Lisa makes up for what I lack

July 25, 2013

All the tops of the area mountains were capped with cloud cover but the chance of rain faded as the sun picked and prodded to find our faces.  So we planned a 3.5 hour dinner cruise with Kenai Fjords Tours.  The cruise circled Resurrection Bay and stopped at Fox Island for an all you can eat buffet featuring prime rib and Salmon.  Mom and Lisa opted for an additional ½ pound of Alaskan King Crab ($12.50 each).  We stopped when wildlife was sighted and the captain (Colin) did a great job explaining the sights and the maritime wildlife.  That took a lot of pressure off of me…  Bald eagles, sea otter, cormorants, gulls, harbor seals, Stellar’s sea lion, puffins and the common murre (dives to 600 feet deep in the ocean for food).

Fox Island had a nice lodge but my interests were with the prime rib.  I took the obligatory vegetable mix, potatoes and small piece of salmon with my prime rib then returned for two additional servings.  I stopped myself at a couple of pounds before topping it off with lemon bars.  My body was adjusting to the bountiful variety that was now appearing with greater frequency.  Milk, bread, beef and desert are taken for granted in civilization.

                                                         Seward, Alaska

July 26, 2013

With enough fuel onboard to make it to Anchorage we departed the Kenai.  Groceries were resupplied and fuel replenished in CHUGIAK before heading east on Highway 1 (The Glenn Highway) to Glennallen.  The Matanuska River guided us to its source, the Matanuska Glacier.  We positioned the Raptor so we could enjoy dinner and gaze upon the glacial blue.  We pushed on for another couple hours and spent our first night “dry camping” in a gravel turnout 30 miles west of Glennallen.

                                         Matanuska River (near Palmer, AK)

                                         Matanuska Glacier

July 27, 2013

It did not take long this morning to get a look at Mt Drum and Mt Sanford.  They were visible and quite dominating in the sky to the east still 20 miles from Glennallen.  They would accompany us for another 20 or so miles after turning south on the Highway 4 (Richardson Highway).  Lunch time was spent at the Worthington Glacier near Thompson Pass.  Two meals at two different glaciers on two different days sure beat the drive thru at Mickey D’s.  After lunch we hiked to the glacier and again shrank into wee little humans compared to the majesty of the earth.  After crossing the pass, we took a long down hill coast following the Lowe River into VALDEZ stopping to see Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls.  Again, just before town we located Bear Creek Cabins and RV Park and this time got site #81 in the rear of the park.  The city RV parks were stacked like cards in a deck and we had plenty of elbow room. 

After setup and dinner we took an afternoon drive down Dayville Road to view the local wildlife.  Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery had the Pink/Humpy Salmon stacked on top of one another.  The hatchery was closed for production at this time so the salmon were swimming over one another trying to get up an unclimbable waterfall that was blocked by a weir.  The resident sea lions were feasting on the mass of pinks, grabbing them shaking them violently and swallowing.  Gulls enjoyed the sloppy meal cleanup.  Sea otters bobbed undisturbed enjoying self caught shellfish and crab.  All the while, tourists kept eyes out for the local Ursus and her cubs.  After an hour we drove to Allison Point and I tried my hand at pink fishing.  Area fishermen were snagging them but I tried a Cleo spoon.  The line needed some reworking but after it was repaired, the third cast resulted in a strike.  Set hook, miss and dodge the spoon as it flew out of the shallow surf just missing my head.  Cast, retrieve and fish on.  Although I wasn’t intending to do so, I had snagged the pink hen in her midsection.  Snagging is LEGAL in the ocean so I cut her gills and tossed her into the rocks.  Lisa had videoed the event and she would get the opportunity if I hooked up another one.  A moment later she did just that.  After a couple minute fight, the fish shook loose and was never seen again.  I fished for another 15 minutes then cleaned the fish and we headed back to the Raptor.

                                         Lisa and Carol (Oma) at Worthington Glacier

     "As you can see by the striations on the rock face, the Glacier went downhill, that a way"

                                        We have confirmation, "It's COLD"  Here's your sign!

