DOUG RHODES is the son and grandson of commercial fishermen from
Sitka and Petersburg. Growing up in
Sitka, he began hand trolling on his own
with a 13 foot Boston Whaler as a kid. Doug has trolled, gillnetted and herring
fished in Southeast Alaska from Dixon Entrance to Cape Fairweather for the past
40 years.
He began writing poetry as a child, but began writing fishing poetry as a way to help stay awake while hanging on the net during a 72 hour opener. Doug describes his poetry style as “Doctor Suess meets Frank Zappa”. Others know him as the “Puke Bag Poet” because he likes to jot poetry down on Alaska Airlines barf bags while flying.
Doug currently lives in Craig, Alaska and gillnets out of Coffman Cove, Alaska on the F/V Nakwasina,, and operates a small fish processing facility there called Snow Pass Seafoods.
He began writing poetry as a child, but began writing fishing poetry as a way to help stay awake while hanging on the net during a 72 hour opener. Doug describes his poetry style as “Doctor Suess meets Frank Zappa”. Others know him as the “Puke Bag Poet” because he likes to jot poetry down on Alaska Airlines barf bags while flying.
Doug currently lives in Craig, Alaska and gillnets out of Coffman Cove, Alaska on the F/V Nakwasina,, and operates a small fish processing facility there called Snow Pass Seafoods.
AUDIO
WRITINGS
Life Raft
I bought my Elliot life raft for my fishing boat
Way back in 1989
I paid around 3 thousand for it back then
But I figured that would be just fine.
But then I realized that this was just the start
As I had to get it repacked each year
Well, that would cost me 500 dollars
And my eyes welled up with a tear.
Then I found out that every five years
I had to pay another thousand more
This raft was much more expensive
Than I initially paid for it at the store!
Now I’m all about boating safety
But throwing money at that raft I’ve hated
‘cause I’ve spent 20 thousand on it over the years
and I’ve never even seen it inflated!
So now I’ve decided it’s time for a change
I’m not even sure my raft would float
I could spend another thousand and get it checked out
But it’s still a 20 year old life raft boat!
So this spring I’m going to pull the cord and inflate it
And float down the Thorne River – I’ve got nothing to lose…
I’m going to eat my packaged food and drink the water
And enjoy my 20 thousand dollar cruise.
_________________
Oscar November Echo
“Oscar November Echo”
crackled the radio, obviously in a code
a three digit number-
he must have hit the motherlode!
The guys around him weren’t doing that well
How could he have them beat?
“Oscar November Echo”
I wish I had his code sheet!
I changed all of my hootchies
Heard a Jimmy, and took a look
There was “Oscar November Echo” man
Headin’ in to drop the hook!
My whole days catch was a dab of fish
I had oh so much to learn…
I spotted “Oscar November Echo” at anchor
And I pulled up to his stern.
How did you catch so many fish I asked
As politely as I could be
He laughed as he said it’s not that many
It stands for O N E!
_________________
The Stuff I Hate to Do
In the spring before my lines are cast, I climb up to the top of the mast
And check the rigging and change a mast light too..
I know it has to be done, it just isn’t that much fun
It’s just more stuff I hate to do!
My engine room is so small, and to check it out I must crawl
On my hands and knees each spring as I clean up all the bilge goo
I check all my wires and hoses, it ain’t no bed of roses
It’s just more stuff I hate to do!
When the clock strikes noon on the third Sunday of June
And there’s tons of Pop weed, Bull kelp and other tidal residue
I’ll pick each mesh pronto, even though I don’t want to
It’s just more stuff I hate to do!
I keep my knives all sharp and near, and have got all my dive gear
In case someone needs me to give them an underwater view
Of a wheel full of net and twine, or a plugged intake line
It’s just more stuff I hate to do!
And at the end of the season, I’m happy for some strange reason,
‘cause although my bank account is larger, I forget there’s one more thing to do…
through e mail and faxes, with my accountant I figure out all my taxes
It’s just more stuff I hate to do!….
