I don't have pictures ready, but I spent last week at Sportsman's Cove Lodge on Prince of Wales island, Alaska. It was pretty early in the year, so we kept hearing that the fish weren't that big or plentiful, which was crazy to me when you consider we all (6 of us) brought home 45lbs of salmon and halibut for the ice chest... We signed up already to go again next August.
What really set the place apart was the customer service - bar none the finest I've ever experienced in my life from the instant you touch down until the instant you leave. They were attentive to our every need with alacrity (and we traveled with my father's PITA "female travel buddy," so there were plenty). The place is owned by an old navy pilot who basically runs a friendly military operation where every detail is attended to and every conceivable situation accounted for. Pretty remarkable when you consider that every supply needs to take a float plane or two-hour boat ride to get there.
Our deckhand was this amazing 19-year-old kid who somehow managed to get his associates degree while he was in high school (I guess Alaska has a program for go-getters to do this), who rose at 4:30 or so each morning, and who kept working until past 7:00 p.m. He had the boat completely spotless for us each morning and showed the patience of Job with dealing with our needs. If I ever make it to a point in my career where I am in charge of hiring people, and I see that someone worked as a deckhand for any length of time, I don't think I'll need to bother with the other resumes. I've never met a better employee in my life.
Anyway, if any of you want to check it out,
www.alaskasbestlodge.com . They do say that there are better places to catch bigger fish up there, but they've made a point of carving their niche with the customer service angle. If you want to travel north with the wife and kids, this is definitely the place you want to visit.