                                         Asking herself, "Did I take enough pictures?"

                                         The hard walk back to the Raptor, "I think I took enough?"

                                    Lisa at Bridal Veil Falls

                                  Pink Salmon at Solomon Gulch Hatchery (Valdez, AK)

                                  Sea Lions cannot read

July 28, 2013

Sunday was relaxed, laid back and not a plan either.  Lisa tinkered with video, pictures and the check book paying bills while I caught up on writing the Blog and editing pictures.  After lunch we headed out Dayville Road for some viewing and fishing.  Nothing disappointed as the Pinks were in high numbers, sea otters playful, and sea lions gorged on the schools of salmon.  Lisa videoed EVERYTHING; me catching fish, her catching fish, sea lions, sea otter and brown bears.  I did not see the brown bears as I was fishing, Oma and Lisa went to the hatchery as the sow and her four (4) year and half old cubs strode past idling vehicles to the waterfall.  Momma fished and bathed as the cubs played with salmon scraps and toyed with joining momma in the water.  I won’t tell anymore as it is not my story.  I think there is a video and pictures.  I got the story and stopped fishing after four (4) pinks were filleted and bagged.  Dinner would be fried and baked Pink Salmon (less then three hours from the water to my belly).  Most Alaskans prefer not to eat Pinks and I would agree if the other salmon were always available but they are not.  Let’s put it this way, the salmon I ate tonight was better then any I’ve had in Michigan.

Oh look at all the dirty dishes, “Does anyone want to go back to Solomon Falls?”  The ladies said no so at 8:45pm I headed back for more fish.  They were thick; I caught many, released most and kept two for my limit of six.  Returning at 11:30pm, I quickly showered and went to bed.

                             Brown bear sow, "Damn, it's HOT and the mosquitoes are a pain in the @#%" 

                                       "Mom you are so wise!"

                                       "You're so sweet, don't tell the others, but you are my favorite."

                                       "I think he heard that."

July 29, 2013

Last day at Bear Creek and checkout is at 10:00am.  Carol and Lisa did some running around in town and tried to get the truck an oil change.  That couldn’t happen until 1:00pm so we broke camp and moved across the bay to Allison Point for a night of dry camping.  At 12:15pm we were flagged over because there were bears in the area.  Just east of the hatchery, the brown bear sow had her four cubs in tow.  The runt carried a piece of fish and played and snacked while keeping up with the others.  They must have been full as there was an abundance of tourist fat collecting along side the road.  I watched a few huffs and jaw pops from momma and thought, “The video you are about to see contains scenes of extreme violence and gore.  Parental Discretion is advised.”  TOURISTS!!!  I bored after a few minutes and walked over to the ocean side to check for fish.  I returned about five minutes later and Lisa had not taken enough pictures yet…  I pointed out that we had 20 minutes to drop the Raptor and head for the oil change.  She reluctantly agreed.

 

After a quick setup the girls left for the oil change and lunch.  I remained behind to complete the leveling and other chores.  Alright, I didn’t do any chores.  The water was only 20 yards away and it tempted me.  I caught and released two pinks at low tide and that is not the opportune time.  Lisa called and said they were eating at the Halibut House and asked if wanted anything.  I declined and enjoyed cold sourdough pancakes, smoked salmon with cheddar cheese on crackers, ginger snaps and a glass of moo juice.  Other then the milk, that has fisherman’s lunch written all over it.

After dinner, a new neighbor, Jim Peterson (Massachusetts) and I went Pink fishing and for the first hour all that were biting was mosquitoes and no-see-ums.  Then it happened, the high tide was on the downside and the pinks were on the shore moving toward the hatchery.  A fifteen foot wide band of fish was moving from our right to left.  I duplicated my personal record with three consecutive casts landing the first and hooking up a losing the third.  I caught and released dozens and kept two of the freshest.  Jim had fished three (3) days in Fairbanks earlier in the week and never saw a fish.  He caught and released over 30 salmon, his first and thirtieth ever salmon and remarked that this made his Alaskan trip worth it.  “I have never seen fishing like this in my life,” he added.  And once again those all so familiar smiles could be seen.

