LET'S GET SOCKEYED!

Each July (from the 10th to the 31st) thousands of Alaskans arrive at the mouth of the Kenai River to harvest their share of millions (yes millions) of Pacific sockeye salmon. Most people are of the opinion the sockeyes, also known as red salmon are the best eating of all five species of Pacific Salmon. The Kenai River is an amazing fishery, which is very tightly managed. Alaska Fish and Game does an incredible job of protecting the runs. The river is subject to emergency closures (and openings) depending on the strength of the salmon run. They are able to count the fish that come through and on any one day it's possible that as many as 50,000 fish will pass through the fish counting weir.

We love to dipnet, and although we don't need this fish run to survive (we do have grocery stores), there's no question that it's a big part of our lives. Each year we harvest several hundred pounds of fillets that we smoke, can, and freeze. It is a tremendous amount of work, not so much the actual catching, but more in fish cleaning, preparing, vac sealing, and freezing. It's always a family effort, it makes us feel good to "live off the land" in a sense.

Dipnetting itself is done with a huge net about 5' in diameter, attached to a pole which in some cases is 20' long. The fisherman stands in about waist high water, holding the net in the river and waiting for the fish to swim in. Once your net starts bouncing around then the fisherman drags the net to the shore where an another family member is waiting to help untangle the fish. This year we harvested 81 fish which range in weight from 4 pounds to 10 pounds. The fish were then split, between my Dad, my sister's family, Uncle Mark, and our family.

For the last several years I have given up my role as the main fisherman, giving my duties to Maggie (who I love so much). I act as her support in removing the fish, killing the fish, and putting the fish in the cooler. Maggie and I are an excellent team.

Here Maggie is proudly holding a beautiful bright sockeye. I think we've already eaten this one.

There is more than just fishing on this annual pilgrimage. We set up several tents on the beach, build nice camp fires, eat lots of good food, play in the sand, ride the ATV, and for the adults of course lots of good canned Budweiser. Michele and I are actually beer snobs, but we allow for the intake of garbage beer this once as it's easier to deal cans rather than bottles. Oh the sacrifices we make. :)

Indio broke in to chocolate chip cookies, I busted him big time. :)


Casey got his hands on the camera, but it captures us sitting around the camp.

My Mom cooking and Casey keeping an eye on the situation. Notice all the camps in the background (like I said, an Alaskan tradition).

Our camp, complete with baby gates for my nephew Granite.

Jade and Granite, chillaxing while waiting for the fish to start running.

We'll all eat good this winter, and we're already excited for 2010 dipnet season.