\u201cIf you don\u2019t have a hook in the water, you don\u2019t have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s something you hear a lot of when you ask fishermen for advice about how to catch the biggest king salmon \u2014 and coho \u2014 during the Territorial Sportsmen\u2019s 70th annual Golden North Salmon Derby.<\/p>\n
It was the advice Arnold Ibias gave as he got ready to head out fishing with a friend, as well as dogs Olympia and Olive. He\u2019s been fishing the derby for decades, and his daughter once placed third.<\/p>\n
In Auke Bay, the derby got off to a 19.5-pound start with a king salmon caught by fisherman Karissa Jackson.<\/p>\n
Out on the water, where the Capital City Weekly and Juneau Empire traveled with Melino\u2019s Marine Services, fishermen had hooks in the water, all right. Some were shallower, some deeper; some lured with hoochies and some baited with herring. Some fishermen were trying all of the above, going for that winning mix.<\/p>\n
While it took a while for some boats to warm up, some got off to a blazing start.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots of cohos \u2026 in my boat, anyway,\u201d said one of those fishermen, who wanted to remain anonymous. His strategy? \u201cCatch big fish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Billy Ashby and a friend were catching lots as well \u2014 eight coho early in the day, the biggest about 15 pounds. They also double hooked some halibut first thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to be the derby winners,\u201d Ashby said.<\/p>\n
Danny Tourtellot caught a 23-pound king … on Thursday, the day before the derby. It was going on the barbecue Friday night, he said. \u201cKeep your bait in the water,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In one boat were James, Ozzie and Warren, all veterans from Hoonah. They\u2019ve been fishing in the derby since the \u201870s.<\/p>\n
Doug Larsen, Wendy Larsen, Fred Provenza and Sue Provenza were in one of a dozen boats marked \u201cDerby Official.\u201d Officials make sure people wait behind the line until the start, boat the speed limit and are there for any questions. They were fishing at 35- and 65-foot depths when the Capital City Weekly and Juneau Empire chatted with them.<\/p>\n
In the lead as of early Friday, however, was Aaron Katzeek, fishing with brother Shawn Katzeek and Cer Scott. Aaron Katzeek caught a 23-pound king as his brother drove the boat. They turned the fish in at Auke Bay and went back out for more.<\/p>\n
Right around the same area were Dylan Kubley and Abbey Wilwert, who wrestled one of several coho in as the Capital City Weekly and Juneau Empire watched. (Check out the video on the Capital City Weekly and Juneau Empire Facebook pages.)<\/p>\n
Tanya Nizich, owner of the tender the Isabelle, was with crew Daniel Keeler, up from Southern Oregon, Alaska Department of Fish and Game technician Katie Ashbaugh waiting for scholarship fish, and \u201cthe main guy on the boat\u201d Dave the dog. By Friday in the early afternoon, they had an eight-pound coho, a scholarship fish (fish donated to the Territorial Sportsmen Scholarship Fund) brought in by a skiff-driving 13-year-old.<\/p>\n
At each weigh station \u2014 Douglas Harbor, Statter Harbor and Amalga Harbor \u2014 ADF&G technicians waited to check fish for tags indicating they were from a hatchery, and to get samples for genetic testing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always fished it,\u201d Nizich said. \u201cLast year was my first time not fishing (working on the tender) and getting to visit with everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over at Amalga Harbor, the Hoochie Mamas \u2014 the all-female weigh-in crew at Amalga Harbor \u2014 have four years of experience visiting with fishermen. They wore \u201cJuneau Stop Heroin Start Talking\u201d Hoochie Mama sweatshirts donated by Michele Stuart Morgan and Kerri Willoughby of Edward Jones.<\/p>\n
The Hoochie mama group is Dottie Whitehead, Cindy Stevenson, Tawna Curry, Tracy Balovich, Melissa Ordner and Misty Smith. \u201cDock Mama\u201d Misty Smith said it even beats fishing. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to miss anything,\u201d she said. \u201cSeeing everybody is our favorite part.\u201d<\/p>\n
Out on the water, fishermen may not have seen each other, but they were still checking in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been consistent and lucky,\u201d one guy said over the radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take luck any day,\u201d another fisherman replied.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Read more derby coverage:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tell the Empire your fish story, win a prize<\/a><\/p>\n Derby dynasties shoot for third crown<\/a><\/p>\n Dick Garrison’s passing marks end of era for derby<\/a><\/p>\n