Virtual Tour Part 2........

Captain Mac here, back with part two of my virtual tour to the lodge.....

Day 1 ~ The Fishing

At five the next morning Christina brings fresh coffee to the common area just outside your room. You expected to have more trouble awakening that early but it is 9:00 AM back home. After a couple of cups of coffee and a shower you head on down to the dining room a few minutes before the scheduled breakfast hour of six o'clock, to build your lunch for the day. This is serious fishing and you'll be eating lunch on the boat each day so you pack what you want from the large table of offerings called the "Spike Table."

You, Captain Neeley, and your boat mates enjoy another sumptuous and bountiful meal prepared by Chef Carl and served by the bubbly Heidi. As great as the food is and as stimulating as the table banter (including Captain's ample repertoire of fishing tales) it comes to an end as you and your team tromp down to the waiting Friendly Lady. Tom's been up since five as well but, in addition to eating breakfast, he's already prepared the bait for today's fishing and rigged the gear. Captain Neeley fires up the powerful Caterpillar diesel and tunes in the XM radio. Appropriately enough your team grooves to Otis Redding's Sitting on the Dock of the Bay as the "Lady" slips her moorings and heads out into the bountiful Alaskan waters.

Not a quarter of a mile out you have another wildlife spotting. This time it is a couple of black bear cubs scavenging along the water's edge. Momma is not far away but nowhere in sight at the moment. All of the fleet Captains maneuver their boats as close as possible and the cameras are whirring in activity as nearly everyone on each of the boats strains to capture the cuteness of those little guys.

But, you're here to fish so Captain Neeley heads for the first fishing stop of the day, Ship Island, about a half hour away, giving you a chance to have another cup of coffee and enjoy some of the spectacular surroundings of the Inside Passage. Along the way you pass a huge cruise ship, southbound, heading for a stop in Ketchikan for the day. The engine slows as you come abreast of the collection of sparsely wooded rocks that make up Ship Island. Captain Neeley's eyes are glued to the fish finder as he moves the boat around slowly near the Island. Finally he finds what he's been searching for... a big ball of herring 100 feet down... directly under the "Lady".

He marks the GPS coordinates and gives orders to us to drop your lines to 100 feet and start fishing. Six baited hooks plummet almost immediately as every one of you wants to catch the first fish.

Young Caleb is the first to hook up. His line stops droping and he asks Tom what to do about it. Tom knows what this means and excitedly tells Caleb, "Reel"! The line becomes tight and the reel explodes! The rod tip bends nearly to the water as the first fish of the day makes his run for freedom. His Dad and Grandfather are offering him encouragement, Captain Neeley is telling him to keep the line tight, and Caleb is straining to control the freight train at the other end of his line.

Suddenly, you feel the strike on your line and its game on. As you're fighting your salmon you look around and see that everyone on the boat is hooked up with something, and Captain Neeley and Tom are moving quickly about offering advice and encouragement. After a few exciting minutes Tom nets your salmon, a nice 15 pound king. Captain Neeley dives into the pilothouse to quickly record your king on your license, and then returns to the fray.

Caleb is still fighting his fish and there are another four other fish on. Captain Neeley figures Caleb's fish is another King-and a big one. Pandemonium reigns as Captain Neeley and Tom choreograph the efforts of the five remaining fishermen, keeping them away from Caleb and from tangling with each other. One by one the fish are boated. Some turn out to be rockfish, but Mike has nailed another king that looks like a clone of yours. Everyone offers Caleb encouragement as they continue their own battles to boat their fish.

Finally, after a 20-minute struggle, Caleb finally pulls his fish in close enough for Tom to net it and bring it on board. And, it's a beauty- 25 pound King-it seems nearly as big as Caleb himself. Everyone cheers for Caleb and then gets back to fishing. By, about 10:30 the action has slowed and to your amazement, the fish box is full of a mix of nice kings, some rockfish and a dozen Silver salmon. And, you've still got most of the day ahead of you.

Captain Neeley tells you that the tide has turned and describes the action he anticipates on the flats, fishing for white fish; cod and halibut. While you're motoring out to the flats Tom is busy filleting some of the fish to make room in the box for what is to come. During the interlude you and your fellow fishing mates down some coffee or hot cocoa (not that you need the caffeine because you are already on an adrenaline high) and munch on cookies, chips, and fruit from your lunch bags.

After surveying the bottom with his depth finder, Captain Neeley has Tom drop the anchor in about 200 feet of water and the action commences. Your lines barely reach the bottom before they are snapped up by fat and hungry cod and halibut. The fish are coming up so quickly that you soon lose count of your own catch.

Ed and Terri have pretty much stayed at the bow and the rest of you have respected their honeymoon status. But, there is no mistaking Terri's scream of delight as she hooks an apparent monster. That fish has her heavy duty halibut rod nearly doubled over. She has the butt of the rod buried in her tummy for support, and with both hands she grasps the rod with all her might as she struggles to control the beast at the other end of the line. Her reel is singing as line is torn off it. When he sees the rod tip pumping from head shakes, Captain Neeley confirms his suspicion that she's hooked her first halibut-a big one.

After a 30-minute back-and-fourth battle she finally lands a 40 pound halibut, easily the biggest fish anyone on the boat (except maybe Captain Neeley) has ever caught.

