******UPDATE FOR 2024 SALMON SEASON****** Rate of pay for processors is *$17.15 per hour (regular time - depending on experience) and $25.73 per hour (overtime)* for new hires. Leader Creek is also providing round trip transportation from your closest international airport *(within the US/Puerto Rico)* to their plant in Naknek, Alaska! *++ REFERRAL BONUS PROGRAM ++* ****Did you find this video helpful and has it convinced you to apply to Leader Creek? If so, we very kindly ask you to list us, Fiona or Jerry from A Couple of Drifters, as a referral on your Leader Creek job application.****
The best way to apply is through Leader Creek's official website: www.leadercreekfisheries.com/ From there, someone from Leader Creek will reach out to any prospects.
Enjoyed your honest description of cannery life. I first came to Alaska in 1981 to work the canneries and never left. I did 17 salmon seasons (a long with Herring, halibut, tanner crab and shrimp). But it will always be the people I met through those years that I will always remember and cherish. Some of them have been life long friends. But what I am most proud of is that my sons have their own boats and permits and fish Bristol Bay ever year now.
Buy the xtra-tuff boots. They're worth it for the comfort and slip resistance. Buy one size large and fit the boots with felt insoles. Buy a second pair of felt insoles and change them out half way through your shift. Pull out the insoles at the end of the day to dry. Wear clean and dry wool or synthetic boot socks. This will make a big difference to your comfort during long hours on the processing line.
Thank you Jeff for sharing this information - it will be very helpful to anyone considering this type of work. We both used Bama socks and insulated soles - it was amazing how well the Bamas kept your feet dry inside of them, even though the outer part of the sock would be wet from perspiration. Bama socks seemed great for wicking away any moisture. The absolute importance of warm, dry feet can't be stressed enough. We agree: pulling out insoles at the end of your shift is crucial. It sounds like you speak from experience - where did you work? Thanks for the comment, Jeff!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Some folks like bama socks. Glad they work for you. I spent more than 20 years in the industry in Southeast Alaska. Somewhat different game than Bristol Bay.
I showed my son this video, he worked there at the processing facility last summer salmon season. He remembered you both and said the two of you were some of the nicest people he’s ever met. He is going back this summer for 2023 season.
Hi Jody. This is such a lovely comment and it means so much to us! Tell us more about your son - what is his name and which department did he work in? Tell him to say hello to us 2023! The sentiments shared by your son have certainly made our day - we really appreciate it!
@ACoupleofDrifters Hi his name is Nick and worked in the fileting department and forklift. He said he'd see you there and say hello to you both and remind you that its his mom who made this comment on your post. 😄
We're thinking of Nick with long blonde hair - is that him? We're happy knowing he'll return to Leader Creek in 2023. Thanks again for the lovely comment, Jody!
Aw Cory, thank you so very much for your lovely words and for making my day. Are you returning to Leader Creek this summer? Hopefully we'll see you there. Thanks again Cory 🤗🤗.
Welcome back guys. I must say that what you both accomplished in those 6 weeks or so is absolutely amazing. I can't see how your bodies were able to keep up with the grueling back to back 16 hour days. The pay is fantastic but you guys worked your asses off to earn it. My hats off to both of you and once again welcome back. Can't wait to see what new adventures await.
Thank you William! The long work days seemed like madness at first, then we slowly (and strangely) got used to them. Eventually we started dreaming of how nice a 12-hour work day would be! Indeed, the job was very tough but working with such wonderful people really helped. Thanks again for your comment, William!
Welcome back! Thanks for this very interesting and comprehensive description of life at Leader Creek. I feel like a real slacker watching this while working at home and eating lunch at my desk! That said, I enjoyed hearing about the people and relationships ... I am sure you could write a book about the stories of your fellow employees. Now, if you miss salmon (?🐟?!), it is coho season here in SW British Columbia. Our annual Coho Festival in West Vancouver is coming up Sept 11 (with a huge, you guessed it, salmon bbq)! Finally, sorry if I sound like a traitor - but we are having halibut tonight.
Thank you Dan! Indeed, we met so many lovely folks at Leader Creek Fisheries - the mount of work we did to produce a record-breaking season really brought us all together. The salmon-fest in BC sounds like a much more relaxing way to remember the salmon season than working 16-hour days! Having said that, we are considering a return to Leader Creek next year! Halibut for dinner - that sounds so delicious right now! Halibut is our favorite - maybe someday we'll try our luck with halibut in Alaska?
Hi Jerry &Fiona. Great to see your video on salmon processing. Wonderful and informative video . Jerry I noticed your injury on your thumb,it seams red.,it’s obvious you lost your nail. I’m so proud of you and Fiona, both tuff. You both look great in spite of the gruesome schedule you had. Much love to you both. I love you both❤️❤️
We are happy to give you a glimpse of what life was like at Leader Creek! I'm happy to say that both of my thumbnails are on the mend - one fared a little worse than the other did. We felt great on our last day at Leader Creek when we filmed this video - the weather was lovely, the work was finished and it felt good knowing we were heading back to Seattle the next day! Thanks for your love and support - we love you too!
Quite the change of scenery and climate. Please tell me you didn't hitchhike from Mexico to Seatle.... I was wondering why I hadnt seen any postings . Glad your ok .
Hi Dan. It was definitely quite the change in scenery and climate. We didn't hitchhike from Mexico to Seattle, although the original plan was to hitchhike from New Mexico (which is where we were, to Seattle). We ended up going from New Mexico to Pennsylvania. We spent about a week with Jerry's family as we had time to kill before making our way to Seattle. We ended up renting a car from Pennsylvania to Seattle. This entailed an unfortunate encounter between the rental car and a deer, at just under the Montana interstate speed limit - 80mph! We were grand just a bit stunned. Unfortunately the poor deer and rental car did not fare so well. Jerry did an incredible job of keeping control of the car and getting us to a stop - serious James Bond driving skills. Oh yeah and because the deer hit the bonnet, the bonnet then flew up in the air and obscured the windscreen - just flapping wildly and blocking all vision. Can't believe we're here to tell this tale, it was all a bit mad! So that was the beginning of our adventures before we even got to Alaska! Hopefully we'll return to Alaska next summer to work again. It's lovely to hear from you Dan. Hope you've got some travels planned yourself. - Fi and Jerry (Your Drifters) 🤗🤗
Indeed, it was a great experience and we are so happy to have met you Micah - we'll never forget your hard work and your positive attitude. We wish you well and we hope our paths cross again in the future!
Hi Nicholas. You're very welcome. We had a lot of questions ourselves last year before we went to Leader Creek. We know it can be a little daunting heading there, but before you know it you'll settle in and meet some lovely folk. It is an intense experience, but we're all in it together. Make sure you find us once you get there. 😊😊
Good luck you guys. Your video was very informative. My daughter watched it and now she is there at Leader Creek. Hopefully you will get to meet her. I hope you have a great season.
Hi James. We both knew Lela and we're so happy she completed the season! I (Jerry) talked with her about foods we missed from back home, Myrtle Beach and...salmon! She really wanted some Chick-fil-A once she returned to Virginia! Tell her we say "hi" and we hope to see her for the 2024 season.
Hey guys I made it to pelican, it's absolutely beautiful here and yokabi fisheries is a great company and it's family owned, everyone is super nice and there's about 15 or a little more processors, their season starts in April and ends in mid September and you have to pay for your trip to Juneau but they'll pay for a ferry or float plane to get here and it's 16$ an hour 12-14 hour days but if you complete the season you'll get the extra 2$ as retroactive pay, you have to cook your own breakfast and you get 45 minute lunches an dinner and the food is great
Hi Cristian - it's lovely hearing from you and thanks for the update! Sounds like you are enjoying thinks at Yacobi - we're so happy it worked out for you! Hope you take a break little after Pelican Island. We are looking forward to seeing you back at Leader Creek in 2024. We are in New Mexico at the moment, relaxing and catching up on sleep before we head to Mexico. 🤗🤗
Hello, my name is Lowell Hartman. I want to work at a cannery in 2025. I am 56 years old and staying in shape. I am retired law enforcement. I want to work 6-9 months out of the year. I am starting to send out applications. I hope it will not be too difficult to get hired with a fish cannery. Thank you for any advice or comments.
We're glad to hear our video brought back memories for you - thank you for watching! From what you've seen in the video, has Leader Creek changed much since 2008?
@@ACoupleofDrifters Yeah housing buildings changed. I am not sure if they rebuilt them or just changed the coatings, windows, doors etc. Sadly I was not mostly aware of what is going on around because of my mental disorders. I had stayed at a two bed room. Food looks familiar. They used to make turkey roast some times, It was the first time I had it in my life and I loved it. Paycheck seems doubled. It was something like 7.5$ regular and 11.25$ overtime per hour. Thank you for your response by the way.
It seems the multi-level housing units are quite new, from what we heard. Also we heard that the pay rate for the 2022 season jumped significantly from the season before - by a few dollars from what others said. Indeed, the current pay rate and the overtime rate is quite handsome. We also stayed in a two-bed room and we must say it was rather comfortable. The food was absolutely amazing in our opinion, however we'll eat just about anything. 😂 We're very happy to hear from a past Leader Creek employee - thank you so much for watching and commenting!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Did you work anywhere else beside Naknek? Because after working three weeks in Naknek we had been transferred to Kodiak island the famous place for grizzly bears. I remember one night I did not go to work because I was afraid of bears. We used to go to work at night by walking but that night I could not wake up in time and my friends had left already. So because of fear I preferred to skip a workday 🤭Dont at me please because there were big garbage containers roadside with a note saying “beware of bears, they may get in to containers looking for food”. Though I saw bear only once.
We only worked in Naknek, although at the end of the season at Leader Creek there was an option to head directly to Ketchikan on the company's dime, although we can't remember what they were processing there... As for the bears, we didn't see any but many people there did, both on the way to work and after work. We always thought "Here we are, we smell like salmon...and there are bears here - not good!" In fact, before we even got to Naknek we were mildly concerned with having a bear run-in somewhere on Leader Creek property - they were there, we just never saw one.
Welcome back! I didn't get notifications so I got some catching up to do, you two really are the most adventurous people I have seen, you put in the hard work to keep traveling, the experiences and stories to tell are endless, so glad you share them.
Hello mjc 427, it's lovely to hear from you. Yes we made an incredibly impromptu decision whilst we were house sitting in March to head up to Alaska to process salmon during the summer - never a dull moment with us 😉🤣! It really was a brilliant experience, albeit hard work and long hours. We may return there next summer (2023) or elsewhere in Alaska for work! We know we want to continue to travel so we reckon seasonal work is a great way (for us) to fund our wanderings. More drifting to come... As far as the notifications go, we checked our settings on the site this morning and it appears we're set up for notifications to go through to subscribers. We could see from our analytics that it seems to be working. Do you know if you're having any bother receiving notifications from any other site? It's frustrating to know that you've very kindly subscribed and hit the notification bell and that you're not getting the notifications. Thank you so much mjc 427 for tuning in to us and for enjoying our videos. These two Drifters really appreciate your comments and support. 🤗🤗
It was a very good season, indeed. Reports I've seen for this season are pointing at bigger fish, but less of them versus the 2022 season. If you've applied, we hope to see you there in 2023 - say hello to us!
Hi Richard, it's so lovely to hear from you, what a nice surprise! We do plan on returning to Leader Creek for 2023 so we'll see you then! We did make it to Mexico and now we are in Peru. We return to the US in late March - by then we'll have plenty of time to get in shape again for Naknek! Happy New Year to you, Richard!
Sharky!! It's so lovely to hear from you. We hope yourself and your wee family are all keeping well. We miss you too, we especially miss your dance moves in the egg room which always brought a smile to everyone's face and brightened our days there. You made everyone happy and got us all bopping along and grooving too. We're almost 100% certain we'll return to Leader Creek next summer. We hope we'll see you there. - Fi and Jerry (Your Drifters) xx 🤗🤗
Check the Leader Creek website or use the website we did to apply: coolworks. We aren't sure when Leader Creek begins accepting applications - maybe after the new year? Leader Creek does hire citizens of other countries but we don't know the full details - check directly with Leader Creek regarding any hiring process/visa requirements for your friend.
We made it through 6 weeks of long days, and we're not just talking about the daylight🤣. It's definitely not a holiday camp, but it really was the bonds between folk that rallied everyone to get through each and every day. Thanks for watching and endorsing the video Brad. We're so glad that working at Leader Creek meant we got to meet you. We love you too Brad. 🤗❤️🤗❤️
I’ve worked many seasons in Alaska, it’s intense but worth it. I will be going to AGS for the first time and am surprised hours non transferable so will be paid $17.15 an hour but it’s time for a change I am burnt out on E&E foods the new management is horrendous. Everybody go to Alaska who wants a quick buck and an adventure of a life time! 😊
Check out our video featuring some must-have items for seafood processors. ruclips.net/video/SKvwGv62ovo/видео.html Here are just a few tips, but make sure to watch the video for many more. 1. Bring warm clothing, a lot of socks, insulated insoles, a winter hat and a neck gaiter. Layer-up. We suggest old/second-hand clothing because what you're wearing may get ruined/stained 2. Don't forget an alarm clock. 3. Pack some cough and cold medications - many bugs/viruses will make the rounds. Also, bring enough of any prescribed medications. 4. Have something to pass the time during any slow spells such as reading material, games, a deck of cards, etc. 5. Don't overpack: You won't need a large bottleful of shampoo, for example. I [Jerry] skip packing shampoo and instead wash my hair with soap. 😁 6. Wear glasses or contacts? Bring an extra pair just in case... 7. Bring a bath towel. 8. Wear flip flops in the shower. 9. A heating pad can really help minor aches and pains 10. There are a few bars/restaurants and shops near the plant we work at in Naknek - prices for goods/snacks/meals/booze are much, much more expensive than you'd imagine. Not sure about cigarettes... In short, try not to spend a penny in Alaska - that's our best tip! 💲 We invite others reading this to share their tips as well. Have a great season at AGS and let us know how it goes for you. 😎
You guys are the best! So much great info for potential future salmon campers. Maybe see you next year in Alaska or maybe see you in Mexico who knows :) Happy travels!
