King Fishing the Kasilof

Calling all Seagu11s

Free surimi!

Chummed these sea-g-u-elevens in for a close-up with discarded salmon egg bait, drift boat King fishing, on the Kasilof River yesterday.

The Elusive Steelhead

This steelhead appears to be smiling. He knows if he's caught,,, he will soon be released.

Instant Gratification Flowers & Fish

My next project at the lodge is planting some color in the shrub beds. Bought them at the Kenai River Greenhouse today. It will take a couple of days to harden them off. That will give me time to weed and cover the beds with plastic to keep the weeds down. Who wants to weed in July when its time to go fishing? I know I don't.

The lodge sits on the bluff overlooking Cook Inlet. When the salmon start running there will be setnetters camped out on the beach. You need a permit to do this and can buy one for around 15K. A setnetter rocks down one end of a gill net on the beach. Then pulls the net out by boat or by hand and anchors down the other end. The salmon heading to the Kenai River, a mile or so away, get gilled. It will be an interesting fisherie to see. I'll have a great view.

Alaskan Ken

Ginny B

I'm Aunt Kathy to this little girl's mother. She's named after her late grandmother Virginia, from Cordova, who went by Ginny. Thats why we call her Ginny B. She's a future boat captain. I can tell.

Fishtaxi at Work

Loving the Kenai Penninsula and the lodge I'm working for. Yesterday I took two guests down to Clam Gulch to clam dig. I guess you can call me a Clam Guide who got skunked. Got there too late and the tide waits for no one. They enjoyed it anyway and I got a $25 tip. After Clam Hunting I made them grilled ham & cheese and tomato soup for lunch. I said "lets pretend it's Clam Chowder."

Happy Clam Diggers at Minus Tide

fishgirl

Sadly, this isn't my truck.

Best High School Pool in Alaska

Skyview High School

I have not swam in all the pools in Alaska (yet) and all the pools so far have been wonderful. But, the Skyview pool is the newest. Very, very nice. $35 for 10 swims.

Things are going good down on the Kenai. Getting the lodge spiffed up and made breakfast for my first guests this morning. Baked the bacon and they said it was the best bacon they ever had. And I heard from the guides they are tippers. Fish or no fish.

Fish ON

I get to go sport fishing! And theres a damn good chance I'll catch a fish. God knows how BIG. Fish to me used to mean work. Slammin' Salmon

Still does now that I'm working at a FUN fishing lodge. Road access right on Cook Inlet in between the Kasilof and the Kenai River.

A good job for the FishTaxi!

Stay tuned for pictures.

Moose are Loose

Every where you go'oh

Theres people you know'oh

Who you are

So you tell them....old campfire song.

I've never seen so many moose in my long-legged life.

Mighty, mighty moose. The picture is of one pregnant cow.

Fish Pond One

Becky's Fish Pond

Releasing the 3 yo goldfish who spend the winter inside in the pool.

This will be fun to watch all summer.

Walking Eye

Getting my bearings down on the Kenai. All the stars are here.

Tomorrow is Here

Picture taken in Ninilchik Village on Cook Inlet. MT. Illiamna in the distance due east.

Hazy, crazy days of summer.

Fish or be fished.

Charlie on TV

Charlie is my friend Becky's parrot, whom I'm staying with on the Kenai, until my job starts. She's an artist who painted murals on her walls as you can see in the pictures. Charlie is on the TV while we were watching Mama Mia. If you look close at the picture on the left you will see goldfish swimming in the baby pool. She puts the pool outside in summer which is coming soon!

Here is the results of the Coin Toss post. $122.96 in change in the baby bottle. 219 Quarters. 454 Dimes. 221 Nickles. 1176 Pennies. $10.94 charge for the counting.

Coin Toss

Dumped a bunch of change today. Guess how much it was? Enough for gas, beer and ice to get out of dodge!

The Long Haul

Valdez local John Rogers featured on the Miss Roxanne longlining halibut on National Geographic's The Long Haul.

Next airing Sunday May 10 at 7am. Catch it if you can!

Making Bank

Got a job down on the Kenai for the summer working at a fishing lodge as a cook/housekeeper. I'll make a hearty breakfast and put out the makings for a fishermans lunch. Which is cool cos they can put mustard on their own sandwich if they want to. Then I will clean, shop and swim. Another cool thing is I don't have to make them dinner. They go out to eat at local restaurants as this lodge isn't remote. My cell phone and wireless internet will still work.

The job starts the 18th and goes til Labor Day Weekend. I got 2 more swim pass days at the Wasilla pool. I'm leaving here Friday and driving down to Soldotna and staying with a friend til I start work which includes room and board. Which is great timing. Just cashed my last unemployment check and my rent here is up.

Heres to a great summer of fishing and making bank!

Chepo's Any Day

Chepo's Fiesta Restaurant was full of holiday spirit along with great company, food and drinks tonight.

I was happy to tag along as the third wheel with my room mate John and his friend Amy. She's a bartender in Dutch Harbor and knows all the Deadliest Catch guys. Look for her next season.

Margarita Double Grandes were $8.00 and full of punch. I went for the Chile Verde Burros for $8.95 and they were to die for.

Hats and beads were on the house. I wore mine like a Mexican pirate.