It is not the Destination, it is the Journey

July 21, 2013

Sunday I received a text from Lisa at 1:10am stating she had landed and was awaiting a gate assignment.  I could feel the anticipation building and couldn’t wait to hold my sweetheart in my arms once again.  I inched my way closer to the gate as I estimated when they could disembark and get to baggage claim.  Then the moment arrived…My lovely wife and mother-in-law wheeling their baggage.  I captured the meeting on my video camera and we took off for PALMER in the twilight. 

                                                  A long time since I kissed those lips

                                    

                                                                 I'm a happy hubby

We slept until 10ish and had a brunch before I made an executive decision to visit Hatcher Pass.  We drove 20 miles or so, north of WASILLA/PALMER on a winding paved road to the base of Hatcher Pass.  It was not just me driving “old man” in this spectacular country but I did get passed a lot by impatient vehicles.  They missed so much as the sped by.  The last few miles were a narrow winding dirt road, no guard rails and very washboardy.  I punished my passengers in the one ton pickup.  I had the suspension torqued up for the Raptor so Oma had to stay seat belted or else she’d bounce up and hit her head.  It was fun and the view matched the journey’s sites.  During the drive I used the truck’s computer to check mileage and this may help describe the incline and decline to Hatcher Pass.  On a relatively flat roadway I average 22.5 mpg without the Raptor (10 mpg with) but driving up hill the truck got 12 mpg but a whopping 37 mpg returning to PALMER.  Elevation change was 239 feet (PALMER) to 3886 feet (HATCHER PASS).

                                               This is MY valley and MY trout stream

                                                                      Hatcher Pass

                     Hatcher Pass snow pack complete with beautiful wife and loving husband

Once we returned to PALMER it was dinner time and I got to enjoy a burger and “endless” fries at WASILLA’s Red Robin.  I would pay later for the “endless” saturated fat.  Just outside the restaurant sat an Alaskan motor coach.

 

July 22, 2013

Monday is a travel day for us but before leaving we meet an interesting Alaskan.  John is a retired school teacher/environmental engineer/artist and third generation Alaskan.  John was the guy who drew the border of the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and studied the environmental impact of said spill.  He also received calls from the U.S. Senate during the Gulf Spill (2010).  John had good sightseeing suggestions for the Kenai, especially near Anchor Point.  We could do morning and afternoon volcano and mountain viewing, sapphire hunting on the beach, and visit the studio of local artist Norman Lowell. 

Then it was off for the KENAI Peninsula (south of Anchorage).  We filled my need for pizza at a Sicily’s Pizza buffet in south ANCHORAGE.  I was a good boy and didn’t keep Lisa and Carol too long…only nine pieces of pizza, three of fried chicken, egg custard, cantaloupe, three root beer and soft serve chocolate ice cream for desert.  Don’t roll your eyes at me; I had to get my $9.99 share.  We did walkthrough at Sportsman’s Warehouse of the Seward Highway.  It is great eye candy for the outdoors person and similar to a Cabela’s, Bass Pro or Gander Mountain.  This store had ALASKA stuff in great supply. 

We kissed the city goodbye and headed toward Homer on the Seward Highway.  We had to go around the Turnagain Arm, past GIRDWOOD into the KENAI.  Sea level driving surrounded by 2500 foot peaks didn’t last too long but as the road increased elevation, so did the peaks, 3200 foot, 4000 foot and so on.  We stopped for a quick look at the Kenai River.  No motors allowed in this section of the world famous river and the water was an amazing turquoise and COLD.  It got an un-photographed memory of a moose in a pond and a sight of fishermen standing side by side in what is called, “Combat Fishing.”  Up and down, around and around we wound our way to the west end of the peninsula, through SOLDOTNA, NINILCHIK, to ANCHOR POINT and the Kyllonen RV Park.  This would be home for two nights and be base camp for a day trip to HOMER.

