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Salmon Annie’s – An Invigorating Healthy Choice
by Jenny Chissus
Annie Ridgely, along with her husband Paul and their three little ones, Joy, Obi and Azariah have opened a new hang out on the slough called “Salmon Annie’s”! It is so much more than a fishing charter office – she offers fresh squeezed fruit juices, smoothies, “green” shakes, wheat grass shots, fishing pole and paddle board rentals, hiking tours, yoga, music nite, massage and the main stay of her operation – Salmon Charter Fishing with set nets in Seldovia Bay!
Right north of the bridge, located along the slough, the shop is open from Monday through Friday 10:00 to 5:00 Saturdays 9:00am to 6:00pm, closed on Sundays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day! The opportunity to fish with the guided trips will be available into August, but will definitely slow down as summer draws to a close.
Annie has been fishing since 2001, and in Seldovia Bay since 2006 at her set net sites. Her family loves to spend the summers in Seldovia, and Salmon Annie’s is the result of looking for more ways to bring in income so that Paul can stay in Seldovia all summer! Annie also wanted to find a way to spend more time out on the water! Paul is the land lubber and Annie is the water baby, so with the help of a nanny and shop helper, Annie is able to get out to fish almost every day! Paul will stay with the family in Seldovia for the summer until the fishing slows down and then he’ll have to return to his plumbing profession in Homer while Annie finishes up the season.
I asked Annie what it was like, to book a fishing charter with Salmon Annie’s! “This is a different fishery all together. It is not at all like fishing with a pole. When we fish, we catch LOTS of fish, lots of species, so it is really exciting! Customers who have trolled, or fished Kenai with a pole or gone halibut fishing are commenting that this is a very exciting, action packed fishing experience. It is also the historic and traditional way that the natives have fished in Alaska, so folks are intrigued to get a glimpse into that style of fishing! The customers also get the bragging rights to say that they have “Commercial Salmon Fished” in Alaska!” As part of the guided tour package for $125 per person, the customer gets to take home a gift fish (one salmon that Annie will filet up for them), and she will provide a lunch for them in between the fishing outings. Annie also has an agreement with the restaurant Captain Patties over in Homer on the Spit so that customers can bring in their fish and Captain Patties will cook it for them in the restaurant!
Many of Annie’s customers are coming over on the tour boats around noon. First, they come in and purchase their 30 day commercial fishing licenses. Then, they will go through and get set up with all the necessary gear. (Customers can come as they are, as she’ll provide all the rain gear, boots, etc. to make the adventure comfortable and warm!) They come back from the first run and have lunch, coffee or tea, and then they’ll go back out to pick the nets again! The last part of the tour is filleting up the fish, and then Annie will send them on their way. She has three nets out in the bay, so depending on how many fish are in each net, it may be just one, really heavy run, or it may be two runs to empty and reset the nets.
In June, the nets are full of King Salmon, then the Reds come in very heavy in July. The Chums and Pinks will come in July and August and then the Silvers will follow! So, in July, a customer could go out fishing and pull every species of salmon from the nets – so that is a super unique and exciting experience for them! This is a great educational experience for these customers. In lower Cook Inlet, the nets are always wet – which means they are always fishing! Annie explained that they actually fish all daylight hours, 4am to midnight! Because this is a family operation, they are coming and going from the nets all day long, back for coffee and warm up breaks – but it is a full-time job! Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6pm, they pull the nets, mend and clean them, then they will go back in the water on Thursdays and Sundays at 6pm, but the family takes Sundays off. Now that the regulations restrict halibut fishing on Thursdays, all Salmon Annie’s Thursdays are booked! It is great to have this option for fishermen who are here on a Thursday! So, call ahead to book your trip before they fill up for the summer.
Every day (except Sundays) they have an easy Otterbahn trail hike from 1:30 to 3:15, that explains the history of Seldovia. This is another great option for folks coming to Seldovia for the day on the tour boats!
They also have fishing poles for rent at $10 a day – and they keep them in great working order (there are kids poles too) clean and ready to go!
