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Narrator: ALASKA -- THE LAST FRONTIER.
SUMMER ARRIVED, AND THE KILCHER FAMILY
RACED TO STOCKPILE SUPPLIES BEFORE THE FREEZE.
ATZ LEE BROUGHT HOME OVER 100 POUNDS OF BEAR MEAT...
THEN OTTO DROVE HIS HERD OF CATTLE TO THE HEAD OF THE BAY.
Otto: WHOA! THAT'S COLD THERE ON THE OLD UNDERPARTS!
Narrator: BUT A VICIOUS WOLF ATTACKED THE CATTLE,
THREATENING THE FAMILY'S FOOD SUPPLY.
Otto: YOU CAN TELL THIS IS A KILLER.
Narrator: SOON, THE SHORT ALASKAN SUMMER WILL END.
THE KILCHERS WILL HAVE LITTLE TIME
TO FOCUS THEIR ENERGY ON STOCKING THE FREEZER WITH FOOD
FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.
WE'VE DEPENDED ON FISH EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.
Narrator: EACH KILCHER HOUSEHOLD
WILL NEED TO CATCH HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF FISH
TO HELP THEM SURVIVE THE IMPENDING
EIGHT LONG MONTHS OF ALASKAN WINTER.
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
♪ BUT LIFE IS SIMPLE, LIFE IS GOOD ♪
♪ WHEN YOU'RE LIVIN' LIKE YOU SHOULD ♪
♪ HEY, HEY ♪
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S STRUGGLE, STRIFE ♪
♪ FATHERS, SONS, BROTHERS, WIVES ♪
♪ BUT WE'RE MAKIN' OUR WAY ♪
♪ YES, WE'LL STAY ♪
♪ RIGHT HERE ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: MIDSUMMER HAS COME AND GONE IN ALASKA,
BUT THE SUMMER DAYS STILL PROVIDE 20 HOURS OF LIGHT.
LIFE IS TEEMING.
SOON THE DAYS WILL GROW SHORTER, AND FALL BECOMES WINTER.
THE KILCHER FAMILY HAS A SMALL WINDOW OF TIME
TO FINISH ALL PREPARATIONS FOR THE HARSH MONTHS AHEAD.
WINTER IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
I MEAN, YOU'RE ONLY A MONTH AND A HALF OUT,
AND YOU'RE REALIZING,
"OH, MY GOD. I'M HALFWAY DONE WITH ALL THESE THINGS.
I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO DO."
Narrator: KNOWING ALL TOO WELL
THAT WINTERS CAN ARRIVE EARLY IN ALASKA,
THE KILCHERS ARE SCRAMBLING
TO COMPLETE ALL OF THEIR ESSENTIAL PROJECTS
FOR THE UPCOMING EIGHT MONTHS OF BRUTAL WINTER.
Eivin: WE'VE GOT TO SPEND ALL OUR TIME
MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH FOOD FOR THE WINTER.
Otto: FISH IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL IN ALASKA.
I THINK IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT SOURCE FOR ALL TIME.
Narrator: EACH KILCHER HOUSEHOLD
REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY 200 POUNDS OF FISH
TO SUSTAIN THEM THROUGH THE LONG ALASKAN WINTER.
FISHING IS HUGE IN ALASKA.
PEOPLE ARE PRETTY USED TO USING THE RESOURCES HERE
TO SUPPLY THEIR FISH FOR THE WINTER.
Eve: WE NEED A COUPLE HUNDRED POUNDS OF SALMON
FOR THE WHOLE WINTER
JUST SO WE HAVE SOME EXTRA TO TRADE
AND THEN ALSO SOME TO SMOKE.
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ANY FISH BEING THERE?
I CALLED UP OLD MR. MACHAN, AND HE SAID
THAT THERE WERE STARTING TO COME IN PRETTY THICK.
Eivin: GROWING UP AS A KILCHER,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS LIVED A VERY SUBSISTENCE LIFESTYLE.
WE MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE BOUNTY OF ALASKA AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO US,
WHETHER IT'S HUNTING MOOSE, DEER, OR --
THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S FISHING.
OKAY, LOOKS GOOD.
Eivin: YOU READY TO GO, TUMSI? LET'S GO.
Narrator: IN THE HOPES THAT THE SALMON ARE RUNNING,
EIVIN AND EVE HEAD ACROSS THE BAY TO FISH A NEARBY RIVER.
FISHING TOGETHER HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A FUN THING
THAT'S KIND OF A BONDING THING THAT WE'VE DONE EVERY SUMMER,
AND IT'S TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL.
LOOKS GOOD.
YEAH. LOOKS GREAT.
Narrator: EIVIN AND EVE SET UP CAMP
ON THE BEACH AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER
AND THEN HIKE SIX MILES UPRIVER
TO ONE OF EIVIN'S SECRET FISHING SPOTS.
Eivin: EVE AND I, WE'VE BEEN FISHING TOGETHER
ALMOST AS LONG AS WE'VE BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ENJOY DOING.
SHE LOVES GOING OUT AND FISHING.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE EXCLUDED FROM, LIKE, HUNTING,
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE EXCLUDED FROM FISHING,
AND I DO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THINGS THAT EIVIN DOES
THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY IS "MEN'S WORK."
Eivin: SALMON IS PROBABLY 75% OF OUR PROTEIN
THROUGHOUT THE WINTER, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US
TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN THIS TIME OF YEAR.
Narrator: EVERY SUMMER, GIANT FEMALE SALMON
MIGRATE FROM THE OCEANS TO THE BAYS
AND UP THE FAR REACHES OF THE RIVERS.
OFTEN SWIMMING MILES INLAND,
THE FISH WILL SPAWN THEIR EGGS ON GRAVEL BEDS.
Eve: THEY COME IN WAVES. NOT ALL THE SALMON AT ONCE.
AND THEY COME TO THE RIVER
THAT THEY SWAM OUT OF WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE FRY,
WHICH IS BABY SALMON.
EIVIN AND I BOTH GREW UP DIPNETTING HERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST WHAT YOU DO TO GET READY FOR WINTER.
Eivin: DIPNETTING IS GOING INTO THESE SMALL CREEKS AND RIVERS.
AND YOU'VE GOT A NET --
A BIG HOOP NET WITH A REALLY LONG HANDLE.
AND YOU STICK IT DOWN INTO THE RIVER,
AND YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO SCOOP OUT FISH
OR SHOVEL FISH OUT OF THE RIVER
AND GETTING THEM CAUGHT IN THAT NET.