We dined in the Raptor then headed to the ocean/Cook Inlet for some beachcombing.  The beach was experiencing low tide but also has a very shallow landing for boats.  They had conquered the need to launch boats and utilized tall wheeled tractors.  I checked the clock and it read “moose-thirty” so we headed inland to spot the creatures if they were around.  Blessings and good fortune had us eyeing a cow and calf minutes later, then a second lone cow.  It is fun watching Lisa photograph.  Digital camera, smart phone and iPad ALL have to get the same or similar shot.  Apparently the technology to share images has not been developed yet…  As will be the result of a day’s travel, sleep was welcomed.

 

July 23, 2013

A relaxing morning of sorts but we headed south to HOMER on the Sterling Highway around 11:00am.  Another winding road with glimpses across Cook Inlet at Mt Redoubt (10,197 feet, active) and Mt Iliamna (10,016 feet, glacier covered), stratovolcanoes on the west side of the inlet.  HOMER has the Homer Spit, a thread of land at the mouth of Kachemak Bay.  Homer has been home to Tom Bodett (Motel 6, “We’ll leave the light on for you”), Grammy winner, Jewel and the Kilcher Family (Alaska: The Last Frontier on Discovery Channel).  Side note: Jewel’s daddy is Atz Kilcher and niece of Otto Kilcher, the show’s primary figures.

The Spit is a maritime tourist attraction with artists, crafts, food, etc. at tourist prices but does serve other purposes as a break wall to the Bay and hub for the Alaska Marine Highway system.  The mountains south contain glaciers from the Harding Ice Fields, an ice field that stretches to Seward but those to the north and east are green up to 2500 feet (alpine starts) with small patches of snow in the gorges.  We dined at a Thai restaurant then returned to ANCHOR POINT.  An afternoon drive on the beach yielded great looks at a mature Bald Eagle and the volcanoes across the inlet.  I beach combed for sapphires but did not find what I thought was a sapphire, oh well.  I tossed the pale yellow stones back on the beach and headed home.

Homer Spit

Mt Iliamna

July 24, 2013

Hitch up the wagon and off to Seward.  The ride was the same but different…I got to see the other side of the roadside this time.  Apparently I pushed the vehicle and my luck too hard trying to save pennies and ran out of diesel fuel in the turn lane of the Sterling Highway at a gas station in SOLDOTNA.  So close, five gallons later and the bugger wouldn’t start.  Lisa read quickly from the Owner’s Manual and finally with the assistance of the station owner it fired up.  My hands reeked of diesel so Lisa was allowed control for the first time but relinquished the pilot seat after the fill-up.  She makes a GREAT co-pilot as most of you know. 

On the Seward Highway, near MOOSE PASS we stopped for a wildlife viewing.  A family from Indiana was stopped too and one of the girls (early 20’s) was sharpening a stick and testing it out.  We all would be viewing spawning Sockeye Salmon and it is also attractive to the local Ursus population.  I was donning my .357 while listening to her dad question her why she carried it.  She replied, “Bears!”  I said that all she’d have to do is outrun the slowest in her family and her dad replied, “She is the slowest that’s why she needs the stick.”  She noticed my holster and tossed her stick.  “Where’s your stick?” Dad asked.  “I’m following him!” she replied nodding toward me.  The following 150 yards was a well-worn path complete with tourist tripping tree roots and flies.  Hakuna Matata: tree trips tourist, bear eats tourist, flies consume scraps, and the rest decomposes and feeds the trees.  That is the Circle of Life Alaskan-style.  The narrow stream held over fifty Red/Sockeye salmon, in different states of the spawning cycle.  Bucks protected their gravel from other bucks and would position themselves behind (downstream) of their hen.  The hen would go on her side and flex, spilling eggs which triggered the buck to fertilize them with his milt (sperm).  Indiana mom was full of questions and I offered what answers I could.  Audience interest appeared to wane after 30 minutes so we walked back and handed out smoked Red Salmon to our Indiana family.  They enjoyed it and I received key fobs from dad, Indiana State Police.  Our world is a paradigm as you look at how small we are looking at the mountains or endless ocean then stop to talk with another person and they share common interests, job or acquaintances. 

