Highlights from 2004 Season

2004 started out with a bang when our new boat arrived in Juneau on the barge from Seattle in late April. Jess and I were busy outfitting her with all the best in radar, color sonar and GPS, EPERB (a state of the art satellite emergence locater beacon) electronic downriggers, wash down system, interior soundproofing and seating. After about a month in dry dock it was time for sea trials.

Desire

We were a bit unsure how the new four stroke Yamaha 150 hp engines would perform but all doubt was washed away with the first wake. She’s a beauty we christened her Desire.

Fishing being a strictly scientific pursuit, we wondered if the fish would like our new boat as much as we did or if it would be necessary to import a Voodoo Queen from Paumanok to mumble a few spells into the bilge in order to start catching. No need to worry 2004 brought nearly 400 salmon and a plethora of halibut over the gunwale and into the homes of our guests.

Here are some highlights of our season.

2004 was a year of sunshine and calm seas. Short sleeves were the order of the day.

Dennis and Carmel returned with their long time friends Gerry and Linda to harvest some enhancement Kings. Here Dennis holds a nice King taken in the enhancement area.

Good man that he is, he brought his wife Carmel, to clean the fish.

Carmel is an amazing woman. She can clean a salmon quickly and well. She can identify most of the internal organs and still not get a spot of blood on that white sweatshirt. Not only that, I’m told she can ride horses, manage a pack teem and set up deer camp. Every man’s dream—you chose well (read lucky dog) Dennis.

Doug and Judy returned again this year for the enhancement Kings. Here they are with a day’s limit of 4 each. It was so unexpectedly warm that Judy had to cut the legs off a pair of jeans just to cope.

The professor is back at his watch. Looks like a breakfast Pink to me. I bought a stainless steel marine bar-b-q for the boat this fall so we can just flop these little ones on the grill and eat them for lunch.

Dave’s son in law Floyd, shows off his first Coho.

Steve, Susan and Taylor came by for a visit. We had some trouble trying to find the elusive barn door halibut but we were a bit distracted by a fine catch of early Coho.

While we were out fishing a mother Orca swam so close to the boat we looked down and saw her nursing her young one as they gracefully swam by. I never get tired of my job. I see things for the first time nearly every day.

Dave and Sue returned with brother in law Lynn. Dave and Sue traveled all the way from Nigeria to do a little fishing at the Whale’s Eye. I’m telling you, the fishing has got to be some kind of good around here to have guests returning all the way from Nigeria and Romania to wet a line. Here Lynn and Dave show off the odd double of the day, a clam that actually bit the hook and a Double Ugly.

I’ll bet you can’t get that in Nigeria.

Next, The Party from Pittsburg returned for another intense round of fishing with Blind Man John. I’ve been fishing with these guys since before we opened the lodge. I see them more often then I see my blood family. It is a genuine homecoming the week they show up and a grand time is had by all.

Fish on!

Not bad for a half day of fishing, Right guys?

I can’t believe I get paid to have this much fun.

Matt and Joy are back with Matt's mom and dad. Dr. Joy thought she would win the day with her big but…but

Matt kicked her butt with his big but.

Too many buts for the box.

The harsh Alaskan environment, it’s a man’s world where only the most rugged survive—right? Don’t tell Aurora that.

She takes her wilderness in stride. She’s become quite the fisher over the last couple of years and not many get by her.

Back with her husband, Sorin, all the way from Romania, where is Sorin, I ’m sure I got a picture of him too—distractions, distractions.

Oh yah, here’s Sorin.

Whada day...

Mike and his family lived in Juneau 30 years ago while stationed in the Coast Guard. He decided to bring his sons back for a visit and fish the Golden North Salmon Derby this year.

After three days of hard fishing and over thirty Coho turned in for scholarships they returned to Juneau for a few days to check out their old haunts.

It was a pleasure to share this time with them.

Our last guests Kevin and Patricia with a limit (6 each) of big Fall Coho, one of two limits they bagged in as many days in the second week of September.

A toast to the last day of the season.

The salmon and halibut continued to be plentiful throughout September and into October, way past the time you want to be out on the water around here. Each year I say it can’t get any better than this, and each year it gets better. The biologists say the fish runs are cyclical. They predict runs based on snowfall, stream levels and the seven year mumbo jumbo but it seems that for now, the fish runs are doing as well as they have since the biologists have been watching them. Hope to see you next year.

Joy's King

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