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Salmon Splendor in the San Juans
Todd Banks, President
T
however, are released
later in their young life and
EMPERATURES WERE IN THE
instead of heading north,
LOW 30s and the wind cut
they spend their lives in
the Puget Sound and the
through Thatcher Pass like a
San Juan Islands. They’re
knife. Snow flurries speckled
unique to Washington and
across the muted gray skyline
the reason I found myself
accentuating the temperature. Even though
fishing in conditions that
my hands were tucked deep into my coat
only a lover of salmon
pockets, they were cold and barely function- would appreciate.
The two days I spent on
able. It was borderline miserable in the San
the
water this past Febru-
Juan Islands, yet I was smiling. And happy.
ary were a reminder that
I was standing near the transom of Derek
the Pacific Northwest, in
Floyd’s 30-foot aluminum boat watching the particular the San Juan Is-
lands, offers marvelous ex-
tips of two salmon rods that were snugly
periences 365 days a year.
secured in the downriggers.
While I was daydreaming
about catching salmon with
my family in t-shirt weath-
Salmon fishing in February takes a
er during the summer (something I
level of commitment that is steeped
relish when time allows) one of the rods
in tradition, and the belief that there’s
was jerked from the downrigger clip and
a good chance you’ll catch a winter
danced like a lightning bolt. As I fought
blackmouth, a unique strain of chinook
the fish there was definitely electricity
salmon known only to the state of
on the other end of my line. Suddenly
Washington. Winter blackmouth are
the snow squall and cold hands were
hatchery-raised salmon that stick close
the least of my concern. Landing the
to home when they’re released into the
salmon was the utmost priority. When
Puget Sound. Normally, when a salmon
Derek slipped the net under the salmon
smolt leaves freshwater and enters the
and announced it was a hatchery fish,
ocean it travels north to spend its adult
I couldn’t have been happier. Not only
life in the North Pacific off the coast of
did it justify fishing in weather fit for a
Alaska and Canada. Winter blackmouth,
snow skier, but it meant I would be eat-
ing one of the best-tasting salmon that
swims. I’m happy to report my family
enjoyed the spoils of the San Juans later
that evening.
Salmon fishing is not unique to us in
the Northwest, nor is it to Kenmore Air.
It was back in the early ’60s when we
first started flying passengers to remote
fishing lodges in British Columbia. Still
today, we’re in the business of flying
passengers to lodges throughout the
Inside Passage of British Columbia. I
even worked at one of those lodges
during summer break from college. And,
since Kenmore’s earliest days when my
grandfather Bob Munro flew fishermen
into Stuart Island, we’ve been helping
fishermen search for salmon and steel-
head throughout British Columbia. I like
to say fishing is in our blood.
But I’m also proud Kenmore Air has
evolved and grown into an airline that
does much more. We offer service to
Vancouver, Victoria, the BC Islands,
and numerous seaports in the San Juan
Islands. And I’m happy to report, our
wheeled plane division — Kenmore
Air Express —recently added service to
Paine Field in Everett, Wash.
Our Express division is an integral
part of the Kenmore Air family. Flying
IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), Express
pilots can fly through most weather
conditions. Expanding our service to
Paine Field gives those traveling to and
from the San Juans even more options
for domestic and international travel.
During this busy travel season that’s
ahead of us I encourage you to take in
the splendors of the Pacific Northwest.
If you have the time and inclination, I
recommend getting out on the water
in the San Juan Islands. There are many
opportunities to go kayaking, sailing,
boating, see the whales, catch crab and
shrimp, or fish for salmon. Take my
advice, no matter the circumstances,
you’ll be happy you experienced these
truly amazing islands. Even if it means
fishing in a snowstorm.