The weather all week had been picture perfect for Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island. Some 70 guests winged their way along the famous Inside Passage and across Prince of Wales Island via floatplane taking in the majestic snow-capped peaks and placid lakes.

Waterfall Jackpot Winners

June 7: 6:30am — The guests touched down at Waterfall. All proceeded to the General Store for check-in and boat assignment, then down to the awaiting guides and boats. Today is the first day of the 6th annual King Salmon Jackpot Challenge.

The Challenge is planned as a fun, no entry-fee fishing tournament that helps the 90 employees kick off the season. To enhance the fun, Waterfall has an optional daily cash jackpot so the guests can “up the ante” among themselves over the 3 tournament days.

As part of the no entry-fee Challenge, Waterfall has a special $100,000 Bonus Award for the guest who can land the largest king salmon each day of the three-day Challenge. Somewhat like hitting a hole-in-one! Waterfall goes one step further.  If the guest lands the largest king salmon 2 of the 3 days of the Challenge, the bonus is $20,000. Only one of the two Bonus Awards will be given.

2010 King Salmon Jackpot Challenge

Waterfall will host the 7th annual King Salmon Jackpot Challenge next June 6 - 9, 2010. First rights to boats are given to those who competed in 2009. However, if you want to get in on this fun tournament, you can wait list your group (4 to a boat) with Mike Dooley, Reservations Manager, 800-544-5125. We will open boats up by September 30, 2009
.

The incredible Waterfall Resort has begun filling fishing boats every day full of eager salmon and halibut fishing fans.

Another Waterfall First!

Waterfall now has an on-board photographer who sails around our cabin cruisers and snaps daily candid shots of our guests out on the water.

At the end of each day, the photos are loaded onto our computer and displayed on the monitors set up in the Lagoon Saloon & General Store.

Once selected, the photo is available for purchase in the General Store. The photo is then framed and ready for the return trip home.

Guests loves to share this memory-making shot with family and friends.

It’s also a unique way to capture an action shot that, in many cases, may have been missed because everyone on the boat was focused on getting their own catch aboard.

Fishing Techniques.

The form we use is called “motor mooching” or “power mooching.” We either drift or slow troll depending on conditions and drop our baits to the bottom and retrieve at a medium speed. The idea is to work the whole water column.

The Carroll party celebrates Barton Kilgore (second from the left) and his 52 lb. King! Caught 6/21/09.

Excitement quickly spread throughout the Resort as word got out about Waterfall’s first of the season 50+ pound King! Caught by Barton Kilgore, Longview, WA, the King weighed 52 pounds. Barton was fishing on Boat 6 with Guide Tripp Hanna at the fishing spot “Fortaleza.” The previous day, Tripp had been fishing “Fortaleza” and told some guides that he had seen a large King swimming around the boat, but couldn’t get it to bite, so he went back on the next day’s afternoon trip and found what he was looking for. A few days prior, a 40 pounder had been taken from the same spot.

Waterfall Family Lands Huge Halibut!

Last week, I spoke about our Waterfall “family.” Well, it truly is a family here on Prince of Wales Island. You should have heard the “cheers” go up when our own Melvin Newbill, (Ketchikan Accounting Department, 25 years) reeled in a 190 lb. Halibut! To quote Mel: It was a “grueling chore,” but oh so worth it! Congratulations, Mel!

Provided by Steve Cockrell, General Manager

Season-to-Date Winner:
Barton Kilgore, Longview, WA
52 lbs. 6/21/09

Weekly Winner: 6/14/09 to 6/20/09
Dennis Lombardo, Cave Creek, AZ
42.4 lbs. 6/16/09

Daily Winners: 6/14/09 to 6/20/09

Ron Rayborn, Portland, Or
30.1 lbs. 6/14/09

Mark Moog, Brush Prairie, WA
30.2 lbs. 6/15/09

Stephen Swanson, Coupeville, WA
31.8 lbs. 6/17/09

Sigifredo Rivas, Sr. Renton, WA
40.6 lbs. 6/18/09

Dale Bodwell, Corona, CA
39.7 lbs. 6/19/09

Andrew Raufi, Carpinteria, CA
37.3 lbs. 6/20/09

Provided by Melvin Newbill, Accountant, Waterfall Resort

There we were fishing for Lings and Snapper in 300 feet of water. No wind, very little drift early on the last day of fishing. We’re joking and talking smack back and forth when my halibut rod bends almost in half. My first thought was, “Great, I’m snagged on the bottom!” I give it a big jerk to see if I can free it before I let the skipper know, then suddenly line is peeling off the reel as fast as it can. Our guide, Matt, is telling me that I’ve just hooked a monster! After a very long 30-minute battle (and a little help from Matt),
I’ve got the fish to the boat and sure enough it’s a Monster Halibut (190 lbs)! We bring it aboard, then Matt looks up at me and says, “We’ve got 40 minutes left, what do you want to do?” I look at him, smile and say, “Let’s go catch more fish!” Caught 6/15/09.

Steve Cockrell, General Manager

With the 2009 King Salmon Jackpot Challenge now behind us, we look forward
to sharing another successful season with our new arrivals and our many
repeat guests who continually return to our Waterfall “family.”

Colleen Cockrell, Hospitality Supervisor, is ready and excited to show our
guests all the latest merchandise in our General Store. The Resort carries
all the “necessities” and “amenities” for your stay at Waterfall as well as
a fully-stocked line of souvenirs. In addition to fish and memories, guests
may decide to take home stuffed animals or logo-designed clothing for the
kids and grandkids!