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ZBL Improvements
We finished our newest guest house, The Pisces House, in June. It has three bedrooms and bathrooms and has been really useful this year. Other projects included putting carpet in the Bayhouse, a new ceiling and lights in the Dining Hall. We put a new metal roof on the Animal House.
The Dining Hall acquired a 32 inch television and foosball table. Fresh eggs are now a product of Zachar Bay, since Andy purchased 10 chickens to lay eggs. He built a first class chicken coop with a picture window next to the garden. Andy also got a kayak to try in the bay, and it works great in calm weather to explore and view wildlife. More kayaks are definitely in mind for the summer of 2000 for our adventurous guests.
check out our website
www.zbay.com
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A cold winter lead into a late summer for Kodiak Island. The month of June was foggy and windy – making airplane travel difficult. Some of our groups were brought by The Boat to Zachar Bay Lodge. Zachar Bay was no exception to the cool weather– there was snow on the mountain until July and most of the salmon runs were two weeks late! Better late then never, and the runs of salmon were still strong...when they arrived!
Family & Crew News
The staff for the season included two new faces - Linda Throop and Brian McCrary. Linda was an excellent help in the kitchen and cleaning rooms. Brian worked hard as a guide and helping people on the Karluk and Zachar Rivers.
Jim had a difficult bear hunting season - getting a big bear - but turned it around for our fishing season. He ran the Landingcraft and he was really productive catching silvers and halibut. Dawn’s garden and green house worked better than ever this year, which made all the wonderful food even better. They are visiting Florida and are spending new year’s eve 2000 at Zachar Bay.
Marty & Linda visited Kyle in Hawaii in March and had a great time and wondered how to make a wilderness lodge there? Kyle finished up his first year at UH Hilo while making the Dean’s List. This fall he is getting his Private Pilot’s license in California and is going to attend the University of Idaho in January. Glen is flying wheel planes for Pen Air in Kodiak and started his own air charter service with the Aeronca Sedan - Kingfisher Aviation. Andy has a new Arctic Thundercat snowmobile and has been riding in the mountains, along with raising some chickens this spring.
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A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name
By Linda Throop
Standing near the stern of the boat where the wind could wash over me, I inhaled the sea air letting it revive my being as my hair trailed behind me, much like a dog in the back of a pick-up. It was pure joy being on the water, even better we’d be fishing, an outing I’d grown to love as a child in Michigan.
During the summer I try to get out as much as possible, but it was almost August and I hadn’t been out due to my job at Zachar Bay Lodge in Alaska. But as luck had it, my work was finished early the day one of the several clients wanted to go out in the boat for a couple of hours. I don’t know who was more excited, me or the client, and my first trip of the summer proved to be one that won’t soon be forgotten.
Touring around the bay in pursuit of salmon, an adequate location with the promise of a good catch was not found. The scarcity of salmon due to the run being slow in coming made fishing in the bay doubtful, so the captain stopped us in a good spot for halibut.
Letting our line down close to 200 feet, it was hard to believe it was that deep so close to shore. The action was slow so one was able to enjoy the scenery: the lush emerald mountainside, a small waterfall, blue skies and majestic eagles.
Then the fish began to bite. Throwbacks to begin with, but soon the client had a halibut. Under 20 lbs. it wasn’t one to brag about, but it was the first keeper of the day and the best size to eat.
Soon I had one on. It wasn’t much bigger than the client’s, but it was a fish that didn’t want to be caught. Hooked, it ran with my bait, putting up a good fight. But most spectacular was the run it made at the surface. Holding it near the boat just under the water, it gave one last attempt to flee sending it several yards out, its flat body pumping, its tail shooting above the water, before it was hauled back to the boat, gaffed and hauled aboard.
But the fun was just beginning. Some time later while jigging, my line stopped short feeling as though it was snagged. It wouldn’t budge, and I thought I had a rock – until it began pulling my line out. Just then the client got one on, so we were fighting two fish hoping they wouldn’t cross lines underwater. The captain spent most of his time helping the elderly client work his fish up. Occasionally coming to check on my progress, I comment I was either tired from the first fish or this one was much bigger.
Muscles burning, I’d lean back and pull, the bend in the pole increasing, and I’d wait until slowly the pole would straighten itself out as the fish was being pulled up.
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The large reel was awkward in my small hands. I’d reel like crazy on the downward motion, and then repeat the process over and over. Minutes passed as I wondered how much further. The captain was just pulling the client’s into the boat when mine came into view. It was a big one, and they both came running to look at it.
