Our family went back home after our Alaska camping vacation, and promptly moved up the next summer. This began our annual pilgrimage to the Kenai River each summer. We ended up meeting Mr. Cho, a Korean businessman who was clearing a spot for his new campground. He invited us in, and we moved a trailer into Riverbend Campground, and came for the fishing frenzy every summer. Every summer we would spend time fishing. I really could never think of anything else I wanted to do. Alaska offered so many fish that I had to make a schedule to conquer them all. We lived in Wasilla, and fished the rivers and lakes in the area, and then each summer spent time on the Kenai River with the king salmon disease. Most say this fishing in Alaska is a disease. And, frankly, it is the only disease I hope to ever have. As time wore on, I found myself camped on the Kenai River in the summers between college semesters fishing away the hours. Friends, relatives, liked and unwanted both would pass through and I took them all fishing. My parents joined me at times, and we fished, and fished, and fished. I used to deckhand for commercial seiners and set-netters to help pay what my college scholarship would not. As I got closer to the age where I thought I might actually have to get a job, I pondered the thought, and did not like it much. Years of pole vaulting had given me a great work ethic, but also a strong sense that life was meant to be a lot of fun. I have always loved boats, and knew that God had it for me to make my living on the water. So after commercial fishing, I chose to buy a sportfishing boat and make my way as a Kenai River guide. This would at least look like a job, and keep my Grandparents from heckling. I bought my first river boat, and moved into our family’s trailer on the Kenai River.

So now the guiding has turned into a business, and the business had to buy a lodge, and now I have what they call a career. It is funny how God works with a dream and makes something of it. I have recently purchased another lodge, a 5-star property on the bluff of Cook Inlet where we now offer an all-inclusive package with fine dining. This compliments our top-notch boats and professional Captains very well. We have also just recently added our own boat launch on the coveted lower Kenai River. Pinch me, I am living my dream. We now have 10 plus river boats, and 3 salt water boats taking guests fishing daily in the summer. I can say we are way better at catching fish now. I learn some new tricks every year. Kenai Kings are finicky, and throwing some salmon eggs in the water will not get you a fish. I remember, before I guided, when we did not even use eggs, and then we made bad eggs, and then so-so eggs, and now we use the Good Stuff. Don’t ask, it is a Jimmie Jack secret. Not even my guides know what it is! We also learned how to master the crazy Kwikfish when that lure began to catch fish on the river. Actually, the first one I ever used was in 1990. This Kwikfish came floating down the river so I just clipped it on and WHAM caught a nice 50 pounder! So I became hooked on the Kwikfish too. So now we use both eggs and Kwikfish to catch the big kings and the acrobatic silvers. A lot has been learned, and it pays off now. You will always see our guides fishing on our days off because we simply love fishing.