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ZBL Improvements
Three new kayaks were added to the collection: two single man kayaks and a double man. Staff, guests and even Andy’s dog, Jesse, enjoyed taking in the view as they paddled close to the shore near the lodge.
The old satellite dish had to be replaced this year as it quit working and now the lodge is a proud owner of a dish network system. With many more channels than the old system, channel surfing takes place on an even bigger scale now!
Resounding off from the mountains and echoing over the water, the buzzing of saws and pounding of nails could be heard throughout the spring and most of the summer. The fuel shed acquired a new metal roof. The storage room in the back of the Animal House also received a new metal roof and the outside of that room was re-sided making for a sleek look and a dry interior. Starting with one room this year and continuing on next year, the interior of the Animal House is being remodeled. The white interior of the rooms is being replaced with paneling and a new style of closet creating a homier and cozier space. Much time was spent up on the hill behind the Super’s house framing in Marty and Linda’s new house. This project will continue for the next few years.
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The warm weather showed up early in the year staying for most of the summer providing us with an unusually dry season. Because of the lack of persistent fog, plane travel was not the problem it has been in the previous years although there were the occasional delays that are typical of the Kodiak Island area. Along with the wonderful weather, non-typical conditions such as tremors from earthquakes and volcanic ash settling over the lodge were also present. The warmer weather brought not only good fishing conditions but a kaleidoscope of wildlife as well.
For the first time in many years the staff at Zachar Bay Lodge were all returns. Brian McCrary came in June and worked hard as a guide helping people on the Karluk and Zachar Rivers. He enjoyed the daily trip up the river and looked forward to showing people the area. Due to a flare up in an old back injury, he had to leave us abruptly and all were sorry to see him go.
Jim had a wonderful summer as he took guests out in the Landingcraft most every day and charmed them with his easy ways and fish getting skills. His success in bringing in salmon and halibut for the guests was typical of this experienced guide. Likewise, his wife, Dawn, was the charm of the kitchen chatting with guests and whipping up delicious dishes like only she can do. Her green thumb continues to be the envy of others as her green house and garden flourish; her monster tomato plants all but took over the greenhouse! Jim and Dawn will visit friends and family this fall, spending the holidays in Florida with family and a new grandbaby.
Linda (Lin) Throop worked hard cleaning rooms and helping in the kitchen as well as helping in the fish house packaging fish and on occasion could even be seen filleting a halibut. Andy and Lin are engaged with the upcoming wedding on March 31, 2001. Continuing to help with the lodge and planning for the upcoming wedding will keep her busy this winter.
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...Crew News
Marty and Linda spent two weeks in Hawaii in March enjoying their first vacation without kids and dreaming of retiring on that warm island paradise. Continuing their excursion with the warmer climate, they spent a month out west this fall traveling and visiting family.
Andy also visited a new area as he and Lin traveled to Michigan to visit her parents. After seeing the sights and the fall colors, they returned to Alaska where Andy looks forward to riding his snowmobile on the mountains this winter when he is not working for Emerson Boat Works.
Glen continues to fly for Penn Air during the winter season. He is stationed at Dillingham, Alaska and is looking forward to some worldwide traveling on his time off.
Kyle is now the newest pilot at Zachar Bay having gotten his Private Pilot’s license last spring. He is attending University of Idaho for a second year continuing to work toward his business degree, as well as working toward a Commercial Pilot’s license.
Dave Hahn (Jim’s brother) came in August to help us again when Kyle had to return to school. Mark Eaton (Marty and Linda’s nephew) came for fishing but ended up working a lot and we greatly appreciated Dave’s and Mark’s help.
A Break From the Routine
By Linda Throop
Some jobs are never done: laundry, cooking, dishes and cleaning. They are a never-ending cycle; that cycle is my job security. However, as relaxing as folding warm clothes may be, one needs a change of pace every once in a while. Mine always came when most needed.
Knowing I’d been longing to go out fishing, Andy took me out on the boat for a couple of hours one afternoon when we had no guests. I was happy just to be on the water, to smell the salt air, and to have a change of scenery. However, it proved to be the most exciting excursion I had all summer. On the way to the fishing spot, Andy turns portside and says, “Porpoises,” and the next thing I know several porpoises are playing in the front of the boat.