Too big to pull over with the gaff, the captain dug out the harpoon. Excitement filled the boat. The harpoon was thrown, hitting the target, but did not penetrate fully before the halibut dove. Line screaming, I was pulled against the boat by the force of the fish before getting a footing and held to the pole double handed and white knuckled.
It had not made it to the bottom, but it took just as long to bring back to the surface as the first time, because I was exhausted and moving much slower. It too had run out of steam, and the second attempt at harpooning it was successful. Pulling it into the boat was a chore; one accomplished with much effort.
It was then that the captain looked at me and said, “You’re a lot stronger than I thought you were”, and the client slapped me on the back yelling, “’At a girl”, while I collapsed on a seat to catch my breath, and the guessing began. 100 lbs., no 75 lbs. and it wasn’t until we returned to the lodge did we find it weighed 95 lbs. – a little over ¾ of my body weight.
Not realizing it could get any better than that, I was in for a surprise. Helping unload the boat and get the fish to the cleaning table, I didn’t realize the client was busy telling all of his buddies about my catch. Soon a couple of them wandered out to look at the “monster” and congratulate me. When one of the other lodge workers saw it, he decided he had to make a print of it, so after all of the fish were cleaned we painted my halibut, covered it with a sheet and my catch was forever immortalized as a work of art. The best was yet to come though. As I walked into the dining hall to help prepare dinner, all of the clients were sitting around and one said, “There’s the fishergirl”, and they all started cheering. I got handshakes and high fives. I felt like a celebrity; I felt like Norm on the TV show Cheers. How sweet it is to be “where everybody knows your name”!
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Fishing
This year fishing was good, even though the fish showed up later than normal. There were no real monstrous halibut, but many between 30 and 50 pounds - the best eating fish. Our largest halibut of the year was caught by Bob List and weighed in at 125 pounds. Tom Fowler returned for his fifth time to fish halibut. He and Chuck Hathaway caught 128 halibut on June 22.
The month of June was spent searching the Karluk River for King Salmon, and the bays for halibut. There was some extremely large (5 pound) ocean run dolly varden trout that were caught by Rolf Bona and Willy Puetz. The kings showed up in large numbers by the 1st of July and the largest king was 32 pounds and caught by Jim Nostad on the portage. Rafting the Karluk was preferred by most everyone, since the portage was a little on the muddy side this summer...
Frazer river system produced reds starting the 5th of July until about August 10. Fishing with the bears was a common theme this summer, but no major incidents occurred. A bear decided to have some of our lunch one day while at the portage, taking the cooler and putting some bite marks in it.
We had our first major pink and chum salmon season on the Zachar River. In the past it has been our slow time for fishermen, but this year many people got to experience the thrill of a river full of salmon to catch and release. Pinks could be caught all the way into the first week of September, and many of our Silver salmon fishermen had to work through them to achieve a silver.
Silvers - we started catching them while trolling out on the capes the first week of August, and Andy didn’t stop trolling for the next month. Almost every day was spent trolling in the month of August, since the silvers did not arrive in the river until August 25 The largest silver was caught by Roger Fritschi which weighed 17 pounds - what a lucky fisherman!
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We have started two new packages for 2000. We are offering a river rafting trip - one night camping - that has Silver, Pink or Chum salmon depending on when you come. The river is pristine and beautiful, and nobody else utilizes it. It has some mild whitewater at the end of the trip which makes it exciting.
We also are offering a 7 night package for Red Salmon which includes 5 fly-outs to various areas to fish for reds. If you are interested in either of these, please let us know and we can fix you up!
Our Neighbors...
The wildlife in and around Zachar Bay sustained the cold winter fairly well. We have a new camp fox which is really photogenic and entertaining in the evening. Ermines have also been spotted jumping between boardwalks and through the grass. There is still the family of river otters that pass in front of the dining hall each night, and also the seal which swims by to see the activity.
 BEARS...BEARS...and more BEARS! Frazer Lake was a wonderful spot to view all the Kodiak Brown Bears feasting on the hordes of red salmon. Glen and Brian guided many people to the viewing pad to watch the bears in the pool below. While on the flight over to Frazer, you could see at least 10 to 15 bears at both the outlet of Karluk lake and then while flying over O’Malley lake river system. Then on the arrival to Frazer Lake, there would usually be two young bears playing on the lakeshore.