Thanks a million Daniel. Salmon campers - love it! It was meeting such lovely folk as yourself and everyone else at Leader Creek that made it such a great experience. We hope we will see you next year in Alaska but if not, no matter where or no matter when, we hope we cross paths with you again Daniel 🤗❤️🤗❤️.
I've been wondering about you two. Wasn't expecting Alaska but good to see ya'll are okay. Yeah, I'd have to opt out of the Alaska adventure. I'm not into cold weather or 16 hour work days. Unless I missed it, did the company supply meals? If not, how did ya'll cook and / or store food?
Hi jaferguson49! Yes, there were many times when we figured we must be crazy to put ourselves through 16-hour days in a salmon processing facility, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. The company provided three meals and two snack breaks for employees - you could eat as much as you wanted and it was served cafeteria-style. We wish we would've spent more time in the video talking about the food situation, especially some of our favorite dishes. Breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, corned beef hash, hotcakes, toast, yogurt, cereal, fresh fruits and cottage cheese. Lunch and dinner varied from day to day and consisted of pork, beef or chicken-inspired dishes; soups and stews; vegetables; salads and, of course, plenty of salmon at each meal. Some of our favorites were the pork loin, pot roast, flank steak, corned beef, and some very exotic salads like curried cauliflower; citrusy beet and basil and apple pecan. The desserts were amazing as well. Meals were excellent!
Hi I was in the summer 2019 season. I was 18 and just graduated high school snd was looking to earn some cash and even brought my friend from high school with me. I worked in the roe room next to the laundry room and can’t believe it’s been 3 years.
Hi Modal Interchange, Do you mean the roe house all the way down by the marina, or the small roe room located to the side of the fish house area? Both of these (the roe house and the roe room) are located next to laundry facilities. I (Jerry) worked in fish house and occasionally worked in the small roe room. Fiona worked in the laundry area (glove room) next to the roe room, and she even worked the roe room herself. You can relate to how long and difficult the hours were - so was the work! Truth be told, we had a very positive experience there and met so many lovely people. From what we understand the hourly rate has gone up significantly since 2019. The overtime rate at the moment is really good - enough to make us consider a return in 2023! Would you ever return? Thanks for the comment - it's lovely hearing from fellow Leader Creek employees!
Hi Jann. Thank you for the lovely welcome back. We got paid fortnightly. If you had direct debit, your pay cheque was just deposited into your account. Otherwise you were given live cheques. There were even some performance bonuses based on the records that were broken in the plant. Great questions, so thank you for asking. There was a lot of information we felt we had to share, but we knew we'd forget some too 🤦♀️.
Great to see you two. What a wild experience. So different from your normal trips. Sounds like it was hard work. But, I am glad you took away good feelings about it. So, lucky to have had the opportunity during the good weather season. I look forward to your next adventure. Take Good Care. See Ya when I See Ya.
Hi Roy! This was an absolutely lovely experience and we are lucky to have been a part of the record-breaking season at Leader Creek Fisheries - everyone worked so hard. The weather was good and the overall climate was quite comfortable during our time there. We are even thinking of returning next season! Take care Roy!
Hi Fi and Jerry, excellent video. I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering if you were finished yet. Hope you ate lots of salmon and stocked up on the omegas. Fascinating to see the set up. Was there any risk of injury? D
Hi D. Thanks a million for enjoying the video. We're finished and back in Mazatlán. I (Fiona) ate a LOT of salmon there, sometimes twice a day. Have to admit though by the end I was getting tired of it! There were a lot of injuries, mostly wrist and hand injuries and also back injuries. Honestly mentally and physically this is a very tough job, but worth it once you push through everything! - Fi and Jerry (Your Drifters) ❤️❤️
I love you guys. You are bringing back many memories. I hope you are doing well. I worked there in 2008 in Leader Creek. I miss those days 😢 I wish I could visit there and experience it again.
@@ACoupleofDrifters They had sent us to Koidak after Naknek. We had worked for about a month in Kodiak. Are you going to do something like that or you are done for this year?
Fascinating! After seeing this, I begged my husband to try it for ourselves next salmon season. We both work in a University dining service that slows down in the summer to intolerable boredom. I know they'd let us both have a leave of absence for this adventure, but he literally thinks I've gone insane. Six weeks of income for me with my second catering job is around $7,760 US. Would I come out ahead? Was Leader Creek your first choice? I was looking at Peter Pan as well. I think they'd pay for airfare from Omaha. Did they test your urine for thc? Also, I will be 49 by next summer, will I be too old? So many questions, but I'm full of admiration for your work ethic, well done both of you!
Hi Misty! Thank you for such a lovely comment! Also, thank you for your questions - you are the audience we are trying to reach with this video. Depending on the amount of salmon from one season to the next, you may make the same amount of money at Leader Creek as you would at your second job. Of course, this all depends on other factors as well. $7,500 to $8,500 + (after tax) for about six weeks of work at Leader Creek is not unheard of. Leader Creek was the only company we looked at based on their transparency, reviews and ultimately the wonderful communication with their HR staff before we accepted the job/arrived in Alaska. Having said that, we cannot speak for Peter Pan and what their policy is regarding transportation. Leader Creek _did not_ require a drug test for us in order to be considered for processing, before or during the 2022 sockeye salmon season. Is 49 too old? I (Jerry) was 47 and Fiona was 49 during our season at Leader Creek - we certainly weren't too old! We were _some_ of the older employees there. Most employees were in their late teens/early 20's but there were also folk older than us. Regardless of age, it really is all about mentally and physically telling yourself that it's just for 5/6 weeks. Like we said in the video, it's NOT easy but no matter which seafood processing plant you look into, this type of work won't be easy. It's hard work and long hours but it's also a very quick way to make some decent cash.
Hi Misty. We forgot to mention that Leader Creek has a kitchen staff - perhaps the dining service experience you and your husband have would be a good fit at Leader Creek? From what we understand, seafood processing plants in Alaska all have kitchen staff providing meals for employees - not just Leader Creek Fisheries. If you are both interested in this department, you can always get in contact with Leader Creek and ask them to put you in contact with their head chef, Lou. We've left a link to Leader Creek Fisheries in the video description. Although the kitchen staff is employed by Leader Creek Fisheries, Lou reviews all kitchen staff applicants and hires them directly. We don't know the rate of pay for kitchen staff - it may be different to the rate of pay for salmon processers. This is something else to consider in case the adventure of coming to Alaska appeals to you both, but the prospects of salmon processing doesn't. Reach out to us if you have any more questions.
Hi Allen - congrats on finishing your contract! You really toughed it out this season and we hope you are felling better. We hope to see you in 2024 as well. 🤗🤗
For the purpose of this video we couldn't film the inside of the plant and the various tasks/types of jobs involved - we signed a waiver saying we wouldn't. In the video we did our best to describe the various types of physical requirements for the jobs involved.
WooHaa!!! I've missed you guys! 22:30 Fiona! Only time I've seen you with your hair down. And officially, you guys are officially "bad ass" for doing this... I could not even though I've been doing crossfit...but I'm almost 64.
Aw thanks for missing us RedSpiralHand 🤗🤗. Yeah if ever there was a time to let my hair down,, then it was after completing our time working in a fish processing plant 🤣! There might have to be a smidgen of bad assedness involved in getting through a fish processing season 😉.
Hi. Thank you for the informative video. I'm too late for this season but I definitely plan on applying for a job in summer 2024. I'm a college student. This will be a good opportunity since I can't live in the dorms in the summer. I'll be available for work from end of May to mid August.
Thank you so much for enjoying our video and finding it informative. We hope you make it to Leader Creek in 2024. The season runs from June 15th through August 15th. The last two years we have worked there (2023 and 2024) we were finished working the end of July. Keep an eye on Leader Creek's website from early in the New Year to apply. This year (2023) positions filled up very quickly.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you for you response. Will I need professional references in order to apply? How much can I expect to make when everything is said and done?
You will need references in order to apply. These may be from former employers or simply a character reference from someone who can vouch for you. As for how much can be made, it really does depend on the run of the salmon, i.e. how busy the plant is for the season. It also depends on one completing their contract. If you complete your contract and it is a typical season, you can expect to make between $8,000 and $10,000 or thereabouts.
This has got to be the best video about Leader Creek I've seen. You have answered so many of my questions and concerns. I like the metal lockers, seems more secure. I'm working a seasonal job now...ends May 15th, then starts back mid-September. The timing of this is perfect. Still not sure if I'll do it, but, it's looking promising. The pay has gone up and I saw where they are footing the bill on flights close to where I live...if this is true, very nice. Well, awesome video...hopefully, I'll see you there!
Thank you so much for the compliment - we're very happy this video was helpful! Indeed, Leader Creek's new policy for 2023 of flying employees from home (instead of just Seattle or Anchorage) makes a big difference, as does the significant raise of pay. If you come to Leader Creek this year, make sure you find us and say hello. What seasonal work are you doing now?
@@ACoupleofDrifters I deliver flowers / vegetable plants to major grocery chains in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. I'm home everyday, long hours though...they work us 9 weeks in Spring and then 6 weeks in Fall. I'm a retired deputy sheriff (2020) and have been working seasonal / part time jobs since. I did apply to Leader creek last year, but told the recruiter I was going to go ahead and take a full-time job instead so I could pay-off our motorhome. Well, they lost a contract at the site I was working and that ended January 1st of this year. I went back to the seasonal job and have been pondering my next move....Leader Creek is looking pretty good right now. I did try to apply online and everytime I try...either by cell phone or laptop...I keep getting the same message "site can't be reached." I even tried through Coolworks and got the same response. I ended up emailing Leader Creek and asked them if they still had my info on file or if they could help me out locating a way to apply...? Hey, again, you guys really did a great job on that video...thank you again. I'll update you on what happens!
I just ran Leader Creek's website through a "down-detector" app - it indicates their site is indeed offline for some reason. Coolworks links through to Leader Creek's site when you click the "Apply Now" tab on the former, so...This is not good - how long have you experienced this? We hope they get this sorted out soon and you can properly apply for the job. Keep checking Leader Creek's website from time to time. Thanks for telling us about your seasonal job - it sounds like something I (Jerry) might enjoy, especially if there's any physical aspect to the deliveries. We really hope you get a chance to work for Leader Creek this season - it's tough work and the hours are very long but the pay certainly makes it worth the effort. The food there is quite nice as well! 😋😋
@@ACoupleofDrifters Okay, well, that explains it...hopefully they'll get it back running. I just saw this today on their website. Oh yeah, the company I work for now is Rockwell farms in Rockwell, North Carolina. "Metrolina Greenhouse" is another big time distributor....I'm sure there are others, but these folks do deliver to other states. I deliver my deliveries in a box truck...non CDL. I'm not gauranteed a run everyday...here as the end of the season draws closer, I may only run 3-4 days a week. This Monday i don't have a run, but they gave me a 450 mile run for Tuesday, so that will give me some hours. The season for Spring ends right at May 15th, then we deliver Mums for the Fall season....mid September - mid to end of October. I only worked about three Saturdays for them last Fall, because I was working that full-time job. I hear they don't take out state taxes in Alaska, just federal. My wife and I were running the numbers and "before" taxes, we got $21,312.....we were running $18 for regular hours and $27 for any overtime. If that's the case, that's some serious money for just 8 weeks work....wow.
That's correct - no individual state income tax in Alaska. Keep in mind that the number of hours worked will depend on the amount of fish being caught and processed in the plant. 2022 was a record-breaking season at Leader Creek for the amount of salmon being processed - together we grossed $21,628.45 before taxes. Of course, our individual income tax situations may be different than yours. Now let's talk about industry projections for the 2023 Sockeye Salmon season: Indicators point to considerably less fish this season versus last season, but bigger/more mature salmon....just less of them. I don't know if that necessarily means more work in the plant... From the official industry predictions I've been able to find online, I'd consider them to be quite accurate over the years - they have their ways of coming up with pre-season projected numbers and the after season numbers haven't seemed to be not too far off, historically. Having said all of this, the raise in pay for the 2023 season may make all the difference. The new rates could mean that our 2023 take-home pay might be comparable to our take-home pay last season - this is keeping in mind the predictions of less salmon this season and the crazy amount of fish we processed last season at $15.85 regular time/$23.78 overtime. Not all of the work days will involve overtime - this is normal, especially at the start and end of the season. For us, the very start of the 2022 season was quite slow and the overtime just wasn't there...until it was. Out of a total of 42 days on the job in 2022, 28 of those days (in a row!) had 16-hour shifts.
