Fisher Girl DeLise

Boat appears (white spot) as fog lifts The state finally opened up troll fishing for 5 days a week two weeks ago so we have been doing a lot more fishing and having a lot less time with any cell service or internet connection. The number of fish caught is still relatively low but I continue to love the outdoor work and beauty of Alaska. Everyday is a new adventure – whether it’s breaching whales, state troopers boarding our boat or dense fog. Radar. Each mark is a boat we can't see! The West Channel was open for fishing just 1 day a week and this area is a bit further out to sea so everyone wanted to see if that is where the Kings are. So, last Monday, we joined 50 other boats in the same area in thick fog looking for fish! Chart. Red mark is us trying to stay in 20+Fathoms Piloting thru dense fog (maybe a ¼ mile visibility) is quite intense! There are no road markings to keep everyone in their own “lanes” as you have in a car so it is truly driving blind. ou...

Pacific Son is a Troller Last Saturday we anchored in Leesoffskaia Bay, which is just outside of the Deep Inlet fishery. The Deep Inlet area is open to all different kinds of salmon fishing gear on a rotating basis, which means each kind of commercial salmon fishery gets its day to fish there. On our way into the bay there were Gill Netters fishing and on our way out on Sunday it was Purse Seiners so I got to see both of these fisheries with their gear in the water. Here’s my layman’s definition of the different kinds of commercial salmon fisheries. Troll Caught Salmon is the only “line caught” commercial salmon. We use a line and a hook while other commercial fishing is done with a net. We have a large pole off both sides of the boat that enable us to have multiple fishing lines in the water at the same time (the lines are attached to different parts of the poles that keep the lines separated in the water to avoid tangling them). We are allowed to fish 2 lines on each side...

Goddard Hot Springs Trolling week of June 3 rd Inside the upper bathhouse at Goddard Hot Springs We spent the weekend at Goddard Hot Springs south of Sitka while waiting for Monday’s opener. When Russia owned Alaska in the 1800’s there was a resort here and back in the 30’s it was a hotel and school for the local kids that lived on fox farms on the numerous islands surrounding the area. Nothing remains here of those earlier homesteads except for a chimney and a partial wall surrounded by muskeg. In 1938 the territory of Alaska bought the property and it is now a treasure freely shared with all. The Forest Service built 2 quant bathhouses here with simple stainless tubs in them, piped from the natural hot springs. They are open huts with a big window overlooking the cove on one side and a large doorway opening on the other.  Upper Bathhouse in the clearing from PacSon It is such a treat to soak in the naturally heated water in an outdoor setting with a beautiful vie...

Alaskan Wildlife Trolling Week of May 27 th Magoun Island Cove I know I mention the wildlife a lot – it’s just so fantastic to be in a place where there is still an abundance that can be viewed in their natural environment in a safe and non-obtrusive fashion! This week was a good one for brown bear viewing! Tuesday’s opener started out with fair weather. However, there was a swell, which was making me a bit uncomfortable so I tried one of our friend Amado’s motion sickness pills that he shared with me when we were in Seattle – worked well and no drowsiness. Thanks Amado! After another slow day of fishing in Sitka Sound, we decided to anchor in the same little cove we stayed in before getting to Sitka, behind Magoun Island. Both Doug and I prefer to anchor out then dock in the harbor, especially if there is such a sweet little cove for us to spend the night in. We were rewarded with a splendid sunset here! Fishing rainy Salisbury Sound On rainy Wednesday, we ran to ...