One day one of these young bears tangled himself in an anchor line that was left by a Kodiak photographer. Glen was the first to see the bear caught in the line while walking back to the airplane from the falls. So he turned right around and got two of the fish and game men from the cabin to help him free this bear from its harness. Glen pulled out his swiss army knife, gave it to the fish and game man to cut the line while he distracted the bear. They were able to free the bear, but it still was dragging fifteen feet of line behind him, with it wrapped around his neck. They thought he would be able to work the line off in time but, as time passed, the line was still on him and rubbing around his neck. The head wildlife biologist from fish and game flew to Frazer and tranquilized the bear and the operation went smoothly. We have a happy and line free bear again!
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Visitors
Returning Visitors:
We had many groups that returned to Zachar Bay in 1999. We appreciate them returning and hope to see you in the future. George Obertin, Rolf Bona, Tom Fowler (5th time!), Alan & Pam Schmeiser, Per Lund-Johansen, Helmut Meilner, Mark Kroskin, Al & Jason Horner, Jim Benear, Jasper Sweet, Martha Korner, Hansruedi & Susan Luscher, Ueli (Willy) Korner, Roger Fritschi, Max Tanner, Walter Queck, Joe Ventline, Terry Hartsfield, Rick Rhoads, Richard & Janet Werner, Bob List & Don Hunter.
June Guests
George Obertin brought Jean-Louis Bruck and they caught the first halibut of the season and so many after that their arms ached. Don & Liz Altman came on their honeymoon and were able to see newborn seals on the rocks. Robert Jung made it to ZB even after suffering from broken ribs at another lodge, and fished on! Rolf Bona brought Peter Imhof and Daniel Luther fishing. They caught many halibut and huge dolly varden trout, while Rolf landed an 80 pound halibut on their first day.
Our next guests brought The Boat to ZB because of fog. Tom Fowler brought Chuck Hathaway, Joe Gyure, Ben Hale and Paul Coppel. Ben pulled in an 86 pound halibut, while Chuck caught his first dolly varden and everyone enjoyed the banya. Glen picked up Jim & Betsy Peterson up in Anton Larsen Bay. Karl & Robin Lipinski had a great time catching all sorts of fish - no matter the species - they had a ball! Pam & Alan Schmeiser nailed the Kings on the raft trip at the switchback hole. Adam & Todd Moutafian had a slow day fishing for kings, but we eventually got them a king. Greg Fredicks caught a 30 pound halibut. Willy Puetz hooked a big halibut on light line, but it managed to escape after an hour of fighting it.
We had a group come from Las Vegas: Joe Ingersal, Ryan Cicchetti, Scott Brown, Harry Helfman and Dan Voy came fishing Kings. While at Larsen Bay Cannery, Dan helped save a man’s life. Jerry & Marie Blackman caught a 50 pound halibut the first day and reds in Connecticut Creek. Peter & Brent Slattery and Warwick & Uri Pollend caught Kings and saw 5 bears at Frazer. Engelbert Lander & Joachim Galler fished and caught kings at the Karluk. Sigi Marty, Harald Goertz and Grau Hartmut limited out on the Karluk float trip.
July Guests
The month of July actually seemed like summer had arrived. Our weather was beautiful when Jim, Dolly & Max Heinrich came fishing. It was Max’s trip and they had a great time catching halibut and Kings with Brian.
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Per Lund-Johansen brought Odd Keller fishing at Zachar Bay. They arrived via helicopter right in our front yard. Hans Kaloff & Hilde Kaloff-Beck got to see the bears at Frazer up close and personal on their last day. Lee & Wanell Michels traveled with Leonard & Barbara Songster to enjoy everything that ZB had to offer. The men went fishing and the ladies went wildlife viewing, and in the evening, each would have a different story. Helmut Meilner calls ZB paradise! Catching Kings and halibut was great fun, especially fishing with the bears. Heinz & Doris Kuehne and Henry & Helga Pfeiff went wildlife viewing and saw bears, whales and many birds.
 Jim Nostad brought his nephew Josh fishing Kings, and Josh nailed them on portage. He outfished everybody! Jim caught a nice 32 pound king. Mark Kroskin and Al & Jason Horner brought some more people this year - Reg Kroskin and Jim Cox. They had to fly to Larsen Bay IFR because of bad weather. Reg caught a King right off our float dock. Mark was fighting a big king on the Karluk when he had a equipment failure - his reel locked up and broke the line. He was so furious, he threw the reel in the deepest hole in the Karluk. Jim was slow to start on Kings, but once he got the feeling, he fished like a pro. Jim Benear & Jasper Sweet returned and Jim’s camera got a little closer to a bear than it would like. He was fighting a king that took him downstream, so he left his bag where he hooked the fish. Next thing you know, a bear is sniffing and chewing on the bag. Too bad he didn’t have the timer on on his camera - good photo of a bear mouth!