I also noticed that they have stand up paddle boards. The type that Annie decided to carry are called Bounce Boards, and they are plastic – durable and light! They are also nice and wide so they are very stable, and for those who request it, Annie has life jackets available as well. Paddle Boards are super easy to learn how to use, and Annie and her crew will do a quick safety briefing, and folks can get on their way! This sport will offer an amazing core workout as you’re focused on balancing every second! Annie offered: “I can do a head stand on these boards – they’re so stable!”
You can also purchase fresh salmon, you need to get your name on the list, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays Annie will call you when they’re down on the dock to pick up your whole salmon while they’re cleaning and mending their gear! Salmon Annie’s has a catcher/seller tag, so they can sell fish whole off the dock. They can’t process them, however they do have some frozen filleted red salmon available for purchase, packaged from Smart Source Seafood from Homer.
As I looked around the shop, there was a lot of local nautical artwork for sale. Annie wanted to create a nautical/ocean/commercial fishing theme, and most of the artists are from Homer. There is pottery, paintings, jewelry, music and clothing available from Alaskan artists! This is a great stop to find a gift for yourself or a friend!
Fresh raw juices are available here at Annie’s! Get your day’s nutrients in a glass! Fun nautical names like Mermaid Tail (Banana, Mango, Kale, and Coconut milk) or the Trade Winds (pineapple, mango, strawberries, banana and coconut milk) are hard to resist! It is often hard to eat well when traveling, and Annie thought folks traveling would be excited to get a boost of raw energy! It is also a welcome treat for locals, as many folks don’t have access to all the fresh fruits and veggies required to make these drinks/smoothies! For a Fresh Juice drink after a long night fishing, you may want to try the Drunken Sailor Remedy (cucumber, carrot, lemon, dandelion greens)!
There are plenty of espresso and coffee spots in Seldovia, so Annie chose to focus on healthy and different fare! She does have french press coffee and quite a selection of teas, like local blueberry tea for the tea/coffee connoisseurs! Another fun activity at Salmon Annie’s is their special bicycle powered blender, so customers are able to blend their own smoothie!
For locals – on Wednesdays Annie generously offers 30% off! She also has a beverage card, so folks can purchase a card and not be concerned with having cash on hand! Gift certificates, punch cards are great gifts for your friends, and for anyone who rents a paddle board, goes fishing, or participates in a hike, they offer a coupon for 15% off a beverage!
Besides great art, jewelry, juice, paddle boards, hiking tours, fishing charters and smoothies, Annie will also have yoga on the deck – multiple times a week with different instructors!
While I was there, I had the opportunity to get a sample shoulder massage with Erik who is the owner of Wilderness Wellness and Reflexology, who is providing chair massages on the deck for $1 a minute – what a deal! Based out of Homer, he and his family have a summer home in Seldovia and therefore is able to provide this great service to our community. Erik will be available on Tuesdays almost every week at Salmon Annie’s, and is also available to schedule a table massage, and you can connect with him directly at 299-0449. Erik also offers gift certificates, and will take cash, checks and also credit cards!
A trip down the enchanting pathway to Salmon Annie’s means you are in for a real treat: great boost of energy, healthy food, stimulating activities, educational experiences as well as invigorating massage, yoga or a turn on the smoothie bike! The best part of all is being able to interact with the owner, Annie, who besides being absolutely charming and beautiful, she is an authentic Alaskan girl who’s excited and willing to share a fantastic Seldovia experience with you! Give a call at 907.399.2105, or stop by and see Annie today!
Peninsula Pride
by Aurora Kleinschmidt
Girl Power Rules!
What do you get when mix 15 teenage girls, a Church camping trip, and a hot, muggy day? Girl power is what you get, and a lot of it!
