I had cabin and boat chores that needed my attention, but the call of the river was just too strong. A big part of my annual river float is to salvage gear that was lost from the previous fishing season. The best time to do this is when the backwater sloughs and gravel bars are completely ice free. As the …
The Dock Is In
With lots of ice in the creek to start the week, I really had my doubts that the dock would go in this month. Thank you Super Pink Moon for happening at the end of April rather than the beginning of April. Whenever the high tide is over 22.7 feet, I usually have enough water to float the dock to the end of the …
Breakup
I was starting to wonder if we would ever have spring. Well, that’s a little dramatic, but you probably know what I mean. It’s been a long, cold winter and the grip was finally released this past week. On Sunday, I took a river photo at the bridge in Soldotna. As you can see, it’s locked in ice. Only two days later, I …
Big Will Boat Build
What do you do in your spare time? If you’re Big Will Jahrig, you build a saltwater boat. My friends, Will and Becky Jahrig (the original owners of Beaver Creek Cabins and Guide Service), decided three years ago to build their dream saltwater boat. They tried to find a ready-built boat, but couldn’t find the right …
Golfing in the 49th State
A tradition unlike any other. Today is the final round of the 2021 Masters Golf Tournament. I’ve got a side bet going with my good friend George, and let’s just say my guy has a lot of work to do. So does George’s pick. Either way, one of us will collect on the wager in July. I suppose you’re wondering why I’m writing …
401K16, 401K15, 401K14…
I met with a financial advisor this winter and one of the questions he asked is if I had a 401K. I told him I didn’t, but I have a 401K16, a 401K15, and a 401K14. And, I have lots of them. He wasn’t a fisherman and was puzzled by my answer. I explained to him that Luhr Jensen makes a lure called a Kwikfish and the …
2021 Upper Cook Inlet Sockeye Forecast
I’ve been patiently waiting for a press release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the 2021 second run Kenai king forecast. It usually comes out in February, and needless to say, I’ve been curious why I haven’t seen anything. I decided to dig deep on the ADFG website to find the report, and to my surprise, I …
Bring Your Own Rock To Stand On
I don’t want to burst anybody’s bubble, but fishing in Alaska is not always a wilderness experience. If you’re on the road system and salmon are in the streams, you’re bound to have plenty of company. Surprisingly, the vast majority of all participants get along just fine. I find having the right attitude is essential. First …
It’s Right Around The Corner Part 2
I teed up this blogpost for Jane to write. The working title was Guest Blogger- Jane. I told her after seven years of writing weekly, I needed a break. It’s not that I ran out of topics, I just didn’t feel like writing. I showed Jane photos of fireweed and flower baskets and thought that would be inspiration enough to …
It’s Right Around The Corner
It sure doesn’t look like it right now, but the river will be flowing in less than two months. I can hardly wait. It seems that Jane and I aren’t the only people experiencing COVID fatigue and spring fever. Our phone has been ringing quite a bit this past week. I’m trying to be patient, but it seems like an …