The fish are still here, but hunting season is not far away

I haven’t gone to Fish Creek for the dipnet fishery because my right knee won’t work. I don’t need to fall on a slippery rock because of my leg, but I’m hearing that fish are being caught.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game projected that the sockeye escapement goals would be met, and the necessary numbers of fish had been counted through the weir, so they opened the dip net fishery this past Tuesday.

The dipnetting on Fish Creek will continue through July 31. If you already have visited the Kenai or Kasilof dip net fisheries, keep in mind that the three fisheries are considered together for total allowable bag limits. If you’ve already caught your fish from either the Kenai or Kasilof, you may not dip more fish from Fish Creek.

Good luck if you go!

Fish and Game issued another news release today that has both good and bad news, depending on your status as a user. They determined that the overall returns for Kenai sockeye salmon will be less than 2.3 million fish this season. That’s bad news for the commercial drift fleet and the set netters because fishing times and areas will be significantly restricted.

The drift fleet is managed under a plan that has three levels, or tiers, of returning Kenai River sockeye. The bottom tier, with the least fishing time and most restricted areas open to fishing, is when less than 2.3 million fish are projected to return. The middle tier, where fishing periods and areas are more liberal, runs from 2.3 to 4.6 million projected returns. Above 4.6 million fish, there are virtually no real restrictions on either fishing times or areas.

If you’re a commercial drifter, that’s the bad news. If you’re a Northern District in-river user, the news is good. With the commercial drift fleet tightly restricted, we historically see more fish making their way to the Northern District than in years where the fleet has more fishing time. I’ve noted that, even in below average run strength years, when the fleet is restricted, we usually have reasonably good Coho and chum runs.

However, before you start your “happy dance,” keep in mind that in years past, if a good shot of fish suddenly arrives, Fish and Game is likely to bump up the tier designation, allowing more commercial fishing time in more areas. The department has done this at least twice before in past years, but conversely, has never lowered the tier designation if lower numbers of sockeye than projected show up. Such is life in the Northern District!

Hunting season is not very far away! In addition to beginning study of maps of the area I plan to hunt, I’ve also started to check gear and get things back in working order. My big truck winch wasn’t working properly. I have a good friend who offered to check it out and repair it if necessary. As things turned out, the winch needed a new solenoid. My friend got the correct part and installed it. Now all he needs to do is check function and I’m back in business. This is one of those equipment items I hope to never need, but it sure can be handy if I do need it!

The pump on my extra fuel tank in the back of my truck just quit working one day. Gary Feaster, over at Greatland Welding in Palmer, had done the original tank and pump installation work a few years ago, so I called Gary. He told me to bring the tank over and he’d look at it. The short version is that Gary found a broken wire on the on-off pump switch. He repaired the break.

When I offered to pay, he flatly refused, saying it was an easy fix and he enjoyed talking with me while he worked. I’ve known Gary for nearly 30 years and a nicer person you will never meet. I appreciate your help – thanks, Gary!

One final piece of gear needing attention was the canopy on the back of my six-wheeler. I had Laurie from BluSkye Industrial Sewing custom make me a canvas tarp cover for the rack last year. I insisted she use a heavy tarp I had. She advised against it, but since the “customer is always right….” After being subjected to the weather, the tarp shrunk terribly. This time, I asked Laurie to make another cover and to do it the way she wanted. It fits great and is waterproof to boot!