Kenai Profiles: Miller/Stacken

Kim Miller, Gene Miller, Mike Stacken, and Jodie Stacken

Spring is in the air and if all goes well the dock will go in next week. Before the season gets under way, I thought it would be a good time to right a wrong and profile a group that I've overlooked for far too long. It's the Miller's and Stacken's. 

Dick Miller

The year Jane and I bought Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service we really didn't have time to market our business. The second year we were more aggressive. Besides increasing our web presence, we attended multiple sport shows, and began an ad campaign in a weekly publication called Outdoor News.

Kim Miller

The ad we were running in Outdoor News had been out for several weeks and we were a little disappointed that we hadn't received any calls. The renewal was coming and conveniently we received a voice mail message from a lady who saw our ad and had questions about traveling to Alaska. The timing of the call was suspect. Don't ask me how I know, but I've seen this practice in the advertising world; sales people posing as potential customers to make it seem like the ad is generating calls. My suspicion grew when we played phone tag on multiple occasions and would never speak to the caller. 

Jodie Stacken

We were about to give up on this "sales lead" when the phone rang and we finally connected with Jodie Stacken. After several questions, she booked a June trip for her, her husband Mike, and their friends Dick and Kim Miller. At the time, we would have never guessed what this contact would lead to. To quote Humphrey Bogart in the movie Casablanca, "....this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Mike Stacken

We knew these guys were from Minnesota, but on their first trip to Alaska we were surprised to find out the Miller's and the Stacken's owned lake cabins 20 miles from where Jane and I grew up. Small world.

Mike Stacken

Since their first trip to Alaska in 2005, it's become apparent that Alaska has connected with them. When asked, Kim thought they've been back 10 or 11 times. 

Jenny Miller

And they liked it so much they've shared the Alaska experience with family and friends as well.

Dick and Gene Miller

When it comes to the outdoors, I'm a one trick pony. What I mean by that is it's all about the fish for me. On the other hand, these guys are a bit more rounded and all four of them are avid hunters. Even though I don't do much hunting, I love to hear stories about it. What I like even more than the stories, is when they travel to Alaska, they bring a cooler full of venison. Whatever they don't eat they leave with us (they need the room to bring back their salmon).  All the venison is processed by them, and I'm here to tell you it's the best I've ever had.

Gene Miller and some random guy on the dock...

This fish is a great memory for me and anytime I can post it I will. This is the first king salmon that Gene caught on the Kenai. It took us quite a few years of trying, but the wait was definitely worth it. Whenever I see Gene I tell him his fish was on my bucket list and I was so happy to be able to cross it off. He says it's pretty special too.

Gene Miller, Jake Miller, Dick Miller, and Mike Stacken

They're not always about the king salmon. They're also pretty good at catching red, pink, and silver salmon as well.

Dick Miller, Gene Miller, a random guy running the boat, Mike Stacken, and Jake Miller

Whenever Jane and I are back in Minnesota, we make it a point to get together with the Miller's and Stacken's. Whether it's getting together for dinner, to watch a hockey game, or even ice fishing, their company is always appreciated.

Kim Miller

I'm ending this post by saving the best for last. Of all my king photos, this is one of my all time favorites. Kim was the first person to really embrace her fish and wasn't afraid to get slimed up. Smiles for the both of us.

Dick, Kim, Mike and Jodie...Jane and I really value your friendship.



Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

Thor Robertson...Norse God.

Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor...

Fish whackers, fish clubs, whatever you want to call them, they’re an important implement in a salmon fisherman’s box of tools.  

And, they’re unique. As unique as the person using them. Click here to read a previous blogpost about the different fish whackers in my lineup. 

For 2019, I have a new fish whacker that my friend Will Robertson crafted for me. The handle is made of ipe, and the head, bois d’arc. Ipe is a Brazilian hardwood that is so dense it won’t float. Bois d’arc is native to Will’s home state of Texas. It’s exceedingly hard, and resistant to wear and water. According to Will, bois d’arc was used in WWI (and before) as the gasket around a prop shaft.  

Mjölnir! Thunder and Lightning! Thanks Will. Can’t wait to give the old wood shampoo to a few salmon this season.





Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

No Kidding....

Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

You think it's bad where you are....

Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather, whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not

by Anonymous

I'd like to thank nine year old Augie for introducing me to this poem. Unfortunately, I can not share this blogpost with him due to the language used in the photo above.

Important Kenai weather data for 3/24/19. Sunrise 7:54am, sunset  8:30pm.

Talk to you next week!

p.s. This is an Alaska weather map for winter, not summer. Summers are always perfect.....



Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

St Patrick’s Day

Erin Go Bragh!

It's that time of year when we all claim to be a wee bit Irish.

Fun factoid #49. There are 34.5 million Americans who claim Irish heritage. That’s seven times larger than the population of Ireland.

Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

Rabbit Ears

New for 2019, rabbit ears tv.

The number one problem call we get from guests is related to our satellite television. It’s either a loss of reception (due to the low southern elevation of the satellites), or it’s clumsy fingers pushing the wrong buttons on the remote. Well, no more. We are going back to the old standby...antenna television. 

Today’s antenna television is nothing like what I grew up with. I would joke that I got two channels: on and off. Half the time the screen looked like I was watching a blizzard. Modern antenna television is digital, high definition with considerably more channel choices. NBC, CBS, ABC, local FOX, three Alaska public channels, and occasionally CW. 

If enough people complain about the lack of viewing options, we will reinstall satellite television. I don’t think that will happen. Based on an informal poll of our guests, the response is they are here to recreate, not to watch television. Besides, our phones, computers, and tablets have claimed most of our screen time. 

Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

Sorry Phil, You’re Wrong

On February 2nd, everyone’s favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, came out of his burrow and did not see his shadow. What this means in the meteorological world of forecasting is spring will come early. Yeah, right.....

Phil the Prognosticator believes it's going to be an early spring. Based on this year’s snowfall, I’m a bit skeptical. 

I do hope Phil gets this right. I’ve been looking at the spring tide cycles and the best tide to float the dock out is April 20th.

That's if all the ice is gone from the creek.

Eastern view Cunningham Park, Kenai River

Overall, it’s been a mild winter on the Kenai Peninsula. Not many days have been below zero. It could be a lot worse. At least the Polar Vortex that has gripped much of the lower 48 has escaped us.

Western view Cunningham Park, Kenai River

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy what is left of winter (what else can you do?). We're gaining 40 minutes of daylight a week right now so in due time it will be over.




Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service