Photo courtesy of Alaska River Adventure/Run Wild Alaska Inc.
Cooper Landing fishing guide Gary McFadden was inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame June 23.
By Susanna LaRock
Turnagain Times
Cooper Landing Correspondent
Local Fishing Guide in Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame
Gary McFadden has been a fishing guide in Cooper Landing for many years. He is well known by locals and clients for his hard work on the river and his famous fishing hat, which he has worn since the 1980s. Gary has a smile that shines and a beard that covers his shirt collar and is affectionately known by locals as “Hairy Gary”.
Saturday, June 23, fellow guides and friends of Gary McFadden gathered at the Community Hall to celebrate his induction into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Gary is now forever enshrined as a Legendary Guide at the Fresh Water Fishing Museum in Hayward, Wis.
A Legendary Guide is defined, by the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, as someone who has gained by their expertise and professionalism a status of credibility and immortality judged so by their customers, the region, and/or their peers.
Gary is not sure who nominated him for this honor, but all who know Gary would agree that he certainly lives up to the definition of Legendary Guide. Gary was presented with a plaque at the celebration, and there is a plaque and a photo at the Hall of Fame Recognition Building in Hayward, Wis. Congratulations, Gary, and keep up the legendary guiding.
Reminders of Ongoing Summer Activities in Cooper Landing
Shannon Bauer will be teaching a Pilates class this summer every Friday and Sunday from 9-10 a.m. at Cooper Landing School. On nice days the class will be held outside, it will be held in the gym on rainy days. Each class is $3 and students need to bring their own mats.
Tot Time will be on the playground on nice days and in the gym on rainy ones. Every Monday from 11 a.m. to noon kids of all ages are welcome to get together and play at the school. Due to it being summer time older siblings of tots are encouraged to join in the fun as long as parents are aware of older children playing with very young ones. All children must bring an adult. No children should be left unattended.
Open Gym night will be held every Monday and Saturday night from 7-9 p.m. Adults are encouraged to take advantage of this adult’s only gym time to play a game of basketball, volleyball, kickball, or dodge ball. Attendance has been high so far this summer, so get out and join in the fun.
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are taking place every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Baptist Church, on the corner of Snug Harbor Road and the Sterling Highway. For more information please call 907-299-2855.
Sackett’s Great Food and Live Music
Friday, July 6, Sackett’s will be serving up some live music along with the wonderful dinners that are always available. There will be a three piece Bluegrass band playing, so plan to eat, drink, and cut a rug at Sackett’s.
Fish Fry Fundraiser
For those who missed the last fish fry or those who just want more, the Cooper Landing Health Clinic will be raising funds by serving up tasty meals July 6, 7 and 8. You can get your halibut, shrimp, or cod with French fries and slaw for $16 a plate. There will be a big white tent between Wildman’s and Big Shot Espresso, where Carrie Williams and the Cooper Landing Health Clinic Committee will be serving up delicious fish fry to benefit the Cooper Landing Health Clinic, which is open every Tuesday this summer. The Cooper Landing Health Clinic provides quality health care to everyone regardless of insurance coverage.
High Water Slows Fishing Sunny Weather Brings High Hopes
Water levels on the Kenai and Russian Rivers have been very high for this time of year and anglers have reported fishing conditions as difficult. The weather has been warming however and the sun has been shining. Water levels are slowly coming down and fishing should get better soon.
The second run of sockeye salmon has not arrived in large numbers yet, so anglers are hoping for water levels to go down and fish to flood the waters.
There is a closure for king salmon fishing on the Kenai River from Sunday 12:01am July 1 to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday July 31. No king salmon of any size may be retained. Any king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
Anglers are reminded that if they are processing their catch near where they are fishing they should cut up the carcass into small pieces and throw it into fast moving water. Be bear aware, be safe, and fish on!