THESE FISH, THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO SPAWN AND THEY'RE NOT EATING,
SO THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS WITH A NET.
Eve: NOTHING!
DO YOU SEE ANY FISH?
Eivin: I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING, EITHER.
Eivin: SALMON TRAVEL IN BIG SCHOOLS,
AND THE SCHOOL THAT HITS THE RIVER
MIGHT HAVE 50 FISH IN IT.
IT MIGHT HAVE 1,000 FISH IN IT.
IT COULD GO EITHER WAY,
THAT WE'RE RIGHT AT THE TAIL END OF A RUN,
OR MAYBE WE'RE JUST RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING AND IT'S GONNA GO BIG.
THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY WAY TO TELL.
NOPE.
DIDN'T YOU SEE ONE?
I THOUGHT MAYBE, BUT...
IF YOU DON'T SEE THEM AND YOU DON'T FEEL THEM WITH THE NET,
THEN THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT THERE --
NOT MANY, NOT ENOUGH TO REALLY CATCH ALL THAT YOU NEED.
I'M NOT FINDING ANYTHING HERE.
YEAH. I KNOW. THERE'S NOTHING.
I DON'T EVEN SEE ANY. NORMALLY, YOU AT LEAST SEE 'EM.
YEAH, LET'S TRY THE UPPER FALLS.
Eivin: WHEN I'M WALKING UP THE RIVER,
YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FOR FISH BEHIND ROCKS AND IN THE SHADE,
AND I'M LOOKING TO SEE
IF THERE'S VERY MANY FISH IN THE RIVER.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT IN THOSE KEY SPOTS,
THEN, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD DAY.
NOTHING.
Eve: NOTHING.
Narrator: 35 MILES AWAY AT THE HOMESTEAD,
EIVIN'S FATHER, OTTO, HIS WIFE, CHARLOTTE,
AND HIS SON, AUGUST, ARE PREPARING FOR THEIR OWN FISHING TRIP
ALONG THE SHORES OF KACHEMAK BAY.
Otto: THERE'S ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF FISHING.
WE CAN SETNET, WE CAN GO ROD-AND-REEL FISHING,
WE CAN DIPNET THEM,
DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND ALMOST YOUR PREFERENCE.
SOMETIMES, IT CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR,
BUT THIS YEAR, I'M PUTTING OUT A SUBSISTENCE NET.
Narrator: THEY MUST CATCH 250 TO 300 POUNDS OF FISH
TO MEET THEIR NEEDS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.
USING A SETNET,
THE FAMILY HOPES TO CATCH ALL OF THE FISH IN JUST TWO DAYS.
Otto: SUBSISTENCE SETNETTING
IS TAKING A NET, PUTTING IT IN THE OCEAN.
IT'S GOT CORKS ON IT. IT'S GOT LEAD LINES ON IT.
SO IT STAYS ON THE SURFACE AND SITS THERE IN THE WATER
AND CATCHES FISH DURING THE TIME IT'S IN THE WATER.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS LOAD THE NETS ON THE TRAILER,
AND WE'RE GONNA GRAB THE OLD FORD,
WHICH IS KIND OF THE TRADITIONAL FISHING TRACTOR.
WE COULD TAKE ONE OF THE OTHERS,
BUT THAT'S THE OLD SETNET TRACTOR.
IT'S GOT HISTORY AND CHARISMA.
I'VE PARTICIPATED IN SETNETTING ALL MY LIFE,
AND MY DAD WAS PROBABLY DOING IT 20 YEARS BEFORE THAT.
SO WE'VE PROBABLY GOT A HISTORY
OF 75, 80 YEARS OF SETNETTING ON THIS BEACH.
YEP.
NOPE.
THEY GOT TO WATCH THE FARM.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE, RIGHT?
Charlotte: WE'RE GONNA GO PUT OUT THE NETS IN THE MORNING.
WE'RE HEADING DOWN THERE TONIGHT SO WE HAVE EVERYTHING STAGED
AND READY TO POUNCE ON OUR GOOD SITE DOWN THERE.
Narrator: OTTO, CHARLOTTE, AND AUGUST
HEAD A MILE DOWN TO THE SHORE OF KACHEMAK BAY.
BECAUSE TOMORROW'S LOW TIDE IS AT THE CRACK OF DAWN,
THEY'LL CAMP OUT ON THE BEACH SO THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE
TO SET THEIR NETS THE INSTANT THE TIDE IS OUT.
WHOO!
LET'S GO SEE WHERE WE CAN PUT A NET OUT.
Otto: WE'D LIKE TO THINK THERE'S AN ART TO THIS SUBSISTENCE FISHING,
BUT, REALLY, IT'S SORT OF WHICH WAY THE WAVES ARE BLOWING.
SOMETIMES I'VE HAD PRETTY GOOD LUCK HERE 'CAUSE OF THE CREEK.
YOU CAN THINK YOU'VE GOT THE BEST SITE,
AND FOR SOME REASON, YOUR NET GETS FULL OF SEAWEED.
IT'S PRETTY GOOD FISHING OUT HERE,
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S SEAWEED.
SEAWEED AND THIS LOG.
AND I COULD PULL THAT LOG OUT OF THE WAY WITH THE TRACTOR.
Charlotte: OH, THAT'S TRUE.
IT'S ALSO SOMETIMES NOT BAD FISHING OVER IN HERE.
OF COURSE, CLOSER TO THE CREEK IS BETTER.
Otto: DEPENDS ON THE DIRECTION
THE FISH ARE COMING THAT PARTICULAR TIDE.
I WONDER IF WE SHOULD GO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK.
I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST BET YOUR ***
THAT THIS STUFF, THIS SEAWEED WILL ALL BE IN THE NET...
MM-HMM.
...COME THE END OF THE TIDE TOMORROW.
AND IT DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT WHICH WAY THE WIND'S BLOWING.
IT'S JUST A REAL CRAPSHOOT.
SO, I TELL YOU WHAT.
WHY DON'T WE JUST DECIDE IN THE MORNING?
Charlotte: LOOK AT THIS.
THERE'S A DEAD FISH HERE WITH THE HEAD MISSING.
YEP.
YEAH.
IT LOOKS LIKE EAGLES HAVE EATEN IT UP OR SOMETHING.
Otto: LOOKS LIKE DINNER TO ME.
Charlotte: YEAH! [ LAUGHS ]
ROADKILL FISH.
[ Chuckling ] ROADKILL FISH.
WOW!
THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE A BAD FISH.
IT WAS A NICE BRIGHT-LOOKING SALMON, SO...
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S GOT KIND OF LITTLE SCALES.
