Alaska Fishing 2010

This was my 33rd season in Bristol Bay. The following is a selection of photos that I took during the season. I have attempted to put them in a sequence that would help readers understand a little bit about what goes on up there each summer. Then I threw in a few shots that some might find interesting. The entire entry will be in the form of picture captions.

I store my boat and sell the bulk of my catch to "North Pacific Seafoods". Their plant in the bay is called" Pederson Point" which is pictured here on a pretty rough day with 15 to 20 mph winds out of the west/southwest. Laying at the dock this particular day was a small tender and a barge that is being loaded with some of this year's catch in freezer vans. Fish activities have been going on at this location for about 100 years.


There are more typical tenders pictured later. This one, with its sailing masts, is very unique.

Pre-season preparation on the dock front.

Another dockside image.

On the back side of one of the buildings, a family of ravens has nested for the past several years.

This is the boatyard on the land side of the buildings. The boats are being readied for the upcoming season.

My boat, the "Sarah Lou," was built in 1971. At the time, it represented the best that boat builders had produced for this fishery. Now it is functional but outdated. I stay with it because I own it outright with no desire to go into debt. I also like it because it is simple to maintain and operate. For me the adage" keep it simple stupid" applies. No boat in "The Bay " can be more than 32 ft. long. Width and height are a different matter. The boat on the left is mine. The one on the right is clearly an upgrade.

The center of a lot of preparation is the top floor of one of the large warehouses, which is the net loft pictured here.

My humble little boat lying on a set net.

Inside view looking forward where the four bunks are located.

This is the galley sink and counter top.

The galley stove for cooking, hot water, and cabin heat.

Crewman Ryan Seward at the inside helm.

Some of the fleet lying at anchor waiting for an opening.

Same as above.

An opening has been given, so we're setting the net off the drum. Crewman Ryan Green's hand is on the brake handle in case the drum gets spinning too fast and the net starts to stack up on the deck before going over the stern.

The net is out, attached to the boat, and catching fish. Note the white water along the cork line. Fish are hitting the net swimming from right to left.

This net has been in the water for about 30 minutes and is stuffed full of fish. In some places the cork line is sinking. Heads and tails are visible above the surface. It doesn't happen that fast that often.

This is a much lighter net of fish, but still a pretty good catch. We are now bringing the net up so we can take the fish out, then put it back for another try.

The main physical labor is taking the fish out of the net.

This involves untangling them one at a time. Speed and technique are everything.

The next task is to get the fish into the waiting tenders.

Boats lining up to deliver at the end of a fishing period.

The boat alongside the tender is delivering fish. The boats strung out behind are waiting their turn.

A lot of cargo, including processed fish, is moved by tug and barge.

This is a floating processor tied to the tramp steamer that will haul fish to distant ports.

A small processor and some fishing boats tied to the dock at the Ocean Beauty plant in Naknek.

My last Sunday there I attended church at the community church in Naknek.

After church we ate lunch at the only restaurant in town.

One of the five, or so, taverns in town was next door. We didn't go there.

This is an end of the season good-by as our friends head back to their boats, and we head for ours in the opposite direction.


From here on there are some assorted shots that you may find interesting.

Being passed by "state of the art."

One of the few kings we caught this summer, next to a sockeye.

My faithful and able crew of 2010, Ryan Seward, left, and Ryan Green, right.

Seals on a sand bar at low water.

Some setnetters getting their share.

This year's production was down for us, but the price was up. So all in all it was a successful season.

Trip to Moose Creek Ranger Station and Beyond

This is our horses high lined between trees at our camp at the trail head. We slept in out horse trailers the first night, the left about nine the next morning.

This first picture should really be the third one. I accdently skipped it the first time through, and I don't know how to put it where it should go. This is the main office at the Moose Creek Ranger Station. There were five other log buildings tucked around in the trees within a few hunderd feet of this one. The style, color, and smell is right out of the 1930's. The entire place was well maintained. We visited with the volenteer range, then rode another mile or so before we made camp.

The week of May 9th a friend, Newell Morgan, and I packed about 30 miles into the Moose Creek Ranger Station on the Selway river. I was also doing a little photo journalism for a grand nephew Charlie Stands. He sneaks into a couple of the pictures.

Our first night out we camped at the same spot that I camped at three weeks earlier when I first explored this area alone. This is about 12 to 15 miles up the trail.




At the end of the second day we are tied up at the Ranger Station.
The cabins are behind us. You are looking down the grass runway.












We camped a mile and a half from the station at the sight of an abandon homestead.

The next day we left the camp, took a lunch, and the horses to the sight of what was once the headquarters of a large ranch and packing operation. At one time it had been the location of numerous buildings, an airstrip, miles of fencing, and even a hydroelectric plant. This is a picture of the East Fork of Moose Creek which passes the area.

Looking across the creek and up the hillside you can see a rockie seam running diagonally across the high meadow. This is a natural salt lick. Deer and elk were using it almost constantly. Two more pictures down is a close-up.

A pretty horse in a beautiful setting.

Deer at the the salt lick.

Newell coming across the old ranch area.

Three fur trappers tried to spend the winter of 1894-95 at the sight. Two died of scurvy, while the third hiked out to Hamilton, Montana where, after telling his story, he was accused of murder. The next spring the bodies of his friends were exhumed, examined,and he was cleared of all charges. Now days pine needle tea is an easy remedy for scurvy. This is the wooden head stony of one of the victims. There were two markers that seem to have the same name on them, one was wooden, while the other was grant. Two men, two markers, one old, one new, I'm confused.

Resting on the way out.

View of the river. Where did Charlie come from.

This waterfall was a point of interest along the trail. It was a great trip. I hope to do something similar in the fall.