Uniquely Alaskan Experience - Dip Netting

*Note: I will be making a video which will let you "be there" for dip-netting and illustrate much of what I'm writing. That may not happen for a few days. We're enjoying our last days with Dad. 

Dip-Netting is an uniquely Alaskan experience. One must reside in Alaska for 12 consecutive months before they are allowed to participate. Without that box checked, one cannot even help clean fish on the beach.  We have been "residents" of Alaska since 2003, but we have not resided in Alaska since 2005,  due to our military career. We have not been able to have property tax relief, in-state tuition or in-state fishing privileges until THIS summer.  We were excited to do this. Our goal is to fill our freezer with Red salmon and  silvers, smoke and can pinks and possibly get a moose.....this will greatly help with our grocery expenses in the upcoming year. 

We've been talking with friends and gathering intel. We discovered "the week" to go fishing, and booked  a site. We discussed what gear we needed, and spent a small fortune on getting what we could. John and Jacque, friends from church and Life Group, LOANED us their dip nets and other gear. John also talked to Michael about using a hand truck to carry our coolers back and forth from the camp to the beach. THIS helped much - and made dip-netting much more doable. We had booked our dates according to what Ed and Jen, more friends from church and Life Group, told us would be good. They invited us to join their annual dip netting group, which allowed us to learn from the masters.  Cory took time off work  and they joined us. Dad ended up being here this week and we were happy he'd get to observe this ritual. 

The pictures will tell the story below. However, a bit of backstory.  One takes a net - 3 or 5 feet in diameter (we saw only 5 feet), with a long pole handle attached. Some attach two really long handles, some float down the river holding just the net. They catch fish, bonk them, hook them on their suit and keep floating. For most, the net is guided into a spot as far out as one can get in the river. We fished at the mouth of the Kenai river -  in salt water. You stand in water up to your chest and wait for a fish to swim into your net. The nets are heavy. We had beautiful weather, but it can be rainy and cold. The waves get fairly rough as the day goes on. They would be much rougher in rain. When a salmon hits, you drag your net out of the water as quickly as possible...dodging other fishermen, nets, kids....the salmon is bonked, untangled, bled and put in a cooler. In our group Jenny and I  did most of this so those with nets could get back out to the water as quickly as possible. 

This was our first trip in the RV since moving here. We discovered lots of little things to take care of on our way out of town, which made us a bit behind the rest of the group. CoRielle and Benny waited for us in the Fred Myer's parking lot in Soldotna. RVers - you can stay here for 3 days free. There are porta potties, water, a dump station, dumpsters... 

Benny, Cory, Arielle 

 We arrived Monday. The fleet had gone out Monday morning and the salmon weren't hitting. The group consensus was not to fish the evening tide. Cory and Alex headed down anyway. This allowed Cory to learn the technique and the beach wasn't busy.

Cory, Alex and gear

The rest of us hung out on the bluff and watched eagles and the scene below. 

Cory caught two - the first of our family catch. 

As we pulled in Monday night, we saw Ian. We knew Ian and Becky from San Angelo. We were in the same homeschool support group, Michael and Ian knew each other from the base, and they were part of the food co-op we ran from our home. It was fun to meet up 13 years later on the Kenai beach. We will plan something before next year.

Becky and I

 There were two tides on Tuesday. Here are some shots from the morning tide. 

Stacia and I untangle a fish

Our group lined coolers up, Jenny and I untangled, bonked, bled and stored fish in coolers. We also schlepped chairs and coolers down the beach as the tide went out. Arielle, Benny and Dad came down for a close up view.

Stacia didn't want anything to do with the bonking of fish and wasn't sure she wanted to try dip-netting. I told her she didn't have to, but to let me know if she changed her mind and wanted to try fishing. We had two nets in the water at a time. Cory had his own. 

The beach crew

Some of our group in the water - orange hats were a brilliant idea, Jen! 

Cory, Michael, Ed, ?, Alex 

 By the end of our first tide, Stacia wanted to try. Cory helps her guide her net into place. 