[ SNIFFS ] WOW! IT'S, LIKE, FRESH, HONEY.
August: IT'S ALL YOURS.
WHY DON'T I TRY CLEANING IT UP
AND SEE WHAT THE GOOD PART'S LIKE?
WHY NOT? IT DON'T SMELL ROTTEN.
WE JUST DECIDED TO HAVE IT FOR DINNER.
August: IS IT A TOOTH?
Charlotte: IT'S A COW HEAD.
THAT'S COOL.
WE GOT TO KEEP THAT, MAN.
WE CAN PUT IT ON THE FRONT OF THE TRACTOR.
WE COULD PAINT, LIKE, ACROSS THE FRONT OF IT, "BEWARE."
[ LAUGHS ]
Charlotte: NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE BEACHCOMBING.
Narrator: EIGHT MILES AWAY FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
EIVIN AND EVE STRUGGLE TO CATCH EVEN A SINGLE SALMON.
NEEDING 200 POUNDS OF SALMON
IN ORDER TO SURVIVE THE ALASKAN WINTER,
EIVIN HAS MADE THE RISKY DECISION TO FISH
UNDERNEATH ONE OF THE RIVER'S MOST DANGEROUS WATERFALLS.
Eivin: THERE'S THE WATERFALL THERE, AND THE FISH GENERALLY
HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING IT UP PAST THAT WATERFALL,
SO THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO GO.
AND THAT WATERFALL IS POUNDING,
AND THE WATER'S MOVING REALLY FAST.
IT'S A STRUGGLE, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THEM THERE,
THEN YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA GET 'EM ANYWHERE.
Narrator: THIS RUSHING RIVER
FLOWS STRAIGHT OFF THE STILL-MELTING SNOW
ON THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE.
THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS A NUMBING 35 TO 40 DEGREES.
Both: NOTHING.
MAYBE TRY HERE AGAIN.
Eivin: I JUST WASN'T SEEING VERY MANY FISH, YOU KNOW?
THEY WEREN'T DARTING PAST MY LEG.
AND IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS GONNA BE VERY GOOD.
OH!
[BLEEP]
OH, NO! DAMN IT!
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
OH, NO.
THERE'S JUST NOT MANY FISH.
NOT MANY FISH.
WELL...
I THINK WE GOT TO CALL IT.
THEY'RE EITHER HERE OR THEY'RE NOT. AND THEY'RE NOT.
Eve: THE RIVER IS RUNNING REALLY FAST, REALLY HIGH,
SO WE'RE FINDING A LOT MORE CHALLENGES THAN NORMAL.
Narrator: TIRED AND WEARY, EIVIN AND EVE
BEGIN THE LONG WALK BACK TO THEIR CAMPSITE.
Eve: THIS IS NOT A GOOD SPOT TO BE.
Narrator: RECENT RAINS AND THE WARM SUMMER SUN
HAVE MELTED THE SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE.
THE RIVER IS AT ITS HIGHEST MARK,
MAKING THE CURRENT AND SLIPPERY ROCKS EVEN MORE TREACHEROUS.
Eivin: THE RIVER IS THE BIG OBSTACLE, YOU KNOW?
IT'S FAST WATER.
AND ANYTIME YOU'RE TRYING TO CROSS FAST WATER,
IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS.
YOU JUST NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL.
[ GRUNTS ]
Eve: THE RIVER IS NUMBING-COLD,
LIKE, TO THE POINT WHERE MY HANDS AND MY FEET
DON'T REALLY WORK.
AAH!
THE RIVER IS RUNNING REALLY FAST, REALLY HIGH.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD SPOT TO BE.
SO WE'RE FINDING A LOT MORE CHALLENGES THAN NORMAL.
Narrator: EIGHT MILES AWAY FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
EIVIN AND EVE'S FIRST DAY OF FISHING COMES TO A CLOSE
WITH NOT A SINGLE SALMON TO SHOW FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
THEY HIKE BACK TO THE CAMPSITE
THROUGH THE RUSHING FREEZING-COLD RIVER,
KNOWING THAT THEY STILL NEED 200 POUNDS OF SALMON
IF THEY WANT TO SURVIVE THE HARSH ALASKAN WINTER
THAT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
Eve: AAH! [BLEEP]
[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU HURT YOUR KNEE?
I HIT BOTH MY KNEES.
YEAH, KIND OF.
Eve: THE RIVER THIS YEAR IS DEFINITELY A LITTLE CRAZY
WITH ALL THE RAIN
AND SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE MORE OF A BATTLE THAN USUAL,
JUST HAVING TO REALLY WORK YOUR WAY ACROSS.
IT DEFINITELY IS CHALLENGING
TO NOT GET YOUR FEET SWEPT OUT FROM UNDER YOU.
Eivin: WHEN THE RIVER'S RUNNING THAT HARD,
YOU NEED TO WORK AS A TEAM AND YOU NEED TO, LIKE, REALLY KNOW
WHAT THE OTHER PERSON NEEDS
AND HELP THE OTHER PERSON WHEN THEY NEED HELP
JUST TO MAKE IT ALL WORK.
Narrator: EIGHT MILES AWAY, ON THE BEACH BELOW THE HOMESTEAD,
EIVIN'S FATHER, OTTO, HIS WIFE, CHARLOTTE,
AND SON, AUGUST, FOUND A SALMON DROPPED BY AN EAGLE
AND ARE NOW PREPARING TO COOK IT FOR DINNER.
Otto: VOILà!
GOT THE GRILL GOING HERE.
Otto: CHARLOTTE CLEANED IT RIGHT THERE IN THE CREEK,
AND WE WERE ABLE TO EAT THE BOUNTY OF THE LAND RIGHT THERE,
BY GOLLY, THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY AN EAGLE.
NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE TO ME. I WAS LIKE, "WOW.
THIS IS COOL. THIS IS COOL."
♪ FROM THE TALONS OF AN EAGLE ♪
♪ I FEED MYSELF TONIGHT ♪
♪ FROM THE TALONS OF AN EAGLE ♪
♪ I'LL MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪
Narrator: IT IS DAWN AT KACHEMAK BAY.
OTTO, CHARLOTTE, AND AUGUST HAVE CAMPED HERE OVERNIGHT
IN ORDER TO GET AN EARLY START ON THEIR FISHING.
USING THE SETNET METHOD, THEY HOPE TO CATCH ENOUGH FISH
TO SUSTAIN THEM THROUGH THE LONG WINTER MONTHS.
Charlotte: I AM A LITTLE TIRED, DIDN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF SLEEP,
BUT I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED.