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Daringly, they rush at the bow of the boat veering sharply as they approach the boat and play in the wake. Darting in a crazy frenzy, they are everywhere and appear to be going under the bow of the boat. Timing is no problem as they adjust to the boat’s speed and actually interact with us; the only wild animal I know that will seek to interact with humans in a playful, pleasurable way. Sticking with us for some time, they vanished as quickly as they began their dance, and I am left with white and black streaks of the dall porpoises (resemble killer whales) dashing through my mind.
Having covered quite a bit of water, Andy points to an area the guides take guest fishing, an area called Bird Rock, an area I’ve never been before. Not taking a rocket scientist to figure out I’d see birds, I was pleasantly surprised to be headed toward a rock with many large sea animals on it. “Seals?” I ask and the response, “Sea lions.”
A large group of them were baking in the sun. A couple dozen were lounging on the rock. Most of them were expending as little energy as possible, joining in conversation on occasion. What they had to talk about is beyond me; however, they had much to say as they never quieted. One would belch out a thought and soon a chorus of throaty bellows would respond. A couple really got into voicing their opinion as they faced off and barked loudly at one another while sparring with their heads. There was a large bull, king of the rock as it had sole possession of his little rock harem, that barked commands to all the other males that they had better stay in the water.
After viewing this scene for a while and looking at the birds on the rocks, we spend the next hour or so fishing. It was a very inactive spot; I was the only one with a bite, but what a bite. Telling by the bobbing of the pole it was a halibut, I pulled up the big guy. Thinking it was bigger than last year’s halibut, we pulled it into the boat and took it home. It missed the mark by three pounds; it was 92lbs whereas last year’s was 95lbs.
The best part of the trip, however, was the ride home. As we headed around Green Banks toward Zachar Bay, a large dark dorsal fin appeared off the bow. Killer whales!! A pair breached for quite sometime while we followed them. The size of the male’s fin was so awesome – I was really glad I was not in the water watching that huge object approach (visions of Jaws)! In fact some males’ fins grow so large they bend over from all of the weight. Although they didn’t jump out of the water for us and I’ve only seen them (the fins) twice, this mammal is the most fascinating to me; even more so than the Kodiak brown bear.
There is so much in this world we miss. We miss it because we fail to see it, to find the beauty in everyday things. We fail because there is so much to see. We fail because an ocean full of water covers half of it!
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Fishing
Fishing this year was a real treat. In June halibut fishing was extraordinary because of all the bait fish in the bay. The halibut would bite at anything and one could pull up fish after fish. On occasion one was hooked that ran and ran and was never brought in due to broken lines – the big one that got away kept the fisherman returning to try again the next day. The size range of these fish varied and catching 30-40 a person per day was the norm allowing one to be choosey in the ones to be kept for their limit. Because of the amount of feed in the water, it is thought that they filled themselves up as fishing at the end of the summer took a bit more patience. However, even at that, our biggest fish of the year was a 120 pound halibut caught in August by John Cunningham’s group.
As we had a drier summer, fishing on the shore of the Karluk River was less muddy this year; however, rafting the river for King Salmon was still the preferred method. The King Salmon all arrived on time allowing some guests to limit out on their raft trip and the King Salmon were still being caught as late as August. The one and only August catch was a white King Salmon caught by Kathy Dinapoli while mooching for halibut. Cindy Reinke’s King Salmon caught trolling weighed in as the largest this year at 30 lbs.
Picking up later in the season, red salmon fishing was sure to please at Frazer with not only fish on the line but Kodiak brown bear putting on a show as well. On one trip to Frazer, Glen reported that that was the most reds he’s ever seen in there and Kosowski’s had the opportunity to take advantage of that ending the day with a great catch. Also at Frazer, Joe Ventline caught a 7 lb red salmon and continued to catch a monster chum weighing it at 15 lbs the same day.