It was supposed to rain all day on June 4 in Seldovia, Alaska, when 15 girls began the long trek from their campsite to the road where they would be caravanned to the Seldovia Police Department. They estimated they had to climb approximately 200 steps to reach the top of the hill that bordered their campsite. Accompanied by their five adult chaperones, they “groaned” their way to the top, stopping several times to rest. The cars waiting for them at the top gave them a brief respite before they began the very serious work of serving the community, something the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints repeatedly stresses to their congregations. “The camp’s purpose is to teach the girls to serve others, to serve in their community and to do hard things, to overcome adversity, and build unity,” stated Shelley Davis, Camp Director for the Kalifornsky Beach Ward Young Women’s Camp. “We knew this project would be a struggle and a great way for the girls to give back to the Seldovia community.”
The project assigned to the members of the Young Women’s Camp was to clear the immediate area surrounding the SPD building of weeds and rocks. “When we were assigned this project, we knew that digging those rocks out would definitely be hard on the girls. The weeds we tackled that day had been there for years, growing up through those rocks and gravel. These dandelions had roots that were ten inches long and two inches in diameter. They were not easy to remove. Using shovels and rakes, we dug through the gravel to reach the roots and remove them. First, though, we had to remove the larger rocks and move them to the wharf. It was tough, but the girls never faltered.”
Suzie Stranik, the Chairman of the Beautification Program for the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce assigned this chore to the LDS camp members after Davis requested a project for the girls to “give back”. “Those girls were just amazing. They cleared that whole area in two hours and I had projected that it would take at least four. They were respectful and extremely hard workers. They appeared to be of one mind as they worked. They made it fun for themselves. I loved the singing.”
Mandarin Wilcox, Youth Camp Leader, agrees. “I was really amazed not only by the girls’ willingness to help, but by everybody’s positive attitude while helping. It was really impressive when we started digging in those rocks and everybody started singing together. We sang some silly songs, but also ‘Put Your Shoulder To The Wheel’, which was completely appropriate. The singing was spontaneous, but so much fun.”
Stranik says that she chose this particular project as a surprise for Seldovia’s new Chief of Police, Hal Henning. Henning was sworn in only the week before the girls started their project of clearing the area that is at the entrance to Henning’s new office. “This was a huge job and I had no idea how we were going to get it done before Shelley called me. We were very grateful for her offer. This is a great way to welcome Chief Henning.” Stranik says that now that the area is clear, the city will plant shrubbery and flowers that are pleasing to the eye and reflect the true beauty of Seldovia.
“We are so thankful to the City (especially Tyler) who excavated out the rocky fill and a special shout out to Jim Hopkins for donating the topsoil for this big project!” Thanks, Suzie “It was a pleasure to work with such great kids and absolutely amazing to see the transformation as they worked,” she concluded.
Chief Henning echoed Stranik’s praise and gratitude. “It was fantastic that the girls came out and did this. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the fact they gave their time and energy to help us out and did such a great job. We are in the process of finding monies to complete the area they cleaned up with new top soil, grass and planter boxes.”
Each of the girls involved enjoyed being able to give back to the community. “What impacted me the most was being able to help the people in Seldovia,” said Elizabeth Davis, Youth Camp Leader. “People would stop by and ask what we were doing and they would immediately tell us how grateful they were. They seemed to appreciate our efforts so much. I liked that a lot.” Her mom agrees. “I have always loved Seldovia and this made me feel like I was a part of that great community,’’ Shelley Davis added. “What I appreciated about the girls was their willingness to do this – rain or shine.”
“The whole week we had been talking about service and increasing love for others, so it was really neat to take what we were learning and actually put that into action,” says Wilcox.
“I liked it because everyone there joined in to help. We all worked together to achieve this. That was my favorite part,” Madeline Kleinschmidt, Youth Camp Leader, summarized for the youth group.
Craig Wilcox, Bishop of the Kalifornsky Beach Ward, also applauded the girls’ efforts. “I am humbled to know that young women in their teenage years are so willing to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to ‘serve one another’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we know that when you are in the service of your fellow men, you are only in the service of your God and that, through Service, the lives of many are blessed. We thank the citizens of Seldovia for providing our girls the opportunity to provide Service and we hope that the city is a little more beautiful as a result.”
Seldovia Time