Could you make a video of all your purchases and must have items (or a slide show images of items recommended and must haves) your bringing to leader creek fisheries I have my interview on Monday and hopefully I get in I would greatly appreciate all your recommendations purchases. Last question how many breaks are there in total per shift ?
Hi jahziel. This link takes you directly to the area of our amazon shop which has a list of things we recommend bringing to Leader Creek: www.amazon.com/shop/acoupleofdrifters/list/XR73OBOKNHOW?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d Also, we do have a video filmed which highlights the essential things to bring, however we need to edit this video and get it on RUclips. Currently we are traveling and we won't have time to edit and release this video until late March/early April. Please keep an eye out for this video! As for breaks on 16-hour shifts, expect two 15-minute breaks (paid) and one 30-minute meal break (unpaid - you must clock out, then clock back in). Depending on your shift, the meal you have 30 minutes for may be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Good luck with your interview on Monday - you'll do fine! The HR staff at Leader Creek are really friendly and your interview will be relaxed! We hope to see you in Naknek for the 2023 season - make sure you say hi to us! Let us know if you have any more questions.
Congratulations on this video. Thank you for the great information. You are courageous. As an adventurous Brit in the UK, I would love to come to Alaska and work.
Thank you, pia - this is a lovely comment! We know Leader Creek has sorted out the proper visas for their processors coming from south of the border. If you're interested and if the proper visa to work in Alaska is something you are eligible for, why not enquire directly with Leader Creek?
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you for your kind encouragement. I will drop them an email and let you know how I get on. Meanwhile, wishing you both all the very best.
Hello, my name is Lowell Hartman. I want to work at a cannery in 2025. I am 56 years old and staying in shape. I am retired law enforcement. I want to work 6-9 months out of the year. I am starting to send out applications. I hope it will not be too difficult to get hired with a fish cannery. Thank you for any advice or comments.
Hi Stacy and Carol. Aw, it is so lovely to hear from yous. I miss yous too. We hope yous are both well rested now. Instead of working 16 hours, we've actually been known to sleep for 16 hours for the first couple of days after finishing up at Leader Creek! 😉 We've been resting and house sitting in New Mexico over the last couple of weeks and also just trying to catch up on everything. We hope to see yous both next year at Leader Creek. We'll also look for your film "Spoken" next time we have a telly. Massive hugs to you and your lovely Mum. xxxx 🥰❤️🥰❤️
@@ACoupleofDrifters It's great to hear from you as well!! My mother says hello, to you both. We are taking it easy and getting back into the swing of things. New Mexico sounds great, enjoy and we will stay in touch! Be safe and enjoy your trip, thank U for checking out the film when you get a chance!
thank you for this honestly. ill be headed up to togiak this summer. secured the job a couple weeks ago; just waiting for onboarding and my itinerary. im definitely bringing my own gear bc i know how important that part is. only question is gloves. do they provide a certain kind. are you guys going barehanded? never hear anyone talk about that. only the importance of warm dry feet lol
Thank you, masón. We are still waiting for onboarding this season as well - it's much later than it has been the past few seasons. Leader Creek provides PPE needed for the job, including gloves. Depending on the type of work being performed, Leader Creek will have proper gloves for the job like cut-resistant gloves or insulated gloves, for example. We suspect most if not all processing plants provide gloves as well. For more ideas on what to bring, click on our essential packing list video for seafood processors: ruclips.net/video/SKvwGv62ovo/видео.html
Hi Grace - we hope to see you at Leader Creek in 2023! As for other seasonal work, I (Fiona) picked strawberries in Arbroath, Scotland in my university days. If you are interested in other seasonal work, we recommend the website coolworks . com - this is how we found the job listing for Leader Creek in 2022. This website features at least a thousand jobs listings for all seasons, all across the United States.
Worked as a deck hand in bristol bay between 2003 and 2012. Can't believe its been 10 years. Thinking of selling my house and working again but I may be too old. maybe do processing by leader creek instead though.
We are aged 48 and 50 and have been traveling full time since 2017. Along with your comment was one from a subscriber whose wife died very suddenly on Christmas Day, 2022 - they wanted to travel as well. Not sure of his age or what his wife's age was when she died. His very sad comment has us thinking about a lot of things at the moment... Leader Creek might be a good choice for you - it may not be as difficult as being a deck hand, but it certainly beat us up a bit last year in 2022. Having said that, it was such a positive experience for us and we will be returning in 2023 - we hope to see you there! We hope this video was helpful to you.
Thank you, AB! The housing was something we had a million questions about, too - we really wanted to show folks what this is like at Leader Creek. We must ask you: What is B season?
Thanks, AB - we've never heard of the season being referred to as A or B. June through August is the same season we worked in 2022 and we'll be working it again in 2023. Hope to see you there!
What does the job actually entail ? I mean what is it that you actually do ? Do they serve salmon in the mess hall ? I hear Alaskan wild Salmon is the best in the world . Any other seasonal work that follows the Salmon season ? I live in Asia and might as well make it count. I really need a change of scenery as well. Do workers show up like a week early to get oriented and settled in ? Thank you.
What you do depends largely on the department you are assigned to. You can be in a department responsible for butchering/gutting the salmon, or in a department responsible for fileting the fish - I covered the different departments in a response to one of your comments. The exact task[s] an employee may end up doing has also been mentioned. There is good variety of tasks to perform and leads and supervisors are good at rotating employees so they don't end up doing the same thing for 16 hours. Yes, salmon is served every day in the mess hall. We've always been impressed by the variety and taste of the food at Leader Creek and the kitchen staff are the best. Many people follow the fish jobs from one to the next, working with different species at different times of the year throughout much of Alaska. We are exhausted after 5 or 6 weeks of work but are always in awe of our fellow Leader Creek employees who go directly to another processing plant to work some more, or hop on a boat and head out to sea to fish. Some employees are flown to the plant on or near June 15th - these employees usually have to wait a bit until the first salmon arrive into the plant and for the work to begin. By the time other employees arrive later, the work has already begun and they head to work right after a full day of rest/orientation. This season stared a little slower than others and I had over a full week of hanging out with people on campus before the salmon came in. Still, it was a good season and I got a lot of hours. --💲💲--
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions , I appreciate it. sorry if I seem redundant , busy like hell as season changes , hard to focus. It may work out. I will apply if another gig doesn't come through ... I will surely mention you referred me. Any way to PM you ? Thanks
Were there any guys from Ukraine participating in Work and Travel Program ? I went there in 2008 and 2009, was cool. Is Darcy still there ? She was at the window where they give you mail and cough drops. Good memories 😊
Hello. There was nobody from Ukraine participating in the Work and Travel Programme whilst we were there in 2022 or 2023. We never met anyone called Darcy, so we reckon she was not there over the last couple of years. We're glad you enjoyed your time at Leader Creek and we're glad that you too have good memories of working there. Maybe you'll return some day?
How many people does the factory need to work at full capacity ? How many quit and about how long do they last on average ? Does the company look to replace the drop outs ?
We don't know the exact number of people needed for the plant to run at full compacity, but around 400 to 450-plus is what we've heard being mentioned in the past. We don't know how many quit or how long they last on average. To us it seems a rather low percentage quits - some after a few days, some after few weeks. Yes, the company anticipates a certain amount of back-up employees needed to cover any workforce shortages. Reserves can be hired as needed.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Just noticed this reply , I asked again , please disregard ....woweee that's some tons of fish coming through . Heard nothing as good as Alaskan Salmon... I'm considering this but won't do it unless I'm sure I can finish the season ... No booze , it would be work , bathe ,bed . I'm a light sleeper but I bet I would be out cold with ringing ears as soon as head touches pillow.
I'm a light sleeper as well and I always, always sleep with earplugs. I also don't sleep a lot during the off season - maybe 6 hours at most - but in Alaska my body craves sleep and I find it extremely difficult to get out of bed. Fiona is my sweetie [and my roommate!] and she's always there to make sure I get out of bed. We choose to skip the booze to save money and to focus on the long hours of work with a clearer head.
We agree! Being without usable internet didn't bother us at all. Some people had mobile coverage on campus [there's a cell tower just up the road] but we only had access to the company-provided wi-fi in our bunkhouse. The signal was good but speeds were too slow, to the point of being completely unusable for us.
Hi, I just came upon your video because out of curiosity. I worked in a processing plant as a processor back 1978 in Anchorage but I know it’s closed now. It was an great experience I’ve never forgotten. I was wondering do they still require you join the Alaska fisherman’s union? Really enjoyed you video!❤
Hello Lori. Thank you very much for enjoying our video, and we're sorry it's taken us a few days to get back to you. We're glad to hear you also had a great experience as a seafood processor and that you still fondly remember working up in Anchorage. We did not have to join the Alaska Fisherman's Union to work at Leader Creek. We don't know if it's a requirement though at other plants. Thanks again Lori. 🤗🤗
Is there an age limit to work as a fish processor? I just turned 58 and need to pay off CC. Another question is, do I have an option to live outside the dorm? I have 4 cats...LOL!
Thank you for sharing this great experience. Do you know if they take on visiting foreigners? Or is a work visa needed? Would they maybe help with papers to be issued a visa?
Hi Katrin. A work vis will be needed. Leader Creek has sorted out visas for certain employees in the past. Leader Creek's HR staff would be the ones to reach out to for specifics regarding visa situations.
See you their June 2023 I want to stay a day or 2 after ending contract to enjoy a little after your last shift ended when did they fly you back and was it free ?
Hi Nicholas. Having a few days to to relax and/or enjoy the area really depends on _ if_ you finish your contract and how soon they send you home if you _do_ finish your contract. If you finish your contract, the later in the season they decide to send you home the better as far as having a few days to yourself. If you finish your contract and get sent home later in the season, there will be a chance to arrange a visit and a flight to Katmai National Park with other Leader Creek employees. Tours to Katmai will be on the day before Leader Creek sends you home. If you don't want to visit, you can spend your last days around Naknek. Yes, if you finish your contract then your flight home will be provided for free by Leader Creek.
Minor incidents happen for a host of reasons. More serious mishaps and accidents have been extremely rare during our employment. Most new employees get into the flow quickly - this can be in a matter of a few hours or a few shifts, depending on the type of work they are doing.
You are welcome! Not only are there are many different tasks performed within the plant, there are also different departments. One department guts the salmon, then the fish moves to another department which filets them. The filets then get moved to other departments, depending on the size and quality of each filet. Once the filets are sealed and packed [in their respective departments] they move on to the shipping department. There is also a department which deals directly with the salmon eggs. Within each department there are different tasks to be performed by employees. Each of these different tasks require different types of actions like sorting, slicing, lifting, pushing, pulling, placing, inspecting and many others. That doesn't mean employees do one single task for 16 hours each day - leads and supervisors do a good job of switching/rotating employees to different tasks throughout the shift.
Correct me if im wrong... on minute 10:03 you talked about the pay. And it goes like this: You worked 16 hours a day... 8 regular paid, and 8 overtime. $15.85 per hour... * 8 = $126.8 $23.78 Over time... * 8 = $190.24 -------------- TOTAL PER DAY= $317.04 You mentioned you worked 7 days a week: $317.04 * 7 = $2219.28 a week.... *4 weeks in a month= $8877.12 Basically, you make $8877.12 per month.......Am I wrong?
Hi ramondrpp - thank you for crunching some numbers, however in this case it's more important to know what earnings _can be_ as there is no way of knowing what they _will be_ . Are you correct with your calculation? In a word, no. You are figuring 4 weeks of continuous 16-hour shifts - this is not typical at all for processors at Leader Creek. In the video we mention 16-hour shifts, seven days a week for _up to_ three weeks (9:43) and that there will be shifts of less than 16-hours on either end of any streak of 16-hour shifts (10:44). We mention _potential_ earnings in the video (10:22) and we never mention 4 weeks (or more) of consecutive 16-hour shifts. The amount of work is determined by the amount of fish being caught and processed - for processors there are simply no guarantees of x-amount of hours/earnings.
This is great, I was a processor at Leader Creek in 2019. What an experience haha. That overtime though... Overall experience, not bad. Long hours obviously. But good experience. I have not watched all this video but did you take the trip to Katmai national park to see the bears eating the salmon?
Thank you, Eric! It's good hearing Leader Creek was a positive experience for you as well - are you returning in 2023? We didn't go to Katmai in 2022 but we heard from others who did - and we saw a lot of amazing photos from them. We'd love to take the Katmai trip this time around at the end of the 2023 season. Did you go to Katmai in 2019!
Housing at Leader Creek was much better than we'd expected - we really wondered what it would be like and hopefully this video helps others. The six-person dorms were better than we thought and the lock boxes were a nice touch. Having said that, we were happy and comfortable in our private, two-person room!
@@ACoupleofDrifters I did go to Katmai, highly recommend. I saw Grizzly bears on the trail that leads to the water fall area. I don’t think I will return but part of me wants to. I meet some great people. And the six person bunkhouse was not bad. At the end of the day everyone just wants to go to sleep. Plus I used to be in the Navy and lived in much tighter conditions with many more people.
Hi Marthe. Yes we even surprised ourselves with this one 😉! It was a rather impromptu decision on our parts. We were house sitting in New Mexico and just started talking about seasonal work, which led us to look up seasonal work and within a few hours we found ourselves applying for this fish processing job. It was a brilliant though tough experience, however we may even return next summer! Thanks for watching Marthe and for always being there for us 🤗🤗.