The silver’s showed up not only on time but earlier than ever before. The first silvers were caught trolling on July 29, and the silver fishing was wonderful for the rest of the year. Whether trolling or fishing on the Zachar River, there were fish to be had. In most cases those trolling had their limits before lunch and those arriving back from the Zachar River had packs full of silvers. Many people could boast of catching large silvers; however, Harold Osvold out did them all with his 18 lb silver caught on a fly fishing pole on the Zachar River, the lodge’s record to this date.
In all, fishing this year was great, starting with the hard hitting halibut and ending with the abundant supply of silvers. Whether halibut or salmon fishing, Zachar Bay Lodge is the place to be.
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Our Neighbors...
Warm weather in April brought the wildlife in the area out to feed among the warmth of the sun. An abundant amount of krill and other food caused the fin whales to show up early this spring, staying for the rest of the summer. This allowed for most of the guest to get a look at these enormous creatures, and some were fortunate to get close enough to the whales to feel their spray or to take great photos of them.
A rare moment allowed the guests to watch a deer that had swam from across the bay stagger out of the water and stand motionless while it caught its breath. Another morning a doe and her fawn walked the beach in front of the lodge, making for a wonderful way to start the day. Also seen from the lodge, seals and sea otters that frequent the shoreline as well as the family of river otters that reside at the lodge.
Frazer Lake continues to be a hot spot for bear viewing. Guided to the viewing pad, the guests could watch the bears fishing from the abundant supply of red salmon in the pools below. Preparing for adulthood when fighting would be needed to defend their territories, the immature bears would push, cuff one another and wrestle along the shore. It was common to see numerous bears on the flight over as well. A local bear treated us with his antics. Making an appearance every other day at the Zachar River to fish with our guests, this bear was sure to please whether posing for a good photo or wrestling a tree to the ground.
From the top of a hill, one could look down into an eagle’s nest. Spring brought two large fuzzy gray eaglets and throughout the summer they grew giving each guest who was guided to this area a different view of the growing birds. They are an awesome sight as adult eagles in many places are hard to get a glimpse of. Having visited this location in past years, we are careful not to stay too long or get too close and the mother patiently waits for us to leave as she circles overhead. Photo opportunities are wonderful!
This year a new species was added to the wildlife viewing. To our delight, a rock in the area called Bird Rock in Spiridon Bay became the home to a group of stellar sea lions. Throughout the summer 30-40 sea lions sunbathed, barked to one another, and fished in the area. Whether watching them swim gracefully or heave their large bodies up onto the rock, these animals were a sight to see.
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Visitors
Returning Visitors:
We had visitors that returned to Zachar Bay Lodge this year. We appreciate their returning and hope to be seeing you again in the future: Tom Fowler (6th time), Martin Johnson (8th time), Rocky & Denise Parsons, Larry & Steve Reardon, John Wullschleger, Marco Garcia, Eduardo Rodriuez, Robert Moreno, Pete & Peter Hansen, Richard Mavis, Ricardo Cruz, Terry Sabo (3rd), Joe Ventline (3rd), Mario & Peter Sidler, Paul, Dirk, Ton, & Hans Logchies, Helmut Meilner (3rd), Don Hunter (4th), Jim & Betty Smith, Werner Muller, Reinhard Fluckiger, Fritz Fluckiger, Christian Fluckiger, Fred Wright, John Cunningham, Peter Silberhorn, Gerhard Zenk, Peter Reulen(4th), Heinrich (4th) & Joachim Schmid (3rd), Harld Osvold & Jan Brascth, Al & Jason Horner (3rd), Pam & Alan Schmeiser (3rd time).
Our condolences to the family of Johnny Elliott, many time guest of Zachar Bay Lodge, who passed away in May. It is nice to know that memories of Zachar Bay Lodge could make him smile right up to the end. He will be missed.
Our sorrows also to the Logchies, whose father Dick Sr. died in The Netherlands while his four sons were at Zachar Bay. Dick Sr. came to Zachar Bay with them in July 1997.
