ina lands, where she can usually be found skiing, packrafting, or berry picking.
