Your rod is very collectable. I'm thinking the rod was made by a company called Crest. They were produced in the 1950's. I don't have time right now to double check the maker of the rod. A lot of them were sold by Sears with the JC Higgins badge on them. That rod was a great find and worth much more than $5.00.

Those reels are called a "side winder". There were several company's that made them. If you want to learn more about them go to fishingtalks.com and do a search.

I agree with all of you about "What makes fishing fun". For me "The tug is the drug".

I don't care what you want to drive either. I just don't want anyone of them subsidized. Let the free market decide. Keep government out of it.

Population is 550,000. Would not live anywhere else. We have bumper stickers that say " You can visit but go back home".

Totally agree with you DC.

What was proposed was not a bill or law. It was a "Resolution". It has no binding or teeth behind it. It was done to show support for our oil, gas, and coal industry.

In my home state of Wyoming, it is illegal to have your plug in while you are transporting your boat down the road. The reason for this is to stop the spread of invasive species. Main one being zebra mussels. Your livewell and boat must have the plug removed before you leave the boat ramp. Also have check stations at the ramps to check for all boats. Boats have to be completely dry before you get on the water.

I have really enjoyed following your fishing trip. Salmon fishing is one of the best times a person can have. One thing I have learned about salmon fishing. If you do it long enough, you will break brake a rod or two. Congrats on having such a great trip.

Looks and sounds like you're having a trip of a lifetime, 40GRIT. I know just how you feel. I've been salmon fishing in Alaska the last 9 Years. A fisherman just can't get enough. Keep those pics coming.

This was my 9th year to go to Alaska and fish for sockeye salmon on the Kenai River. It was another great year. Lots of salmon caught. I arrived July 9th and returned home on August 16th. Over 5 weeks of great fishing. The first week was pretty slow with a couple of skunks. On Sunday the 17th of July the run began and continued until I left for home. With most days catching my limit. It was a trip with a few things not going so well. The first week I wrecked my rental car. It was my fault too. Did not see the other vehicle until I hit them. Minor damage and car was still drivable. Two days later tested positive for covid. Minor symptoms but went and got a shot from clinic. Felt good the next day. Missed no fishing. When I got ready to go home the airline that was to get me to Anchorage moved my flight up an hour, but I never got the notification, so I missed it. Could not get the flight I needed for 2 more days. Could not stay at the Airbnb I had. So, I called a friend and stayed with him and got to fish 2 more days. Hate it when that happens. All in all, it was a great time with great friends.

Six fish limit




Fishing early in the morning.


Fishing and staying with Gene after I missed my flight.

No. Gray Rocks at Wheatland.

Two of my grandsons got here Friday and are going stay with us while their dad is working on a house he is going to sell. It's a dirty job to be the one who takes them fishing but somebody has to do it. I told them lets go for walleye their biting better and they both moaned. They prefer smallmouth fishing, more action. We got to the lake and started out walleye fishing. It was pretty slow, and you know how young boys are got to keep them moving. Besides that, there was a lot of boats drifting the same spot. So, we ran up the lake and fished for smallmouth. We caught a couple, but it was pretty slow also. The wind had picked up and I told them let's try the walleye again. This stiff wind may crank them up. We got to the spot got rigged back up for walleye. A quarter ounce jig tipped with a nightcrawler. All the boats were gone too. We no more than got our jigs in the water and drifted about 10 yards when Aden the 8 year old yelled "I got one!" So, for the next couple hours we caught 16 walleye. Two short of our limit but that was ok. By then we had ran out of worms the trolling motor batteries were drained, and I was worn out. The two boys were so excited about catching those walleye they were willing to get up at 4am Saturday morning and try them again. Only caught six walleye before the lake just got too full of boats and was getting pretty hot so we called it a day.

Would like to add one thing to this post since it is Independents Day. The boys dad is my step son. He was an adult when we got married. I just want to thank him for his service in the Army. He was in for 9 years and did three tours in Iraq. Thanks Bob.

I totally agree with you JB. This week I fished for a couple of hours. Caught around 10 smallmouth. Seven were smaller fish. The three larger ones that were all over 14"+. One of them had a noticeable scare from being caught before. Released all 10 to catch again. Hopefully the next time there caught they will be much bigger.

About 10 years ago I started releasing all my smallmouth. I realized that I enjoyed fishing more after I started releasing the fish.

I live in Wheatland. Been here 32 years. I fish a lake here called Gray Rocks. Have not fished for halibut for 8 years but will this year i am out of Nikiski.