THIS IS A COOL TIME OF THE YEAR TO BE ABLE TO CATCH SOME FISH.
AND WE'RE REALLY HOPING FOR A GOOD DAY.
OH, MAN. TRYING TO SHAKE OFF THE FREAKIN' SLEEP.
Otto: OH, I'M NOT A MORNING PERSON.
I DON'T THINK GOOD IN THE MORNING,
SO I'M GLAD WE SET UP A SCENARIO LAST NIGHT
WHERE WE'VE GOT A PLAN.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT AND DECIDE EXACTLY WHERE THE NET GOES.
I LIKE THIS SANDBAR RIGHT HERE.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A POSSIBLE PLACE.
I KNOW IF I WAS A FISH, I FEEL LIKE
I WOULD GO ACROSS HERE MORE THAN DOWN THERE.
I AGREE.
IT COULD TAKE SIX HOURS
FOR THE TIDE TO COME IN FROM LOW TO HIGH.
THE TIDE WAS LOW AT 8:00,
SO WE PUT OUR NET OUT AT 6:00 OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
TAKE THE TRACTOR, WE PUT THE NET IN THE TRAILER
JUST SO THAT WE COULD BACK THE TRACTOR OUT AND PAY THE NET OUT,
LIKE, LET THE NET OUT OF THE TRAILER AS WE DRIVE.
DIG A HOLE HERE.
DROP SOME ANCHORS.
I THINK TODAY I'M GONNA PUT TWO ANCHORS OUT ON THE TAIL END,
AND WE MIGHT JUST DRIVE A STAKE ON THE SHORE SIDE OF IT.
IT HAS CORKS ON THE TOP TO HOLD THE TOP OF THE NET UP.
ON THE BOTTOM, IT HAS A LEAD LINE,
WHICH HOLDS THE BOTTOM DOWN.
SO THERE'S, ESSENTIALLY, A 200-FOOT-LONG WALL,
NEARLY INVISIBLE IN THE WATER, OF A NET.
AND THEN THE TIDE FLOATS THE NETS UP
AND THE NET TAKES ITS FISHING POSITION.
AND THEN IT STARTS CATCHING FISH.
BASICALLY, WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE
AN INVISIBLE WALL WITH THIS NET.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE GREENISH NOW, BUT THEY COLOR THAT NETTING
TO TRY TO MIMIC THE COLOR OF THE WATER TO FOOL THE FISH.
SO NOW IT'S JUST HANG OUT.
HANG OUT AND WAIT.
Narrator: BACK AT THE HOMESTEAD,
OTTO'S NEPHEW, ATZ LEE, AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
HEAD OUT ON THEIR OWN FISHING TRIP.
RAINCOAT. BACKPACK.
REEL.
GOT THE TACKLE.
WE'LL EAT TROUT.
BECAUSE TROUT WILL NOT FREEZE OVER THE WINTER,
ATZ LEE AND JANE WILL CATCH THE FISH FOR SUMMER FOOD
BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, USE IT LATER AS BAIT
FOR THE BIGGER, MORE PRESERVABLE OCEAN HALIBUT.
Atz Lee: AS SOON AS YOU GET THAT CHANCE
WHERE THE RIVERS START RUNNING AGAIN
AND THERE'S FRESH FISH TO BE GOTTEN,
YOU WANT TO GET ON IT.
YOU WANT THAT FRESH MEAT.
Narrator: BUT GETTING TO THE LAKE IS NO EASY TASK.
DUE TO THE HEAVY WINTER AND RECENT SUMMER SNOWMELT,
THE TRAIL TO THEIR FISHING HOLE HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
Atz Lee: YEAH, BABY!
IT'S A [BLEEP] RIVER! WHOO!
Atz Lee: BEEN HUNTING AND FISHING MY WHOLE LIFE.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO,
IS JUST GET OUT IN THE OUTDOORS,
SO TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE THAT YOU CAN RELY ON --
ENTHUSIASTIC, AND HELPFUL, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE --
JANE, I MEAN, SHE'S AN AWESOME FISHERMAN,
DID A LOT OF COMMERCIAL FISHING THROUGHOUT HER LIFE,
AND SHE'S AN AVID SPORTSMAN, TOO.
THAT'S A GREAT THING.
AH HA HA! OKAY.
Atz Lee: EASY. EASY.
RIGHT THERE.
[ Chuckling ] OH.
HA!
[ ENGINE REVS ]
WANT ME TO PULL?
HOLD ON. PULL DOWN ON THIS CORNER.
AAH!
Narrator: COMING UP...
EIVIN AND EVE'S STRUGGLES CONTINUE...
NO FISH IN THERE. THE WATER'S TOO ROUGH.
Eve: IT'S CRAZY. LET'S GO!
...WHILE ATZ AND BONNIE LABOR TO COLLECT FOOD FOR THE WINTER.
Jim: THAT'S A FISH. TURN YOUR NET. GOT HIM.
WE GOT TO TAKE THE HOOP OVERTOP OF THE ROPE.
I HEARD YOU, JIM.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
YOU GOT TO PULL IT, KIND OF DOWN.
READY?
AAH! WAIT. MY FOOT WAS IN THE WAY.
WELL, WATCH YOUR FOOT.
Narrator: 40 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
ATZ LEE AND JANE CONTINUE THE TREK
TO THEIR FAVORITE FISHING HOLE TO CATCH TROUT,
WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.
WELL, THAT LOOKS NICE.
THE WHOLE TRAIL LOOKS NICE. [ LAUGHS ]
UNFORTUNATELY, JUST GETTING TO THE LAKE
HAS PROVEN TO BE A CHALLENGE,
AS HEAVY SNOWMELT HAS DESTROYED THE ONLY TRAIL.
WHOO!
EASY! EASY!
[ LAUGHS ]
CAREFUL! GET ON YOUR LEFT!
AAH!
GIVE IT ALL! GO! GO! GO!
I'M GOING!
KEEP GOING! KEEP GOING! KEEP GOING!
WHOO!
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: THE 40-MILE TREK TOOK NEARLY 5 HOURS TO COMPLETE,
BUT ATZ LEE AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
HAVE MADE IT TO THE FISHING HOLE.
[ JANE LAUGHS ]
OH, I WANT MY RAINCOAT.
WHAT HAVE WE GOT? LET'S SEE.
Narrator: THIS FISHING TRIP IS VITAL.
TROUT WILL NOT ONLY ADD VARIETY
TO ATZ LEE AND JANE'S SUMMER DIET
BUT WILL ALSO BE USED LATER FOR BAIT
WHEN THE COUPLE FISH ON THE OPEN OCEAN FOR HALIBUT.