I will be going to Ekuk this coming June, so sharing your experience helped me a lot as to what to expect and how to prepare. Do you mind elaborating on the different processing departments/positions in the plant? maybe pros and cons of each? I understand some pay better bonus than others, and some are "specialized". Thanks again
Hi Joseph - we're happy hearing this video was helpful to you. Keep in mind that where we worked wasn't a canning facility and we can only comment on the different departments at a freezing and fileting plant like at Leader Creek. What type of facility will you be working at in Ekuk - a cannery or a freeze/filet plant? If it's the latter, we will be happy to shed some more light on the different departments, plus any pros and cons of each one. If it's a cannery, we can't be of too much help describing the different departments.
Thanks for your reply. It is not a canning facility. I understand they get the salmon straight from the boats and there is a fish house with machines to process (heading, gutting, slimming) grade and package.
I (Jerry) worked in fish house - this is where heading, gutting and sliming takes place, as you know. At Leader Creek this is where fish were visually sorted - chum and salmon were manually separated here before going on to the next step. Salmon were then indexed by several employees, or laid flat on a sort of specially-designed belt before they were fed into the butchering machine - this is where the head and fins were cut from each fish. They were manually fed into a gutting machine. The machine dumped the gutted fish onto a belt where the bloodline was manually scraped out - this is the slime line. From there, another visual inspection before being loaded into totes which then make their way to the filet house. Wrapping it up: In fish house workers can expect a combination of feeding fish into machinery; manually scraping out the bloodlines; manually beheading and finning certain fish which didn't make it through the butchering machine and even fileting some fish; placing fish on trays and stacking them on racks for freezing; sorting and inspecting fish and even sorting through the guts and picking out the roe - this is the most valuable product! Pros/cons? I liked the physical work - it was tough at first but I adapted to it and began feeling a bit stronger. I found the overall pace a bit daunting. It was also tough on my hands but not enough to write home about, so to speak. Having said all that, we were expected to give it our all, but leads and supervisors were very fair in my opinion and they did a great job of mixing up the tasks for employees. In the filet house the salmon are fed through another machine which skins them and removes the filet from the body. Workers then trim off the edges and any remaining skin in order to make the filet look uniform and marketable. Another group of workers then remove any residual bones. The finished filets then get sent to packing, which I am not entirely familiar with when it comes to this areas associated tasks and duties. I just know it too is a rather physical department involving moving racks of fish in and out of large walk-in freezers. There was also the vac-pac department (less physically grueling). Pros/cons of filet house: I didn't work in this department enough to figure out the good and bad - I'm sure there was a bit of both - but to me it largely seemed less physical overall and most (but not all) of the tasks/duties here seemed more detail-oriented - most workers here were trimming bits of flesh from the filets and picking bones with tweezers. There was also a department which dealt with sorting and grading the roe which is gathered in the fish house - this department at Leader Creek was in a different building from the main plant, at the far end of the property. I can't tell you much about this. There was also a shipping department at Leader Creek but I don't know details of the jobs and duties here. Our department assignments were unknown until a few days after arrival at Leader Creek - Fiona and I don't know which departments/tasks we'll be assigned this season. She hopes to keep the spot she finished with last season - sorting, laundering and issuing PPE for the plant employees. I am hoping to be assigned a job just as physical as the one I had last season, although in a different department. Last year I was considered for a QA/QC job, but I'd rather do something more physical and less "brain-involved" than that! I hope to have shed a bit of light on the different departments I am familiar with at Leader Creek - I suspect things in Ekuk are overall quite similar. Whichever department you end up at within the processing department, expect it to be cold, damp, noisy and fast-paced. Don't underestimate the power of warm and DRY socks and clothes. Be prepared with enough warm clothing in case you end up working with the walk-in freezers. Personally, I wouldn't even consider being out on the floor without my neck being covered by a combination of a hood, hat and a scarf or neck gaiter. Again, I can't stress this enough! Let us know if you have any more questions. We wish you a great 2023 season in Ekuk, Joseph!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Hey Jerry, I appreciate your taking the time to go into so much detail, very informative, Thanks. I feel way more prepared after watching your video and reading your comments. I really look forward to the challenge. Take care
Thanks for all your insight & detailed info on the job & company. I was supposed to go up for the 2021 season but ended up keeping my 9-5 because of the security/state of the economy & their covid protocols. I will probably apply & put my name on the list after New Year’s to keep the option of going there for the summer. Do you like seasonal work lifestyle? & do you think it’s sustainable/worth it for the longer term- 3-5+ years? I’ve considering doing A season with another company also while working towards my own business in my free time. I have a good paying job- construction apprentice at a laborer’s Union but can’t help but think that living for just the weekends & the occasional vacation just isn’t what I want in life, not to mention the work culture/environment. I understand that fish processing isn’t easy or pleasant, either. I’m single, no kids. So this has always been something I’ve considered. Love to adventure & travel when I can too! Thanks!
Thank you, Lino! We hope to see you at Leader Creek in 2024. We cannot recommend them enough - from HR to fellow processors and all the way up to plant/production management, the folks here are amazing to work with! Aside from the people we work with, seasonal work at Leader Creek suits us because we're in and out of there real quick and what we earn there keeps us on the road for the year, and beyond. Outside of our six weeks at Leader Creek, we have a circuit which has evolved a bit over the last handful of years. Our circuit goes like this: Three and a half months of travel during winter; a 2.5 month housesit for friends during spring; six weeks of work at Leader Creek during summer; six weeks of travel and then housesitting for another 2.5 months for our friends during autumn. This represents, to us, the best of both worlds: A chance to earn in Alaska and stay settled during our housesits in New Mexico, and a chance to travel wherever we want for almost half the year. Before we began our current circuit/lifestyle, we certainly felt the way you did about wanting to simply have more time to see and do. Getting out of any debt, saving money/skimping on mindless spending and hitting the road while [relatively] young were all crucial steps which made this happen for us. Like you, we don't have children. We did a "dry-run" on long-term travel from 2013 - 2014. During that time we hitchhiked from Maine to the Panama Canal and back, and traveled as inexpensively as we could. It was a lovely trip! From this, we knew we wanted more. An encouraging thing to consider: The amount of seasonal employment available out there is simply astounding. There are resources out there which bring many seasonal job opportunities together in one place. For example, we found out about Leader Creek from a website called Coolworks. This site features loads and loads of seasonal work across all sorts of categories and it's totally free to look for jobs and apply for them, directly through the employer. Is this sort of thing sustainable for 3-5 years and beyond? It can be - and it is - for some. For us, it's been over six years and we feel we've only begun to scratch the surface.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Wow, thanks again for all the open feedback. I told myself if I ever did the fish processing it'd be with Leader Creek. I think that's pretty cool that you've both been able to find your way with the seasonal work and have a nice balance of work and fun. Winter is definitely the best time to travel and get away especially where I'm at (WA). I'm in a good position with this company I'm working with and it is a long term project. I feel it's probably best to soak it up since I'm already here since the money is good. But anything can happen, especially with construction. It's always good to have backup plans etc. I'll apply and decide before June if I will be able to do it or not and keep you both posted! Gabby with HR said it's not problem as long as you let them know beforehand and your flight hasn't been booked yet. Best of luck with all of your endeavors and adventures!
Thank you, Lino! We wish you the best of luck as well! Gabby is an absolute star - her and the HR crew go above and beyond. Do let us know how it goes with Leader Creek and say hello to us if you're there in 2024.
I just got done with an interview at LCF yesterday and it seemed to go pretty well. They said that I’ll get a confirmation email. But I’m not sure when or how long it we’ll take to get the job offer.
In 2022 we were given a conditional offer of employment about one week after our interviews. We had to accept the conditional offer in order to get the ball rolling - make sure you read the conditional offer and respond to it. We wish you the best of luck - say hello to us at Leader Creek in 2023!
@@ACoupleofDrifters just got the response to the job offer and accepted it. What I am Curious about is what are the hours like and will I come out with good money? also do they tell menthol cigarettes in the stores?
Congratulations on landing the job - we'll see you there! Is there a specific question or questions you have about the hours? We mentioned what the hours are like in the video and Leader Creek does their best to let you know before you apply. During your interview would've been a good time to ask any questions you had about the hours. Generally speaking: The hours are long and difficult. Your shift could begin around 5 am, or it could begin around 10 pm, or somewhere in between. Your shift will be assigned after you arrive at Leader Creek. There will be mandatory 16-hour days, 7 days a week. We think the amount of money which can be earned over such a short amount of time is amazing. Having said that, it all comes down to how many fish get processed at the plant - last season was a record as far as the amount of fish processed at the plant and there was a lot of work because of that. Projections for this season are indicating less fish overall in 2023 versus 2022, but the hourly wage at Leader Creek has been increased significantly....over $2 more per hour than last year. We don't smoke but we can say cigarettes were sold in Leader Creek's shop last year - we don't know for certain about menthol flavor or what the price was per pack. Also, there was a small shop located off Leader Creek property, about a few hundred yards up the road from the bunkhouses. We don't know if that shop sold your type/brand of cigarettes for sure but we suspect they would. Aside from the two shops mentioned (Leader Creek's shop and the shop just up the road), that's it - the nearest shops beyond these are in the actual town of Naknek which is a couple of miles from the Leader Creek campus. Leader Creek has a lot of info on their website regarding what you should consider bringing enough of and cigarettes are on the list. We suggest you stock-up on a carton or two - the price at home is likely much, much less than in Alaska.
Thank you Sala. Indeed, the days were long and the sleep was fleeting - we'll likely return in 2023! For general processors, the season can be less than 5 or 6 weeks, or more - it depends on strength of the salmon run. From what we understand leads, supervisors and some non-processing positions can be there for a few weeks or months before and/or after the salmon season.
Amazing video. You gave us so much information about everything. Can i ask 18dollars per hour are after tax? How its calculated? Also if someone from europe go there to work every year until retirement the two months each year there in alaska give you some monthly money retirement?
Thank you, Gs! That is $18.06 per hour before taxes. We would love to answer your other questions but we aren't the best source for that type of information. These would be good questions to ask during an interview, or by reaching out directly to Leader Creek's human resources personnel.
Hello. The trident company are here in GUAM rightnow if you know this place lol they are hiring thousands of employees to go to Alaska. Well i'm thinking about it😊 question: the season is only 2 months? That made me think if quitting my current job is worth it😬
Hi emjay. For us in 2022, processing Sockeye Salmon lasted just under two months at Leader Creek. This company, and similar Sockeye Salmon processors, require employees to commit two months for the job: June 15th through August 15th. As for processing plants throughout Alaska dealing with other types of fish, we don't know how long their seasons last.
Hi Allen. There is a shop a few hundred yards from the bunkhouse. We don't know if this shop keeps regular hours. Expect limited supplies and prices to be generally much more than what you'd pay in the lower 48 states. We suggest bringing whatever you may need or want. Also, once 16-hour days begin, that short walk to the store will feel like it's miles away (and it may not be open)!
Thanks a million alexa (Mrs. Taco). We are currently sitting in Anchorage airport, waiting for our flight to King Salmon. We'll see you at Leader Creek in just a few days' time! Safe travels to you too and thank you for thinking of us. 🤗🤗
Hello guys, I have a question. I have experience and I have worked for silver bay before. I want to work at naknek with ledder crrek. Will they pay me 18.06 for my experience or would they pay me 17 because I am new?
Here is a quote from an email we received from Leader Creek at the start of the new year: "2024 First year employees will have a base hourly rate of $17.15/hr regular time and $25.73/hr overtime." We feel it wouldn't hurt to ask your question to HR when you apply at Leader Creek. We hope to see you in Naknek for the 2024 season!
Hi Dan. Dry socks for your feet are absolutely crucial! We really do recommend keeping a few pairs readily available while working. Staying dry and warm is part of the battle with working such long, long hours.
@@ACoupleofDrifters really appreciate the video…I’m looking form seasonal work and ran across a Craig List add for this salmon work. I’ve done work in a popcorn factory with twelve hours shifts many years ago. Not sure I could handle the “intensity” of this 7 day a week business…. But you insight on the experience definitely makes me think this could be a good experience. Always wanted to visit Alaska too. I’m from USA but Currently I live in Brazil…looking for a return visit and earn some cash have some experiences. Thanks definitely got a like 👍🏼 and sub. If you ever drift to southern Brazil let me know. If I get the gig I will load up on some Darn Tough 🧦 they are the best
Thanks so much Dan for the lovely comment, the like and for subscribing - this really means a lot to us! We are actually in Peru right now, heading north to Ecuador and then back to the US by late March. We already want to return to Peru, so maybe Brazil is in our future? Bolivia was meant to happen on this trip, but travel to southern Peru got real dicey as soon as we arrived in early December - the political situation in Peru has been tough on a lot of folks. Since you want to see Alaska, we want to tell you this about working at Leader Creek: If you finish your season with LC, the company can arrange a flight and tour for you to Katmai National Park at cost to you (cash only!) - this is a national park which is not the easiest place to get to! Once at Katmai visitors can get really, really close to bears feeding on salmon in the river - just do a google image search of the bears at Katmai and you'll see them submerged in the water at the base of the falls gorging on the salmon which are making their way upstream. For as close as you can get to the bears, they are too busy eating to be bothered by the presence of humans. We opted to skip this tour last year, but we'll likely do it this season. We've talked to quite a few fellow employees who did this trip - it really sounds like it's worth it and their photos were simply amazing. The trip/tour is done in one long day - you'll leave Leader Creek in the early morning, take your flight out to the park and return to Leader Creek later that day. It's intense work mentally and physically for sure - at 48 and 50 years of age we're quite pleased to have been able to stick it out. Hopefully mention of that, the money you'll make at Leader Creek ($18.06 regular time/$27.09 overtime - they raised the pay this season) and mention of Katmai National Park will get you to think about it a bit more. Go on and apply at Leader Creek.... and say hello to us when you get there!
