A Funny Anchorage Fishing Moment

by Michael Boyter
(Wasilla, Alaska)

On one of these quick fishing trips to Ship Creek something funny happened. I went to the creek with the same friend, but this time another friend, Brian, wanted to go along.

Brian was from Seattle and was raised in the city and, having recently arrived in Alaska, he wanted to do anything that he deemed as "manly", despite the fact that he was of slender-build and had "city-slicker" written all over him!

Brian arrived, with fishing pole in hand, late and ended up on the opposite side of Ship Creek from us. The creek was noisy and Brian couldn't hear us well, so we motioned for him to continue down the creek. Our intent was to have him stay on that side of the creek and fish, because quite a few fish were being caught in a spot just a bit further down the bank from Brian.

Due to this lack of communication, and only a few moments later, we noticed Brian a distance away; "waist-high" and half way across Ship Creek. Brian thought we wanted him to go downstream and then cross, coming to where we were.

We were a bit embarrassed because Brian was walking right into the fishing holes of others fishing along both sides of Ship Creek...but Brian had already committed himself to the crossing.

A few seconds later, Brian must have stepped into a deep whole, because the next thing we see is only Brian's hand sticking up out of the water with the fishing pole held high! He had borrowed it and didn't want to ruin it.

With the pole held high and the constant current starting to sweep Brian downstream, a "Big Burly Alaskan Fisherman" stepped out into the water and with one hand reached down into the water. With one fluid motion he grabbed Brian and brought him to shore!

Brian was fine, but really embarrassed about what had happened.

The three of us worked together and this story was told and lived on for months afterward to the hilarious delight of everyone except Brian. He was a good sport about it though.

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