About 4 miles from downtown SEWARD we found Stoney Creek RV Park and set-up for another two night stay.  It was packed and we were assigned site #1.  Site #1 is usually not the most desirable site in a campground.  It is located at the entrance/exit and EVERYONE passes by you.  We made do as it was intended for sleeping anyway.  An afternoon drive along the west shore of Resurrection Bay ended at Seward Brewing Company for a pint of their stout.  It did a fine job representing a dry stout, with decent coffee and chocolate undertones but I prefer a longer mouth feel and the flavor was a bit fleeting.  Haze and clouds began settling in and that could throw a damper in outdoor activities tomorrow.

A Sockeye buck tending his bed

 Hen contorting her body to release her eggs

My last days as a single

July 18-20, 2013

Thursday was a planned LAST day for the Klutina River this year because Saturday I pack up the Raptor for Anchorage.  Some of the sockeye were looking nasty and zombie-like.  I was selective with my catch and released two with fresh gouges and two in a state of decay.  I had an enjoyable four hours and got to give lessons to an Alaskan resident and his friends from New York while catching my limit of six.

Friday I cleaned the Raptor and truck, rotated tires on the truck and completed the re-packing of my freezer with a lot of Sockeye Salmon.  Some will accompany me to ANCHORAGE for meals and early departure to Michigan but the rest will have to wait a bit longer.

Saturday, I see Jon and Krista arrived home last night.  I can’t visit because I have a date in Anchorage.  The rig is hitched up and ready to git.  GLENNALLEN was SLOW going due to construction and just west, a frost heave caught me…wonder what happened in the garage…  I arrived in PALMER to stay at Big Bear Campground and RV Park.  It was a bit residential but it will serve the purpose as a home base for two (2) days.  After setup I was off to shop for groceries.  WASILLA Wal-Mart looked to have sold out of what I needed.  I made due with the important stuff: OJ for Lisa and half and half for Carol.  I left early for the cheapest diesel in Alaska, $4.04 woo hoo, too bad they don’t drill for oil and have a pipeline here.  I did spot and still hunt (video) a bull moose next to the roadway but a dork in car decided I shouldn’t and spooked him.  I parked outside the Arrival Gate at the Ted Stevens International Airport at 10:30pm and waited.

You get back what you put in

July 09, 2013

I am making Tuesday a day of rest from fishing to allow the hands to heal.  Salmon have very sharp teeth and gill rakers and upon landing one, you are frantically trying to control something that doesn’t want to be out of the water.  Eight pounds of muscle that has swam the ocean and fought rushing water for more than 100 miles to reach the end of a hook.  You thrust an unused hand into the gills and squeeze tight hoping to pin the fish to the ground, remove a razor sharp hook and put it onto a stringer.  After that you cut or pullout the gills to bleed the fish.  Fish and repeat as needed until you’ve reached your daily limit.  The repetitive casting and handling of monofilament line under pressure and the icy cold water, again and again.  The hands dry out, crack, and are cut with great frequency.  So to rest, I am doing laundry and smoking salmon.  Rinsing the brine from the fillets and I realize that it isn’t a total break from fishing.

Checking the electric smoker every hour wasn’t too bad but the mosquitoes were under the carport where the smoker is kept.  I was unhappy with the skins sticking to the grate and I forgot to add water to the drip pan.  A bit of cooking spray and water for batch number two.  The status will be checked tomorrow as it is well past 11:00pm for batch one.

Red "Spoon Meat" and an ale...more then 10 cups put up for salmon spread

July 10-13, 2013

Wednesday, three of the four trays are batch two and the uppermost tray is the tail sections that needed more time.  I lowered the temperature to 110 degrees for 12 hours and refilled the smoker with alder chips.  Nice and slow will get me sleep as it is 2:30am.

