The Ice Man
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:38 amTHE ICE MAN
By Capt. Blake
Leaving the dock in Craig, AK at first light, I keep thinking to myself, "This is going to be a great day." The sun is just about to peak out over the mountains and it is going to be another beautiful day in SE AK. After cruising for about 30 minutes I realize it is time to make a decision. Do I stop by the "tree" or should I head to the "tip" or to "seine rock" or "pineapple"? There are just too many potentially good spots. As I pass the tree and get to the tip, I look out to the ocean and realize it is flat calm out there and decide to head down the line to pineapple.
As I near the spot, I can’t believe how good this spot looks. Whales, birds, dozens of eagle. As I shut the outboards off and start the kicker, I look at the fish finder and think there is no way all of those marks are salmon, they must be sea bass. Confused, I think there is no way those are sea bass. We aren’t even close to where they live. As quickly as we can all 4 rods in the water we have fish on. A quad on the first drop. Awesome. I quickly realize we have to silvers and two kings. After doing the over and under routine, all 4 fish are in the boat. Fresh cut plugs are put back on and BAM. Another quad. This is amazing. After a half hour of constant double, triples and quads, I think to myself I should get on the radio and call someone. Then I realize most of the other boats are out of range so I decide to against it. The sounder is still lit up like a Christmas tree. We keep catching fish.
About an hour later, we need just a few more fish to be limited out. I keep thinking "wow, 2 hours, 24 cohos and 4 nooks, does it get any better?" At that exact moment I look up and low and behold, another boat. As the boat gets closer, there is no way we can hide the fact we are doubled up, chasing fish. A couple minutes later I realize it is North River heading for us and it has a blue stripe. It is the Polar Bear.
After landing our fish we kicker back into the spot where the Polar Bear is in an epic battle with a might pink salmon. I give quick thumbs up to the captain of the PB not just because he caught a pink but he is in the right spot. As we fire the cut plugs down again, we only need 2 more silvers and we are outta there. Looking at the screen I think it must be broken. It is absolutely blank. What the heck is going on? Half hour later, still nothing. Passing by the PB I ask the captain, "Where did they all go?" He looks at me like I am crazy. "Where did all of what go?' he responds. I told him it was a wide open bite until he showed up. "Well, looks like I iced another hot bite" says the PB captain. Thus, the Ice Man was born.
*****Disclaimer *****
* Some of the above story is true. Some parts are false. I will let you decide.
* The name of the captain was withheld to protect his identity.
Rob, couple more weeks and its show time. Looking forward to another summer of "fun".
Blake, c.a.k 5
By Capt. Blake
Leaving the dock in Craig, AK at first light, I keep thinking to myself, "This is going to be a great day." The sun is just about to peak out over the mountains and it is going to be another beautiful day in SE AK. After cruising for about 30 minutes I realize it is time to make a decision. Do I stop by the "tree" or should I head to the "tip" or to "seine rock" or "pineapple"? There are just too many potentially good spots. As I pass the tree and get to the tip, I look out to the ocean and realize it is flat calm out there and decide to head down the line to pineapple.
As I near the spot, I can’t believe how good this spot looks. Whales, birds, dozens of eagle. As I shut the outboards off and start the kicker, I look at the fish finder and think there is no way all of those marks are salmon, they must be sea bass. Confused, I think there is no way those are sea bass. We aren’t even close to where they live. As quickly as we can all 4 rods in the water we have fish on. A quad on the first drop. Awesome. I quickly realize we have to silvers and two kings. After doing the over and under routine, all 4 fish are in the boat. Fresh cut plugs are put back on and BAM. Another quad. This is amazing. After a half hour of constant double, triples and quads, I think to myself I should get on the radio and call someone. Then I realize most of the other boats are out of range so I decide to against it. The sounder is still lit up like a Christmas tree. We keep catching fish.
About an hour later, we need just a few more fish to be limited out. I keep thinking "wow, 2 hours, 24 cohos and 4 nooks, does it get any better?" At that exact moment I look up and low and behold, another boat. As the boat gets closer, there is no way we can hide the fact we are doubled up, chasing fish. A couple minutes later I realize it is North River heading for us and it has a blue stripe. It is the Polar Bear.
After landing our fish we kicker back into the spot where the Polar Bear is in an epic battle with a might pink salmon. I give quick thumbs up to the captain of the PB not just because he caught a pink but he is in the right spot. As we fire the cut plugs down again, we only need 2 more silvers and we are outta there. Looking at the screen I think it must be broken. It is absolutely blank. What the heck is going on? Half hour later, still nothing. Passing by the PB I ask the captain, "Where did they all go?" He looks at me like I am crazy. "Where did all of what go?' he responds. I told him it was a wide open bite until he showed up. "Well, looks like I iced another hot bite" says the PB captain. Thus, the Ice Man was born.
*****Disclaimer *****
* Some of the above story is true. Some parts are false. I will let you decide.
* The name of the captain was withheld to protect his identity.
Rob, couple more weeks and its show time. Looking forward to another summer of "fun".
Blake, c.a.k 5
See you guys on a kelp line somewhere in a few weeks. WF18 