…and so will the Julia Lynn shortly after I return! Debra and I headed out today for Anchorage to meet an airplane tomorrow to spend a couple of weeks with our granddaughters. While in Anchorage, we stopped by Wilkie’s Heavy Equipment to see one of the completely rebuilt engines that he has been working on for us. It is a thing of beauty and should power the Julia Lynn for years to come. The pair to it will be done while we are gone and we will haul them back to Homer on the 22nd. So, I will have a project when I return getting them all hooked up and running. Can’t wait to take her on sea-trials and drop the crab pot and troll for king salmon. In the meantime, we are glad to leave the blizzard behind for a couple of weeks of much-needed rest and relaxation. I will post updates as they occur.

I have been very busy since December 2nd having the engines on the Julia Lynn completely rebuilt and while they were out of the boat in the shop, I cleaned and painted most every surface that needed it. The under-powered inverter was replaced with one that actually runs the microwave, so frozen burrito fans rejoice! This will also allow hot soup and tea on cold, wet days. I suppose it even could mean hot chocolate!

The photos above were gleaned from some browsing in the photo gallery from last year. I never get to see my boys fishing enough, but when I do, I sure enjoy seeing them smile. It doesn’t matter if it is a small pollack jigged up for crab bait or a tail-walking silver salmon, it is just fun to see them out there enjoying the Bay with us. I could not resist sharing the image of Pete Hopley enjoying a bite of fresh caviar! When the boat is all back together and in the water, I’ll have some fishing photos to share. I plan to launch sometime around February 26th or so.

Looking forward to a good year of fishing here. The weather this winter has been as mild as I can ever remember. Hope it means for a warm and calm summer season. Can’t hardly wait!

Santa came early this year! Norman (Storm) Hoyt, who is the brother of my late friend, Roy “Spike” Hoyt, came to visit his folks here in Homer this summer and went halibut fishing with us. As is my custom in the summer the last couple of years, good friends and family go crabbing after the fishing party of the day are off-loaded. Storm has been around the block with the crabs here in Alaska and it was fun to reacquaint him to the pleasure of crabbing. Just a couple of days ago, I received in the mail a fine, handcrafted stainless gaff hook that is personalized and I will cherish. Included in the package was a beautiful “Spike” knife, which Storm fashioned from a railroad spike . This is an incredible piece that will always remind me of the good times I spent with Storm’s brother hunting on Kodiak. Thank you. Storm, for the blast from the past!

Luke and Pete with King Salmon

Many of you will remember Pete Hopley, who was our deckhand during the 1998 and 2000 seasons here in Homer. Since then, Pete has come back to fish with us and is now a licensed captain and also fishes on the Venturess with Travis Larson. Pete has been in the Guard for many years and last year was deployed to Iraq. He served there and returned this summer back home. We were so happy that he decided to come to Alaska to visit and have enjoyed having him here. Today he and our friend Luke, and I went fishing for king salmon. We managed to catch two kings and a couple of silvers and we topped it off with a nice tote full of tanner crab. We had a feast here at the house and some of the crab and salmon will go home with Pete for his family. For me, it was a special day spent with a couple of my favorite people.

Hi I don’t have any really new new August photos but here is a trip that was scheduled July 31 but the weather came up so they had to go out August 1.  They had a great day fishing salmon and halibut and cooperative weather!