I caught the world's largest silver salmon with a pole spear | INDIE ALASKA

Alaska Public Media | By Valerie Lake

Published September 6, 2023 at 8:59 PM AKDT

A woman holds up a large salmon — Katya Karankevich shows off her world record silver salmon (left). (Valerie Lake/Alaska Public Media)

Katya Karankevich is breaking records in the spearfishing scene but she's doing it in Alaska while battling tides, tourists, and glacial silt. Hear her story in this Indie Alaska feature from PBS and PBS Digital Studios.

INDIE ALASKA is an original video series produced by Alaska Public Media in partnership with PBS Digital Studios. The videos capture the diverse and colorful lifestyles of everyday Alaskans at work and at play. Together, these stories present a fresh and authentic look at living in Alaska.

Video and story by Valerie Lake
Additional video by Katya Karankevich, Dane Ketner and Sam BoJenkins Werner
Music by Universal Production Music

Indie Alaska

Valerie Lake

Valerie Lake worked at Alaska Public Media from 2017 to 2025. She was the managing producer for Indie Alaska, director for Alaska Insight, and led the video production team. Valerie Lake has previously gone by the names, Valerie Lloyd and Valerie Kern.

See stories by Valerie Lake