Outdoor briefs

Chugiak Dog Mushers Association hearing tales from the trail

On April 7 at 7 p.m., the Chugiak Dog Mushers are hosting an open house at its clubhouse (Beach Lake Road off South Birchwood Loop) to celebrate the efforts of club members who participated in races this year -- including the Iditarod, the North American Championship Races, the Fur Rondy World Championships, the Tustamena 200 or other sprint or distance events.

All are welcome to attend, club officials said. Those who ran races should be prepared with stories from their travels.

Learn to fly fish at seminar

The Alaska Fly Fishers are hosting the group's 29th annual Fly Fishing Seminar April 5, 12, 19 and 26 at Stellar Secondary School in Anchorage, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. all nights.

The seminar includes facts, fun and photos of fish. Club members lead attendees through discussions and demonstrations of all the basic information surrounding fly fishing.

On April 5, the top of discussion will be basic equipment for the first hour and a hands-on knot tying demonstration in the second hour.

On April 12, there will be fly tying demonstrations and a display of good local patterns.

On April 19, there will be a panel discussion including members of the club, Mike Hudson of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla and a biologist from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The seminar concludes with a fly casting demonstration and instruction.

The cost is $30, which includes a $15 Alaska Fly Fishers membership and a $12 book. Door prizes are drawn each evening, and on the final night, a complete fly fishing outfit will be given away.

Visit the organization's Web site at www.akflyfishers.com for more information.

The Alaska Fly Fishers is hosting its April meeting at the Millennium Hotel in Anchorage.

A number of gear experts will be on hand to give tips on how to get ready for the summer. Topics covered range from leaders to repairing rafts in the field.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. on April 9 in the Redington Ballroom on the third floor of the hotel.

Chugach State Park closures

The Anchorage Hillside/Upper Huffman area and Bird Creek areas of Chugiak State Park are now closed to the use of snowmachines because of a lack of snow.

The Eagle River Green Belt, Big Peters Creek and Ptarmigan Valley areas are also closed.

The Eklutna Lake area remains open to the use of snowmobiles, until further notice from state parks staff and officials.

For further information, call (907) 269-8400 and press "1" to get current recorded information, or call Chugach State Park Headquarters at 345-5014.

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