Cleaning the catch from the morning tide.  Michael and Alex ended up with 10 salmon. Cory caught 2. 

Cory's morning haul

 After the morning tide we headed up to the campground. The usual plan is to have your main meal and take a nap before fishing the evening tide. We had a meal. Some napped. Michael was concerned his energy level wouldn't allow him to fish late into the evening. The waves  get rougher and balance is a concern with PD. Cory  headed down after eating.  Michael woke up and wanted to go down in the afternoon.  We knew it wasn't the "best" time to fish, but he felt up to it THEN. We fished the 2 hours BEFORE the tide. The beach was empty. Alex opted not to come down.

Duct taping the connections so they don't catch in other's nets

 Good times

Cory, Michael, Stacia

 Family Memories

Michael, Stacia (Cory behind Michael)

 Stacia has a fish

CoRielle and Benny

Fireweed along the trail back to camp

Michael, Stacia and Alex caught another 9 salmon. That brought our first day's total to 19.  Cory caught  4 the second day. We were happy. We pushed the hand truck back up the bluff. We cleaned off fish. We took warm showers and got ready for Wednesday morning tide.

Compliments of Jennie

Wednesday morning Michael was sore. He'd fished 2 tides. He wanted to take a break. Cory went down with the group. Michael rested and we went down an hour or so later. We arrived when the fish were hitting. There was only one tide on this day that we were allowed to fish  (I think).

Alaskan Beach Wear

Mount Redoubt

I like fireweed

Our coolers to schlep - from the blue on the left to the white on the right and the red up front. 

Alex had a great day on Wednesday

Cory had a great tide! 

Our Wednesday totals were 8 for Alex, 6 for Stacia and 4 for Michael - a total of another 18 salmon. We caught 36 all together. Far from our limit - but a great start.  Cory caught 13 on Wednesday, 19 all together.

This is the day I learned how to clean fish. Michael was fishing and said, "De'Etta,  start cleaning the fish."  Hmmm...I've NEVER done this - EVER - not with trout, pike - never. I HAD watched a lot of cleaning in the last two days. I figured you slit them and pull everything out. I did it. Michael and Alex came out of the water and helped finish. Mikayla (Ian and Becky's daughter), gave me some tips.  I've never felt like such an Alaskan woman as I did standing on the beach, surrounded by salmon and covered in fish slime and guts. Odd, I know.

This gentleman smokes and cans his fish at the campsite. I like this idea. LOL 

This was a great system for drying waders and such between tides

 CoRielle left Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday night our group traditionally has a BBQ. Michael told me to go take a shower. It was at that point  I discovered I had blood and seagull poop all over my shirt and fish slime rolled off my face and arms in the shower. Ugh. But it was fun.

Thursday, we reserved for next year. We got a spot which will allow us to pitch our tent. Josiah and Izaak are saying they will put in for time off early next year.  Yay - we'll have a family fish camp. How Alaskan is THAT?????

It is this groups tradition to move on to Seward after fishing a couple of days. They go to the military resort and use the fish house and commercial vacuum sealers to package their fish. Then they enjoy a couple of nights in Seward after all the hard work.

The guys have stations...The fish were de-slimed, filleted, de-boned, and sent to the packaging table

These two filled their time with sharing pastor stories. 

Michael and David - compliment of Jennie

 Drying fillets and packaging them

Photo compliment of Jennie

 Dad and Lauri sealed the fish. I went between the table and the vacuum sealer - wherever it seemed the most help was needed. 

Dad seals some fish

We opted to come home rather than spending extra days in Seward. If we'd had the Jeep with us, we may have stayed and showed dad some sights. However, we wanted Dad to have time with the other kids, Michael was worn out....in fact Friday turned out to be  a very late and sore day for him.  It was a good call to come home.

Nolan had to stay home as he started his new job this week. He took care of Yuuki, chickens and bunnies.

Our first adventure with only two children in many years

Need I say - We love Alaska? If we can't be overseas - this is certainly the next best thing. We are thankful JaRissa moved up here and started the migration....or we may still be zipping around the lower 48, living in the RV. LOL

Early Morning Visitors

A video I made Monday morning before we left on our Dip Netting adventure.