Hopefully you can see ny comment, can I ask if I and my husband can apply, we're from Philippines, is there any chances of working there too? thanks new subscriber here
Thank you for subscribing! Although it's too late to apply for the 2023 sockeye salmon season at Leader Creek you can apply on their website later for the 2024 season. You should be able to apply around the beginning of 2024.
Hello. Thanks a million for enjoying our video. There is no experience required for the job at Leader Creek, however you must be be eligible to work in the U.S. Once you apply it helps to have references, or at least a character reference from a reliable source.
Do you need any particular experience in the industry to get hired? Im really interested in contributing to this position. Are there any ways for me to increase the chances of securing this job?
No, you don't need experience in this industry to be considered for a processing job. A good, solid work history with a varied background can go a long way.
Thanks for this, I've been looking for a cook position at these places, but they are rare. Two questions, though, if you don't mind. (1) what do the breaks look like over 16 hours? (2) is there an option to wash your own clothes? Thanks again.
The breaks on a 16-hour shift at Leader Creek are like this: A paid 15-minute break after about four hours from the start of the shift; an unpaid 30-minute break (clock out) for either breakfast, lunch or dinner in the middle of the shift and then another paid 15-minute break about four hours before the shift ends. Laundry: We would have to say you wouldn't be allowed to do your own laundry at Leader Creek. Also, there is no laundromat nearby that we know of.
Are you guys going to be in Naknek for the 2023 season? If so, please message me. I'd like to take you out for lunch/dinner and get some info from you.
@@ACoupleofDrifters sorry for the delayed response. I’ve been getting a bunch of chores done at home/work before I head out to Naknek. I’ll be there from June 6th until the 30th. I’m going out for work myself. I thought it would be nice to meet some other people and make some new friends since we are all stuck out there together anyways! It’s nothing official or an interview or anything. Our company is based at the LMI yard so we are in close proximity to Leader Creek.
Hi RR. Hopefully the 16-hour shifts won't begin as soon as we arrive. Last year at Naknek we didn't have reliable enough wi-fi to check email and message people and we suspect the same thing again this year. We'll be at Leader Creek after June 15th. We hope our paths cross in Naknek!
How long after filling out our I9 does it take to get our airplane tickets? Or how many days in advanced before our departure do they give us our tickets?
Hi alexa. We just received our flight information May 14th. We fly out on June 14th and arrive at Naknek on June 15th. We understand how eager employees are to get their flight information. Staff are working hard right now to book flights for everyone.
Hi AB! Yes, people left early in 2022 - they either quit or they were fired. We don't know if any of them had any troubles getting home, however them getting fired or quitting meant they had to pay for their transportation. Also, getting fired or quitting meant the employee had money for food and housing withheld from their earnings - that is up to $15.00 for each day as an employee living on site in Naknek. This may sound harsh to some, but Leader Creek spells all of this out in no uncertain terms BEFORE employee are flown to Alaska,. We repeat: It's all very clearly mentioned in writing well before Leader Creek arranges each employee's outbound transportation. Further, each employee should be aware of this and will agree to this by first reading and then signing an agreement during the onboarding process. Having said all of this, we spoke at length with an employee at the plant in 2022 who opted to leave early for their own reason. This employee was quite shocked to suddenly learn that they would be charged for their flight home, plus room & board for the time they were working there - they even talked about contacting an attorney to sort this all out. There is nothing to sort out - each employee is made aware of this and signs off on this before they ever get their hands on a fish. The employee we mention in this case simply didn't read the agreement and what they were signing off on, or didn't understand it. In our opinion, Leader Creek makes this very, very clear to employees from the start of the hiring and/or onboarding process. According to Leader Creek, if an employee finishes the season (completes their contract) all airfare will be provided by Leader Creek - there will be no charge of up to $15.00 for each day as an employee to cover Leader Creek's expenses for food and housing said employee.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thanks for responding to all the questions guys! I do have a few more questions for y’all! Lol Do you guys know how that employee manage to leave and did Leader Creek at least help in planning her leave? And you said you started working within the first two days there, bout how many hours did you do those first 2 weeks for pay on the 1st of the month? Also thinks again just trying to get a full picture and y’all have been awesome with the answers! :)
We don't have more information about that employee leaving, like how it was planned or by whom. Having said that, the local airport (King Salmon) is about a 30-minute drive from the plant - we suspect Leader Creek would drive terminated employees there, just as they would for employees who finish the season. Again, we simply don't know who exactly arranges/books flights home for employees who quit or are fired. Your next question sent us to our records/pay stubs from last year. We actually began the 16-hour shifts sooner than 10 days in, as we initially told you - our apologies for that! The first 16-hour shift began on our fifth day there. Our sixth day was the same. Our seventh day was about 6 hours only. Our eighth day was the start of us working 16-hour shifts, seven days a week. Toward the end of the season, our final three or four days were reduced to about 12-hour shifts. Keep in mind that last season was not typical - it was a record-breaking season for the mount of fish processed at Leader Creek and it was a very strong salmon season in general. There are never any guarantees regarding how many total hours will be available during the season - it depends on the amount of fish processed.
Hi Marc. We suggest old, warm second-hand clothes from your local thrift shop because it's possible they'll be ruined/worn out after the season. Think hoodies, old denim jeans, thick wool socks, thermal tops and bottoms, a woolly winter hat or two and a neck gaiter (fleece is good). It's important to stay warm and layering is the best way to stay warm. It's possible you may end up wearing 2 pairs of socks at once to stay warm! You're on your feet all day so definitely make sure you've got enough socks with you. Just keep in mind it's a very cold, wet environment. We also recommend Bama socks (sokkets). These go over your socks and are worn inside your boots and are an added barrier against the cold and wet. Gloves are not necessary as liners and gloves are provided, however you can bring a light pair for added warmth if you want. Also remember Leader Creek does not sell toiletries, so make sure you bring what you think you'll need.
We very much doubt you can bring your dog but you can always ask HR before arriving, just to be certain. You will have to share a room with other employees.
Unbelievable experience - not sure I would be able to survive that, not having done physical labor in my life... how did you know you could do it? They would have probably sent me back in the first plane and have me pay the bill 😃
We didn't know we could do it. We had no idea what we had signed up for 😂🤣. Well we kind of did, the company was very up-front about the 16 hour workdays, but it's a completely different kettle of fish (no pun intended) when you're actually working them! We reckoned it would be something different and an adventure, and it was. So much so we're seriously contemplating returning the summer of 2023! Thanks for watching, we really appreciate it. 🤗🤗
@@ACoupleofDrifters Great! It is intense but you give away 6 weeks for gathering money to use as you please for months after that. Not a bad trading! :) At least next year you will know what you are getting into, and may have friends from this year that return back too, which is always helpful !
That is very true, if we return next year at least we'll know what to expect and hopefully a lot of the folk we met this year will also return. Actually Leader Creek has a very high return rate of employees, there are folk who have worked there every summer for 15/16 years and more! It really was the people that we worked with who made the experience for us. There really was such an incredible sense of camaraderie amongst everyone there. Even though it certainly felt a LOT longer than 6 weeks, there really was such a sense of accomplishment when it was all over and done. In reality 6 weeks is nothing to earn such a nice chunk of change which allows us to continue travelling as we do. We're looking into other seasonal jobs but we'd rather throw ourselves into a gruelling 6 weeks and be done, rather than possibly 4 months of work elsewhere, without the guarantee of making even close to what we made at Leader Creek.
@@ACoupleofDrifters you definitely found an awesome hack to make money quick (with lots of real work, no "passive income")... Passive income is seen as all the hype, but sometimes doing honest/physical work is so much more rewarding!😃🥰
We try the "passive income" with the channel here and our blog but in reality it...passes us by 🤣. Doing seasonal work we're guaranteed an income as long as we show up, and of course as long as the salmon show up. We knew when we hit the road in 2017, seasonal work was a very real prospect down the line, back then we were thinking probably fruit picking. It is truly amazing the amount, and variety of seasonal work that is out there. It's also amazing how many folk follow a circuit of seasonal work or utilise it as a means to pursue a non-traditional lifestyle. It's not for everyone, but for us it seems it allows us a perfect balance of how we are currently living - house sitting, seasonal work and travelling. 🥰🤗🥰🤗
Hi Luis. We can't say which company or place would be the best for you - we've only ever worked at Leader Creek in Naknek. As far as 16-hour days, there will very likely be some, but it all depends on the amount of fish coming in. Have you applied to any companies?
Wages are paid bi-weekly. Employees can opt for direct deposit or have live checks issued however keep in mind the nearest bank is in King Salmon, about 15 miles away. Your very last paycheck, along with any bonuses, will be a live check that is handed to you on the day you leave.
Hi Alan - we're happy you found our video helpful! You can apply on the Leader Creek website - their website is in the description of our video, or you can follow this link: www.leadercreekfisheries.com/ If you apply, could you please list "Fiona and Jerry" in the section of the application which asks how you heard about Leader Creek? We would really appreciate this! We're more than happy to answer any more questions you may have. Hopefully we'll see you in 2023, Alan - look for us and say hello!
$8.50 for a beer???!!! Wow. I'd have saved my money to indulge in Mexico, for sure...lol. I mean, that would mean it would take, ya know, $50+ to cop a good buzz? My Dad was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska (military) before he met my mother and he used to tell me stories of the cost of some things...
That was exactly what we did - saved our money to indulge in a Pacifico or two here in Mazatlán. There were a couple of little food trucks parked along the road in front of Leader Creek. They charged $25 for a burger and $18 for a burrito. The bar up the road also charged $25 for a burger. Needless to say we didn't indulge in these either, not when we had our meals and snacks provided by Leader Creek. Some folk did treat themselves though and said the burger was lovely (it better be for that price)! A few nights out in Naknek, and you could definitely deplete your pay cheque very fast.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Oh my! As much as I like my beer I'm with you there...screw it at that price! I'll bet you were telling folks what it costs to have a hamburgesa and cerveza in Mexico!
Hi AB. Yes, direct deposit every two weeks or you can opt to be given a live check to cash or deposit once you get home instead. For us in 2022, we started working limited hours within two days after we arrived in Naknek. Our 16-hour shifts did not begin right way - this happened after about 10 days. As for the temperature in the plant: In general throughout the majority of the plant we can only guess about 50º however some employees in certain departments may be working in colder environments, like walk-in coolers and freezers. No matter where you'll be working in the plant, come fully prepared, bring warm clothes and a lot of them.
Hi Allen. We don't know if Verizon works there - have you checked Verizon's online coverage area map? Some providers have coverage in that area and some do not.
You may have very little phone contact to the outside world. the internet will be dreadful, but then again you'll be working all day every day and very little down time. I'm heading there on the 21th
@lillpoetboy I think I've seen you at the Orientation few weeks ago for WestWard Seafood. I believe you were sitting next to me. Did the Plant offer you the job yet? I was told they will be emailing everyone who applied this week...
Here's how it went for us in 2022 - keep in mind this may not be typical: After our conditional job offer for the 2022 season was made in March, the onboarding process for us began within a few days later. The first real step after our conditional job offer was to submit our covid vax records - Leader Creek was preferring vax'd employees in 2022 and since we're returning this year we aren't sure if they are still looking for this from new hires. About 10 days after submitting our vax records we had a short phone call with HR. About three weeks after this, we received our flight information to Alaska. Flight information is a pretty big deal and we all want to know when we're being sent to Alaska - we cannot say when Leader Creek will have that information for you. Look for us at Leader Creek and say hello!
Hi Isaiah. According to Leader Creek's website they are no longer hiring for any positions. If you are still interested next year we suggest checking Leader Creek's website early 2025 [January] in order to apply - positions tend to fill quickly.
Hi Lulu. It's both, actually. Males and females bunk together _if_ they request it - this can and does happen when a group of male/female friends are there for the season. Aside from that, males and females are bunked separately.
We don't know but hopefully someone can come along on this comment thread and answer your question. You can reach out to some companies to see if they can answer any visa-related questions.
Hi Mrs. T The job begins June 15th and ends no later than August 15th. you can apply around the beginning of January. Just go to Leader Creek's website and you can apply directly from there.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
******UPDATE FOR 2024 SALMON SEASON******
Rate of pay for processors is *$17.15 per hour (regular time - depending on experience) and $25.73 per hour (overtime)* for new hires.
Leader Creek is also providing round trip transportation from your closest international airport *(within the US/Puerto Rico)* to their plant in Naknek, Alaska!