Our next guests are members of the National Wildlife Federation, and Johnny B. set up their trip to Zachar Bay. Chris Palmer, Chat Reynders, Sloan & Anna Marie Hales went to Frazer and Brian said that there were more bears than he had ever seen before. Every night there would be a discussion and activities that were planned by Johnny B and his wife Sharon. Here are the other members of the group: Joan & John Thalheimer, Cynthia & Walt Radcliffe, Clayton & Anna Timmons, Bob & Nancy Eisenhart.
Dave Drury brought a big party of fishermen for pinks and chums. Ralf Boer brought his son Charlie who loved to catch fish - all day long. Father & son combos were great - Chris Baur & Chris Jr., Dale & Trevor Putrah Almost everyone enjoyed fishing both the river and ocean.
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 Fred Gullash, George Juetten, Duane Kamenick, Tim King, Chuck Kaul, Bill Laney, Michael Janowiak. It was a lot of fun having a group of guys like that.
August Guests
August brought about mixed weather - both nice and nasty. We welcomed a group of swiss; Rudolf Susman, Christian Drad, Peter Krecht, Samuel Forestier, Urs Bollier, Beat Fehr, Rene’ Leonhard, Daniel Walt, and Thomas Frey. They all enjoyed fishing pinks and chums on the Zachar River. Thomas said it was the best fishing he had ever experienced. A few days later, the Zachar River flooded and changed the fishing holes for Larry, Mike and Steve Reardon. They were the first to catch silvers trolling with Andy and also pulled in a 95 pound halibut. Alfredo & Augusto Maranesi caught and released their fish. Jim & Marsha Beaty visited from California. Jim was a former Kodiak resident and had many interesting stories from the past.
Mike & Terry Distaulo came with Mike & Paula Kovach hiked up the Zachar River and caught more pinks. Terry said she caught over 30 fish! Wolgang Spahn and Ulrike Schmidt saw many bears at Frazer and also a finback whale from the boat.
Our next group were serious trollers from Switzerland. Max Tanner, Roger Fritschi and Hermann Widmer stayed 12 days and were trolling with Andy almost everyday - limiting out on most days. Christian & Alaxander Frey were also here for the duration of the Tanner’s stay, so they all trolled together. Martha & Ulie Korner joined Hansruedi & Susan Luscher for a trolling expedition with Jim for almost 10 days. Everyone went to Frazer and saw many bears.
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Marcello Caratozzollo and Grazia Nasciano came bear viewing - and got some good viewing. A sow picked up a cub (which weighed 150 pounds) with her mouth and shook it by the neck, so that it would give up its fish for the other cub. Strong bears. Bobby, Brady, Bobby Jr. and David Burns all came to fish for silvers and halibut. Gunther Walther loved fly- fishing here so much that he did not want to leave and go to Saltry Lake Lodge. Glen flew Frank Selbe, Dan Hockersmith and John Herrmann to Uganik Lake to fish for the huge dolly varden trout. Almost every other cast they would catch a 3 pound trout - all day long. Harald Osvold and Jan Braseth were successful at catching silvers in the river. Harald would jump into the ocean every morning to wake up, and then go to breakfast...BRRR!
Charlie Farley brought Wendell Willard and Greg Bungard silver & halibut fishing and did very well. Jim set them on the fish almost everyday. Maier Werner, Erich Dietrich and Horst Sprenger all experienced the trolling, halibut fishing and the Zachar River. Bernhard Born and Peter Muller took some good video of catching silvers and of bears at Frazer Lake.
We had three separate groups of father & son combos just when the silver fishing was getting warm. Dick & Glenn Henningsen were here and Glenn really enjoyed fishing the river, where as Dick seemed to prefer the boats. Bob & Mike Schoelle came and one day on the river, Mike made his first two casts and was limited out on silvers. Karl & Rollie Carlson experienced almost the same kind of early action and had a great time. Frank Rickman and Yvonne Coleman were avid fishers and enjoyed the river and boats. Robert and Elisabeth Haemmig caught silvers while wildlife viewing at the same time. Robert would catch the fish, while Elisabeth spotted whales, birds, etc.
Mark Eaton brought Brad Marshal silver fishing. We had to wake up at 7 AM to beat Larsen Bay Lodge up the River to fish for silvers. Bob List and Don Hunter returned and caught many silvers trolling and Bob caught a 125 pound halibut while Don pulled in a 60 pounder. Rock & Denise Parsons caught silvers trolling and also had to wake up early to Zachar River. Rose Waldenstein caught her limit of silvers in less than 20 minutes. All in all it was our busiest and best summer! Thank you.
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