OH, FISH ON! FISH ON!
LOOK AT YOU.
UH-HUH. LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE SETTING UP CAMP TONIGHT.
HUH? COME ON.
Atz Lee: CATCH TROUT, IT MAKES GOOD BAIT FOR THE HALIBUT.
IF THEY'RE NOT BITING JUST THE LURE ITSELF,
THROW A CHUNK OF TROUT ON THERE AND PUT THAT DOWN ON THE BOTTOM,
AND MAYBE THE SCENT OF THAT WILL ATTRACT THEM IN, TOO.
THERE IT IS.
OH, YEAH. I'LL EAT THAT.
I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING TILL I CATCH A FISH.
OH, GOD. THAT WAS THE SPOT RIGHT THERE.
OOP! FISH ON!
I GOT A NICE ONE.
NICE ONE! LOOK AT THAT!
YOU GOT IT?
I'M COMPETITIVE, MORE LIKE FOR FUN,
BUT I'M STILL COMPETITIVE WHEN I'M FISHING.
ATZ SAYS HE'S NOT COMPETITIVE, BUT HE IS.
NICE.
NOT AS NICE AS MINE, BUT...
I DON'T KNOW. I'M STACKING 'EM UP OVER HERE.
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
TWO BIG, NICE FISH.
WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
BUT I'LL JUST BE OVER HERE CLEANING ALL OF MY, UH...
LITTLE FISH? [ LAUGHS ]
GO FOR IT.
HE'S TOTALLY COMPETITIVE. HE'S JUST IN DENIAL.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
KEEP TRYING, HONEY. YOU'LL GET 'EM.
Narrator: EIGHT MILES AWAY FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
ATZ LEE'S COUSIN EIVIN AND HIS WIFE, EVE,
EMBARK ON THEIR SECOND DAY OF FISHING.
THEY CAME UP EMPTY ON DAY ONE
AND STILL HAVE TO CATCH 200 POUNDS OF SALMON
IF THEY WANT TO SURVIVE THE WINTER.
LOOKING FOR A NEW SPOT TO FISH,
THEY'VE HIKED FURTHER UP THE FREEZING RIVER.
THERE IS MORE SALMON IN THIS AREA,
BUT THE RIVER IS NARROWER AND THE CURRENT MUCH FASTER.
YEAH, I'M GOOD.
Eivin: OFTENTIMES WHEN WE GO UP THERE, IT'S EASY.
YOU CAN PUT YOUR NET IN THE WATER ANYWHERE,
AND YOU'LL PULL IT OUT WITH THREE TO FOUR FISH IN THERE.
BUT I JUST WASN'T SEEING VERY MANY FISH. I WASN'T SEEING THEM.
THEY WEREN'T DARTING PAST MY LEG.
IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS GONNA BE VERY GOOD.
[BLEEP]
NO FISH IN THERE. THE WATER'S TOO ROUGH.
IT'S CRAZY. LET'S GO!
MY FEET CAN'T HANDLE IT ANYMORE.
OKAY.
I'M GONNA TRY IT HERE ONE MORE TIME.
OKAY.
AH.
LET'S GO!
OH! YAY!
YAY!
OOH.
GOT IT.
YOU GOT IT?
Eivin: WHEN YOU START SEEING THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY IN THE RIVER,
MY HEART STARTS PUMPING A LITTLE BIT.
AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA GET FISH. IT FEELS GOOD.
Eve: WE BOTH GET A LOT OF ADRENALINE, 'CAUSE WE'RE LIKE,
"OH, YEAH. WE'RE GONNA GET THE FISH."
AND YOU JUST SORT OF GET ALL JACKED UP.
OH, NO! NO!
WHEN EIVIN HANDS ME A FISH,
I RIP OUT ITS GILLS TO BLEED IT OUT,
WHICH HELPS KEEP THE MEAT FRESH,
AND THEN IT ALSO KILLS THE FISH.
OW.
Eivin: EVE'S JOB IS NOT EASY.
YOU'LL GET A FISH TAIL IN THE FACE SOMETIMES,
AND YOU REALLY GOT TO WRESTLE THESE THINGS
TO GET 'EM IN THE BAG.
AND SO IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR HER.
WHEN THE FISH ARE IN AND THEY'RE THERE,
THE FISHING TRIP IS OVER IN 15 MINUTES, YOU KNOW?
IT TAKES YOU LONGER TO WALK UP AND WALK BACK
THAN IT ACTUALLY DOES TO CATCH A FISH.
Eve: LIFE IS REALLY HARD HERE.
[ LAUGHS ] IT'S NOT EASY.
BUT EIVIN MADE ME BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.
IT ALWAYS FEELS AMAZING TO GET A LOT OF FISH.
WE GOT SOME BIG ONES, THOUGH, HUH?
YEP.
Eve: WE HAD 41 POUNDS OF FILLETS,
SO THAT MEANS 41 POUNDS OF FISH THAT WE CAN EAT.
THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE FISH WITH THE HEAD.
THAT'S JUST THE MEAT. AND SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD DAY.
[ LAUGHS ] GOT TO GET THAT BALANCE DOWN.
Narrator: COMING UP, ATZ LEE AND JANE
FINALLY MAKE IT TO THE OPEN OCEAN...
Atz Lee: GOT TO GO OUT AND CATCH THE HALIBUT. THAT'S WHAT WE CAME FOR.
WE GOT TO GO OUT, GET TO FISHING.
Narrator: ...AND ATZ SR. AND HIS WIFE, BONNIE,
STRUGGLE WITH THE POWER OF THE KING SALMON.
WE GOT TO TAKE THE HOOP OVERTOP OF THE ROPE.
Atz: I HEARD YOU, JIM. I CAN'T DO IT.
Narrator: THE KILCHERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THE REMAINING LONG SUMMER DAYS
TO CATCH ENOUGH FISH TO FILL THEIR FREEZERS FOR THE WINTER.
ATZ SR. USUALLY SPENDS THE SUMMER MONTHS
RIDING THE RANGE AND PROTECTING THE CATTLE.
GOING FISHING MEANS LEAVING THE HERD VULNERABLE
TO HUNGRY PREDATORS, MAKING HIS TIME TO FISH
MUCH SHORTER THAN THE REST OF THE KILCHERS.
HE AND HIS WIFE, BONNIE, ENLIST THE HELP OF THEIR FRIEND JIM,
AN EXPERIENCED ALASKAN FISHERMAN.
