Born in a remote log cabin along Alaska's Hayes River, Israel Payton grew up fishing, hunting, and living off the land. Today, he serves as director of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Division of Sport Fish.

In this episode of The Fish Count, Israel shares stories from his childhood near Skwentna, including being weighed on a fishing scale at birth, growing up without modern conveniences, and watching his father fight a lengthy legal battle that helped establish a subsistence fishery on the Yentna River.

We also explore his journey from fishing guide to the Alaska Board of Fisheries and eventually director of the Division of Sport Fish. Israel discusses the challenges facing Alaska's king salmon, efforts to rebuild struggling populations, the importance of introducing young people to fishing, and why his first king salmon remains one of his most powerful memories.

And, of course, we talk fishing, including his annual tradition of "Trout Week" on the Kenai River.

It's a conversation about family, fisheries, conservation, and a lifelong connection to Alaska's natural resources.

The Fish Count Podcast is a production of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This episode was produced by Ryan Ragan and Amanda Luper. Audio and Graphics by Amanda Luper. Copyright 2026.

How much do we really know about the fish living in Alaska's rivers, lakes, and streams? As it turns out, there's still a lot to discover.

In this episode of The Fish Count, we're joined by ADF&G habitat biologists Joe Giefer and Nate Cathcart to explore the work behind the Anadromous Waters Catalog and Alaska Freshwater Fish Inventory. These programs help document where fish live, identify important habitats, and provide information used to protect Alaska's fisheries.

We also get a firsthand look at what it takes to conduct fisheries research in some of Alaska's most remote locations. From a helicopter crash in the Brooks Range to unusual fish discoveries, changing salmon distributions and the challenges of working far from the road system, Joe and Nate share stories from the field and explain why their work matters.

It's a conversation about science, exploration, and how much there is still to learn about Alaska's remarkable freshwater ecosystems.

The Fish Count Podcast is a production of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This episode was produced by Ryan Ragan and Amanda Luper. Audio and Graphics by Amanda Luper. Copyright 2026.

Northern pike are native to much of Alaska, but south of the Alaska Range, they’re an invasive species, and their continued spread raises new questions.

In this episode of The Fish Count, we sit down with ADF&G research biologist Parker Bradley to talk about northern pike in Southcentral Alaska. We dig into how pike were introduced to the region, how they spread through connected waters, and why their impacts on native fish, particularly juvenile salmon, can vary dramatically depending on habitat.

We also explore one of the most fascinating areas of current pike research: evidence that northern pike are moving through the brackish waters of Cook Inlet to reach new freshwater systems. Parker explains how researchers use otolith microchemistry, salinity studies and video weirs to better understand where these fish have been and what their movement could mean for Southcentral Alaska fisheries.

Along the way, we tackle some common misconceptions about northern pike, look at what researchers have learned from examining tens of thousands of pike stomachs, and discuss why preventing the spread of invasive species matters.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about pike, salmon, invasive species and the research helping us better understand what’s happening beneath the surface.

The Fish Count Podcast is a production of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This episode was produced by Ryan Ragan and Amanda Luper. Audio and Graphics by Amanda Luper. Copyright 2026.