After waking and the day's first duty is out of the way, I was back to the smoker.  It sure slowed down the process and looks like it could go another day.  I cranked it up to 120 and will recheck every hour because those tails look to be about finished.  I put a bit more brown sugar on the last few pieces, the bellies.  Some people say the bellies are the best, akin to bacon lover’s because they are mostly fat…I’ll see about that.

Thursday should complete the smoking and all that is left are bellies.  In the afternoon, I ran down to the Klutina to try my luck.  I fished for 30 minutes before my first legally caught fish.  I released the next three foul hooked then put three more on the stringer.  The next two reds were in the 18” so I released them and they never looked back, “they don’t have necks, silly!”  Pleasantly the next two completed my daily limit and one monster buck measured 28”.  I caught and released another small red while the last few bled out.  I filleted the bunch and after getting home, vacuum sealed six packages.  I have over 49 Sockeye caught and processed to date with about 40 packages fresh and eight smoked.  Is that enough for the year?

Friday morning Jon and Krista got back from Valdez with report of no Halibut.  My Sockeye bellies were done so I put them on the table.  We all tore into them and received our weekly RDA of Omega-3 oil.  Fatty they are but it is only a beneficial fat.  I vacuum sealed the smoked salmon and Jon gave me 20 Alaskan Shrimp.  I shelled them and put them in the freezer for Lisa.  She and Oma get to Alaska on Sunday, July 21^st.  I had a bit of lunch and headed back to the Klutina for an afternoon of fishing.  My spot from yesterday was occupied by an older gent using a spinning rod upside down.  He had two reds on his stringer but they must have been thick because he was fishing ten feet from shore and these fish are concentrated no more than four feet.  Once he departed I began catching fish in that spot.  It took an enjoyable three hours to catch six smallish reds.  I fouled about three others and released four others that were cut up, infected, and in a state of decay.  I kept the bright fresh looking fish.  To celebrate I enjoyed baked salmon and an Alaskan Brewery Black IPA.

On Saturday I had good intentions of making an early trip to the Klutina to beat the weekend crowd but it was changed into an early afternoon trip.  Jon had flown out yesterday to get his annual mechanical inspection for his Super Cub, his dad is an inspector, and returned around 10:00am.  We had coffee and talked about his chore list conflicting with hunting plans.  It looks like I’ll be getting dropped via his plane, in his hunting locales and try for moose, sheep and perhaps a grizzly.  Jon will check every few days, as it is only a twenty minute flight from his house, and he’ll stay behind for the chores.  I’ll admit that I have found a great guy to befriend.  Jon is caring, understanding and very giving person.

Another limit of 6 reds...biggest was 28" (second from bottom)


Alaskan Shrimp (20), a gift from Jon and Krista

A cow and calf Caribou (from Cataraft trip last month)

Put on a Happy Face

The Sweet Spot eddy of Klutina River, near Copper River

July 03-08, 2013 Wednesday afternoon I returned to the Upper Bridge at COPPER CENTER to fish the Klutina River for Reds. I had the boat launch to myself after a guy limited in 15 minutes of fishing. I limited too but it took me a couple of hours. A couple of guys showed up and one of them was REALLY goofy. He carried a camera and took pictures of everything, would lie down on the gravel drive with cars going around him and sometimes he thought it would be cool to throw stones in the river. His partner saw me casting and thought he would give it a try. He returned to his vehicle and pulled out a brand new spinning rod/reel combination package, still in the plastic clam shell. He fiddled with it for a half hour and proceeded to cast and retrieve some gaudy plug with treble hooks (illegal for this section of river) with his left hand. The humorous part was he held the right handed rig with his left hand, had the reel on top and had to reel it backwards to retrieve. I will give him this, he did not tangle my line but I did not catch my second and third until they left. I filleted and was putting my stuff in the truck when Scott and Polly (yesterday’s couple) showed up again.