THEY TAKE JIM'S BOAT TO THE MOUTH OF THE KENAI RIVER,
HOPING TO CATCH OVER 200 POUNDS OF SALMON IN JUST A FEW HOURS.
Jim: ATZ AND BONNIE COME UP EVERY YEAR FOR DIPNETTING.
IT IS 90 MILES AWAY FROM HOME,
BUT THE FISH ARE READILY AVAILABLE,
AND YOU JUST GOT TO KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME UP THE RIVER.
HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL HAPPEN TODAY.
Narrator: THE KENAI RIVER HAS A SHALLOW BOTTOM,
WHERE THE SALMON RUSH UPSTREAM.
ATZ USES A METHOD CALLED DIPNETTING,
MUCH LIKE HIS NEPHEW EIVIN,
EXCEPT ATZ'S TECHNIQUE IS FROM A MOVING BOAT.
Atz: AS YOU'RE DRIFTING DOWN THE RIVER WITH A BOAT,
THE FISH COMING UPSTREAM HIT YOUR WAITING NET.
COME ON, FISHY, FISHY.
Narrator: TIMING IS EVERYTHING.
IF THE SALMON HAVE ALREADY RUN
OR NOT MADE IT FROM THE OPEN OCEAN
TO THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER YET,
ATZ SR. WILL GO HOME EMPTY-HANDED
AND RISK NOT HAVING ENOUGH TO EAT FOR THE WINTER.
YOU MIGHT CATCH 3, 4, 5, 10 IN A PASS,
AND YOU MIGHT GO UP AGAIN AND CATCH NOTHING.
IT'S JUST DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR.
Jim: THERE'S A FISH. THAT'S A FISH.
TURN YOUR NET. OVERTOP. OVERTOP OF THE ROPE.
[BLEEP]
THIS IS A LONG POCKET.
WE GOT TO TAKE THE HOOP OVERTOP OF THE ROPE.
I HEARD YOU, JIM. I CAN'T DO IT.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
Atz: I'D CALL IT ORGANIZED CHAOS. I MEAN, THERE IS A WAY.
WHEN YOU CATCH A FISH, YOU HAND THE POLE BACK TO THE CAPTAIN,
AND THEN YOU PULL THE HOOP IN SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING
THE TAIL OF THE DIPNET KNOCKING OUT SOMEONE'S TEETH.
Jim: NOW YOU GOT TWO! YEAH, BABY!
YOU GOT TO BE FAST. YOU GOT TO BE ON YOUR TOES.
[ GRUNTS ]
TWO FISH COMING ON.
JUST BE CAREFUL YOU DON'T RIP THE NET.
OH, YOU GOT A TRIPLE!
HOW MANY'S THAT? 14, 15, 16.
TOSS THE FLOUNDER BACK.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE FLIPPING, BONNIE.
NO.
HELP ATZ. OKAY.
I AM A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY SIMPLE FISHERMAN.
I JUST LIKE TO GET FISH THE QUICKEST, EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE.
I THINK YOU CAN COUNT THEM NOW, ATZ.
OKAY. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
11, 12, 13...
19, 20.
21.
21! [ SIGHS ]
FOR THE COMING YEAR, FOR ALL THE THINGS WE USE FISH FOR,
WE LIKE TO GET 40 OR 50 FISH.
Jim: THERE IT IS! WHOO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!
TURN IT.
[ BONNIE GRUNTS ]
THE FISHING WAS BEYOND UNBELIEVABLE.
IT WAS JUST -- IT'S AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT GETS ANY BETTER THAN THIS.
Jim: 34!
35.
Bonnie: 35.
35. WHO'S GOT THE LAST ONE? COMING UP.
[ MIMICS AUCTIONEER CALLING ]
[ YODELS ]
NUMBER 36!
Bonnie: HE'S GOT IT?
[ GRUNTS ]
Bonnie: ATZ GOT THE LAST FISH.
10.
Narrator: THESE 36 SALMON WILL NOT ONLY FILL ATZ SR.'s FREEZER
BUT WILL ALSO BE USED TO BARTER FOR GOODS
WITH HIS NEIGHBORS AND OTHER KILCHERS.
TODAY, WE GOT BETWEEN 150, 200 POUNDS OF RED SALMON.
Jim: THIS BECOMES PRETTY REPETITIOUS.
FISHING MEANS A LOT OF THINGS TO ME,
BUT I CAN BREAK IT DOWN INTO TWO MAIN AREAS.
ONE IS JUST THE FOOD --
GETTING GOOD FOOD, HIGH IN NUTRIENTS,
GOOD FOR YOUR BODY, GOOD FUEL FOR YOUR BODY.
THE OTHER THING TO ME THAT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT
IS GATHERING FOOD FOR YOUR SOUL.
YOU ARE CARRYING ON OLD TRADITIONS, A WAY OF LIFE,
BRINGING BACK THE MEMORY OF MY PARENTS,
BRINGING BACK MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD,
AND IT KEEPS ME CONNECTED TO THE LAND AND THE EARTH.
AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.
Narrator: 100 MILES AWAY FROM THE KENAI RIVER,
ATZ'S BROTHER OTTO IS TAKING HIS WIFE, CHARLOTTE,
AND SON, AUGUST, FISHING,
SO THEY CAN HOPEFULLY CATCH ENOUGH FOOD
TO LAST THEM THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.
LAYING A SETNET ON THE BEACH SIX HOURS EARLIER,
THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE TIDE TO RISE,
WHICH LIFTS THE NET UP
AND CATCHES FISH SWIMMING BY IN THE BAY.
TIDE'S UP, AND SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE BOAT
AND WE'RE GONNA GO OUT AND CHECK,
'CAUSE I THINK WE JUST SAW SOME CORKS DIPPING,
WHICH MEANS WE GOT FISH IN THE NET.
Charlotte: THERE ARE FISH IN THERE.
YOU CAN SEE 'EM FLOPPING AROUND.
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THEM HIT THE NET
AS THE TIDE'S BEEN COMING IN.
Otto: WE'RE GONNA DRAG THE SKIFF DOWN. WE DON'T EVEN NEED OARS.
WE'RE JUST GONNA DRAG OURSELVES ALONG THE NET
AND SEE WHAT WE FIND.
WELL, NOW WE GOT GRASS IN IT.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF SEALS OUT THERE.
SO, IF WE LEAVE THE FISH IN THE NET,
THE SEALS WILL COME EAT THE FISH OUT OF THE NET,
MAYBE LEAVE A HOLE IN THE NET.
