Dipnetting 2009 - skunked! (Well close enough that it stunk...)

Some of you may remember our post of dipnetting last summer and our bountiful harvest! We were looking forward to repeating that experience this year, as we ate the very last package of salmon from last summer just a couple weeks ago. We wanted to fill the freezer and share with friends and relatives. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it was not to be.

That's not to say that we didn't have a great time camping with our family though! We have good friends with a house in Kenai. They are remodeling the house to sell, so it is unoccupied. They were kind enough to let us camp in their living room. It was fun to play games and sleep all together on the floor. It was eventful only in that as we were drifting off, we heard Lindsay say, "do you hear that?" then, "What is that??" then, "Does anyone else hear that???" Finally it was determined that there was a large moth waging a fervent battle with the window. Fearing the moth would fly at her in the night, and since it was then bothering Kevin too and realizing something would have to be done - Brad whomped it quite decidedly with his book. Ah, peace reigned. Michael slept through the whole thing, including the whomping.

The next morning we got fishing reports from people who were at both fishing spots, the mouth of the Kenai river, and the Kasilof river. Reports from both places were very bad. Nobody was catching very many fish at all. We decided to go to the Kasilof since it was closer and we had some other friends who were going to be there as well. It is an adventure, driving on the sand - the deep sand. I always get nervous that we're going to get stuck, as if that meant we'd be stuck there the rest of our lives. People were getting stuck, but they always get out eventually. I don't think anyone is still stuck there today! Michael caught a fish within 30 seconds of putting his net in the water, but that was his one and only. Brad caught a fish after about an hour, but that was it. We finally packed it in, went back to the Thomas's house, ate lunch and headed for home. Last year it was raining, which really added to the muddy, sandy mess in the car and everywhere. It took a couple weeks for my car to stop smelling like fish. This year was much cleaner and faster, but our freezer is, alas, empty.

Michael was our fire maker...


Little Ladder-ball action...


Sleeping formation... for protection from moth monsters and the such.



Kevin with shields up.


30 SECONDS! (and that was it?)


30 SECONDS! Big expectations Kevin!



Cook Inlet Ward Young Single Adults (a few of)


Fishing at low tide.



Sarah disentangling a small flounder from her net.


Sarah Owen, Kevin & Michael


Sarah can do it!

Looking back at the beach from the fishing spot.



Julie & Lindsay observing the activity and waiting for the bounty of fish to arrive.



Michael's sister Nancy with friend salmon. (Poor little critter!)



Three fisher-type-persons =)



Some fish were caught none the less. Over a couple of days. Most of these are Nancy's. Michael & Brad each caught one. We didn't stay but a few hours.


Two master filet-ers. (two of the YSA)


Brad's sand cruiser.