Peters Creek father, son start Kenai River dipnet guide service

Glen Trombley knows his boat will get some attention this summer on the Kenai River, so he gave it a name to remember.

“It’ll be a name they won’t forget,” said the Peters Creek hunting guide, who is launching a sockeye salmon dipnetting guide service aboard a custom 28-foot aluminum pontoon boat called “The Dip Ship.”

Trombley said his daughter Alexis, who had recently returned home from college, suggested the cheeky name.

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“The first thing that came out of her mouth was ‘The Dip Ship,’” he said.

Trombley hopes to attract Alaskans who don’t have boats and are unwilling or unable to participate in the annual personal use fishery at the mouth of the Kenai River. He thinks his service will appeal to anyone looking for an easier, more convenient way to access the popular fishery, which draws thousands of Alaskans to the lower Kenai River July 10-31. Each Alaska “head of household” is allowed 25 sockeye per summer, with another 10 for each additional household member. That can add up to a lot of time spent cleaning fish — which Trombley said fishermen don’t have to worry about aboard his boat.

“We do that for you,” he said.

Trombley’s son, Kody, will serve as deckhand, helping pull fish aboard and cleaning them onboard. Glen said he plans to fish six nets out of the boat, which is outfitted with a 115-horsepower Mercury four-stroke outboard engine, 27-inch railings and color-coded clickers mounted to the steering console to count fish as they’re hauled aboard.

Glen Trombley poses for a photo next to his pontoon boat “The Dip Ship” outside his home in home in Peters Creek, Alaska on Monday, June 19, 2017. Trombley and his son, Kody, will operate the boat this summer in the Kenai River personal use salmon fishery. (Star photo by Matt Tunseth)

Glen Trombley stands aboard his pontoon boat “The Dip Ship” outside his home in home in Peters Creek, Alaska on Monday, June 19, 2017. Trombley and his son, Kody, will operate the boat this summer in the Kenai River personal use salmon fishery. (Star photo by Matt Tunseth)