Well the Lodge shut-down when exactly as planned. We were fortunate this year to end the season with good weather, as opposed to last year when we had such terrible weather, never know what it will be is SE Alaska in late September!
Last guests a group of 18 departed on the 23rd. Captains and dock crew worked well into the evening on the 22nd to get boats cleaned out and squared away. After the guests flew out the morning of the 23rd, boats were pressure washed, tops removed, kickers removed, engines flushed out and ready to be put on the hard on the floating dock in the back bay. Crew spent the afternoon of the 23rd doing laundry, packing and getting ready to leave the lodge on the 24th.
Monday the 24th all crew departed the lodge by a combination of boat and several plane trips. It was a massive move of luggage and people, but weather was good and all went well. More on crew destinations at the end.
Tuesday the remaining boats were moved to the dry-dock and buttoned down for the winter. Water was drained from the Lodge and winterized. Window covers went up, electric was shut down to the small generator. Dock freezer was shut down, bait freezers emptied and shut down. The Lodge is ready for the winter!
Here are a few pictures to remind you of Yes Bay!
And last one of my favorites from this year!
Crew Happenings! (I will try and keep track during the winter and give some updates throughout the winter!)
Jim Lucas - Professor (Keeper of the blog at least until December)
Jim flew back to his 5th wheel travel trailer on Wednesday the 26th located in Kalispell Montana, after a few modifications and squaring away he will be there for a couple weeks working on next years bookings and waiting for things he shipped down from Alaska to arrive. Then it will be off to Utah via Yellowstone and the Tetons for a little R&R. Plans call for a raft trip out of Moab, a visit to Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and several other slot canyons for some photography and then some time in Zions National Park before heading to a yet to be determined winter job somewhere in the Southwestern United States! The Professor has made other plans for next summer, so he will not return to Yes Bay.
John Pfeiffer (Big John)
Big John departed for a little rest and work in New Jersey to visit family and take in some Tuna Fishing, then he will head back down to Naples Florida for his winter season of fishing in SW Florida. Look for Big John to be back at Yes Bay in 2013!
Capt Al Bermitz (Snapper) and daughter Samantha
All and Sam flew straight back home to Florida where Al will be back guiding and working the tackle store he owns for the winter. Samantha will be continuing her schooling as she works to become a little more expert in the baking department (Although most will agree her desserts and breads this year were out of this world). Sam wants to perfect the art of baking and make it her career! Al may be returning for 2013...
Capt. David Noble - (Batman)
Batman flew straight back to Florida and will be spending his winter fishing and working around the Naples area. He will more than likely make his annual winter ski trip to Colorado or someplace else with mountains and snow. But Snook, Redfish and Speckled Sea Trout are now his primary target! Look for Batman next season!
Capt Myron Jemison - (Mildred)
Myron went home to Florida after a brief stop in New York City. MYron will continue guiding and expanding his taxidermy business, lord knows he took enough home from Alaska to mount...Mildred will be back in 2013
Capt Ron Chimenti - (Kicker)
Kicker left earlier this season and went back home to Tillamook, Oregon to be with his wife Cheryl, who has been going through some health issues, we all wish her the best although we are not sure having Kicker around is very beneficial! Kicker is not sure about a return to Yes Bay, some depends on his wife and he may move to Wrangell Alaska??
Capt Jim Bernard - (Slice)
Slice headed back to Oregon and will spend time with his lovely wife and family and putter around making a nuisance of himself at the car dealership or around the house. He may get in some fishing, he usually does. Slice will be back in 2013!
Capt Blake McDonald - (Woody)
Blake left us early for a great job opportunity with a very large corporation which handles oil spills, Blake will be a boat Captain and waiting around for a spill to happen, after some extensive training. We wish him the best! He is in a career now, so we don't expect Woody back next year!
Capt Sean Falconer - (Snowman)
Sean took the ferry from Ketchikan to Prince Rupert then drove his truck back to Kalispell, Montana to be with his girlfriend for the winter. He made it, I saw him in Wal-Mart stocking up on groceries. He has big plans to get out of Kalispell and try and find a year round gig, so we more than likely will not see him back at Yes Bay, but you never know!
Ryan Martinez and Nicky Hack
Ryan and Nicky are staying at the Lodge until the beginning of November when they will depart for a month of rest and relaxation visiting relatives in Arizona and California. Then back up to the Lodge for the month of December and in to January when the busy show schedule starts and they go on the road finishing the bookings for next season. Ryan and Nicky are taking on the reservations for the Lodge full time.
Time to get your 2013 Reservation - we had such a great season this year, most of our guests re-booked and we are filling up for prime dates fast! Call now!
Capt Jim
(Professor)