*++ REFERRAL BONUS PROGRAM ++*
****Did you find this video helpful and has it convinced you to apply to Leader Creek? If so, we very kindly ask you to list us, Fiona or Jerry from A Couple of Drifters, as a referral on your Leader Creek job application.****
Wow...that's good information about the flight. Thanks!
Flying employees from their nearest airport will be so helpful to many people this season.
What's the best way to apply and who to talk to.
The best way to apply is through Leader Creek's official website:
www.leadercreekfisheries.com/
From there, someone from Leader Creek will reach out to any prospects.
I get confused when it come to page one
Enjoyed your honest description of cannery life. I first came to Alaska in 1981 to work the canneries and never left. I did 17 salmon seasons (a long with Herring, halibut, tanner crab and shrimp). But it will always be the people I met through those years that I will always remember and cherish. Some of them have been life long friends. But what I am most proud of is that my sons have their own boats and permits and fish Bristol Bay ever year now.
Buy the xtra-tuff boots. They're worth it for the comfort and slip resistance. Buy one size large and fit the boots with felt insoles. Buy a second pair of felt insoles and change them out half way through your shift. Pull out the insoles at the end of the day to dry. Wear clean and dry wool or synthetic boot socks. This will make a big difference to your comfort during long hours on the processing line.
Thank you Jeff for sharing this information - it will be very helpful to anyone considering this type of work.
We both used Bama socks and insulated soles - it was amazing how well the Bamas kept your feet dry inside of them, even though the outer part of the sock would be wet from perspiration. Bama socks seemed great for wicking away any moisture. The absolute importance of warm, dry feet can't be stressed enough. We agree: pulling out insoles at the end of your shift is crucial. It sounds like you speak from experience - where did you work?
Thanks for the comment, Jeff!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Some folks like bama socks. Glad they work for you. I spent more than 20 years in the industry in Southeast Alaska. Somewhat different game than Bristol Bay.
Jeff Pearson what boots do u suggest can you give me a name?? Thank you in advance.
Thanks for the heads up
Thank you
I showed my son this video, he worked there at the processing facility last summer salmon season. He remembered you both and said the two of you were some of the nicest people he’s ever met. He is going back this summer for 2023 season.
Hi Jody.
This is such a lovely comment and it means so much to us! Tell us more about your son - what is his name and which department did he work in? Tell him to say hello to us 2023!
The sentiments shared by your son have certainly made our day - we really appreciate it!
@ACoupleofDrifters Hi his name is Nick and worked in the fileting department and forklift. He said he'd see you there and say hello to you both and remind you that its his mom who made this comment on your post. 😄
We're thinking of Nick with long blonde hair - is that him? We're happy knowing he'll return to Leader Creek in 2023. Thanks again for the lovely comment, Jody!
Yes that's him with the long blonde hair
We'll be seeing him soon!
She was such a nice person to work with,and always had a smile on her face when I came in to work
Aw Cory, thank you so very much for your lovely words and for making my day. Are you returning to Leader Creek this summer? Hopefully we'll see you there. Thanks again Cory 🤗🤗.
Merci beaucoup pour l'histoire de Salmon processing in Alaska❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Millions of blessings,
Esther St Juste
Welcome back guys. I must say that what you both accomplished in those 6 weeks or so is absolutely amazing. I can't see how your bodies were able to keep up with the grueling back to back 16 hour days. The pay is fantastic but you guys worked your asses off to earn it.
My hats off to both of you and once again welcome back. Can't wait to see what new adventures await.
Thank you William! The long work days seemed like madness at first, then we slowly (and strangely) got used to them. Eventually we started dreaming of how nice a 12-hour work day would be! Indeed, the job was very tough but working with such wonderful people really helped. Thanks again for your comment, William!
Great to see you both and can't wait for more video's this video was good nice to hear that the people made the difference
Thank you, James! Indeed, we met many wonderful people during our time in Alaska. All of our hard work meant a great salmon season.
Pedersen point does laundry for everyone also. Pretty much every cannery has laundry services. The gals at pedersen point laundry were Awsome!
Welcome back! Thanks for this very interesting and comprehensive description of life at Leader Creek. I feel like a real slacker watching this while working at home and eating lunch at my desk! That said, I enjoyed hearing about the people and relationships ... I am sure you could write a book about the stories of your fellow employees. Now, if you miss salmon (?🐟?!), it is coho season here in SW British Columbia. Our annual Coho Festival in West Vancouver is coming up Sept 11 (with a huge, you guessed it, salmon bbq)! Finally, sorry if I sound like a traitor - but we are having halibut tonight.
Thank you Dan! Indeed, we met so many lovely folks at Leader Creek Fisheries - the mount of work we did to produce a record-breaking season really brought us all together. The salmon-fest in BC sounds like a much more relaxing way to remember the salmon season than working 16-hour days! Having said that, we are considering a return to Leader Creek next year! Halibut for dinner - that sounds so delicious right now! Halibut is our favorite - maybe someday we'll try our luck with halibut in Alaska?
You are very positive, and cool !
Nice to watch your videos!!
Greetings from Ukrainian guy, now living in US.
Hi Jerry &Fiona. Great to see your video on salmon processing. Wonderful and informative video .
Jerry I noticed your injury on your thumb,it seams red.,it’s obvious you lost your nail. I’m so proud of you and Fiona, both tuff.
You both look great in spite of the gruesome schedule you had. Much love to you both. I love you both❤️❤️
We are happy to give you a glimpse of what life was like at Leader Creek! I'm happy to say that both of my thumbnails are on the mend - one fared a little worse than the other did. We felt great on our last day at Leader Creek when we filmed this video - the weather was lovely, the work was finished and it felt good knowing we were heading back to Seattle the next day! Thanks for your love and support - we love you too!
Had trouble with new paperwork but I did it hope to see you at dinner table like last year will be there EOM
Hi Allen. We'll be back at Leader Creek in just a few days now. We're glad to know you're returning too. We'll see you at the dinner table 😊😊.
Quite the change of scenery and climate. Please tell me you didn't hitchhike from Mexico to Seatle.... I was wondering why I hadnt seen any postings . Glad your ok .
Hi Dan. It was definitely quite the change in scenery and climate. We didn't hitchhike from Mexico to Seattle, although the original plan was to hitchhike from New Mexico (which is where we were, to Seattle). We ended up going from New Mexico to Pennsylvania. We spent about a week with Jerry's family as we had time to kill before making our way to Seattle.
We ended up renting a car from Pennsylvania to Seattle. This entailed an unfortunate encounter between the rental car and a deer, at just under the Montana interstate speed limit - 80mph! We were grand just a bit stunned. Unfortunately the poor deer and rental car did not fare so well. Jerry did an incredible job of keeping control of the car and getting us to a stop - serious James Bond driving skills. Oh yeah and because the deer hit the bonnet, the bonnet then flew up in the air and obscured the windscreen - just flapping wildly and blocking all vision. Can't believe we're here to tell this tale, it was all a bit mad! So that was the beginning of our adventures before we even got to Alaska!
Hopefully we'll return to Alaska next summer to work again. It's lovely to hear from you Dan. Hope you've got some travels planned yourself. - Fi and Jerry (Your Drifters) 🤗🤗
Love the video! It was such an amazing summer! Enjoyed meeting you both!!
Indeed, it was a great experience and we are so happy to have met you Micah - we'll never forget your hard work and your positive attitude. We wish you well and we hope our paths cross again in the future!
Thank you for the video a lot I appreciated I’m a little scared going soon
Hi Nicholas. You're very welcome. We had a lot of questions ourselves last year before we went to Leader Creek. We know it can be a little daunting heading there, but before you know it you'll settle in and meet some lovely folk. It is an intense experience, but we're all in it together. Make sure you find us once you get there. 😊😊
Good luck you guys. Your video was very informative. My daughter watched it and now she is there at Leader Creek. Hopefully you will get to meet her. I hope you have a great season.
Hi James. We both knew Lela and we're so happy she completed the season! I (Jerry) talked with her about foods we missed from back home, Myrtle Beach and...salmon! She really wanted some Chick-fil-A once she returned to Virginia! Tell her we say "hi" and we hope to see her for the 2024 season.
Hey guys I made it to pelican, it's absolutely beautiful here and yokabi fisheries is a great company and it's family owned, everyone is super nice and there's about 15 or a little more processors, their season starts in April and ends in mid September and you have to pay for your trip to Juneau but they'll pay for a ferry or float plane to get here and it's 16$ an hour 12-14 hour days but if you complete the season you'll get the extra 2$ as retroactive pay, you have to cook your own breakfast and you get 45 minute lunches an dinner and the food is great
Hi Cristian - it's lovely hearing from you and thanks for the update! Sounds like you are enjoying thinks at Yacobi - we're so happy it worked out for you! Hope you take a break little after Pelican Island. We are looking forward to seeing you back at Leader Creek in 2024.
We are in New Mexico at the moment, relaxing and catching up on sleep before we head to Mexico. 🤗🤗
Hello, my name is Lowell Hartman. I want to work at a cannery in 2025.
I am 56 years old and staying in shape.
I am retired law enforcement.
I want to work 6-9 months out of the year.
I am starting to send out applications.
I hope it will not be too difficult to get hired with a fish cannery.
Thank you for any advice or comments.
I was there and worked at Leader Creek Fisheries in 2008. This brought back many memories.
We're glad to hear our video brought back memories for you - thank you for watching! From what you've seen in the video, has Leader Creek changed much since 2008?
@@ACoupleofDrifters Yeah housing buildings changed. I am not sure if they rebuilt them or just changed the coatings, windows, doors etc. Sadly I was not mostly aware of what is going on around because of my mental disorders. I had stayed at a two bed room. Food looks familiar. They used to make turkey roast some times, It was the first time I had it in my life and I loved it. Paycheck seems doubled. It was something like 7.5$ regular and 11.25$ overtime per hour. Thank you for your response by the way.
It seems the multi-level housing units are quite new, from what we heard. Also we heard that the pay rate for the 2022 season jumped significantly from the season before - by a few dollars from what others said. Indeed, the current pay rate and the overtime rate is quite handsome. We also stayed in a two-bed room and we must say it was rather comfortable. The food was absolutely amazing in our opinion, however we'll eat just about anything. 😂 We're very happy to hear from a past Leader Creek employee - thank you so much for watching and commenting!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Did you work anywhere else beside Naknek? Because after working three weeks in Naknek we had been transferred to Kodiak island the famous place for grizzly bears. I remember one night I did not go to work because I was afraid of bears. We used to go to work at night by walking but that night I could not wake up in time and my friends had left already. So because of fear I preferred to skip a workday 🤭Dont at me please because there were big garbage containers roadside with a note saying “beware of bears, they may get in to containers looking for food”. Though I saw bear only once.
We only worked in Naknek, although at the end of the season at Leader Creek there was an option to head directly to Ketchikan on the company's dime, although we can't remember what they were processing there...
As for the bears, we didn't see any but many people there did, both on the way to work and after work. We always thought "Here we are, we smell like salmon...and there are bears here - not good!" In fact, before we even got to Naknek we were mildly concerned with having a bear run-in somewhere on Leader Creek property - they were there, we just never saw one.
Welcome back! I didn't get notifications so I got some catching up to do, you two really are the most adventurous people I have seen, you put in the hard work to keep traveling, the experiences and stories to tell are endless, so glad you share them.
Hello mjc 427, it's lovely to hear from you. Yes we made an incredibly impromptu decision whilst we were house sitting in March to head up to Alaska to process salmon during the summer - never a dull moment with us 😉🤣! It really was a brilliant experience, albeit hard work and long hours. We may return there next summer (2023) or elsewhere in Alaska for work! We know we want to continue to travel so we reckon seasonal work is a great way (for us) to fund our wanderings. More drifting to come...
As far as the notifications go, we checked our settings on the site this morning and it appears we're set up for notifications to go through to subscribers. We could see from our analytics that it seems to be working. Do you know if you're having any bother receiving notifications from any other site? It's frustrating to know that you've very kindly subscribed and hit the notification bell and that you're not getting the notifications.
Thank you so much mjc 427 for tuning in to us and for enjoying our videos. These two Drifters really appreciate your comments and support. 🤗🤗
Just got a call today for an interview. I worked for Unisea last "A" season. Thankfully I have my own steel toes of Extra Tuff boots. Can't wait.
We wish you the best of luck, and it sounds like you are ready for this season! Make sure you say hello to us.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Absolutely and thank you.
@@Tommy_IrishThe interviews are through the phone right?
Interviews are done over the phone.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Oh, I know. I just had mine. The person I talked to named Ana, said that she knows you and you guys are great! I agree.
They had a good season. I talked to one of the recruiters yesterday actually
It was a very good season, indeed. Reports I've seen for this season are pointing at bigger fish, but less of them versus the 2022 season. If you've applied, we hope to see you there in 2023 - say hello to us!
Jerry & Fiona Awesome Video. I hope all is well. Your favorite Processor Richard. Hope you guys made it to Mexico. Hope to see you This Year. 2023
Hi Richard, it's so lovely to hear from you, what a nice surprise! We do plan on returning to Leader Creek for 2023 so we'll see you then!
We did make it to Mexico and now we are in Peru. We return to the US in late March - by then we'll have plenty of time to get in shape again for Naknek!
Happy New Year to you, Richard!