We stood around while another bunch of rookies hit the slow moving eddy. They were all Army guys and had a snagging way of fishing. The most aggressive of the fisherman would toss the hook, let it drift then SET the hook with a fast motion (snagging rip). He even foul hooked two of his three fish and kept them. He was either ignorant of the rules or just out there to best the others in his party. I drank a beer with Scott and Polly and just enjoyed the show. It was certainly more entertaining then current reality TV productions and we had front row seats. The temperature dropped to 50 and the clock read 11:00pm. It was time to be heading for home.

Thursday, the Fourth of July is a special time for the United States and the Fenton Police Department. The annual question phoned into the dispatch was, “What time are the fireworks?” To which our dispatch would always reply, “Dusk!” That made me think of my favorite police people back in Dibbleville. I texted Dale, Samantha and Cathi the following: up here, when they call and ask, “What time are the fireworks?” You can’t reply, “Dusk.”

Mosquitoes are not built for windy conditions so at 5:00pm I was again on the Klutina without any bug dope. The holiday crowd wasn’t watching for the fireworks, they were packed in on the river. I went from crowded hole to crowded hole and finally wound up at the German Hole. The most annoying family was positioned at the two best spots. Dad and mom kept hollering at the two boys (about 8 and 6 years old) to shut up or put that pole down or if you don’t stop. To top it off, they were using illegal rigging and snagging as best they could. Each rig and three hooks and a short leader between each (looked like a walleye crawler harness) making it lethal when ripped from beneath any unsuspecting fish. One of the hooks was bound to hit flesh and that they did. Finally, they limited six foul hooked fish and noisily departed for their dysfunctional camp. Another experienced fisherman had quietly slipped in, limited in the downstream portion and was busily filleting his catch while I caught my first red. We shared complaints about the “family” and their fishing techniques. He had brought a single 12 ounce bottle of Porter and offered me half of it. I suppose I did mention that thick, dark heavily bodied ales were a favorite of mine. However, I declined the generous offer but I will be packing in a 22 in case we meet again. Don’t worry, the 22 is not referring to a weapon…it is a 22 ounce bottle of ale. I fouled my second fish in the gill plate while he was still there and another two couples had just arrived. I released the fish and continued casting. The new fisherpersons took the leftover holes as I again foul hooked and released number three. The patriarch of that group commented on my outstanding ethics and conversation ensued. The guys had been long time military buddies and the couple from Kentucky were up visiting the 49th for ten days. Rick and Lori Karnes, Fairbanks, were the hosts trying to get their guests their first sockeye. I limited about 20 minutes later and continued my visiting after the filleting was completed. Rick had retired from the Army as an MP, was still retired and devoting the rest of his time to hunting, fishing, and trapping. When it was all said and done, I snapped pictures as they held their 12 fish and stood side by side in the Klutina. It was 15 minutes shy of July 5th so I bid them goodbye and I said I’d look Rick up when I get to Fairbanks this fall. Hmmmm, moose hunting sounds good.

On Friday, I slept in after my late night fishing/dinner/shower that had me up past 2:00am. Jon and Krista arrived home sometime around 3:00am and he only gets ten days before having to return to work. We split up some chores, Krista got the house, Jon the garbage burn barrels and I got to mow the airstrip, about five acres of tall grasses, lupine, fireweed, alder and willow.

Saturday was in the upper 50s to low 60s throughout the day with gusts and steady breeze. I helped load a truck of junk for Jon’s dump run then headed over to Ken’s to see if my replacement rod had arrived. I heard a rumor that the Fish & Game E.O. the limit for Klutina reds from three to six, hmmm. I packed my fishing gear before the trip across the highway (two lane road) and my upper section arrived. Darn, I forgot the lower section, so another trip with an Ugly Stik. I was walking the familiar south bank looking for space and found everything packed with unfamiliar faces and body shapes. The farther I walked toward the Copper, the fewer the fishermen, but the holes were smaller. I crossed the last river/creek braid of the Klutina and I was all alone, save five other fishermen. We had a quarter mile of gravel bank to fish, so we never bumped elbows.

