My First Week

Well here is my home for the next month. The "Sidney" is a 40ft Power Troller built in 1907. She is one of the oldest boats in the Trolling Fleet, but after my first week I know she is a very seaworthy vessel. Our first week of trolling for King Salmon was very slow, we ended up with 13 Kings that weight 185 pounds or so. Everyone we have talked to has had the same kind of luck SLOW!!!

But I have seen and experienced things that I will never forget. The country is beautiful and the weather has been cool and wet. Typical S.E. Alaska weather. I don't have much time so I will just write a little.

Our days usually start about 330-4 a.m. We pull anchor and either start trolling or move to the next spot. I start a pot of coffee and eat a peanut butter sandwich while Kenny readies the boat. My job as deckhand is to run the gear, thread herring, sharpen hooks, cook and clean up around the boat.

We then troll till about 7 a.m. and then we take turns making breakfast, we had dungeoness crab omelets hashbrowns and toast all cooked on a little propane stove and Dickinson oil stove. I have only had 3 diet cokes all week, but have drank 6-8 cups of coffee everyday.

The second picture of my office!!!!!!! This is the pit. My Office. The next picture is a view from the deck at 3:45 a.m. When we pulled intot he first bay we going to fish Kenny said when you see this you know there is a GOD! And oh my is he right. It was beautifull. I can't wait to get home and show you all the pictures I have. I will write more later but I want to show you one more picture and that is ofa "SLUG" or a "Hammer Knocker" as Kenny Calls them a BIG mature King Salmon.

During the day there is a lot of slack time and I spend time running the boat and reading when it is slow. I also try and tidy up and clean stuff up and keep the Capt. in coffee. I am loving every minute of this adventure, although the fishing is slow there is always something to do and Kenny is a good and patient teacher. There are some many things you have to pay attention to. This is the best rehab in the world.

We are eating like kings and Kenny has loved everything I have cooked for him. Someday I would like to take all my family on an adventure like this. It is undescribable all that you see. I ate King Salmon for the first time night before last and it was amazing, so was the Halibut we caught and ate. OMG GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!
Our days usually end about 7 p.m. so it is a LONG day. And Kenny tells me once Coho Season opens I will not feeel like doing anything at the end of the day but sleep. I know I am kind of all over the place, but I only have a hour or so to get this done and I am new to this blog stuff. So bear with me.
Anyways to all my family and everyone at Myers, THANKS for letting me do this and please remain calm and work together and have fun and do your best and thats all I can ask. I know things are tough for you but maybe it is a good thing that you can now see just what I have to deal with on a day today basis. It aint easy I know, but just do your best. I love u all.

Dad-Joe

Sleepless in Seattle

Well after 3 nearly sleepless nites I am halfway to Petersburg. I guess I am feeling guilty about leaving, Nervous worried about all the responsiblility I have put on my family and partners and employees. But I would not have left if I did not have confidience in them. If i ever leave for an extended period again I will NOT assume that my help knows every step and detail of daily requirements at the store. Jodi and Annie both showed me I did a terrible job teaching them my job before I left. I apologize and next time we will spend way more time going over all the small details involved with running Myers.

Everyone keep Tom and Gwens spirits up and help them out all you can. I think when I get home everyone may have a better idea of what my job of runing the store involves. Its not that complicated its just you have to do it EVERY SINGLE DAY or you will dig yourself a hole. ANd if you guys dig a hole in 30 days I will fill it up.

While in the Denver Airport I met a 71 year old guy heading to Soldotna, Ak, one of my favorite places. We talked and he told me his sister lived up there and this was the second time he had gone to Alaska. I told him I had been there a few times and about the adventure I was about to go on. He said Man do it while you can. He said I worked 38 years for the same company and retired in Dec. He said now I have money and can do about whatever I want. But he said the problem is when your my age you can only do so much. Like My good friend Vernon Domoney

alwasy told me. "Joe do it when your young!"

I am gonna try and post a couple pics of the storm the day before I lefty the one is a BIG Funnel cloud that wanted to hit the ground but did not thank GOD! is northeast of Cawker a few miles.

Thanks again to my family and partners and staff at MYers. I love you all.

Joe

Bad News

I was all excited about posting pics and daily reports via tethering my cell phone to my laptop, because there is good cell phone coverage in the area we are going to be in. Problem is there is no Broadband service in Alaska. So I will be limited to when we go to town for fuel or to unload fish, and then find an internet cafe or local hotspots. But nevertheless I will post and download pics every chance I get. 2 more days and I will be on my way.
Talked to Kenny yesterday and he has been having very good luck on King Salmon. He laughed and said he can't wait to to see me gaff and Land my first King Salmon on the "Sidney"
So until I land in Petersburg this will probably be my last post for awhile.

