terry sheely photo
terry sheely photo
The waterfalls and snow-capped
mountains make for a splendid backdrop
for a fishing boat racing to the best
salmon water.
48
explore:NW | The Official Magazine of kenmore air | Spring 2016
Aaron Rapids, surprise a couple of
prowling black bears on the beach, and
a monstrous bull sea lion on a rock wall.
The Inlet is alive with wildlife, brown
and black bears, orcas and gray whales,
seals and sea lions, blacktail deer and
Arctic loons. We surprise a black bear on
a sheer rock face and he pretends to not
notice us.
At this time of year the waters, cold
and greenish support winter-springs,
Chinook that are residentialized, feeding, growing and aggressive. These fish
are not migrants, but residents—up to
25 pounds, and they’ll be here when the
resorts open and when they close.
Two days later I’m in Room 055 in
the Arbutus Suite at Sonora Resort,
enjoying my fireplace, cheese plate and
grapes and watching eagles feed outside
my window, so close I don’t need the
binoculars provided on the windowsill.
This is fishing decadence and I could get
used to it.
Tomorrow I fish.
Tonight I finish a dozen sweet
oysters, sliding the last succulent one
off the shell in a slush of oyster liquor
and lemon juice letting it dissolve on
my tongue like sweet confection. At the
dock below the window eight Grady
Whites are precisely moored stern to
bow, and beyond the flocks of seabirds
have vaporized into clear sky. I finish a
4-year-old Burrowing Owl chardonnay,
follow the path past the mineral pools,