I tinkered looking for a good drift and found snags most of the time. I re-crossed a portion of that braid to reach a sandbar. Four casts and I had a colored 25” buck after an hour of fishing. That brought the attention of the remaining anglers and everyone tossed something into the icy water. After thirty minutes, they headed back and I soon followed suit to look for a greater concentration of fish. I found a hole just upstream from this last braid and the eddy was about 150 feet long and 15 feet wide. Plenty of potential here so I started to find a sweet spot for the next five fish. I backed upstream as far as I could and on the first cast, WHAM, fish on and after a brief fight, number two was thrashing on the stringer. WHAM, WHAM, WHAM, WHAM, twenty minutes at the most and I had completed my limit. That is how the Red Fishing is supposed to be. Now I had the chore of filleting out six fish for smoking. Three were halved and I kept the tail section (HINT: boneless) and the spoon meat for fresh fish cooking. Jon and I would be busy brining and smoking about 20 pounds on Sunday and Monday.

Three military guys walked into the area began fishing the braid eddy. Josh, had a big grin when he asked if I caught anything. My grin was just as big as I pointed out the half full kitchen garbage bag of fillets. I was pleasure fishing at that point so I relinquished the possession of the sweet spot to the new angler. I caught and released four more fish, visited and coached Josh. He would hookup and lose a fish every minute or so. After 20 minutes he had one fish on a stringer, the most colored buck to date, and lost a dozen more. I could leave the action, so I would fish and put things away, then another flurry would start and I would again start fishing. Josh had three on the stringer and my right arm and hand was sore when I left at 11:30pm. My face was also a bit sore because I couldn’t stop smiling that afternoon.

I re-prepped my fishing rod Sunday morning and used it that afternoon on the Klutina. I was lucky and found the “sweet spot” vacant. After an hour I had a couple fish on but didn’t land a thing. Once they started making it to shore via my rod, I limited in 73 minutes. Now Jon and I will have a dozen to smoke. I got home too late to brine but will get to it early tomorrow.

On Monday, I prepped fish and brined them before helping Jon entertain Krista’s parents and relatives. They are all travelling to Valdez on Tuesday for a three day boat and fishing trip. We chose the bridge on the Klutina for their fishing pleasure. We arrived with the rain but it lasted about a half an hour, just enough to soak the unprepared. Krista’s dad, Clay (2) and Jon (1) were the only successful fishermen. I caught my six and was happily pleasure fishing when another group walked up to fish. The grandfather, three sons, and grandson were rigging incorrectly for this type of fishing, so I showed them my setup and performed a demonstration. On my second cast I hooked up and landed a 24” red that was very bright and fresh. Moments later, the fish was swimming upstream after my release and lesson was over. I even loaned them my rod while I ran back to the truck to retrieve a board for filleting. I returned 40 minutes later, after talking to other people and they had landed one fish. I filleted and watched as they kept missing fish after fish. After completing the filleting, I asked if I could hook a fish for ten year old Dylan. It was agreed and after a hookup, I handed the rod to Dylan. As he struggled with fish, I reached in to assist and we walked downstream toward the gravel bar. The red wanted nothing of this and shook loose. Moments later the event had a different outcome as Dylan was now posing with a 26” Sockeye for a proud family. The grin was unmistakably familiar. When it was all said and done, nine fish were on their stringer and Dylan and accounted for five of them. That didn’t include the four foul hooked and released fish he and I landed. I shared a beer with them and was thanked several times for the memories they had experienced.

It was now 7:30pm and I could start for home. Wait, another group of fisherman and the mother of the group was getting messy with the filleting. I paused and we made small talk, discussing techniques and fishing style. She had her twin 14 year old daughters, son and nephew up from Palmer, Alaska. They had been plugging away since 3:30pm and had yet to limit. I offered some assistance and was soon hooking up fish for Maddie. Maddie landed three before I finally tossed in the towel. Katie, her twin caught two and nephew, Thomas had one in their new fishing hole. Mom took a picture of Maddie, Thomas and myself with two of their fish. It had been a good day.

The six Sockeye limit