Over the next two hours the fishing keeps up nonstop and everyone catches their limits on halibut.

When the tide finally turns and the action slows, it comes none too soon. Your arms and shoulders are aching from reeling in fish after fish from the depths. And, the fish box is overflowing-again. Tom has his work cut out for him to clean all of them.

But, you're still not done fishing. Now it's time to go back after salmon. Each of you has about four more Silver and six Pink salmon left in your daily limit. And, Chum salmon that have been showing up in good numbers. Back to work. Captain Neeley motors over to a place the Captains call "The Men's Room" and its game on again. Periodically, Captain Neeley repositions the boat over the bait ball below but the fishing remains hot. You've never had so much fun or non-stop fishing action in your life. This is truly an unforgettable exerience.

Back to the Lodge ~

About 4:00 PM the "Lady" and its weary passengers return to the Lodge. After shucking the rain gear it's time for pictures. Tom hangs the largest fish your team caught that day and the team gathers around for pictures. It has been a long, tiring and exciting day but there is still plenty to do to relax.

As you saunter to the dining room you discover that Chef Carl's culinary team has laid out a mini-smorgasbord of salmon spread, clam chowder, cheeses, and other delectable's to greet your triumphant return and whet your appetite for tonight's dinner. Ed and Terri grab bowls of chowder, order a couple of glasses of wine, and head for the hot tub. Jim, Mike and Caleb check out one of the lodge skiffs and head across the cove to go fish for freshwater trout.  You retire to your room, cozy up on a deck chair and savor the single malt you asked the crew to provide for you. As you inhale the majestic scenery all around you, follow a bald eagle gliding across the cove, and relish the moments...you realize that this is one bucket list item that has far surpassed even your most optimistic dreams.

Evening Gourmet Meal and Awards ~

At six o'clock sharp you saunter to the dining room. Lo and behold, on your table, there are the pictures of your day's catch taken earlier on the dock when you return from fishing. There is even an enlargement of Terri and her halibut and another of Caleb with his king.

Captain Neeley soon joins you. Mike is gushing about his grandson's fishing prowess. Ed and Terri are making eyes at each other like infatuated teenagers, and the room is buzzing with excitement.

Dinner is an event. Christina adorns the table with the Culinary Team's offerings this evening. The four courses feature, not surprisingly, fresh seafood. Waiting for you as you sit to the table is an appetizer of warm Dungeness crab cakes, drizzled with a red pepper aioli sauce. Next comes Chef Carl's unique but absolutely taste tingling special salad consisting of watermelon, feta cheese and red onions with a dressing of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Everyone comments on this delicious and unusual combination. The main course is Chef Carl's famous flame-broiled, citrus rubbed halibut served with a Dungeness crab risotto and highlighted with wilted spinach. By now you are sated...but there's still dessert to come! Fulfilling the standard already set by the Culinary Team, out comes a decadent French silk chocolate mousse, topped with whipped orange creme. Omigosh!

As the dinner hour winds down, to end this time together I announce the BFD awards (Biggest Fish of the Day). Your team has done well as Terri receives the award for the biggest halibut for the day and young Caleb takes top prize for his king. Both are presented with commemorative coffee mugs inscribed with their names and weight of their fish.

The fishing continues like this for the next three days (you opted for the four-day fishing adventure). Each day is different in the wildlife you see, the fish you catch, and the fishing areas you visit. But, the fun and excitement continues every day.

Return-to-Reality Day ~

Unfortunately, the adventure finally comes to an end. You return to the lodge at 3:00 pm to prepare for your departure. Dockmaster Mike and his dock team have smoked the 20 pounds of salmon as you requested and frozen it along with the rest of your catch. They finish boxing up your 100 pounds of fish, including freeze packs to keep your fish cold during your return trip.

You return to your room to freshen up after the day's fishing. You finish packing then head down to the dining room to check out. Meanwhile the deckhands are bringing your luggage down to the dock for you.

By 4:00 PM your float plane has arrived to transport you back to the hustle and bustle of the real world again. As the Beaver lifts into the skies you take one quick look back at the lodge and vow to yourself, "I"ll be back next year"!

Conclusion

That concludes our virtual fishing adventure. What you catch will vary, of course, but I can guarantee you that you will never experience the quality of service and the nearly non-stop fishing action that you'll find here. And, you don't have to be an experienced fisherman or fisher woman. Novices are our specialty.

Next Step ~

We are a relatively small operation so fishing slots are limited for the 2013 season. The season runs from June 24 through September 5. And, our advance reservations are the best we've seen since 2008. So, if you are ready to book a fishing adventure with us for this summer: Go to www.alaskasbestlodge.com/Info and request that we send you our brochure and registration kit. Or Call us at 800-962-7889 and ask Denise or Patty to send you our registration kit, and information on open dates and prices. Thanks for taking our virtual tour and I hope to see you up here in Alaska some day.

Best regards,
Larry "Captain Mac" McQuarrie

As exciting as it is to fish the waters or the fertile Alaskan wilderness, feedback from hundreds of guests tells me that it is even better when shared with someone special. We find that men, in particular, value the time spend here bonding with their fathers, sons, brothers, sons-in-law, daughters, and Yes, even with their significant others.

In just a week or two I will share with you some of our guests special memories, in part three of this series "Virtual Fishing Trip".