June Guests
Tom Fowler and Martin Johnson started out our season with a run on halibut catching over 80 one day making both their arms and the guides sore from all the reeling and releasing. Duncan Randall came from England hoping to see Alaskan wildlife and saw bear from the air, from the boat and from land. Christoph Hartmann arrived tired from a direct flight from Switzerland, but after a good night’s rest was ready to fish. Rocky & Denise Parsons brought Reed & Paulette Brooks and much to the girls’ delight they were able to brag about the huge king salmon that took over an hour and a half to pull to shore and the monster halibut that broke the line. Larry Reardon and son, Steve, got some good bear viewing at Thumb Lake. They watched both sow and cub stand on hind feet to look for fish. John Wullschleger brought Claude Schnadt and reeled in many dolly varden. Claude was often seen filleting his own fish and John was a big help as interpretor with our other guests from Switzerland. Urs and Beatrice Wyss brightened our days with their contagious smiles. Beatrice caught a 30 lb king on the Karluk and Urs treated us by making a wonderful holiday bread for us.
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The next group of twelve arrived on two planes. In one day three nice size halibut were pulled in: Eduardo Rodriguez’s weighing in at 52 lbs, Francisco Elias’ pulling the scale to 95 lbs, and Robert Moreno’s topping out at 110 lbs. Marco Garcia, not to be out done, was in every picture making it confusing as to whose fish it really was! It was nice to see the familiar faces of Ricardo Cruz, Richard Mavis, Pete Hansen and son, Peter Hansen as well as the new faces including Alejandro Garcia. Thanks to Terry Sabo for bringing the entire group and his two sons, Adam Sabo and Eric Sabo.
Glen picked up Joe Ventline in Kodiak and because of bad weather they did some fishing in Kodiak before they were able to fly to Zachar Bay, but the real trophy for Joe was gotten after his arrival to the lodge, a 15 lb chum. Wildlife viewers, Pat Conry and Kathi Anderson, started their trip out to the lodge with Sea Hawk Air and had a fog delay in Uganik Bay; however, they were in high spirits when they arrived as a local fisherwoman took them out to pick the fish from her set net site while they waited for the fog to lift.
Gary Horton & Norma Venso arrived and were able to leave having seen seal, fins whales, puffins and bear. Peter and Mario Sidler brought Willi Germann, Frank Kaufmann and Gerhard Stalder and the group caught 10 king salmon on their raft trip down the Karluk. Hansruedi Augstburger and Geri Dennler came from Switzerland for fishing halibut. Ernst & Rosemaire Ramsier came on their dream vacation to Alaska and saw many of the animals of the area.
July Guests
Mike & Cindy Reinke spent their time conversing with staff and guests telling of Cindy’s 30lb king she caught while trolling. Bob Stein and son, Ben, came for the fish keeping every one that they caught to sample at a later date. Brothers, Paul, Dirk, Ton and Hans Logchies came ready for a good time fishing. Although they were able to say they felt their first earthquake this visit, they watched with disappointment a salmon shark that came and stole the nice size halibut off from the line that Hans was reeling in.
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Due to weather delays, Jon & Sybille Ludwig and Helmut Meilner chartered a helicopter being our only guests to arrive this year by helicopter. Jon and Sybille watched a mother bear with a baby hanging on to her swim in the water at Frazier. Helmut saw fin whales and a baby eagle the same day that he caught two halibut. Guests Wolfy & Renate Feierbach viewed two bears playing, wrestling and pushing one another. Arriving as a group Dave Niedzielek, Tom Niedzielek, Felix Teran, Joe Grandoes, and Dennis Gallagher spent their days in different locations and discussed their days at the dinner table. These conversations included the 6.3 lb dolly varden and 95lb halibut Joe caught and sow with cubs that Felix saw real close.
Enjoying the temperate weather here in the bay, Monty Davis, Matt Shoemaker, Ricky Davis, Latonne Davis, Jason Uncel, and Jeremy Stockard were glad to be out of the 110 degree Texan heat at the same time being able to see fin whales, Kodiak brown bears and catch some halibut. Visiting Alaska for the first time without his traveling companion, Don was the first guest to try out our newest rafting package.
Biologist, Dave Kosowski and wife, Barbara, were avid fisherpersons fishing until they were wore themselves out. Glen picked up the next guests Becky & Dan Jackson who hiked up Zachar River, fished halibut with Jim and flew to Frazer.
