Fall Fishing 2024

There are so many ways of fishing across the world. It is something that most people are familiar with and benefit from in some way. In Alaska, fishing is something routed deep in our state whether commercial fishing or subsistence fishing. Many of us have a love and respect for what the water provides. Fishing under the ice with a net is something I learned how to do when I moved to Shageluk with Sonta, in 2011. I remember being nervous going out on the ice with my father in law as he checked the thickness of the ice. All my instincts told me not to be on that ice. As he picked (using Eskimo Ice pick) out in front of himself a couple feet. I listened to the ice crack and grumble as I wonder if it can hold our weight. The only thing that kept me on the ice was the trust I had in Rudy that he knew what he was doing and had been doing it for his whole life.

Now, thirteen years later, I have developed and learned the confidence and skills to feel comfortable checking the ice. I am well aware that a river of ice-cold water moves under my feet as I carry fish down that nourish our family. Being out on the ice is just like so many other things things, and it is important to have the right gear and be dressed and prepared to be out for a long period of time. After checking the ice, I lay out my net making sure that my holes are cut at the right spots. I use my chainsaw and cut out two holes 24’”x24” in the ice about 50 ft apart the same length as the net. I usually use a 50cc or 60cc saw for cutting the ice. In my recent video on YouTube I’m using a Stihl ms261c with a 20 in bar to cut the ice. When using the saw, I prefer to use insulated rubber boots like lacrosse Alpha burly 800 gram insulated. I then pick roughly eight holes between the two bigger holes 20”X10” using my Eskimo Ice pick. This process takes a while to test your hand strength that hasn’t been worked hard since moose season a month ago. This is the beginning of winter which entails more work with your hands running chainsaws, setting traps time to toughen up that grip.

I use an Axe or a Silk boy saw to cut two 4in X 6ft willow and one straight 10ftx2in willow to push under the ice hole to hole, with a rope tied to the willow. This is the part that gets a little cold as I keep my hands and arms in the water for 5 to 10 minutes depending on how efficient I am pushing my willow against the current and timing when it will float by my picked-out hole. The rope is the same length as the net so when you pull your net out the rope runs back under the ice.

Now, my net is set under the ice and I’m fishing again. I truly enjoy this process, the feel of success, the hard work that goes into the crisp cool air the feel of jello half froze arms it all apart of working for your food. I throw my jacket back on load up my little jet sled and head home looking forward to checking my net the week or so. Now is the rewarding time - just 45 minutes or so a day check the net and bring home fresh fish to eat.