Day 86: Kasilof and Ninilchik

July 9, 2014

This morning was cloudy and threatening rain. The forecast for the next few days is rain. There is a strong storm coming in off the Gulf of Alaska with rain predicted through Saturday. Hopefully not, but we will find things to do.

After breakfast we first went to Kasilof where there were many people dip netting for salmon. On the way there we saw a moose and calf. The calf was so cute. Once again they were just on the side of the road. We understand why there are so many moose-car collisions. They are always close to the road when we see them.  

 

At Kasilof, there was a whole temporary community set up there on the beach.

Each head of household resident of Alaska can catch 25 salmon and 10 more for each additional member of the family by the dip netting method. It seemed to be mostly family units fishing together with each having their duties. Each family  had slightly different nets and techniques. In general they have the large dip nets - just huge versions of those we would use bass fishing at home – and they stand in the edge of the water at the mouth of the river and the fish swim into the nets. They then pull the net on to the beach, take a small club type and bop the salmon on the head and stun it. Some then cut the gills and bleed the fish – others do not – and then they throw them in the cooler or box, and for some, other members of the family go ahead and filet the fish. It is interesting to watch the family units working together. It was interesting to see a Dad bop a fish, take it out of a net and hand it to a 12 year old daughter who doesn't hesitate taking the fish in her hands and start bleeding and washing the fish.

 

 

 

We watched one native family who was still speaking the old Russian dialect with some native Alaskan language mixed in. The Grandfather was speaking to the son and grandson in the old dialect and they would respond in the dialect, but when the son and grandson spoke to each other they spoke English part of the time and the Russian- Native Alaskan dialect at other times. Today everyone seemed to be getting along and being very respectful and helpful to everyone else. We are told that by this weekend when the salmon run is in full swing that “the Anchorage crowd will be here and things will be different.” They will be shoulder to shoulder and at times there may be confrontations about being in someones space. They take the salmon fishing very seriously.

After leaving Kasilof we went back the Fred Meyer and picked up Fred and headed on down to Ninilchik. We will be staying at Country Boy RV Park doing a few more things we didn't have time to do while Donna and Barry were here and riding out the bad weather. We will also be taking some time to do laundry and boring stuff like that. When we first arrived today we visited with the owner, Chuck, for a couple of hours. He filled us in on some additional things to do in this area and on into Homer and then we just talked about living in Alaska in general. He is very nice and very interesting. Friday he will be hosting a pot luck in the UpChuck Saloon and Restaurant with a halibut fish fry. Chuck will be teaching us how to cut up and cook the halibut. We are looking forward to that. It should be a good rest of the week in spite of the rain.