Rogotzkes share their catch

Fairfax feasts on smoked salmon

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

FAIRFAX -- Dozens of residents and their taste buds feasted on smoked salmon from Bristol Bay, Alaska Saturday as the Rogotzke family reunited.

The scent of barbequed smoked salmon cut the air around Moe's Pizzeria on the west main street as the Rogotzkes celebrated Bob's 40th year in business. They shared a large amount of fish they caught last summer in Bristol Bay.

The tender, smoked salmon was made even more delectable with the addition of Dave's own concoction of garlic, soy sauce, olive oil and maple syrup.

Bob's son Dave of Duluth barbequed the smoked fish behind Moe's. He's becoming known for his maple syrup that won first prize at the 2003 Minnesota State Fair.

Dave Rogotzke waxed philosophically as he cooked and served.

"It's a special privilege to fish and be able to enjoy it with the family and community," he said.

Video film of the Rogotzkes and their two 32-foot fishing boats dragging 300-foot fishing nets in Bristol Bay was shown as visitors feasted on the salmon.

The Rogotzkes admit Alaskan king salmon and sockeye salmon fishing isn't as good as it was due to more competition and increased regulation. Nonetheless, Roger caught 8,000 pounds of king salmon and Dave 5,000 pounds last summer.

Fishing in Bristol Bay isn't for the faint hearted. Storms can create 30 foot waves, making it nearly impossible to navigate, even threatening survival.

Dave recalled the 1991 fishing trip when powerful tides and 25 to 30 foot waves knocked the boats around the sandbars of Bristol Bay. Fishing company helicopters helped guide the fishing boats back in. There was no Global Positioning System (GPS) in those days.

Huge waves crashed on the decks of the fishing vessels, often ruining electrical systems and killing boat engines.

It's fishing side by side in fishing boats in Bristol Bay with his brother, father and friends that Dave enjoys, even during storms. It's the challenging times that made the easy times that much better, he said.

Roger described what it was like to captain a vessel in such conditions.

"It's tough doing much when all you can see is water on all sides. The waves were like cliffs," Roger Rogotzke said. "It was all I could do to try to keep the boat from flipping over. I revved the engine in forward and reverse as we rode the waves."

The tide pushed them away from shore for six hours, then back towards shore for six hours while the waves crashed around them. Steel stanchions on the boat were snapped off.

On another occasion, Bob Rogotzke, who doesn't swim but is able to tread water, fell overboard on Dave's boat. An unusual twist of fate saved Bob's life.

"Although I was sleeping, I heard his (dad's) head hit the side of the boat as he went overboard. I'm a light sleeper," Dave said.

Bob later told his sons he didn't remember anything after hitting his head on the boat until his underwater descent was stopped by the bottom of Bristol Bay, about 40 feet below the surface.

After Bob surfaced, Dave threw his dad a buoy but he drifted about a half mile from the boat before Dave got upwind of him and drifted back towards his father and hauled him in, waterlogged boots, heavy jacket and all.

"We carried him to the bunk and gave him a couple sleeping bags and he was fine," Dave said.

Bristol Bay and its millions of salmon and storybook-size rainbow trout are well-known for raising the pulse of fishermen the world over.

"Salmon fishing isn't as profitable it was but it's still a great fishing trip," Bob said.

Dave talked about fishing in Bristol Bay when the salmon are running.

"When you're fishing, you're often awake for 15 to 20 consecutive hours when the fishing are running, catch a couple hours of sleep and you're up working again. It's a rush."

The Rogotzke offspring may continue the salmon fishing. Roger's 17-year-old son Tom has made the fishing trip the past five years. Dave's 17-year-old daughter Katie has made the trip three times. She played the violin Saturday afternoon inside Moe's.

Bob and his wife farmed near Lamberton for seven years before moving to Fairfax in December 1964 where they opened a Standard Oil service station and hauled bulk fuel.

Gasoline was 20-25 cents a gallon in those days. A tankful of fuel oil cost $30. The Rogotzkes don't pump gas at the pump anymore but they still haul bulk fuel oil to loyal customers in the Fairfax area.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com