This is what three weeks of fishing makes you look like.

I received a email from Kathy and she writes.

Rumor has it you’re considering returning next year – repeat after me:  3 a.m. get up to dodge bears to climb in a cold boat to brave rough seas to pick slimy fish in the rain.

Opening

I think there is some kind of special bond among professional pilots. I keep in touch regularly with about ten professional pilots who came out of the Fairmont Airport.  Their flying ranged from crop spraying to flying 747’s. 

Chuck and his brother Ron are two of them; they came to the Fairmont airport in the 60’s for some additional flight rating. They both have commercial set net sites on Bristol Bay. Ron and his wife Kathy fish a site and Chuck and his wife Barbara fish another.

During our weekly phone conversation with Chuck on June 16 2007, he indicated that fishing on Bristol Bay was about to start and that all his fishing partners were unable to fish with him this year.  Good or bad, I said I might be able to help. That night I had round trip tickets to Naknek, AK. for Monday June 25.

Mind you I have never done any commercial fishing in my life and just turning 65 I question my decision. Last minute preparation were made and off I went.