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Set nets and sunsets
Working up an appetite in Naknek
By Mark Bly
As an Alaskan, a big part of every summer is always spent gathering food for the cold, dark nights that lay ahead. This sort of behavior seems to be second nature in the great white north. Gathering activities range from chasing caribou to picking berries, and tends to consume every waking moment in the field.
My latest endeavor was to stalk the wily red salmon, and for this I decided to go downstream. Downstream you ask? Yep, all the way to the mouth of the richest fishing ground in Alaska, Bristol Bay.
My friend Don and I boarded a flight in Anchorage filled with fishermen of many nationalities all hoping for that one big catch. Once under way I learned their dreams and aspirations where filled with lodges and float trips, fine and dandy for the visitor but we were here to fill a freezer.
Arriving in King Salmon, we headed in the other direction and purchased a ride to South Naknek. Not too many people were going our way, just a local named Mike and us.
A short, eight-minute flight — complete with a low pass of the fish camp — put us at the water’s edge.
The gated community of South Naknek lies 14 miles to the south and west of the bustling town of King Salmon.
Our host John greets us and we take up seat on the front porch of the fish camp to assess the situation. The fishing has been good and seems to be picking up as of late. This is no rod and reel stuff, we will be using a set net to trap our winter’s supply of reds.
After a short rest and an outgoing tide we set up our gear on the beach. A 10 fathom gillnet will do our bidding for us. Consisting of a net with floats anchored on the deep end and tied to the shore on the other, this tried-and-true technique will do in hours what takes the average Kenai River angler weeks to accomplish. Yes, dip netting also fills the freezer, but wouldn’t you rather be sitting on shore enjoying a frosty beverage while the work is done for you?
With everything in place we retreat back to the front porch of the camp. From there we had a comfortable view the incoming tide. The nets go wet, raising with the rush of water — and with it the promise of a bountiful catch. It is exciting to watch as the net fills up, one salmon after another are snared in this most efficient method of gathering.
We know we are doing well because the seals are now taking great interest in our day’s snare. It’s time to rest because when the tide goes out again it will be time to pick the net and clean our winter’s stash.
Our good friends Dan and Mary arrive and we are up to a full complement ready to start the production line. As the tide ebbs the water recedes to reveal that we have a lot of work to do. A lot of work, yes, but with a smile. This is what we came here for and the gift the ocean brought us makes each one aglow.
A stocker, cutter, washer and packer: we all work together for about four hours filleting and packing our fish in tubs for the journey to the freezer back home.
Exhausted and content, we break for dinner of fresh king salmon steaks from the day’s haul, tater tots and coleslaw. Man, fish never tasted so good. Food is always better at camp. I managed to sneak the salmon recipe out of the kitchen without detection so keep this one under your hat.
After another great nap between tides we repeated the process several more times. Soon had all the fish we needed.
With one full day left before a flight home and not being able to sit idly about, we took advantage of the next minus tide to do some recreational clamming.
Could someone remind me why this is fun? Digging and groveling in the mud for a tasty morsel of clam is a lot of work, but hey, it beats the office.
Before we knew it our quota was reached and our ride back to town was ready. Content and exhausted, I fell asleep in the back of Dan's Cessna 206, secure in the knowledge that my freezer was full and the salmon were on their way.
Summer gathering is a way of life in Alaska and I’m thankful I am a part of this seasonal tradition.
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