Ninilchek Day 3

For me, it was a day to check up on upcoming reservations, pay some bills, and read a good book about people who lived off the grid in Alaska.

For Phil, it was a fishing day! He left the house at 7 am. to drive to meet his guide on the Kasilof River about 30 minutes away. He took his own chest waders as the resort had only hip waders, and the hostess told him he'd likely be warmer in his own gear. He wore extra heavy wool socks and some merino wool sweat pants/leggings under his regular pants. The temperature never got above 55 F today, and the water was quite cold. He did a fishing technique called flossing. Salmon don't eat after they begin their journey upstream to spawn, so you cast a line that will catch them in the mouth and hook them on their mouth like dental floss. He caught one by hooking in the abdomen and had to release it as that is illegal. He was only able to bring one fish to the bank legally, although he hooked several others that he could not land before they shook the hook. He said when you did hook one, it jumped out of the water.

He fished about 8 hours with guide Ed and his wife Teri. Not everyone was catching fish where they were today. The guide and his wife did not catch any fish.

We'll have the one fish packaged and frozen to ship with the Halibut by FedEx to Missouri, and it should reach my dad's house on Tuesday. Tomorrow, we'll know the total shipping weight.

Just an aside, the hostess in the office, Michelle, said that she and her husband Captain Troy come up from Florida and do this for 5 months every summer. Michelle reminds me of my sister-in-law, Kaki Kahl. Similar looks, voice, and mannerisms and the same energy and attention to detail. We would recommend this service to others, too.Read more