The group of five Swiss, Patrick Martin, Urs Martin, Willi Martin, Halton Martin and Heinrich Schmid, filled our dinning hall with laughter. It might have had something to do with the fact that they caught the first silvers of the year trolling. Our last guests of July were a family from France: Alain, Isabelle and Virginie Boyaval. They were in search of not just brown bears, but a nice bear print in which they could make a plaster cast mold. Their search was successful.
August Guests
August started out overcast yet that didn’t hamper the activities of our next guests. After a day of fishing, Werner Muller and 3 generations of Fleuckigers, Fritz with sons Christian & Reinhard’s son, Andre, who celebrated his 8th birthday, spent their evenings playing pool, or reading. Coming in on a beautiful day, Yoshiyuki & Shosuko Hatakeyama saw many bears at Frasier and walked the nature trail.
Much to everyone’s surprise a bear took a bite at the lodge’s float plane while the Slonevsky family, Len, Bobby, Hara and Alex, were bear viewing at Frasier Lake. Repairs were made on the spot and all flew safely home with one unbelievable story. Snapping photos of bears with fish jumping in the background at Frasier was a highlight of Bernard Nathanson.
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Fred Wright and Kathy Dinapoli on the first day out fishing caught a 100 lb. halibut, a fish that was nearly as big as she was! John Cunningham returned with his friends: Mike Holmes, Robert Sakowitz, and Whitey Holmes. Not to be outdone, the group proceeded to catch a 120 lb. halibut, the biggest of the year.
Switzerland’s well-known fly-fishing instructor, Peter Silberhorn, brought Roman Luthi and Fritz Fleisch who caught their first silvers on the Zachar River and spent most of their holiday fishing in that location. Alfred and Trudi Hornbach viewed bears at Fraiser before leaving to bear view in other areas of Alaska.
Jack and Mary Ann Edwards came with their daughter and son-in-law, Roger and Kay Holmes, to fish and visit more of this beautiful state. Gerhard Zenk brought Herbert Kuschow. They shared the “Animal House with some of the very first guests the lodge ever booked, Peter Reulen and Heinrich Schmid with son Joachim, returned for yet another visit and caught fish on the Zachar River while watching a local bear fish and play for most of the day. Patricia and Eduard Schneider and Willi Pfiffner saw many whales while fishing and during lunch breaks, Patricia would collect pretty rocks to take home to her twins.
Otto Fontana brought his wife, Cecile, who had never caught a fish before. After being equipped with a trolling rod, Cecile pulled in her very first fish, a 16.5 lb silver salmon. Having caught several dollies on a fly-out, Walt & Laura Jolly and Otto & Gayle Keeton were flown over Kodiak’s glacier on a sight seeing trip. Arriving on the last day of August, Jan Brascth and Harld Osvold enjoyed their stay with us leaving with an 18 lb silver salmon caught on a fly pole in the Zachar River.
September Guests
Flying in from Katmai, Charles Ross spent a day with us seeing fin whales, porpoises and an eagle’s nest while on a sight seeing trip in Spiridon Bay. Al, Jason and Heath Horner caught not only fish, but a 200 lb skate as well. Although the weather turned for a few days and they had to fight high winds and waves, John Oknaian, Fred Cartozian and Craig Cartozian came back with six silvers and two halibut making true Alaskan fisherman of them.
Since the water was low, the rapids weren’t as large for this next group of rafters. Alan and Pam Schmeiser enjoyed their trip nevertheless saying the fishing for silver as well as dollies was excellent. Fishing was hot on the Zachar River while Ron & Rosalie Sims visited. Rosalie was tickled to have a fish on every cast. Not only did they catch silvers but saw a bear too.
Wildlife viewers, John Hartmann and Eileen Powers were our last guests of the year. They spent over an hour viewing bear on the Uyak tidal flats, watching them fish and splash in the water. Eileen was the first guest we’ve ever had from Wales.
Whether you came from a well known place or just a spot on the map, we’re glad you came to visit us this year and look forward to seeing you again.
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