Easterly takes $6,000 prize, recalls 'the big one'

A celebration of the 2013 Wrangell King Salmon derby was the highlight event in downtown last Thursday as the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards ceremony at the James and Elsie Nolan Center.

Jeannie Easterly took home the top prize of $6,000 in the annual event, which saw Mark Soeteber and Jeff Soles take second and third place, respectively.

After the ceremony, Easterly recalled her memories of the derby – and the moment she hooked her King.

She related that she and her husband Randy left their house early Friday morning at 4:30 a.m. with their dog Kona.

“We were ready to catch the big one,” Easterly said. “We started at the Black Can and we didn’t get anything, so we hit Aaron’s Creek for about two more hours. Catching nothing, we made another move to Hamm Island, still no bites.”

Finally around 4 p.m. Randy hit into a nice keeper, with the couple’s onboard scale registering 38 lbs. The duo fished another hour hoping to get something to weigh in.

“I really wanted the bracelet,” she said. “We trolled for another hour and then decided to come to town before it got too late. It was 5 o’clock. Randy’s fish weighed 34.4, which put him in the 8th spot on the ladder. We wanted to get back out there.”

Jeannie said she and Randy then headed back out that evening in a concerted effort to get some more fish.

“We returned to Aaron’s Creek around 8 p.m.,” she added. “I couldn’t wait to get back fishing again. Then about 9:30, I told Randy I was getting tired and he replied, ‘Just a few more minutes, hun, we are almost to the Point. About that time my reel took off. I grabbed the pole; it wasn’t a real fighter, like the smaller ones. I don’t remember much because I was so excited, tired and nervous. Once it got to the boat and I saw it, I looked at Randy and said, ‘Oh my God, it’s a big one. Don’t lose it.’ All I could think about was getting it in the boat. I was a nervous wreck.”

Next, the couple gave high-fives to each other and went back to town to see what it weighed.

The scale read 43.6 pounds – for the top spot in the 2013 Wrangell King Salmon derby.

While Jeannie does not credit superstitious beliefs with catching the “big one,” she does believe her dog has a little bit to do with her lucky streak on the open waters.

“I am not superstitious, however, I was wearing my ‘Tough Alaska Chicks Sweatshirt’ and because I had Kona with me I was confident,” she said. “We always catch fish when she is on board. One time we didn’t take her and we didn’t catch a thing. We will never leave home without her from now on. She’s my lucky charm.”