A Fishing Story

 Yesterday my sister and I went to the Anchor River to fish. It looked like it would be a good day and being my sister’s birthday wanted to catch a fish.

Clouds overhead shaded the river with a light rain at times. We started to cast our lures in hopes of catching some Coho Salmon.

After a while my sister hooked a, Dolly Varden, which she released.

I then hooked a Coho, it put up a great fight. As my sister attempted to net it, it got free of the hook.

A few minutes later I hooked another one. This one fought even harder, in the end I was able to bring it in and my sister got it in the net. 

It then freed itself from the net and attempted to return to the river, but it was still hooked and we got back easily. I then moved it up the bank further from the river and removed the hook, leaving it in the net. I got ready for my sister to take a picture, when she yelled that the fish had once again escaped and was headed to the river. I jumped down the bank to the edge of the water, the fish was now in the water. there was no way I was going to let it get away.

I bent over to scoop it up, as I did this I tripped on a rock, as I am falling I scoop the fish and throw it onto the bank. Then I landed on all fours in the river, I am soaked, my boots are filling with water and rocks. I am laughing, my sister is laughing so hard she can’t get her phone ready to take a picture.

Meanwhile the fish is attempting to escape, again. I turn on my hands and knees and hold the fish down with both hands. We are still both laughing hysterically, when I notice my Apple Watch is notifying me that I fell. I let go of the fish with one hand and attempt to cancel the notice. My watch is wet and has a plastic protective cover, which now has water under it, between that and my wet hands I can’t cancel the notice.

I rip the watch from my arm, it is now on a thirty second countdown to the call. I am still holding the fish down so I only have one hand to work with. Twenty seconds left, I am now attempting to remove the cover off the watch, 15 seconds left. I get the cover removed, 10 seconds to go. I am trying to dry the watch and my fingers, but I have nothing to dry them with 5 seconds left. I finally get the watch and my finger fairly dry, I am punching the cancel call button, 3,2,1,0. I end the call just as it dials 911.

We are still laughing and am holding the fish down and I get a call from 911. Am I okay, where am I, what happened, name, date of birth, etc. She is finally assured that I am okay and hangs up.

Now, we are laughing even harder, I pick the fish up and finally get a picture taken.

Though my sister did not catch a salmon, she had unforgettable birthday experience.

Coho Salmon 6.6lbs.

Greetings from Homer Alaska

 I arrived a week ago Friday and have been on the go since.

The flights up were good and my luggage arrived, yeah.

I got in around 11pm and grabbed a Lyft ride to the hotel where my sister and her friend were staying. They quickly climbed into bed after letting me in. Took me a bit to get organized and then to fall asleep. We had to get up early the next morning to take her friend to the airport, after dropping her off we started the drive from Anchorage to Homer. We made a few stops along the way, first was along the Cooks Inlet to watch the Beluga Whales. Very hard to catch them with their heads out of the water. This is the best I could do.

A plane flying over Cooks Inlet as we were watching thee whales.

My first meal was “Halibut on a stick” at the Boardwalk restaurant, ate it before I could get a picture.

On Sunday our cousins arrived, we had never met in person before. We took a hike in the Eveline State Recreation Site.

On Monday I was given a gift from my son and sister, I went All Species Fishing for the day. I caught a couple of Halibut, a Silver Salmon and a rockfish. We had the Salmon for dinner that night, along with a couple of pieces of King Salmon and a rockfish. These are all the fish I and the couple on board caught.

Tuesday and Wednesday I spent working with my sister at her store. She was just training me on her new system. Tuesday night the cousins took us to dinner at, Lands End, on the Spit. No pictures but a great meal and wonderful service. We all ate too much.

On Thursday I dropped her at the bus stop for her trip to the Anchorage Airport for her vacation. I met the cousins at the, Two Sisters Bakery, and introduced them to chocolate bread. Geert gave his name, Maya, the daughter of one of the owners, lookup and saw me and said “of course Chocolate Bread”.

She recognized me from my previous visits to Homer. My favorite bakery! The rest of the day I ran some errands.

Friday I worked at the store. Saturday I was off, it rained all morning so I did some laundry. In the afternoon I had ran some of more errands. Went to the bakery, late, figured they would be out of the Chocolate Bread, but they had a few left. Not great for my diet, but soooooo good. I then headed for the farmers market. I then went to the Spit and bought some smoked Salmon, last year they ran out before I could get some.

On my sister’s advice, I went for lunch at the Broken Oar and had their Creole with clams, scallops and shrimp. Delicious on a cold day.

Today, Sunday, I am working at the store.

These are picture from the farmers market and the Spit.

Fishing for Strippers and then the cops came........

Today, my friend, Bill, came by and we headed out to Newport to do some Stripper fishing.

Came across a large horseshoe crab, floating dead in the water.

Though we didn't catch any Strippers we did have an exciting afternoon.

Three police vehicles pulled up to the pier, the officers got out and wandered down to Bill's car. One officers got back in his car and left. The two remaining officers started down the pier.

So, here is what had transpired:

Bill and I had set up our poles and we are fishing.

The pier has steps down to the water so people can get their fish out. People, also, use it to go for a swim.

I was getting something from the car, when a lady asked Bill to move our poles, so she could swim.

Now our poles and lines were nowhere near, nor, were they affecting other peoples ability to swim. 

He pointed that out to her and she got pissed off.

Then I came back and she approached me. Unknowingly, I gave the same answer, now she is really pissed.

She hems and haws, strutting around.

Maybe, I am overly sensitive at this point because of all the crap that has been going on in this country.

I hate to describe the "lady", BUT, she was elderly and white, most likely feeling her "Newport Privilege".

Information: I am white and grew up upper middle class. I have attempted to respect every person for who they are as a "person", that being said, you may do something to cause me stop respecting you. I, also, lived in Newport for a couple of years.

Most everyone, else there was a person of color, I had the feeling that she wanted to strut her crap in front of everyone, because she could, and if we moved what would happen to the next person. Would they follow her ridiculous demand. I would say they might be concerned about "KAREN".

She goes swimming, or I should say, she treaded water, next to the stairs, never more than five feet away. The closest she ever came to our line was when she was on the pier asking us to move the poles.

We had been there for awhile and Bill goes off to take a pee. There is no place to go, so he ducks under the pier.

Awhile later, the lady and her companion leave.

Back to where I left off.

The Officers approach Bill and I.

One says to, Bill, that a "lady" had called and said we were blocking her ability to swim and refused to move.

I pointed to our poles and stated that they had been, where they were, and they in no way affected her ability to swim.

So then, the other officer says that she had said he, Bill, was drinking beer. As an after though he said, "I don't really give a Fuck".

So the first officer then states that, she said she saw, Bill, go under the pier and take a pee. 

Bill gives the officer an "incredulous" look.

I, say, "No he didn't, but, I have to go really bad which is why we are packing up, and then ask him him if there is any place nearby"

He points to some kayaks down the way and says they may have a "Porta-Potty" from some construction work that was being done, or, I should find a secluded spot to go.

I ask if it is okay for me run, and he says; "Go". So, I take off.

Needless to say the "Porta-Potty" is no longer there. I am walking, block after block, looking for a secluded spot. Finally, I end up in some bushes by the bridge. Relief, AAAAHHHH.

I get back, the officers are gone, Bill has most of our stuff packed. We get the remaining items from the pier and drive back to my sister's house.

Yes, we did practice good social distancing, wore masks when required or any time there were too many people or someone got too close. Can't be too careful.

Stay tuned for the next adventure.