Sharky here! Miss you guys! Sign up to go back for 2023 season is November 1st, hope to see yall again! FISH HOUSE!! 💪🏾🤟🏾
Sharky!! It's so lovely to hear from you. We hope yourself and your wee family are all keeping well. We miss you too, we especially miss your dance moves in the egg room which always brought a smile to everyone's face and brightened our days there. You made everyone happy and got us all bopping along and grooving too. We're almost 100% certain we'll return to Leader Creek next summer. We hope we'll see you there. - Fi and Jerry (Your Drifters) xx 🤗🤗
How can we sign up for the next season? One of my friend has been asking if it is possible for a random guy from other countries to get to work there.
Check the Leader Creek website or use the website we did to apply: coolworks.
We aren't sure when Leader Creek begins accepting applications - maybe after the new year?
Leader Creek does hire citizens of other countries but we don't know the full details - check directly with Leader Creek regarding any hiring process/visa requirements for your friend.
We survived!!!!! Love you guys! Love the vid.
We made it through 6 weeks of long days, and we're not just talking about the daylight🤣. It's definitely not a holiday camp, but it really was the bonds between folk that rallied everyone to get through each and every day. Thanks for watching and endorsing the video Brad. We're so glad that working at Leader Creek meant we got to meet you. We love you too Brad. 🤗❤️🤗❤️
I’ve worked many seasons in Alaska, it’s intense but worth it. I will be going to AGS for the first time and am surprised hours non transferable so will be paid $17.15 an hour but it’s time for a change I am burnt out on E&E foods the new management is horrendous. Everybody go to Alaska who wants a quick buck and an adventure of a life time! 😊
I’ll be at ags this season. First time leaving florida and first job that isn’t fast food. Any tips?
Check out our video featuring some must-have items for seafood processors.
ruclips.net/video/SKvwGv62ovo/видео.html
Here are just a few tips, but make sure to watch the video for many more.
1. Bring warm clothing, a lot of socks, insulated insoles, a winter hat and a neck gaiter. Layer-up. We suggest old/second-hand clothing because what you're wearing may get ruined/stained
2. Don't forget an alarm clock.
3. Pack some cough and cold medications - many bugs/viruses will make the rounds. Also, bring enough of any prescribed medications.
4. Have something to pass the time during any slow spells such as reading material, games, a deck of cards, etc.
5. Don't overpack: You won't need a large bottleful of shampoo, for example. I [Jerry] skip packing shampoo and instead wash my hair with soap. 😁
6. Wear glasses or contacts? Bring an extra pair just in case...
7. Bring a bath towel.
8. Wear flip flops in the shower.
9. A heating pad can really help minor aches and pains
10. There are a few bars/restaurants and shops near the plant we work at in Naknek - prices for goods/snacks/meals/booze are much, much more expensive than you'd imagine. Not sure about cigarettes... In short, try not to spend a penny in Alaska - that's our best tip! 💲
We invite others reading this to share their tips as well.
Have a great season at AGS and let us know how it goes for you. 😎
You guys are the best! So much great info for potential future salmon campers. Maybe see you next year in Alaska or maybe see you in Mexico who knows :) Happy travels!
Thanks a million Daniel. Salmon campers - love it! It was meeting such lovely folk as yourself and everyone else at Leader Creek that made it such a great experience. We hope we will see you next year in Alaska but if not, no matter where or no matter when, we hope we cross paths with you again Daniel 🤗❤️🤗❤️.
I've been wondering about you two. Wasn't expecting Alaska but good to see ya'll are okay. Yeah, I'd have to opt out of the Alaska adventure. I'm not into cold weather or 16 hour work days.
Unless I missed it, did the company supply meals? If not, how did ya'll cook and / or store food?
Hi jaferguson49! Yes, there were many times when we figured we must be crazy to put ourselves through 16-hour days in a salmon processing facility, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. The company provided three meals and two snack breaks for employees - you could eat as much as you wanted and it was served cafeteria-style. We wish we would've spent more time in the video talking about the food situation, especially some of our favorite dishes.
Breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, corned beef hash, hotcakes, toast, yogurt, cereal, fresh fruits and cottage cheese. Lunch and dinner varied from day to day and consisted of pork, beef or chicken-inspired dishes; soups and stews; vegetables; salads and, of course, plenty of salmon at each meal. Some of our favorites were the pork loin, pot roast, flank steak, corned beef, and some very exotic salads like curried cauliflower; citrusy beet and basil and apple pecan. The desserts were amazing as well. Meals were excellent!
Hi I was in the summer 2019 season. I was 18 and just graduated high school snd was looking to earn some cash and even brought my friend from high school with me. I worked in the roe room next to the laundry room and can’t believe it’s been 3 years.
Hi Modal Interchange,
Do you mean the roe house all the way down by the marina, or the small roe room located to the side of the fish house area? Both of these (the roe house and the roe room) are located next to laundry facilities. I (Jerry) worked in fish house and occasionally worked in the small roe room. Fiona worked in the laundry area (glove room) next to the roe room, and she even worked the roe room herself. You can relate to how long and difficult the hours were - so was the work! Truth be told, we had a very positive experience there and met so many lovely people.
From what we understand the hourly rate has gone up significantly since 2019. The overtime rate at the moment is really good - enough to make us consider a return in 2023! Would you ever return?
Thanks for the comment - it's lovely hearing from fellow Leader Creek employees!
Welcome back! I've always wondered what it was like to process fish in Alaska, and now I do. 😉 Question? How and when did you get paid? Thanks!
Hi Jann. Thank you for the lovely welcome back. We got paid fortnightly. If you had direct debit, your pay cheque was just deposited into your account. Otherwise you were given live cheques. There were even some performance bonuses based on the records that were broken in the plant. Great questions, so thank you for asking. There was a lot of information we felt we had to share, but we knew we'd forget some too 🤦♀️.
Great to see you two. What a wild experience. So different from your normal trips. Sounds like it was hard work. But, I am glad you took away good feelings about it. So, lucky to have had the opportunity during the good weather season. I look forward to your next adventure. Take Good Care. See Ya when I See Ya.
Hi Roy! This was an absolutely lovely experience and we are lucky to have been a part of the record-breaking season at Leader Creek Fisheries - everyone worked so hard. The weather was good and the overall climate was quite comfortable during our time there. We are even thinking of returning next season! Take care Roy!
Hi Fi and Jerry, excellent video. I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering if you were finished yet. Hope you ate lots of salmon and stocked up on the omegas. Fascinating to see the set up. Was there any risk of injury? D
Hi D. Thanks a million for enjoying the video. We're finished and back in Mazatlán. I (Fiona) ate a LOT of salmon there, sometimes twice a day. Have to admit though by the end I was getting tired of it! There were a lot of injuries, mostly wrist and hand injuries and also back injuries. Honestly mentally and physically this is a very tough job, but worth it once you push through everything! - Fi and Jerry (Your Drifters) ❤️❤️
I love you guys. You are bringing back many memories. I hope you are doing well. I worked there in 2008 in Leader Creek. I miss those days 😢 I wish I could visit there and experience it again.
It's lovely hearing from you again and thank you for the sweet comment! We just completed the 2023 season a few days ago and all went well.
@@ACoupleofDrifters They had sent us to Koidak after Naknek. We had worked for about a month in Kodiak. Are you going to do something like that or you are done for this year?
We are done for the year but we'll return to Leader Creek in 2024 for another season.
Fascinating! After seeing this, I begged my husband to try it for ourselves next salmon season. We both work in a University dining service that slows down in the summer to intolerable boredom. I know they'd let us both have a leave of absence for this adventure, but he literally thinks I've gone insane. Six weeks of income for me with my second catering job is around $7,760 US. Would I come out ahead? Was Leader Creek your first choice? I was looking at Peter Pan as well. I think they'd pay for airfare from Omaha. Did they test your urine for thc? Also, I will be 49 by next summer, will I be too old? So many questions, but I'm full of admiration for your work ethic, well done both of you!
Hi Misty! Thank you for such a lovely comment! Also, thank you for your questions - you are the audience we are trying to reach with this video.
Depending on the amount of salmon from one season to the next, you may make the same amount of money at Leader Creek as you would at your second job. Of course, this all depends on other factors as well. $7,500 to $8,500 + (after tax) for about six weeks of work at Leader Creek is not unheard of.
Leader Creek was the only company we looked at based on their transparency, reviews and ultimately the wonderful communication with their HR staff before we accepted the job/arrived in Alaska. Having said that, we cannot speak for Peter Pan and what their policy is regarding transportation.
Leader Creek _did not_ require a drug test for us in order to be considered for processing, before or during the 2022 sockeye salmon season.
Is 49 too old? I (Jerry) was 47 and Fiona was 49 during our season at Leader Creek - we certainly weren't too old! We were _some_ of the older employees there. Most employees were in their late teens/early 20's but there were also folk older than us. Regardless of age, it really is all about mentally and physically telling yourself that it's just for 5/6 weeks. Like we said in the video, it's NOT easy but no matter which seafood processing plant you look into, this type of work won't be easy. It's hard work and long hours but it's also a very quick way to make some decent cash.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Amen, Jerry! I (Brad) will only go back if I really have to. Even though the people were so great.
Hi Misty.
We forgot to mention that Leader Creek has a kitchen staff - perhaps the dining service experience you and your husband have would be a good fit at Leader Creek? From what we understand, seafood processing plants in Alaska all have kitchen staff providing meals for employees - not just Leader Creek Fisheries.
If you are both interested in this department, you can always get in contact with Leader Creek and ask them to put you in contact with their head chef, Lou. We've left a link to Leader Creek Fisheries in the video description. Although the kitchen staff is employed by Leader Creek Fisheries, Lou reviews all kitchen staff applicants and hires them directly. We don't know the rate of pay for kitchen staff - it may be different to the rate of pay for salmon processers.
This is something else to consider in case the adventure of coming to Alaska appeals to you both, but the prospects of salmon processing doesn't.
Reach out to us if you have any more questions.
Hey Brad! We are thinking of returning next year but we aren't entirely sure. Hopefully we'll see you again, either there or in Seattle.
It was so cool meeting you guys hope to see you in 2024
Hi Allen - congrats on finishing your contract! You really toughed it out this season and we hope you are felling better. We hope to see you in 2024 as well. 🤗🤗
Bending at the waist slightly , like over a work surface would aggrevate old injury...I would like to see footage of the job in progress .
For the purpose of this video we couldn't film the inside of the plant and the various tasks/types of jobs involved - we signed a waiver saying we wouldn't. In the video we did our best to describe the various types of physical requirements for the jobs involved.
WooHaa!!! I've missed you guys! 22:30 Fiona! Only time I've seen you with your hair down. And officially, you guys are officially "bad ass" for doing this... I could not even though I've been doing crossfit...but I'm almost 64.
Aw thanks for missing us RedSpiralHand 🤗🤗. Yeah if ever there was a time to let my hair down,, then it was after completing our time working in a fish processing plant 🤣! There might have to be a smidgen of bad assedness involved in getting through a fish processing season 😉.
Hi. Thank you for the informative video. I'm too late for this season but I definitely plan on applying for a job in summer 2024. I'm a college student. This will be a good opportunity since I can't live in the dorms in the summer. I'll be available for work from end of May to mid August.
Thank you so much for enjoying our video and finding it informative. We hope you make it to Leader Creek in 2024. The season runs from June 15th through August 15th. The last two years we have worked there (2023 and 2024) we were finished working the end of July. Keep an eye on Leader Creek's website from early in the New Year to apply. This year (2023) positions filled up very quickly.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you for you response. Will I need professional references in order to apply? How much can I expect to make when everything is said and done?
You will need references in order to apply. These may be from former employers or simply a character reference from someone who can vouch for you.
As for how much can be made, it really does depend on the run of the salmon, i.e. how busy the plant is for the season. It also depends on one completing their contract. If you complete your contract and it is a typical season, you can expect to make between $8,000 and $10,000 or thereabouts.
This has got to be the best video about Leader Creek I've seen. You have answered so many of my questions and concerns. I like the metal lockers, seems more secure.
I'm working a seasonal job now...ends May 15th, then starts back mid-September. The timing of this is perfect.
Still not sure if I'll do it, but, it's looking promising. The pay has gone up and I saw where they are footing the bill on flights close to where I live...if this is true, very nice.
Well, awesome video...hopefully, I'll see you there!
Thank you so much for the compliment - we're very happy this video was helpful!
Indeed, Leader Creek's new policy for 2023 of flying employees from home (instead of just Seattle or Anchorage) makes a big difference, as does the significant raise of pay. If you come to Leader Creek this year, make sure you find us and say hello.
What seasonal work are you doing now?
@@ACoupleofDrifters I deliver flowers / vegetable plants to major grocery chains in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. I'm home everyday, long hours though...they work us 9 weeks in Spring and then 6 weeks in Fall. I'm a retired deputy sheriff (2020) and have been working seasonal / part time jobs since.
I did apply to Leader creek last year, but told the recruiter I was going to go ahead and take a full-time job instead so I could pay-off our motorhome. Well, they lost a contract at the site I was working and that ended January 1st of this year. I went back to the seasonal job and have been pondering my next move....Leader Creek is looking pretty good right now.
I did try to apply online and everytime I try...either by cell phone or laptop...I keep getting the same message "site can't be reached." I even tried through Coolworks and got the same response. I ended up emailing Leader Creek and asked them if they still had my info on file or if they could help me out locating a way to apply...?
