Staff Winner: Sunset at Waterfall. Photo by Whit Micek, Processing Supervisor.

Winner: Nature & Wildlife Category. Grabbing lunch. Photo by Charles Leiter.

Winner: Resort Category. Misty Driftwood. Photo by Akira Watanabe.

Congratulations to the 2009 Guest and Staff Photo contest winners. We look forward each season to the submissions by guests and staff and enjoy seeing Waterfall through their eyes. It’s always exciting to receive a new interpretation or angle of a favorite subject. Be sure to enter your photos next year. You might win the $150 Gift Certificate to our On-line General Store!

Winner: Fish Category. Two-for-one Lingcod. Photo by Lyle Moody.

By Scott McKelvey, Operations Manager

2010 is gearing up to be a terrific season for sport fishing in Alaska. From excellent forecasted returns on Salmon, to the building “El Nino” conditions that are happening right now, anglers should expect to find some of the best fishing that we’ve seen in years! The Waterfall winter-watch staff already has seen areas of bait moving into the waters off the west coast of Prince of Wales Island where they should continue to stay and grow in size and population.

For the past few seasons, the biologists at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have forecasted that 2010 will have a strong return on King Salmon. Combined with the successful annual POWHA (Prince of Wales Hatchery Association) King Salmon Hatchery  Program, and the continued increase of new fish from the hatchery into the waters around Waterfall and to fishing hotspots such as Pineapple, Granite Point and Rockpile, the 2010 season should make for some really memorable stories and fishing adventures. Whether this will be your first King, or your hundredth … if you’re looking for that “King of a lifetime” … these opportunities are waiting for you this season at Waterfall Resort.

Last season, we experienced an outstanding year on Coho (Silver) Salmon. Ocean conditions, bait fish and the amount of baitfish point to another exceptional run this season. For those who like a lot of constant action, Coho Salmon will be right up your alley! From the thrill of their acrobatic fight, to looking down and watching multiple high-energy Salmon chasing your bait up will send a chill down your spine.
For the past few years, POWHA has produced and released more Coho than any other hatchery in the state of Alaska. Yearly, they have been taking 5,000,000 eggs to be incubated and raised in their ponds. Approximately, 18 months later, close to 4,250,000 Smolt (baby Salmon) are released into the wild to continue their lifecycle. By releasing this many Smolt, the numbers of returning, mature, hatchery Coho to our local waters are in the neighborhood of 350,000! There is no scientific information on what the return levels for King Salmon will be for this upcoming year. However, based on Coho return ratios, everyone is hoping for an extra 9,500 Chinook Salmon to be swimming near Waterfall in June.

As I mentioned earlier, and I’m sure many of you are aware, the entire west coast of the United States is starting to experience an “El Nino” condition. Traditionally, what this brings is warmer weather to our area. We are presently experiencing a very mild winter at the Resort and believe this should continue throughout the year. If this remains true, this will make fishing conditions extremely pleasant. Imagine days on a flat ocean targeting large Halibut, Lingcod, and Red Snapper. It can all be a reality this season!

If you have ever dreamed of coming to Alaska to go fishing, or just want an opportunity to have a “trip of a lifetime,” this is your year to come fish Waterfall Resort. Where this season, dreams can become a reality!

Scott McKelvey, Operations Manager