7 Days till I leave

Well the last week I have been trying to get things lined up so I can leave. I still need Jodi and Annie to spend some time with me to get the hang of doing the books. Also need to make a schedule and try and make sure the 4th of July weekend and Celebration weekend are well covered. That should be a challenge.
I have been packing trying to eliminate all unnecessary items, Kenny said Pack LIGHT!! I will bring way to much I always do.
The anticipation is starting to peak and the next 7 days will creep by slowly I am sure.
Trying to figure out how to download pictures so I don't have to figure that out while I am up there.
Talked to Kenny a few Days and he says fishing has picked up some and that he and Scruffy we excited for me to get there.
When you people see the "Sidney" you might wonder about how seaworthy she is, but Kenny assures me she is a stable well built Vessel.
Well I am gonna go pack some more and try and eliminate a few more things

The Countdown Has Begun

44 years ago when I was about 5 years old and I discovered fishing. On a camping trip to Buffalo Creek with my family and Grandpa and Gramma Ramaker in tow is my first recollection of catching a fish. Armed with a Zebco 202 and either a can of worms or a jar of Salmon Eggs I hit the creek. I remember most of it like it was yesterday.
I approached the creek, studying the water, seeing a beautiful deep pool with the current blocked by some big logs. I remember the cast and watching the drift and feeling that distinctive tap tap as a small trout took my bait deep in that hole. I remember taking that one and only fish still on the line up to our camp. I was the proudest kid in Colorado, and knew then I was hooked on fishing for life. I remember my Dad laughing and I think maybe he was even proud, probably thinking it was a fluke but he would find out later that his son was a born fisherman. I also remember grandpa Ramaker frying that fish on a coleman stove. Dredged in flour and cooked in butter. It was great. Maybe thats where I got my love for cooking.
My Father still reminds me that when we arrived at a new camp site, I always found a way to slip away and be fishing while my Brothers helped set up the trailer. It was a blessing to have a father that loved camping and fishing. We had some awesome fishing trips together and he was responsible for introducing us to the trout catchin lure in the world the famous Koops family secret weapon, the "PANTHER MARTIN" Spinner.
So after becoming addicted to fishing, I became addicted to reading every outdoor magazine that was available in the late 60's and 70's. Reading all the magazines cover to cover. Learning and keeping up with all the new trends, tips and techniques in the fishing world. And anticipating Satuday and sunday to Watch Kurt Gowdy and the American Sportsman on TV. And dreaming of being able to travel to those exotic and remote places in the world where the fishing was the best. I spent so many hours daydreaming and reading stories about fishing, and hanging out in the fishing section at "Dave Cook" and "Gart Brothers" and every other Sporting Goods store I ever had the chance to go to. All I ever wanted was to go fishing.
During my childhood we spent most of the summer in Kansas up on my Uncle Chucks Farm. And this was another great fishing adventure. From going to the pond with Grandpa Koops with his LONG Bamboo rod stickin out the back window of the old Chevy Belair, to runnin up and down Oak Crik with my all time childhood favorite fishin Buddy Steve Renken. My life in the summer was to see how many times we could go fishing! When the folks asked us to help them work on the farm, we would do our best but still it seemed they always said why don't you two go find something else to do. I guess we weren't very good workers. LOL We were the "Bullhead Kings"

Just like goin to school, fishing has it levels and I was always trying to get to the next level. Bullheads to Bass - Worms to Lures -Beetle Spins to Plastic worms.-Spincasting to Baitcasting-spin fishing to Fly Fishing-paying a guide to being a guide- fishing for Fun to Tournament fishing- (I won the first Walleye tournament I ever fished) Bass Tournaments to Walleye Tournaments-Fresh Water to Saltwater- Colorado to Alaska-Kansas to Canada-Hawaii to Cabo
Now another new chapter in my fishing history is about to begin, and I am back to the way I felt when I was a kid. I have read every book, every article I can find about Commercial Trolling for Salmon in S.E Alaska. After reading and talkin to several people in the industry I am excited about having a chance to live a dream I have had inside me for 25 years. The people involved intrigue me, thier lifestyle, work ethic and most of all thier OFFICE!!!
I hope I have some time during my trip to write and post photos for all my friends and family to enjoy.
I guess I should explain what put this Alaska Dream into my head.

25 Years ago When I started working at Myers Sporting in Downs, Ks I became great friends with a lot of the local guys. One of those guys and now one of my best friends in the world is Brad Latta, and he is the main reason that I am taking this trip. After listening to Brad and a few of his buddies telling stories about Commercial Fishing in Alaska during their summers after High School and during College, I have always had a urge and desire to the same thing. So 25 years later another of Brad's Friends Kenny Baird has invited me to spend the summer in S.E. Alaska fishing aboard the "Sidney". Kenny has been fishing for the past 30 years and I told him I would love to join him for the summer, but that I could only go for a month. Kenny says he knows I am gonna love it in one sentence and in the second sentence he says you will wanna go home after the first week. He says it might look like a Romantic Job, but it is LONG Hours-total lack of facilities.(Bathroom-shower-nice mattress) Aint happenin. (Bucket-dirty sink-hard bunk) Happenin. 70-90 % chance of rain everyday.

For those of you wanting to know, this aint like the "Deadliest Catch" We will be fishing most of the time just a few miles from shore. And at night will go into protected coves to anchor. That being so there are also many dangers and also risk involved. Going with Kenny a 30 yr Veteran I feel safe but understand there is some risk. I am gonna try and do something I am not used to. Thats being careful and watching everything I do to make sure I stay safe and dry.


As I get ready to head to Petersburg Alaska I have decided to set up a Blog so I can share some of my trip with my family and friends. Hopefully in the month I spend on the "Sidney" I will have a chance to download a bunch of photos and maybe a short video or 2 also. I Leave June 21st from Denver via Seattle-Juneau-Petersburg, Alaska. 18 days till my big adventure begins and I am already packing and buying things for the trip. More to follow