Opening Week and Waterfall anglers already have caught the big numbers – on the scale and on the rack!!! Adam Arthur (left) arrived with the Jones / Arthur group. On June 14th, Adam, Camarillo, CA, landed a 167 lb. Halibut, the largest of the season so far, in Boat #11 guided by Mike King. One thing we know for sure, the Jones / Arthur group will be feasting on Waterfall’s memories for a very long time! We hope Adam has 167 lbs. of Halibut recipes!

Adam Arthur, (left) Jones-Arthur Group. Rack of the Week. 6/14/10.

By Colleen Cockrell, Hospitality Supervisor

Guests often ask what life is like at Waterfall during the winter season. Since most of our crew resides outside of Alaska during those months, I posed that question to Glenn “Babe” and Wanda Wilks who have lived at Waterfall year ‘round for the past four years. I posed the same question to Scott McKelvey, Operations Manager and Alex Heiser, Maintenance Foreman.

When the season ends in late August, Wanda transitions from her float position during the summer months to keeping up with all the incredible photo ops nature provides. She uses the wintertime to organize and assemble the myriad historical photos and documents for Waterfall Cannery and Resort into a photo album. Once completed, this album will be available for viewing in the lobby. Babe continues with a demanding schedule of maintenance, repairs, new construction and other necessary requirements to preserve the property. In a typical year, about 5-7 employees remain at the Resort to work on construction projects.

Operations Manager, Scott McKelvey, is another winter resident at the Resort who enjoys photography, fishing, hunting and the peace and quiet at this time of year. Scott keeps busy with recruiting new staff for the upcoming season, communicating with vendors and guests, renewing ADFG, USCG and FCC permits as necessary and attends the Hatchery Board Members Meetings. During the off-season, you may find Scott targeting Yellowfin Tuna out of San Diego, flyfishing for Redfish out of Texas, and vacationing to warm tropical atmospheres!

Alex Heiser, Maintenance Foreman, spends the winters upgrading and renovating parts of the Resort and readies the rooms for guests and crew for the upcoming season. Alex also is the go-to person for issues dealing with the computer or phone systems. He is certified by the State of Alaska to produce the Resort Drinking Water. Alex remains at the Resort for ten months every year. During his two months off time, Alex spends most of his time in Walla Walla, WA where his family and girlfriend live. While there, Alex takes care of the two homes he owns. He also enjoyed his time in years past with the Waterfall fishing team in Cabo.

As one might imagine, it gets VERY quiet after the guests and crew depart at the end of August. All of the buildings, with the exception of the General Store and the Wilks’ personal residence, are vacant. The store and lodge rooms are transformed into living quarters for the crew. The lobby becomes their living room with the addition of a big screen TV. A large dining table with chairs is placed near the windows in the General Store and the back office becomes the galley kitchen.

The Wilks photograph wildlife rarely seen during the summer months. Wanda says after the bears hibernate in November, other animals begin to show up. Most recently, a doe with her twins have been appearing on a daily basis. Although they are very careful not to feed the wildlife, they sometimes drop an occasional apple core in the snow just before the two fawns show up on their daily walk. From their living room window, the Wilks watch the nine-member otter family slip and slide in front of the General Store. Last year, after a heavy snowfall, Wanda heard a loud thumping sound outside her door. It was the otters that had created a bumpy slide on the steps between the guest kitchen and main boardwalk. Martens and Minks are also frequent visitors. They are not a welcome sight for the Wilks’ cats, Oreo and Neko.

One of the most phenomenal events that takes place during the winter season is the high tides. The waters cover the pilings around the Resort making it appear as though it were floating. It’s an eerie sight sitting at the table in the General Store during a high tide. The water level rises higher than the steps leading from the tidal area in front of the store to the boardwalk. If there is any wave action from boats or the winds, the waves overflow onto the boardwalk. The water is also extremely clear during this time and offers a fantastic view of the otter family swimming below.

Daily plane service becomes weekly service, weather permitting. It’s always a highlight (or disappointment) waiting for the grocery and mail delivery.

Winter at Waterfall may be slower, at times even peaceful, but it is not short on maintenance, preparations for the next season, and Mother Nature at her finest.

Waterfall Resort on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska

Countdown to Waterfall 2010!

Welcome to the New Year! Snow and rain may be in the national headlines, but it is the perfect time to think about summer and start the countdown to our 2010 season! During June, July and August, Waterfall has set aside special dates and rates for your sportfishing adventure itinerary. These inclusive vacation packages are ideal for multi-generational family getaways and reunions; or as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, business associates, graduation or Father’s Day. Fishing at Waterfall always creates such wonderful bonding experiences that guests often return with family and friends more than once each season.

Select from these dates and Waterfall will help you create memories
of a lifetime! Let the Adventure Begin!

Click for more information, other packages or to check availability, go to:
http://www.waterfallresort.com/rates-packages or call Mike Dooley at
800-544-5125.

Bob Misetich with his 31.3 lb. KOD! 7/2/09.

