Fishing, trout and salmon

July 19th, 2012

Much of the same, up early and fishing, Charlie caught 2, and this afternoon, I caught a trout.  We took it home and grilled it in a tin foil pouch with butter, salt and pepper and some onion.  Turned out pretty well - and was only a few hours out of the water.

Bears still around, usually show up as we are about done in both the morning and the afternoon.  I tried to text some pics of them to folks, but pretty sure they did not go through. 

Still walking to the river - sure do miss Didi - but we should get her home tomorrow.  Freezing our filets so we can take them to the cannery tomorrow.

Charlie's thumb is much better, but still needing to heal.

Bald eagle sitting watching the Russian River.

Fishing and cooking

July 18, 2012

Up early and we walked down to the river to fish since we did not have Didi.  Charlie and I both caught one, and I fileted them both!  This evening we went back down, neither caught anything, but we grilled some for later this week, and I made ceviche - think it is going to be very good. 

Bears of course ran us off, which is our norm now.  But it is their river.

Everyone is not faring well today - including Didi

July 17, 2012

Up sick most of the night- not a pretty sight, but felt better by the morning.  Decided to stay in and rest this morning, but assured Charlie I was well enough for him to go fish - all I was planning on doing is sleeping.

He came back saying he had  caught two fish, but had cut his thumb and may need my help if I was well enough to help him, even mentioned something about stitches.... So I said of course I was well enough to help and got up, grabbed some band aids, and went out to help him doctor up his finger.  It was cut pretty deeply, and right where his thumb bends at the first joint, so it had been bleeding pretty bad.  I got the Band-aids spread out and then had to quickly go back inside - I was pretty sure I was going to faint and thought that was the last thing Charlie or I needed to deal with at that moment....  Went in, got sick again, and then as always, felt better - and came back out to try and help again.  By then, Charlie had a Band-aid around it and decided he did not need stitches.  It did bleed most of the day though.

I slept most of the day, and when Charlie left to go back and fish in the afternoon, Didi would not start - this day just kept getting better and better.....

Michael used his internet to help us find some auto parts stores and auto repair places in Soldotna, and we found a shop to replace the starter.  We called AAA and they came and towed it for us around 9:30 - so no more fishing for the day - but the car is on it's way to getting better, Charlie's thumb has slowed down considerably in bleeding, and I am on the mend as well.  So tomorrow will be a much better day I am sure.

Caught my first fish!!!!

July 16, 2012

Up early and went fishing.  When I say early, I mean around 4:30....

Charlie caught 2, but I did not catch any - but I did snag a few and then lose them - so that is improvement. 

We went back fishing this afternoon and I caught my first salmon! 
It was about 8 lbs. according to Charlie - I have no idea, but it is the biggest fish I ever remember catching.

 I did it with quite  bit of flair too - I was backing up to pull it up on the gravel bar behind where we fish, and slipped and fell in the river!  I held the rod up, and when Charlie asked if I needed help, I said, "get the rod!  Don't let the fish get off!" Then I stood up, took the rod back, and reeled in my fish.  The group around us was laughing which was good, it was pretty funny...  but one of the guys said that in the end, I had pulled in the fish -- which is all that mattered.  : )  I agreed.

(I fileted it too! )

We had grilled hot dogs and chile for supper - we were both tired from being up early.

Anchorage and Molly

July 15, 2012

Left for Anchorage this morning so no fishing for me. Found Molly's house with no problem, it was very nice and I could definitely  tell they had been doing a lot of landscaping to it.  On the way there, it had been raining and I saw a HUGE, as in fat, not long, rainbow over Turnaround Inlet.  I tried to take a picture of it, but it really didn't show up well at all, but is was quite striking.

Molly looked great, and it was great to see her.  We went to the Farmer's Market downtown, a mixture of crafts, and food.   Bought some doughnuts for Charlie - and took Molly to lunch at Humpy's.  We split some crab balls and some halibut taco's.  Both were very good.  I had a wonderful time catching up with her.  Molly was Caroline's roommate in New Orleans and has recently moved up to Anchorage to live for a while.  She has only been here for a week, but already done some amazing things.  Josh, the friend and Teresa? his girlfriend ( sorry if that is wrong, being in Alaska has not helped me remember peoples names... ) have a boat, so she has already gone out and caught rock fish!  Pretty impressive. 

While there I looked up on the internet how to filet a salmon, so I can help filet mine and Charlie's fish - well, mine when I catch one..... and how to make ceviche - think I will try that soon.

Home around 7:00 - walked down to the river, Charlie and Steve were down there and Steve was trying to help Charlie find some fish.  No luck though, and then the bears came and reclaimed the river.

Russian River and fishing

July 14,

Moved to overflow today, the campground is full of other people trying to catch my salmon!  We fished and then drove to Soldotna to do laundry and catch up on the blog.  Could only get posted thru the 13th, but that was okay, I just wanted folks to know Charlie had caught his limit!


Bought more flies from the Hardware store, we have lost quite a few fishing, good thing they are on sale for 25 cents a piece. : )  and yep, we are still basically " flossing" the fish, no bait, we line it up and catch them in the mouth - and yes, it is as hard as it sounds. Tomorrow I am going to Anchorage to see Molly!  Looking forward to that.
: )

Charlie caught his limit today!

July 13, 2012

Charlie has figured it out!  He lost more fish than he caught, and they were snapping 14 pound line - but within an hour of going down to fish, he had caught his limit of 3 salmon!  They were huge and beautiful - and we were both very excited.  We got about 10 pounds of meat off them and froze most of it.

I made salmon burgers for lunch and they turned out well - it was certainly the freshest salmon either of us had ever eaten.

Went back down to the river this afternoon so I could try - I had 7 on the hook, 2 jumped out of the water while I had them hooked, on made it to the bank - but I did not make it out with any of them. - But I had a blast and felt like I had an idea of what I was doing.  It certainly helps to be able to see them.

We also saw a mother grizzly and her two 2 year old cubs - they ran us off the river twice, and walked right through our fishing spot.  They were amazing to watch, and when mama bear would feed them a fish, they would start growling at each other, their growls were very scary - but still awesome. : )

After the last time they came through, we decided it was time to go - and I had fallen in the river so I was also a bit wet: )  but all was good and it was a wonderful day.