Fishe Ambassador Spotlight
Amanda Tingstad: Alaska Angler, Forager & Fishe Ambassador
Amanda Tingstad has built a life around wild places. From salmon-filled summers and wildlife photography to foraging for fiddlehead ferns with Hank the fish dog nearby, her story captures the spirit of the Fishe community.
In this story:
Why You Should Trust This Article
About this profile: Amanda’s story is drawn from her original Fishe ambassador interview. Her first-person memories and personality have been preserved while the article has been refreshed for readability.
Fast Fishe Facts
- Home: Alaska, after growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Fishing roots: Childhood outings with her dad and two brothers
- Favorite kind of day: Fishing, wildlife photography, foraging, and time outside
- Adventure partner: Hank, her English Lab and devoted “fish dog”
- Find her: @alaskan_woman on Instagram
Amanda’s life in Alaska is built around fishing, wildlife, and time outside.
From Utah Fishing Trips to an Alaska Life
Amanda’s fishing story began far from Alaska. As a child in Utah, she joined her dad and two brothers at local fishing spots and quickly learned that being outdoors was where she felt most at home.
Fishing was only one part of it. She loved hiking, camping, and any excuse to spend the day outside.
Then, in 2010, a seasonal job brought her north. Amanda began working for Holland America Princess Cruises at one of its lodges, where the landscape opened up an entirely new version of outdoor life.
She returned summer after summer, falling more deeply in love with Alaska each time. Eventually, the place that began as a seasonal adventure became home.
The Pull of an Alaska Salmon Summer
For Amanda, summer fishing in Alaska felt unlike anything she had experienced before. Salmon returned in enormous numbers, bringing an energy to the rivers that was impossible to ignore.
“Fishing in Alaska is truly unmatched during the summer. The salmon come up to spawn and they come up in masses.”
The excitement became something she wanted to experience again and again. In her words, it was hard not to get hooked.
The Silver Salmon Her Family Still Remembers
Among all of Amanda’s fishing memories, one family day rises above the rest.
Her relatives were visiting Alaska, and Amanda had the joy of watching every one of them catch fish. The unforgettable moment came when her 83-year-old grandmother landed her very first silver salmon.
“The excitement I had watching her was like no other.”
That day, the family caught more than 20 silver coho salmon. But the number was not what made it special. It was sharing a place Amanda loved with the people who helped shape her own love of fishing.
Why Amanda Found a Home in the Fishe Community
Amanda discovered Fishe through Instagram when the company was still young. She already owned a Groovy Grayling Backpack and plenty of Troutrageous gear when an Anchorage photoshoot gave her the chance to become more involved.
Meeting founder Linda Leary and the team turned appreciation for the products into a genuine connection with the people behind them.
“I have met so many amazing women who share the same passions and goals as me, and I’m forever thankful to them.”
Community is the heart of Amanda’s ambassador story. She represents Fishe not simply because she fishes, but because she brings curiosity, generosity, humor, and an authentic love of the outdoors.
Meet Hank, the Fish Dog
No Amanda profile would be complete without Hank. Her English Lab is her fearless adventure companion and, despite the breed’s reputation, decidedly not a duck-hunting dog.
“He’s 100 percent a fish dog,” Amanda says. Hank joins the adventures, brings joy to the family, and has earned plenty of admiration from the Fishe community.
Hank is Amanda’s fearless companion and a proud fish dog.
Photography, Music, and Living Close to the Land
Amanda’s outdoor life stretches well beyond fishing. She is often behind a camera, looking for wildlife and trying to capture the character of the place she calls home.
At home, she loves singing while her husband plays guitar. She also spends time learning about Alaska’s edible plants and flowers.
Fiddlehead fern season is a favorite. Amanda sautés the young ferns with butter and garlic—a simple, delicious tradition that reflects how much she enjoys living close to the land.
The Denali Road Lottery and One Very Curious Grizzly
Amanda has no shortage of wild Alaska stories, but one began when she and her husband won the road lottery to drive deep into Denali National Park.
During the trip, a huge grizzly bear approached and rubbed against their truck. As though that were not memorable enough, they also followed a wolf down the road.
It was the kind of only-in-Alaska experience that explains exactly why Amanda’s Instagram handle is @alaskan_woman.
A close encounter during Amanda and her husband’s Denali road-lottery adventure.
An Ambassador for the Full Outdoor Life
Amanda’s story is not about a single species, river, or fishing achievement. It is about building a life that keeps the outdoors close and makes room for family, friendship, food, wildlife, music, and adventure.
Fishing can be both the destination and the doorway. One cast can lead to a family memory, a new community, a deeper relationship with place, or a story involving a grizzly and a truck.
Follow Amanda’s Alaska adventures at @alaskan_woman, and meet more of the women who make the Fishe ambassador community what it is today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amanda Tingstad
Who is Amanda Tingstad?
Amanda Tingstad is a Fishe ambassador and Alaska outdoor enthusiast who shares fishing, wildlife, foraging, and everyday adventure through her @alaskan_woman Instagram account.
Where did Amanda grow up?
Amanda grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she began fishing with her dad and two brothers.
When did Amanda move to Alaska?
Amanda first came to Alaska in 2010 for a seasonal lodge job. She returned for multiple summers before making Alaska her full-time home.
What is Amanda’s most memorable fishing story?
One of her most meaningful memories is watching her 83-year-old grandmother catch her first silver salmon during a family fishing day in Alaska.
Why did Amanda become a Fishe ambassador?
She loved Fishe products, met Linda Leary and the team through an Anchorage photoshoot, and connected deeply with the community of women who shared her interests and goals.
Who is Hank?
Hank is Amanda’s English Lab, beloved adventure companion, and self-described fish dog.
What does Amanda enjoy besides fishing?
She enjoys wildlife photography, singing while her husband plays guitar, camping, hiking, and foraging for edible Alaska plants such as fiddlehead ferns.
Where can people follow Amanda?
Amanda shares her adventures on Instagram at @alaskan_woman.
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