Dip Netting 2019 - Fish Camp Day 2

0500 and we are all rolling out of bed. Benny, is less excited about fishing than others are.  Maybe Benny is just more honest about his feelings. We've developed more filters. "Yay - Dip Netting! I LOVE to stand in the rain, up to my armpits, in ocean water!!!! For hours on end."

Y'all are CRAZY!

Stacia slept in.  The plan was for Stacia to come with Arielle and Benny down to the beach when they did. The rest of us would get started. On the way to the beach, we lost a pair of fishing gloves.  I headed back to the RV to pick up gloves....and the rest were ready to go fishing. We diligently searched for a legal, free parking spot. We  finally gave in and paid the daily parking rate of $20. OUCH.

Izaak had sprung a giant leak in his waders. He spent the morning finding a new pair.

By the time we arrived at the beach everyone had caught at least one fish.  We knew the fishing would be slow today. Our best chance was to catch salmon which had made it to this area before the fishermen went out.

Lots of seagulls

At this point Benny seemed to be wondering why we got him out of bed to watch others stand in the water. LOL Before too long he was having great fun. 

Benny, Cory (yellow jacket), 

 The nets are long. Ones walks them out into the current, and holds them in place. The wait can be short or long. When the salmon hit, you wrestle them back to shore.

Josiah 

Cory

Alex & Michael 

This little man honestly amazed me. He is a trooper. It was wet and cold and he didn't complain. When one of us told him to stop or come to us - he did - even when we could tell he really didn't want too. By the end of this day, people were calling goodbye to Benny up and down the beach as we left. 

Because there will be many photos of Benny near the action - I want to point out - just out of camera range there was ALWAYS at least two of us watching him....sometimes more. He was never in danger near the water or with the tools.

Stacia and Benny wait for some action from the water

Me - I did NOT catch this fish 

Stacia alternated between being in the water and helping me on the shore. We played with Benny. We also ran to untangle fish so those fishing could get their nets back into the water ASAP.  The tide changes quickly. We spent a lot of time schlepping our coolers, buckets etc down the beach, then back up the beach, and down the beach again and up the beach for a final time. LOL 

Papa and Benny - with Cory, Arielle and Stacia in the background

 Arielle's first dip-netted salmon

CoRielle

 Benny is on hand to help

Stacia helps Cy with a salmon, Cory waits to hand off his salmon

Portrait of an Alaskan Family 

 Love this photo. 

I couldn't help but remember the first time we took Josiah fishing. It started a life-long habit of father/son fishing. This isn't the first time Benny has been fishing - it IS his first time being so up close with dip-netting. Last year he was not mobile. LOL

This is the day we learned, sadly, one needs to guard their equipment AND their fish. Benny seemed alert to this much sooner than the rest of us. 

Arielle guides her net back into place - this was when the beach was NOT crowded. 

Michael, Arielle, Josiah, Alex

Cory, Benny, Stacia

The guys were on the beach at bout 0600. The rest of us arrived at 0715. CoRielle came back to the RV around noon for lunch. The rest of us stayed until 2 pm or so.

Someone eventually missed this boot. LOL 

 1:27 p.m. at the cleaning station - follows every catch. LOL 

Josiah, Izaak, Michael, Cory 

Showers NEVER feel as fantastic as they do when one is covered with fish slime and blood and has been standing in water for 7 hours. A note about the rain - it was much better than predicted. It DID rain - but it wasn't windy.

Josiah was wet from the waist down when we got back - and Izaak knew just where to buy waders. ::snort:: They also discovered one can fill a cooler full of ice from a machine outside the Soldotna Sportsmen Warehouse.  Izaak was gracious enough to pick up some hot chocolate for us.

Bre sent yummy cookies - which Izaak shared

A boy and his Uncle

Most napped. We had dinner....and then....the guys headed out to fish the evening tide even though we all "knew" there wouldn't be many fish. It is a good time for them, Izaak hadn't been able to fish yet today....and I mentioned I was keeping track of the totals and we should have some sort of prize. 😛😉😀 This family does like a good competition. It is nice to have a bit of fun motivation. This is hard work. Yes, it will fill the freezer - but having a bit of fun will keep us going out early and staying out late.  I wish I'd thought to get a trophy ready - I suggested a fish carcass on a stick....but that isn't going to fly...and Arielle and I are brainstorming a few categories....most salmon, most flounders, most equipment dysfunctions....

Guys heading out again

 We gals and Benny went for a walk while the guys caught the 2nd tide.  Michael agreed it should be slow enough they wouldn't NEED me dealing with the fish and coolers on the beach. We saw baby llamas, turkeys and a pig. We noted most employees here seem to ride unicycles. We played at a playground.

The guys returned with new fish counts and tales of stolen fish. They were at the cleaning station at 10:30 pm.

This is what 10:45 p.m. looks like in the summer. 

So...on the beach at 0600.....fish cleaned and hitting the showers at 2300. It was a long - but productive - day.


Day 2 Fish Count
Group Total 39
Our Household Total 27 

Funny Fish Story - Michael

I looked across the fishermen in the current and noticed Michael was struggling. As I watched, he continued to flounder, his net was wonky, has balance was off, and he didn't seem  able to "right" himself.

I thought he was having a Parkinson's attack or something.  He was in trouble.

None of the boys were near him. I was about to yell for them when I noted the men around him take note.

It turns out Michael had been saying, "I need some help," and they just kept talking.

He finally yelled, "I need help. I'm in trouble."

The man next to him asked what was going on as he watched Michael.

Michael wasn't sure.

It turns out the hook which attaches waders to boot laces had come undone. The hook at the bottom of his waders  was tangled in his net. He couldn't stand, or walk, or move the net, without repercussions.