Busy Sunday

After church we ran over to a friends and looked at all his dip-netting gear. We are so blessed. He is letting us take whatever we want to use on our trip.

 We grabbed lunch.

 The boots I bought for our waders yesterday didn't fit. We ran to Fred Myers and bought new boots and a few other things.

Jared and Larissa sent us a picture of themselves sitting in our living room. ::snort:: We headed home.

Mama Moose came walking through the yard with baby moose. I was happy Dad got to see them.

We visited awhile and then the guys went out to play a round of disc golf. Larissa, Stacia and I made breakfast burritos. Arielle came up and helped too.

When everyone went home, we got busy packing things into the RV and preparing for tomorrow's adventure.

You can hear and watch the fun by clicking the link below.

They Said I Look Like a Platypus

I began the day with canning. 

Grandpa and Alex went for a walk in the neighborhood. There is a home up the road for sale and dad likes to look at home specs. 

Michael spent the vast majority of the day with Alex and Nolan installing a new fridge in the RV. We have other things to do to it before our trip. We need to outfit it again (hoping we remember what to put in it LOL), fix a toilet seal and a step.....we leave on Monday. 

Some may remember from last year how I like to fish....a camera and a few books. LOL  This trip will be different. This will be our first time dip-netting. You have to live in Alaska a year before you can dip-net, and from all we hear THIS is how Alaskans fill their freezers with salmon. It appears I am going from documenting a trip, to being an active participant.  If one MUST spend hours standing in the cold river - one should at least get something stylish to wear.

I tried on these chest waders and Stacia told me I looked like a Platypus.  The feet were quite big. 

Ah, pull the drawstring and it should all get better - or not. 

 There was nothing to do but to head out to buy waders for three of us. Stacia and I got cute teal waders....the photo on the box shows a WAIST but there is no waist on these. They may have told me I now look like a colorful platypus.  We had bought a pair of boots for Stacia and they are too small for her to put over the booties of the wader......they are even too small for me.....

Tomorrow, we have to pack the RV, find boots for 3 of us that will fit over the booties, and I need to do some food prep...oh, and the packing. Always the packing. LOL  BTW - I'm not sure how to be sure the boots will fit, unless we wear the waders into the store to try on the boots. No one likes that idea....I don't like the idea of multiple trips to the store to exchange boots.

Fantastical Friday

I've not been keeping up with the YouTube channel or the blog - so you don't KNOW that BreZaak have been spending every free, waking moment at the new house. They've worked hard to get it ready for their move. Thursday, the new carpet was laid and Izaak put in the new baseboard. Stacia and/or I, have been watching the kids fairy regularly - and enjoying it....Though, I know why God gives toddlers to 20 and 30 yo's and not mid-50 yo's. ::wink::

Izaak planned to move the RV and the family over after work tonight. We knew that would be late - and felt bad we'd be unavailable to help. Michael suggested we move the RV over after his therapy appointment. One thing led to another - they filled the RV basement, Cory was off work and volunteered his truck, then they hooked up the trailer....and WHAMMO, all their things were loaded and ready for the move. We had the kids inside. They were a bit antsy.....especially when sweet Bella saw the RV leave without her. It has been their home for a year.

We distracted her with a baking project. Then we FED her a cookie. Stacia said, "Won't that make her hyper?"

 I replied, "She' get hyper and THEN she'll crash!" ::snort:: 

Arielle said, "Listen to Mom - she knows things." 

Mainly, we simply wanted to keep Bella happy and distracted. 

Dad and I left Stacia with the settled kids, and went to see if we could help at the new house. The guys unloaded and put EVERYTHING IN THE ROOM where it belonged.  I helped organize the kids' room and the living room....Dad and I put their shoe rack together. We have video clips. It took us three tries - but we GOT IT.

Izaak arrived. They came and got the kids and headed "HOME." We were happy they didn't have a night of moving ahead of them.

