Fishing

Speaking of eating, another (probably more major) part of the Alaska subsistence lifestyle is dipnetting. Not being an Alaskan resident, I can't participate, but the buzz that permeates the town when the fish start running is pretty contagious. AK Fish and Game has weirs set up in the major rivers - basically walls running across the river that only let fish up through a narrow opening, in order the keep track of numbers. And when the numbers start going up, people get excited. People start disappearing from work in the middle of the day, or not showing up in the morning when they are supposed to, and you wonder where they are until you hear that they went to China Poot, or Kenai, or the Kasilof and were out "slaying fish" at 3am. When you get back everyone wants to know how you did to guage if they should head out the next day. Or get really pissed if they go out and only catch 8 fish, and hear the next day their buddies caught 38. It really is all about timing and luck. The numbers peaked back in July, and I was invited to the Kenai with my friends to assist. Like I said, I'm not allowed to be in the water with the net, but the atmosphere is so fun, I was quite happy to go along for the ride and help them gut the fish. Its like a huge circus out there - lines of people in the water, people with camping chairs, coolers of beer, kids running around (interesting cultural experience, watching kids get excited when their fathers let them be the one to bash the fish on the head. I don't think such a thrill of death was ever instilled into my childhood).

Arguably the best part is the post dipnetting meal. Salmon is one delicious fish.