Here we are in Soldatna, Alaska, which is right on the beautiful blue-green Kenai River. This is the primo salmon fishing spot in the world. Fishermen come here from all over the world to fish during the salmon spawning season.
As luck would have it, three of Ron's approximately 40 first cousins are here in Alaska at the same time visiting a brother-in-law who lives here. So we were fortunate enough to be invited to share the week with them.
Picture this------15-20 people of all different ages and backgrounds sitting around the campfire that burns all day and late into the night. The smoker is fired up and filled with fresh salmon that's being smoked for canning. The wonderful smell of the both wafts through the campsite.
We're drinking, eating, trading stories, making fun of everyone else's fishing techniques and, of course, fishing.
Fresh salmon and every once in awhile a rainbow trout are brought up from the river and thrown on the barbie on a regular basis.
There's a box of colorful supplies on the picnic table where everyone ties their own flies for fishing. A few of these naturally make their way onto some of the "lucky" fishing hats.
Fly supplies and "lucky" hats |
Enter content here To fish, you descend 66 narrow, steep, wooden steps and you end up right on the fishing bank. Lines and hooks are flying everywhere and there have been very few injuries considering ;-). Just a few weights to the forehead and one hook in the nose, but no lips or earlobes hooked yet!
Although the fish are spawning now and abundant, and the fishing consists mainly of snagging, it isn't as easy as it appears. First of all, the Salmon are snagged because they don't feed right now. As they fight their way upstream to spawn, they have only one thing on their minds-----and it isn't eating...... But to legally keep them, they must be snagged in the mouth and downstream there are thousands of commercial fisherman with nets and hundreds of Alaskans who are allowed to walk into the water and scoop them up as they swim by.
One more thing and I will shut up. The lady-of-the-house (Claudia) is an artist who loves good books and good Vodka. So we definitely have alot in common. And that probably answers your question about whether I'm fishing or not. NO--I'm one of the ones sitting by the fire drinking, eating and talking -- and taking pictures, of course. I hope you enjoy them. 
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