To All Owners and Employees of the Legendary Waterfall Resort,

I finally got a minute out of my busy schedule to sit down and reflect on a wonderful experience that I had in 2009. Good friend Kent Jones, based on his previous experience at the Resort, recommended this trip. After looking at his pictures, I agreed, “Let’s do it!” After searching for another avid angler, we found good friend and “adventurist” John Hoskins. The trip went into the planning stages. Kent took the “Bull by the Horns,” that’s just his style. For the longest time, maybe the next 10 months, John assured us we were going. I thought to myself, yeah right, I’ll believe it when I see it. Being that we all work in the Motion Picture Business, the only thing I have learned after 30 years is that plans were meant to be broken. Then Lo and Behold, we finished Transformers 2 and we had some time off. Suddenly I thought this could happen after all. That’s when I started checking out Waterfall’s website, and started getting excited.

We flew up at the end of June to Ketchikan and took that wonderful floatplane ride out of Promech Air to the Resort. That’s something I will never forget (been wanting to do that for the last 40 years)! We got off the floatplane and were greeted by Steve Cockrell and his wonderful staff. It was then that I looked up and spotted the huge banner on the side of the building advertising the Grand Prize – a “New Ford Truck.” I thought to myself, “Man, that would be nice since my truck had just turned 200,000 miles.” The wonderful staff in the office checked us in, and sent us on our way to meet our Guide, Devin, what a pleasure. Four and a half days of great fishing yielded us limits every day, 2-30 lb. King Salmon Patches, 1– 40 lb. King Salmon Patch, 1–150 lb. Halibut Patch and 2-King of the Day Hats for Kent and me.
After having spent a great 4th of July at the Resort (great fireworks show I must add!), it was our time to leave on July 5th, each of us with 100 lbs. of fish to take home. As Justin loaded our fish onto the floatplane, I glanced over my shoulder once again at the huge banner advertising the “New Ford Truck.” I knew now that I was in the running because I was one of 72 Kings of the Day!

So I go home and start enjoying the fish we caught (Man, is it good!! Like no other! Friends and family think I’m a hero.) Meanwhile I’m thinking: “I should start looking for a new truck…the puddle of oil underneath is getting bigger…there are a few noises I have never heard before…maybe I’ll wait until they draw the winner of the “New Ford Truck.” Sure enough, Steve called August 25th to inform me that I was the “Grand Prize Winner!” It is a great story, and one that I wanted to share with all. Thanks for a 1st Class Fishing Expedition at your World Class Resort!

Thank you from one Happy Angler,
Bob Misetich
Acton, CA
11/23/09

P.S. Special Thanks: Steve, Chuck, Devin, Ron, Stuart, Stacy, Kent, John and all of you at the resort.
Hope to see you this summer so we can celebrate!

Reza Fatemi (left) Galpin Ford, North Hills, CA, congratulates Bob Misetich!

Waterfall Resort

On-Site Alaska Airlines Representative

*Alaska Airlines On-site Representative
*Location, Location, Location
*Trophy-size Fishing
*Fleet of Custom Cruisers
*$100,000 King of Kings Tourney
*4-star Meals & Accommodations
*1:1 Guest to Staff Ratio
*Historic Cannery
*Off-the-charts Wildlife

One Reason Why 80% of Our Guests Return!

Waterfall is the only resort in Alaska with an on-site Alaska Airlines Representative. While our guests enjoy the Waterfall experience, our Alaska Airlines representative personally will reconfirm your airline travel itinerary and departure information for your return trip home. On Departure Day, our representative will check you in with your seat assignment/boarding pass, and your luggage and fish box claim checks. Upon arrival at Ketchikan airport, your luggage and fish boxes will go behind the scenes and be loaded onto your flight. All you need is your carry-on luggage and boarding pass. Our guests appreciate this worry-free convenience that allows them to by-pass the Alaska Airlines Ticket counter at Ketchikan Airport and proceed directly to Security.

Airlines Supervisor

Hawaiian Ti Leaves tied to Ken Abe's Boats.

Colleen Cockrell, Hospitality Supervisor

Andrew Kikuta and his KOD, 44.2 lbs. 8/1/09.

Ken Abe’s annual fishing adventure to Waterfall brought in 4 KODs for his group from Hawaii. Hawaiian Ti leaves tied to their cruisers had many guests wondering about the significance of this tradition. It’s simple. Ti leaves bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. And it certainly did for Queen of the Day/Week Cynthia Meyada, 42.9 lbs. 8/3/09, and King of the Day/Week/Month Andrew Kikuta, 44.2 lbs. 8/1/09. Cynthia and Andrew took the top 2 places in August. Akira Watanabe, 31.5 lbs. 8/4/09, and Mark Mayeda 18.9 lbs. 8/5/09 each won KOD.

Queen of the Day, Cynthia Meyada, with her 42.9 lb. King. 8/3/09.

RE: Catch of the Week, Randy Thomas & his 40.1 lb. King. Caught 8/16/09.

From Lou Jennings, Scottsdale, AZ:

To All,
Got to see and meet Randy and his “King!” I had a puny 20 lb’er…

Most of all, the service, cuisine and outfitting, were tops! Captain Scott Doherty is a great outdoorsman and ambassador for the Waterfall experience.