who needs a guide anyway ????

I just finished up one of the funnest weeks of guiding I can remember. It was a bit moist in the weather dept. but the fishing and fellowship were varsity level. I started the week out with Anthony and his friend Kay and of course a side order of Ernie,,,,Anthony here I think you can tell from the pic is quite the character, he knows the way and laughs just about as easily and often as anybody I've ever met....and that's a wonderful thing. We got Ernesto out in the boat as much as we could but when he wasn't he caught his limit daily right here on the shores of Mile 14. Good to see all you guys.

And then I spent 3 days with Jere and Jenny Yates who have been with me every other year since 2002. It's the coolest thing about the job, we become friends and confidants and for me that means no pressure, no pretenses, nothing but fun...and that's what we're all about. As you can see ol Jere there knows how to pose a salmon and we got pretty darn lucky the day we brought Jerry along as well....and the pic of Jenny that I took with the flash is just pure magic.

Here at Mile 14 the bank fishing has been phenomenal .  Just like during our red run the word is getting out and we have a whole new crew of fishing friends like the Hawaii guys that used the umbrellas for a few days and then upgraded to a regular canopy. These guys are machines and although they saved money from not needing a guide they made up for it by spending on gourmet wines and cheeses...nice work gentleman.

It's really not much different that a guided trip as the lower stairs at Stewart's Landing is the place and people come early to ' get the spot '....just like my guide friends who leave the shore hours before light. Here's a pic of our labor day weekend crowd at ' the spot '.

And up in the town of Slowdotna it's the bankies time of year, they got it going on. At Centennial they catch em pretty good and I guess when you're  bank fisherman the long arm of the law gives you some discretion to bend, massage and interpret the rules yourselves, that's pretty cool. Because I don't know, every morning when me and MPeasy do our walk it sure looks like there are more fishing poles than fishermen, maybe it's just a mirage effect....and how about this guy that has not one but two closed to fishing signs right in front of him...man that can't mean ME could it ????

Up at the bridge they have it going on. They have a system where they walk along side there bobbers on the board walk as they slide downstream, it looks like good exercise and boy do they catch them pretty good. It's a little like being with a guide in that you need to be social. I got the people pictured pretty good and this lucky fisherman who's fishing buddy was being kept warm and dry, very cool. But I think our city and Kenai Classic Boardwalk people envisioned people having a nice riverside picnic lunch at this table and not a Superfund clean up site....oh well.....that's fishin.

Just today we went fishing with Chis x 2 for big Chris's 55th birthday, double Nickels. Man did we ever throw the anchor out on top of a bunch of fish. We released as many as we could and I'm happy to report that we've finally arrived as the guys that don't kill em just because we can. Here's a pic of the only customer I listen to's advice getting ready to net a fish for Chris....oh, it spit the hook at the net. And another pic of Chris getting set to net a nice silver for MP, she hooked it, she landed it...but Chris had to gut it....she had to hurry off to work when that part of the day arrived.

Then the excitement hit fever pitch as we hit our first double of the day. The lines were rushed in and for the first time of the day everyone took care to make sure we landed these salmon.....just one problem....ain't she cute ?

There's always something new to see. These Eagles next to us were scrounging away as usual happy to be getting fish guts and spawners that would float up on the gravel bar. Well out of no where a shiney bright silver salmon kinda ran out of water and beached himself in front of at least 10 Eagles. This guy here was the brave one that decided to deal with a live fish and promptly got his talons stuck in it as he tried to get it farther from the water. He got it away from the river alright but it was pretty chuckly watching him try to get loose from it...for a bit there I thought the silver would win, but he didn't.

And in the why we really go fishing department here's a few pics to let you know just how beautiful it is here this time of year. The moose swam the river and you can just feel the thick air that morning. I took the foliage shot on our walk, gorgeous....I wish all of you that aren't in Alaska right now were...I really do, this place is stunning.