First boat ride of the year surprise.

[ptarmigan]

Took the boys for a boat ride today. Figured we’d catch a few hooligan (Alaskan smelt) and see if there were an critters running around. Well we saw a couple moose, some wolf tracks, but the biggest surprise was cruising in the river. I’ve seen lots of belugas up in the river, but this was my first gray whale!

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[mtnkid85]

Wow thats incredible! How far up the river was he?

 

[ptarmigan]

It was about a mile upriver. I’ve seen many belugas up there chasing spring hooligan or late summer coho, but never a gray whale. He’s in serious trouble!


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[Yukon Cornelius]

That’s epic!! I always loved seeing belugas and seals running up the wood river out of Dillingham!
How is the 20 mile river? Is it runnable with a prop?

 

[ptarmigan]

I’ve never run it with a prop, but a few years ago I had my buddy follow me upriver in his zodiac with a prop. I just had him follow me through all the channels and he made it 8 miles up and back without any issues. Water levels are good right now for it.


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[Shrek]

That’s crazy cool !

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Eulochon seem pretty big for a baleen whale.

I remember back in 06 when they found that beluga between tanana and Fairbanks.

 

[Huntindog45]

Every now and then we get one that comes way up the sacramento river.

 

[Hondo]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Elk97]

Great pics and videos! Crazy seeing a whale in the river.

 

[Antarctica]

That is CRAZY! When working in Antarctica, we wold often have whales of all types come play in the propwash of the ship if we parked it in the ice for a few days. They seemed to love the current. I wonder if he's the same??