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Anglers ahoy for
Choy’s fishin’ trip

Sam Choy is going on a fishing expedition. The chef has not changed profession, to say, reporter or lawyer. He'll lead an actual fishing expedition to Waterfall Resort in Ketchikan, Alaska, in June.

Choy is a repeat visitor to the remote resort that is open only 100 days each year, during the summer salmon run.

"As soon as you step off the float plane, you're in this whole different world. You can just feel the tension leaving," Choy said.

He didn't mention the aloha spirit, but two of the resort's owners, Ken Abe and Marge Boyd, are from Hawaii and are turning marketing efforts homeward for local anglers and foodies.

Ninety percent of Waterfall's guests are repeat visitors, including individual travelers and corporate clients, Abe said. Ford Motor Corp. uses travel to the resort to reward stellar sellers. "Basically they buy out the resort," Abe said.

Guides lead fisher-guests to favored spots, "and you don't have to touch (the catch) again until you throw it in your trunk at the airport," Choy said. Resort staff clean and prepare the fish and flash-freeze it, "filleted, whole, steaked, whatever you want," he said.

Choy doesn't limit himself to fishing spots and guest quarters. "It's just like anything else, you go up there and just relax and enjoy, but gotta do something yeah?" He often hangs out in the hotel and crew kitchens and cooks.

Hawaii-folk on the Choy tour will be treated to a private fresh-catch dinner prepared by Choy and the resort chef while all the resort's guests will get a Hawaiian-style meal prepared by Choy on another night.

Not that the kitchen staff needs help, Choy said. "The food is just remarkable, just amazing," said the chef.

A free dinner at Sam Choy's Breakfast Lunch and Crab Wednesday will offer guests a taste of salmon, crab and other delights flown in from the resort to encourage folks to sign up for Choy's trip or plan for another time. Invitations to the dinner are free, but reservations must be made by calling (800) 350-3474.

Not for the faint of wallet, packages start at $3,000, not including air fare. Information about the resort can be found at www.waterfallresort.com.