This is not the best photo of Arielle - but it CAPTURES the moment. Arielle has always loved lady bugs. She was distressed to find them LIVE in a bag at Freddies. I explained they won't survive the winter up here and they are good to have...therefore....

She wasn't having it. She said she was thinking of opening all the bags in the store...instead she bought some and brought them home for our greenhouse and garden.  We captured the great release on video - "coming soon."

Memorial day was our last "Weekly Family Dinner" until after summer. We discerned it would be good for all to have  Sunday free to play and explore without a "family obligation." ::wink:: This has worked well - we miss the times - but winter is coming. We've not seen as much of the Eagle River gang without a scheduled meet up.....but JaRissa and Josiah came out for dinner tonight. It was fun to catch up and laugh together.  Jamin is working days and nights just now.

Jared and Larissa 

 

 The oldest man in my life and the newest man in my life. I love these two! 

Crawling lessons continue

Benny (8 months) and Cory 

Larissa snapped this photo (and the one of me with the guys) 

Arielle, Cory, Benny, Nolan, Dad, Cy, Me, Micahel, Jared, Stacia, Alex 

We ate and then lingered - sitting around the table until 10:30. It was good to catch up.  Our Friday the 13th was fantasical.

Tomorrow - we get the RV ready for our first dip netting outing.....

Sounds of the day

While We Were Away - The Moose Played

You know you live in Alaska - when you find MOOSE PRINTS on your trampoline! This was a hilarious, and a bit alarming, sight to come home to. They ARE moose tracks. We did NOT Photoshop this photo. 

 I was perplexed. I was amused imagining how the moose got up here and what he must have looked like. I was disappointed I wasn't perched on the deck to get a video clip.

How did the moose do this?

Michael solved the riddle. He had the kids turn the trampoline over during the recent wind storm. The moose walked across it. The kids turned it back over.....and I saw the prints.

It was fun imagining the moose playing on the trampoline.

Independence Mine State Historical Park

We are looking for things we can do with little walking/hiking. Our goal is to make Alaska accessible to Dad and to minimize the pain Michael experiences from our outings.

Today, we headed to Independence Mine State Historical Park.  This is a short drive from our town. We've simply been focused on moving in, school, therapy and now summer projects. It was good to take a day to play!!! The goal was to have projects done by July so we could play. They aren't done, but we need to start playing - summer will be over far too soon. This is a spot we'd been to as a family when stationed here - 2002-2005. We FORGET that Alex and Stacia will not remember those spots....we've got to get out and show them Alaska. Stacia thinks Alaska is just about perfect and she's only seen Anchorage and the valley. ::wink::

We stopped to see the Little Su. The water was CLEAR (a lot of our rivers are made up of glacial silt - MUD). The drive was gorgeous. It was rejuvenating to simply be out in nature.

Myself and Dad 

A view of some of the buildings still standing 

We toured the museum and imagined ourselves living in this little community in the 1940's. As Arielle said, "Except for the war - the 40's is our time." The clothes, the values, the simpler life....Stacia was amazed at the player piano. I told her it was pre-programmed keyboard of the 40's. These two were the cutest thing in the museum. 

Great Gpa Paul and Benny (Bennett)

Stacia and Me 

Dad and Michael were interested in the machinery and engines. 

It was getting cold and so Arielle took Benny into the little gift shop. I ventured in and discovered hot drinks for a donation. I promptly made a donation and we enjoyed some hot drinks.

Stacia, Arielle/Benny, Gpa Paul, Alex 

Oh my heart! Benny is warming up to Gpa Paul. 

We didn't hike everywhere, but we saw a lot and enjoyed the drive. We'll be back and hike up to this cabin, explore the trails and Summit Lake....when we can take the RV and do it at a pace that works for us.

Our little town through the pass

Note - there will be a video with more shots and details.

Dad came home and slept the rest of the day - right through Life Group.

Michael told his therapist on Friday his pain level was 4...she wanted to do what he'd done. Her response, "Good for you." Yes, it was good for all of us to make a fun family memory.