When you purchase something new there is always a break in period before heavy use. For me, it is a pair of Xtratuf fishing boots. For my friend Boo Kandas of Tall Tale Charters, it is a boat repowered with new 300hp Yamaha outboard motors and a new deckhand. Sure, boots are important, but getting an ocean boat ready for the season …
River Run
The itch has been scratched. I’ve been busy with cabin work this past week, but needed a break to do something just for me. It was time to breakout the cataraft and float the river. This annual trip is part exercise, part inner peace, and part salvage run. Finding a lost “treasure” is just icing on the …
Seward Mermaid Festival
Jane and I weren’t so sure if we were going to make it to the Seward Mermaid Festival this year. We had the camper loaded and ready to go, but getting the water turned on at the cabins had a higher priority than a weekend in Seward. We ran into a couple of small problems while turning it on and spent Friday making …
Spring Wildlife Photo Dump
It’s been a great spring for photographing some of Alaska’s biggest and most popular residents. Enjoy! …
Dock Is In
The high tide cycle from April 27th to April 30th was large enough to put the dock in for the season. The morning tides were plenty high, but I wasn’t so sure about the evening tides. I decided to take a chance on a 22.5’ high tide Monday evening at 5:50pm. As I was getting things ready to get the dock in, a moose was …
Stop Wasteful Trawl Bycatch
On Tuesday, I attended a presentation at the Main Street Tap and Grill in Kenai. The topic was trawl fishing bycatch in Alaska. The place was packed with concerned community members. The Alaska trawl fishery, which happens in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, targets pollock, pacific cod, flounder, and rockfish. It is a huge, …
Happy Easter
I’ve been doing a deep dive on the internet this week trying to find any information about the 2025 Cadbury Bunny contest. I can find information about the 2024 winner, Louie the Raccoon, but nothing about the event this year. I’m not going to wait for the results any longer. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the …
Spring?
The last couple of weeks we’ve been on a roll. Sunny days, temperatures in the low 50’s, and no snow on the ground or ice on the river. I’ve been taking advantage of the wonderful weather by taking walks around the neighborhood. The telltale sign that spring is here is when the pussy willow buds emerge. I’ve been seeing …
Flying
Alaska has the most pilots per capita in the United States. I am one of them, although I am not active. It was back in the mid 90’s that I decided I wanted a private pilot’s license. I flew for several years but then all of a sudden I stopped. Fishing got in the way. In my world, when it’s a good day to fly it’s an …
Guest Blogger
It’s always nice to hear new voices, new perspectives about travel in Alaska. The following is from the person who convinced me to write a blog, my sister, Heidi Holtan. FISH ON! This week, I’m sitting in for Keith. Even though I’m Keith’s little sister, sometimes I have to get pushy. I come by it naturally—back when …