They managed to get him untangled and we've had a good laugh about it throughout the day.

Dip Netting 2019 - Fish Camp Day 1

SHEW - it was HARD to get out of town this year. We've had a lot of moving parts to this trip. We made reservations a year ago and the business sold. We moved to a new campground. Yes, many people really DO make reservations for campsites  a year in advance for dip netting.   Dad is here and was coming...then didn't want to come. CoRielle planned to come, then didn't think they could, and in the end COULD make it. Krista is picking Nate up at the airport and coming up at a later date. Dad will come with them. The adult Gherkin types will most likely leave after Kenai. Dad may go home with them, or he may not.

I finally made a 3 page spreadsheet to figure out HOW many PEOPLE and CARS would be with us on any particular day...it differs day to day.  Then we had to decide how to to handle the food. I'm putting this here so we don't have to think it over again. Everyone brought their own breakfast, snacks and lunches. I shopped and will prepare dinners. Everyone will pitch in $5 per dinner. LOL

The RV was packed. Food was purchased, muffins were made.....and then we had to change the oil in the RV....and left town later than expected this a.m.

Benny is always happy to help Papa

Not to worry - we found the new campground. They threw in some free perks and discounts when they saw the spreadsheet and how I was NOT trying to sneak folks in....

We set up the RV and the tent - or Vacation Villa as we like to call it. 

Izaak and Cy put the tent up as we situated the RV

The Vacation Villa awaits

We were hearing mixed things about the chances of catching fish this evening. The guys decided to put the nets together and give it a shot.

Mr. Gingerbread man is happy to be on an adventure
with the guys

The run has been good, but the commercial fisherman will go out in the morning. This means we need to get as many as possible tonight and in the early morning tide. It may well be slow tomorrow afternoon and possibly Tuesday morning.....

The beach was pretty empty tonight - I SHOULD have tried to learn this night

 

We didn't expect a rush of fish, therefore a support crew wouldn't be needed.  Stacia and I opted to stay at the RV to wait for CoRielle to arrive. We watched a chick flick.

We have 5 households of varying sizes  represented fishing this year. We'd love to limit out.....we'll be fine if we don't.  Our family household's limit is 65 salmon. BreZaak's is the same. CoRielle are allowed 45. Josiah is allowed 25 , as is Jamin. A person can catch more salmon by sports fishing - just keep within the daily limits. This is subsistence - dip netting or set netting and there are limits based on family size.

The group caught 11 Reds the first night. A great start! We love the cleaning station at this new place.

26 years of fishing together - still fun! 

Day 1 Fish Count

Group Total - 11

Our Household Total - 9

Prep Day

We leave tomorrow for Dip Netting 2019.

Today we work.

I planted a few things in the garden, made sure all was watered and weeded.  Benny and Dad encouraged me along...

Benny isn't so sure about the new sprinkler.

Michael and Alex worked on the RV.

Stacia and I did some cooking and loaded food into the RV.

Krista, Nolan, Alex and Stacia went to Eagle River this evening for the Bear Paw Festival. 

Photo by Krista

Michael and I kept working until we could do no more. Then we took Dad out to a local restaurant Michael really likes. He was impressed with the .10 coffee.

I think we're ready to leave for Fish Camp - Dip Netting 2019 - in the morning.

Benny's Boots

Benny, his boots and Papa

This is not simply a cute photo showcasing Papa (Michael) and Benny. Check out the BOOTS. Benny is proud of his new boots. He has been wearing them non-stop since Arielle found them at a local thrift store.  They go especially well with his ninja pjs.

CoRielle weren't sure they'd be able to come dip netting this year due  job circumstances.  Because of this none of us found Benny "baby waders," but since they ARE going - he now has very cool new rain boots...which make him feel like an Alaskan Fisherman - even if his legs are going to get wet. LOL

Sisters - Sisters

The girls met to explore our cute downtown area today. 

Arielle, Krista, Stacia, Bre (missing Larissa)
Photo by Krista

Dad went with them and enjoyed a paper and coffee at Vagabonds.  It appears the girls took time for a drink as well.

Stacia - Photo by Krista

I knew I wouldn't get done all that needed to be done today. I didn't.....but I got more done than if I'd joined them.  I have to do some work along with the fun. LOL  The next few days are busy as we work to get ready for a week of dip netting. 

Cousins were surprised to see each other. 

Photo by Krista

I love this photo of the girls in front of the Alaska Chicks sign. LOL 

Photo by Krista

We plan to fully enjoy having all the girls in one spot for a bit of time. There's nothing like "Sisters, sisters...." (Can you hear the old song from White Christmas?)

Bella's New Adventure

Ah, just look at the excitement on Bella's face!  Bre took Bella to get her first library card!

Photo by Bre

 Do you remember the magic of the library to a young child? I think it is so important, even in this digital/tech age, to introduce a child to the library. Great books, community hangout, fun stories and who doesn't remember the children's librarian from story hour?

Miriam Old Coyote; children's librarian at the Big Horn County Library - still one of the best we've met. Hardin had an old Carnegie library.  We spent many happy hours in the children's section of the library during our MT years. I met several good friends at story hour. I miss that place.

Photo by Bre

 I go to the library at least weekly - usually more often. Most of the books I read are from the library. A library card is a frugal choice which opens worlds of adventure and information to one. It is also something we can share across the generations.  Using a library, supporting a library, is an easy and fun way to support one's community. If you've not visited lately, give it a try.

Photo by Bre

Yes, this IS a family event - worthy of saving in the family blog. Bella is the first grandchild to get a library card. The tradition continues.

Happy reading, Bella!