AND IF WE CLEAN THE FISH OUT OF THE NET NOW,
THEN OTHER FISH WON'T SEE THEM STRUGGLING
AND WE'LL MAYBE CATCH MORE FISH.
WELL, HERE'S ONE.
OH, MY GOD. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE KING.
Charlotte: I'VE BEEN A VEGETARIAN SINCE I WAS 13.
SO I'M COMMITTED TO NOT EATING MEAT.
I EAT SEAFOOD.
IF IT WASN'T FOR US CAPSIZING, I'D MAKE YOU DO THIS.
HERE, AUGUST. GIVE ME THAT FISH.
FISHING IS SOMETHING THAT I KIND OF WRESTLE WITH,
AS FAR AS WHETHER TO PARTICIPATE OR WHETHER TO EVEN EAT FISH,
BECAUSE OF MY BAD FEELINGS ABOUT KILLING THE FISH.
DEFINITELY, OTTO IS THE EXECUTIONER IN THE FAMILY,
AND EVEN OTTO DOESN'T LIKE IT.
BUT HE'S ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT MUCH MORE THAN I AM.
AND THE THING WITH THESE SALMON IS THEY ARE JUST GOING NOW
UP TO A RUN WHERE THEY'LL SPAWN AND DIE.
AND SO MAYBE I SORT OF JUSTIFY IT
THAT THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO DIE ANYWAY,
AND SO THEY JUST GOT KILLED A LITTLE EARLIER.
CHECK IT OUT.
August: THERE'S ANOTHER ONE BELOW.
THIS SUCKER'S CAUGHT IN THERE.
THAT ONE'S REALLY CAUGHT.
OH, HERE WE GO.
HE'S HUGE.
NICE!
I THINK WE PICKED THE SPOT.
Otto: OH, IT'S A LITTLE HEAVIER THAN WHEN WE WENT IN,
August: NAH.
HOLY CRAP! WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT.
Charlotte: MAN, THAT'S A LOT OF FISH.
Narrator: 50 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
OTTO'S NEPHEW ATZ LEE AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
ARE HEADING OUT TO THE OPEN OCEAN,
USING THE TROUT THEY CAUGHT EARLIER AS BAIT.
THEY'LL TRY TO CATCH ENOUGH HALIBUT
TO SUSTAIN THEM THROUGH THE WINTER.
Atz Lee: WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK HOME TODAY,
SO WE GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK.
AND HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WON'T BE TOO BAD,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND CATCH THE HALIBUT.
THAT'S WHAT WE CAME FOR. WE GOT TO GO OUT, GET TO FISHING.
Jane: THE WIND HAS BEEN A ***. IT'S BEEN INSANE AND CRAZY.
IT'S BEEN GUSTING AND NOT GUSTING.
AND RIGHT NOW, IT LAID DOWN FOR US,
SO WE'RE GONNA GET OUT THERE AND TRY TO CATCH A FISH.
Atz Lee: YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A TOUGH BREED
TO BE A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN,
AND EVEN TOUGHER TO BE A COMMERCIAL FISHERWOMAN,
AND JANE HAS GONE OUT ON SOME AMAZING TRIPS.
Jane: I'VE FISHED MY WHOLE LIFE.
I COMMERCIAL FISHED IN THE SUMMER FOR 10 YEARS,
4 YEARS YEAR-ROUND.
BUT, NO, I LOVE FISHING -- COMMERCIAL OR SPORT.
YEAH?
THIS GUY'S REALLY FIGHTING.
[ REEL CLICKING ]
Otto: WE'RE GETTING READY TO SMOKE FISH.
WE GOT SO DAMN MANY FISH THIS YEAR
THAT WE DECIDED TO USE THE BIG SMOKEHOUSE,
AND WINTER BLEW THE DOOR OFF,
SO I'M IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING A NEW DOOR IN.
HEY, COOL. I CAN USE THAT.
WE WANT TO GET THE THING SMOKING THIS AFTERNOON.
THE FISH IS READY. IT'S DRY.
ALL GLAZED, NICE AND READY. IT'S JUST GORGEOUS.
3, 4.
Charlotte: I FINALLY CORRALLED HIM,
AND HE DID A LOVELY JOB MAKING A NEW DOOR.
AND I LOVE THE HAND HINGES.
THERE'S SOMETHING SO SATISFYING
ABOUT PUTTING THESE NAILS THROUGH THE FINGERS.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
YEAH, NOT A BAD OLD CRATE. YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS FROM, HONEY?
WHEN MY DAD'S MOM DIED,
THEY SHIPPED HER OVER TO AMERICA IN THIS BOX.
Narrator: 50 MILES FROM THEIR HOMESTEAD,
ATZ LEE AND JANE ARE FISHING IN ENGLISH BAY,
WITH THE HOPES OF CATCHING 200 POUNDS OF HALIBUT
TO SUSTAIN THEM THROUGH THE WINTER.
WITH THE WEATHER WORSENING AND THE SEAS GETTING ROUGHER,
TIME IS SHORT.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT ONE, TOO.
[ REEL CLICKING ]
THIS GUY'S REALLY FIGHTING.
HE'S GOT THE HALIBUT. IT'S A FIGHT.
IT'S DEFINITELY A WORKOUT,
EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST LIKE 10 POUNDS OR 15 POUNDS OR 50.
YOU'RE JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW LONG
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PULL IT IN, THE BIGGER IT IS.
BUT, NO, THEY TOTALLY GIVE YOU A WORKOUT WHEN YOU CATCH THEM.
IT'S TERRIBLE, BUT IT'S GOOD TERRIBLE.
WE'LL GET A HOLD ON HIM, HERE. HOLD ON.
OKAY.
Atz Lee: IDEALLY, I'M LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW,
A 60-TO-100-POUND FISH.
MM. FEELS LIKE DINNER.
BUT I'LL TAKE ANYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, 20 UP.
I MEAN, I'M JUST HAPPY TO GET WHAT I CAN AS LONG AS ITS LEGAL
AND AS LONG AS IT PUTS FOOD IN THE FREEZER.
Atz Lee: WE DIDN'T GET THE MONSTER,
BUT, MY GOD, WE GOT FOOD FOR A WHILE.
YEP.
IT WAS A GOOD DAY, SUCCESSFUL, CAUGHT SOME FISH.
AND IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME, TOO,
BECAUSE THE TIDE WAS TURNING, THE WINDS WERE SHIFTING,
AND THE SEAS CALMED DOWN JUST ENOUGH
TO WHERE IT WAS LIKE, "WE GOT TO DO THIS AND GET BACK HOME."
IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF,
AND WE GOT TO GET ON THIS TIDE WHILE WE CAN.
