Category Archives: Canon EOS 5D

After 16 years, Salmon fishing in Sekiu

By Kirk Mastin | Published September 27, 2008

Heading out to Slip Point. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

My memories of Sekiu stretch back as far as I can imagine. Since I was a baby my parents had taken a week or two each year to fish for King Salmon in the Puget Sound off the coast of the small town of Sekiu WA.

Sekiu. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

I remember cleaning my first salmon there, and eventually hanging out at the fish cleaning tables and cleaning fish for money, when other fishermen didn’t want to clean the fish they had caught. After one particular summer I had made enough money to buy a chain-mail(!) fish cleaning glove which I wore proudly at the cleaning table, which allowed me to clean fish much more quickly.

Fish cleaning table. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

Sekiu never had much of an economy outside of the Salmon fishing it provided. All of the houses and stores were weatherbeaten by winter storms, and the roads were often muddy from the incessant rain that would fall during my family’s yearly fishing trips there.

Road and Red Jacket. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

On a good day, I would get up at 4:30am with my dad and brother, and head out to fish for King Salmon in the first light of morning. If we limited quickly, we would come back to shore, clean the fish and take a break before heading out again in the evening for Silver Salmon.

Fishing vessel Irish Fiddler. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

During my breaks between fishing I would head to the Outpost Grocery Store and stock up with penny candy. Then I would walk around downtown and through the woods, exploring what I could and making my own fun.

Sekiu never had much besides fishing but I do remember they had Donkey Kong at the grocery store.

About 16 years ago, commercial fishing and illegal international trawlers venturing into the sound from Norway, Russia and China had finally decimated the Salmon population.

Olson’s Resort Docks. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

Sadly, my family ended our tradition of Salmon fishing at Sekiu.

We explored other areas in Canada looking for the same quality of fishing as we had in Sekiu, but nothing we found ever had the same appeal or size of fish.

Now 16 years later, Sekiu is open to fishing again.

We have returned, although this time it is only my parents and I who could make it to fish.

Most stores are closed or converted into homes. Everything is in disrepair after 16 years without an economy. The fishing is ok, but the limits are 1/4 of what they used to be.

Olson’s Resort Cabin, 6am. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

Yet I am still happy. Sekiu has the same spirit it used to have, and spending time with my parents fishing for Kings brings back some of my fondest memories. We caught our limits (2 each) of Silver Salmon on two of the three days I fished.

My Dad and I with Silver Salmon. Sekiu, WA. 2008.

Hopefully when I have children, Sekiu will still be fishable. Until then I will try to fish there every year when I can.

-Kirk

Tagged Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Camera, Canon, Canon EOS 5D, Chinook salmon, Digital single-lens reflex camera, Fish, Flickr, Holidays and Special Days, King Salmon, Photography, Puget Sound, Red Jacket, Silver Salmon, Travel and Tourism, United States, Washington | 3 Comments

Scenes from a Wedding

By Kirk Mastin | Published September 24, 2008

Chris and Danny. Spokane, WA. 2008.

At a wedding a few weeks ago I ran into two amazingly talented musicians performing with a band called the Renovators.

I was immediately struck by their cool 70′s style and the fact that they rock out together on stage.

Twin guitar players!

They are moving to L.A. soon to strike out on their own and start recording albums. I wish them the best and if you have a chance to see them I would recommend it.

-Kirk

Also posted in random | Tagged Arts, funny, Music, Musician, Society and Culture, Spokane, Spokane Washington, United States, vineyard, wedding | Leave a comment

I went to a party and all I got was this shirt

By Kirk Mastin | Published September 23, 2008

Went to a surprise party for my good friend Ryan Schuetze and shortly before getting really sick (literally) from Jim Beam, I asked Bryan for a quick photo.