Narrator: TWO GENERATIONS OF KILCHERS
HAVE BROUGHT THEIR HAUL OF FISH HOME.
NOW THEY BEGIN THE PROCESS OF PRESERVING THEIR CATCH
FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.
WHILE EVE WORKS NEAR HER HOME,
ATZ SR. RETREATS TO HIS CABIN ON THE SHEEP RIVER.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRIP IS EXPLICITLY TO SMOKE FISH.
SO, THIS IS A FAIRLY LONG, INVOLVED PROCESS.
IT'S THREE DAYS, BASICALLY.
Atz: SOME OF THE MAJOR STEPS INVOLVED IN SMOKING FISH,
OF COURSE, IS CATCHING THE FISH, FILLETING IT,
AND CUTTING IT INTO STRIPS.
WE HAVE TO BRINE IT FOR THREE HOURS.
YOU CAN MAKE A BRINE
ALMOST OUT OF ANY KIND OF FLAVORING THAT YOU LIKE.
SALT, OF COURSE, IS A CURATIVE, SO SALT ALSO HELPS THE FLAVOR.
SO, THE IDEA IS THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FLOAT AN EGG IN IT.
AND THAT IS HOW YOU KNOW
THAT THE RATIO OF SALT TO WATER IS CORRECT.
OKAY, LET'S SEE IF IT'S DONE.
NICE. PERFECT.
I'M GONNA PUT A LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR IN IT,
JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE YUMMIER.
Atz: A BRINE DICTATES HOW YOUR FISH IS GONNA TASTE.
I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU WHAT'S IN IT.
I JUST DON'T TELL PEOPLE THE PROPORTIONS.
YOU KNOW, I GOT BROWN SUGAR, MOLASSES, AND SALT.
BUT I AIN'T TELLING YOU HOW MUCH OF WHICH.
THERE'S A LOT OF PREPARATION IN SMOKING FISH.
OKAY.
YOU GOT TO CUT DOWN ALDERS AND COTTONWOODS.
YOU GOT TO PEEL 'EM.
THEN YOU GOT TO SPLIT 'EM INTO THE APPROPRIATE SIZES.
THEN YOU BUILD YOUR FIRE.
NOW YOU GOT YOUR FISH.
IT'S BEEN BRINED. IT'S HANGING IN THE SMOKEHOUSE.
THEN EVERY TWO OR THREE HOURS, YOU GOT TO PUT MORE ALDER ON.
Eve: SO, THE SALT AND THE SUGAR
AND THE SMOKE ALTOGETHER WORK
IN PRESERVING AND IN FLAVORING IT.
Narrator: IT TAKES 12 HOURS FOR EVE'S FISH TO SMOKE.
Eve: SO, I'M DONE SMOKING,
AND NOW WE'RE READY TO START CANNING.
Narrator: CANNING IS THE PROCESS OF PRESERVING MEATS AND VEGETABLES
IN PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS.
Eve: IN THE PRESSURE COOKER,
THERE'S ABOUT 3 QUARTS OF WATER IN THERE,
AND WE'RE TRAPPING THE STEAM FROM THAT WATER IN THE CANNER,
AND IT GAINS PRESSURE.
STEAM IS HOTTER THAN BOILING WATER,
AND SO WE NEED TO ACTUALLY GET IT
TO ABOUT 240 DEGREES IN THERE.
WE NEED TO HEAT UP THE FISH
ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTER OF EVERY SINGLE CAN,
AND THIS IS TO PREVENT BOTULISM, WHICH IS DEADLY.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING TO HAVE ACCESS
TO SOMETHING THAT JUST WON'T GO BAD,
ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE WINTER
OR IF WE DON'T GET A LOT OF FISH ONE YEAR.
IT'S NICE WHEN YOU CAN JUST DO A WHOLE BUNCH OF IT
AND YOU JUST KNOW YOU CAN HAVE IT FOR YEARS TO COME.
Narrator: THE FISH HAVE BEEN CAUGHT, SMOKED, AND CANNED.
THE KILCHERS ARE NOW READY TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR.
Atz: THIS IS THE ULTIMATE SATISFACTION,
GATHERING THE GOLD AND TAKING IT HOME TO THE ONES I LOVE.
DOING THIS IS JUST A TINY SLICE OF THE WAY I WAS RAISED.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL LIKE TO GO BACK HOME, BACK TO OUR ROOTS,
AT LEAST TO THOSE HAPPY TIMES.
FOR ME, SMOKING FISH WITH MY MOM
IS ONE OF MY HAPPIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.
HANGING OUT AT THE SMOKEHOUSE,
PEELING THE ALDER, CHECKING THE FIRE,
YOU KNOW, FROM THE TIME I WAS A LITTLE KID, WATCHING MY MOM.
IT GETS ME RIGHT BACK TO THOSE HAPPY CHILDHOOD TIMES.
Narrator: FOR THE KILCHERS, FISHING TRULY IS A WAY OF LIFE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Eivin: I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT, MAYBE, 250 POUNDS OF SALMON.
IT'S A LOT OF FOOD.
Atz Lee: IT'S A LIFESTYLE THAT YOU LIVE
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO LIVE IT,
AND IT TAKES A LOT OF DEVOTION AND HARD WORK TO DO IT.
Otto: THERE'S A LOT OF PRIDE IN SELF-SUFFICIENCY,
KNOWING THAT YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH OVERCOME
WHATEVER OBSTACLE IS PRESENTED TO YOU.
Narrator: THE SUCCESS THE KILCHERS HAD FISHING THIS SUMMER
IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE WORK TO BE DONE.
Eivin: GOING OUT EVERY DAY AND DOING THAT DIRECT,
DIRECT KIND OF HAND-TO-MOUTH TYPE WORK
IS INCREDIBLY REWARDING.
AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH SWEAT AND BLOOD I PUT INTO IT,
EVERY MOMENT IS WORTH IT.
Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER"...
WITH THE FREEZE CLOSING IN ON THE KILCHERS,
EIVIN AND ATZ LEE HEAD OUT FOR A DEER HUNT
ON THE INFAMOUS MONTAGUE ISLAND.
Atz Lee: THERE'S A LOT OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND BLACK BEARS ON THE ISLAND,
SO IT'S REALLY EASY TO GO FROM THE PREDATOR TO THE PREY.
OH [BLEEP]
Narrator: MEANWHILE, BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD...
IT AIN'T COMING OUT!
...OTTO'S STRUGGLE TO CLEAR A FIELD DRIVES HIM TO THE EXTREME.
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
SON OF A [BLEEP]