Hey, again, you guys really did a great job on that video...thank you again. I'll update you on what happens!
I just ran Leader Creek's website through a "down-detector" app - it indicates their site is indeed offline for some reason. Coolworks links through to Leader Creek's site when you click the "Apply Now" tab on the former, so...This is not good - how long have you experienced this? We hope they get this sorted out soon and you can properly apply for the job. Keep checking Leader Creek's website from time to time.
Thanks for telling us about your seasonal job - it sounds like something I (Jerry) might enjoy, especially if there's any physical aspect to the deliveries. We really hope you get a chance to work for Leader Creek this season - it's tough work and the hours are very long but the pay certainly makes it worth the effort. The food there is quite nice as well! 😋😋
@@ACoupleofDrifters Okay, well, that explains it...hopefully they'll get it back running. I just saw this today on their website.
Oh yeah, the company I work for now is Rockwell farms in Rockwell, North Carolina. "Metrolina Greenhouse" is another big time distributor....I'm sure there are others, but these folks do deliver to other states. I deliver my deliveries in a box truck...non CDL.
I'm not gauranteed a run everyday...here as the end of the season draws closer, I may only run 3-4 days a week. This Monday i don't have a run, but they gave me a 450 mile run for Tuesday, so that will give me some hours. The season for Spring ends right at May 15th, then we deliver Mums for the Fall season....mid September - mid to end of October. I only worked about three Saturdays for them last Fall, because I was working that full-time job.
I hear they don't take out state taxes in Alaska, just federal. My wife and I were running the numbers and "before" taxes, we got $21,312.....we were running $18 for regular hours and $27 for any overtime. If that's the case, that's some serious money for just 8 weeks work....wow.
That's correct - no individual state income tax in Alaska. Keep in mind that the number of hours worked will depend on the amount of fish being caught and processed in the plant. 2022 was a record-breaking season at Leader Creek for the amount of salmon being processed - together we grossed $21,628.45 before taxes. Of course, our individual income tax situations may be different than yours.
Now let's talk about industry projections for the 2023 Sockeye Salmon season: Indicators point to considerably less fish this season versus last season, but bigger/more mature salmon....just less of them. I don't know if that necessarily means more work in the plant... From the official industry predictions I've been able to find online, I'd consider them to be quite accurate over the years - they have their ways of coming up with pre-season projected numbers and the after season numbers haven't seemed to be not too far off, historically.
Having said all of this, the raise in pay for the 2023 season may make all the difference. The new rates could mean that our 2023 take-home pay might be comparable to our take-home pay last season - this is keeping in mind the predictions of less salmon this season and the crazy amount of fish we processed last season at $15.85 regular time/$23.78 overtime.
Not all of the work days will involve overtime - this is normal, especially at the start and end of the season. For us, the very start of the 2022 season was quite slow and the overtime just wasn't there...until it was. Out of a total of 42 days on the job in 2022, 28 of those days (in a row!) had 16-hour shifts.
Best video I’ve seen so far keep up the good work I’ll be in Dutch harbor A season in 3 days
Hello. Thanks a million for your very kind words. All the best this season up in Dutch Harbor. Stay warm, dry and let us know how it goes.
I will be there this June look forward to meeting you
We look forward to meeting you, too - make sure you say hello to us! See you in Naknek soon!
when do you leave?
Could you make a video of all your purchases and must have items (or a slide show images of items recommended and must haves) your bringing to leader creek fisheries I have my interview on Monday and hopefully I get in I would greatly appreciate all your recommendations purchases.
Last question how many breaks are there in total per shift ?
Hi jahziel.
This link takes you directly to the area of our amazon shop which has a list of things we recommend bringing to Leader Creek:
www.amazon.com/shop/acoupleofdrifters/list/XR73OBOKNHOW?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d
Also, we do have a video filmed which highlights the essential things to bring, however we need to edit this video and get it on RUclips. Currently we are traveling and we won't have time to edit and release this video until late March/early April. Please keep an eye out for this video!
As for breaks on 16-hour shifts, expect two 15-minute breaks (paid) and one 30-minute meal break (unpaid - you must clock out, then clock back in). Depending on your shift, the meal you have 30 minutes for may be breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Good luck with your interview on Monday - you'll do fine! The HR staff at Leader Creek are really friendly and your interview will be relaxed! We hope to see you in Naknek for the 2023 season - make sure you say hi to us!
Let us know if you have any more questions.
Congratulations on this video. Thank you for the great information. You are courageous. As an adventurous Brit in the UK, I would love to come to Alaska and work.
Thank you, pia - this is a lovely comment! We know Leader Creek has sorted out the proper visas for their processors coming from south of the border. If you're interested and if the proper visa to work in Alaska is something you are eligible for, why not enquire directly with Leader Creek?
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you for your kind encouragement. I will drop them an email and let you know how I get on. Meanwhile, wishing you both all the very best.
Thank you, pia - do let us know how you get on! We wish you luck - it would be lovely to see you there this season!
IMMA SIGN UP FOR LEADERS CREEK NEXT YEAR
Leader creek is the best by far
Hello, my name is Lowell Hartman. I want to work at a cannery in 2025.
I am 56 years old and staying in shape.
I am retired law enforcement.
I want to work 6-9 months out of the year.
I am starting to send out applications.
I hope it will not be too difficult to get hired with a fish cannery.
Thank you for any advice or comments.
Imma be out there next month but imma be going to OBI SEAFOODS. IVE DOING THIS SINCE 2019 in naknek
Hi Fiona, we miss you!!! It was such a pleasure meeting and working with you!! (Stacy and Carol)
Hi Stacy and Carol. Aw, it is so lovely to hear from yous. I miss yous too. We hope yous are both well rested now. Instead of working 16 hours, we've actually been known to sleep for 16 hours for the first couple of days after finishing up at Leader Creek! 😉
We've been resting and house sitting in New Mexico over the last couple of weeks and also just trying to catch up on everything.
We hope to see yous both next year at Leader Creek. We'll also look for your film "Spoken" next time we have a telly. Massive hugs to you and your lovely Mum. xxxx 🥰❤️🥰❤️
@@ACoupleofDrifters It's great to hear from you as well!! My mother says hello, to you both. We are taking it easy and getting back into the swing of things. New Mexico sounds great, enjoy and we will stay in touch! Be safe and enjoy your trip, thank U for checking out the film when you get a chance!
thank you for this honestly. ill be headed up to togiak this summer. secured the job a couple weeks ago; just waiting for onboarding and my itinerary. im definitely bringing my own gear bc i know how important that part is.
only question is gloves. do they provide a certain kind. are you guys going barehanded? never hear anyone talk about that. only the importance of warm dry feet lol
Thank you, masón. We are still waiting for onboarding this season as well - it's much later than it has been the past few seasons.
Leader Creek provides PPE needed for the job, including gloves. Depending on the type of work being performed, Leader Creek will have proper gloves for the job like cut-resistant gloves or insulated gloves, for example. We suspect most if not all processing plants provide gloves as well.
For more ideas on what to bring, click on our essential packing list video for seafood processors: ruclips.net/video/SKvwGv62ovo/видео.html
Thank you for documenting your experience! I most likely will be there this summer :) What other seasonal jobs have you done?
Hi Grace - we hope to see you at Leader Creek in 2023! As for other seasonal work, I (Fiona) picked strawberries in Arbroath, Scotland in my university days.
If you are interested in other seasonal work, we recommend the website coolworks . com - this is how we found the job listing for Leader Creek in 2022. This website features at least a thousand jobs listings for all seasons, all across the United States.
You 2 have me excited to go
We hope to see you there!
Worked as a deck hand in bristol bay between 2003 and 2012. Can't believe its been 10 years. Thinking of selling my house and working again but I may be too old. maybe do processing by leader creek instead though.
We are aged 48 and 50 and have been traveling full time since 2017. Along with your comment was one from a subscriber whose wife died very suddenly on Christmas Day, 2022 - they wanted to travel as well. Not sure of his age or what his wife's age was when she died. His very sad comment has us thinking about a lot of things at the moment...
Leader Creek might be a good choice for you - it may not be as difficult as being a deck hand, but it certainly beat us up a bit last year in 2022. Having said that, it was such a positive experience for us and we will be returning in 2023 - we hope to see you there!
We hope this video was helpful to you.
Very informative as I’m interviewing for B season . Also room actually looks okay was nervous about the housing.
Thank you, AB! The housing was something we had a million questions about, too - we really wanted to show folks what this is like at Leader Creek.
We must ask you: What is B season?
@@ACoupleofDrifters summer June to August.
Thanks, AB - we've never heard of the season being referred to as A or B. June through August is the same season we worked in 2022 and we'll be working it again in 2023. Hope to see you there!
What does the job actually entail ? I mean what is it that you actually do ?
Do they serve salmon in the mess hall ? I hear Alaskan wild Salmon is the best in the world . Any other seasonal work that follows the Salmon season ? I live in Asia and might as well make it count. I really need a change of scenery as well. Do workers show up like a week early to get oriented and settled in ? Thank you.
What you do depends largely on the department you are assigned to. You can be in a department responsible for butchering/gutting the salmon, or in a department responsible for fileting the fish - I covered the different departments in a response to one of your comments. The exact task[s] an employee may end up doing has also been mentioned. There is good variety of tasks to perform and leads and supervisors are good at rotating employees so they don't end up doing the same thing for 16 hours.
Yes, salmon is served every day in the mess hall. We've always been impressed by the variety and taste of the food at Leader Creek and the kitchen staff are the best.
Many people follow the fish jobs from one to the next, working with different species at different times of the year throughout much of Alaska. We are exhausted after 5 or 6 weeks of work but are always in awe of our fellow Leader Creek employees who go directly to another processing plant to work some more, or hop on a boat and head out to sea to fish.
Some employees are flown to the plant on or near June 15th - these employees usually have to wait a bit until the first salmon arrive into the plant and for the work to begin. By the time other employees arrive later, the work has already begun and they head to work right after a full day of rest/orientation. This season stared a little slower than others and I had over a full week of hanging out with people on campus before the salmon came in. Still, it was a good season and I got a lot of hours. --💲💲--
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions , I appreciate it. sorry if I seem redundant , busy like hell as season changes , hard to focus. It may work out.
I will apply if another gig doesn't come through ... I will surely mention you referred me. Any way to PM you ? Thanks
Can’t wait 🎉
Were there any guys from Ukraine participating in Work and Travel
Program ? I went there in 2008 and 2009, was cool. Is Darcy still there ? She was at the window where they give you mail and cough drops. Good memories 😊
Hello. There was nobody from Ukraine participating in the Work and Travel Programme whilst we were there in 2022 or 2023. We never met anyone called Darcy, so we reckon she was not there over the last couple of years. We're glad you enjoyed your time at Leader Creek and we're glad that you too have good memories of working there. Maybe you'll return some day?
How many people does the factory need to work at full capacity ? How many quit and about how long do they last on average ? Does the company look to replace the drop outs ?
We don't know the exact number of people needed for the plant to run at full compacity, but around 400 to 450-plus is what we've heard being mentioned in the past.
We don't know how many quit or how long they last on average. To us it seems a rather low percentage quits - some after a few days, some after few weeks.
Yes, the company anticipates a certain amount of back-up employees needed to cover any workforce shortages. Reserves can be hired as needed.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Just noticed this reply , I asked again , please disregard ....woweee that's some tons of fish coming through . Heard nothing as good as Alaskan Salmon... I'm considering this but won't do it unless I'm sure I can finish the season ... No booze , it would be work , bathe ,bed . I'm a light sleeper but I bet I would be out cold with ringing ears as soon as head touches pillow.
I'm a light sleeper as well and I always, always sleep with earplugs. I also don't sleep a lot during the off season - maybe 6 hours at most - but in Alaska my body craves sleep and I find it extremely difficult to get out of bed. Fiona is my sweetie [and my roommate!] and she's always there to make sure I get out of bed. We choose to skip the booze to save money and to focus on the long hours of work with a clearer head.
@@genuinsanitycontratan durante todo el año , o en qué meses?
This sounds great just for the technology detox
We agree! Being without usable internet didn't bother us at all. Some people had mobile coverage on campus [there's a cell tower just up the road] but we only had access to the company-provided wi-fi in our bunkhouse. The signal was good but speeds were too slow, to the point of being completely unusable for us.
Alaska salmon is very special
Hi, I just came upon your video because out of curiosity. I worked in a processing plant as a processor back 1978 in Anchorage but I know it’s closed now. It was an great experience I’ve never forgotten. I was wondering do they still require you join the Alaska fisherman’s union? Really enjoyed you video!❤
Hello Lori. Thank you very much for enjoying our video, and we're sorry it's taken us a few days to get back to you. We're glad to hear you also had a great experience as a seafood processor and that you still fondly remember working up in Anchorage. We did not have to join the Alaska Fisherman's Union to work at Leader Creek. We don't know if it's a requirement though at other plants. Thanks again Lori. 🤗🤗
Is there an age limit to work as a fish processor? I just turned 58 and need to pay off CC. Another question is, do I have an option to live outside the dorm? I have 4 cats...LOL!
58 isn't too old to be considered. You wouldn't have the option to live off campus or to bring any pets to live with you.
Thank you for sharing this great experience. Do you know if they take on visiting foreigners? Or is a work visa needed? Would they maybe help with papers to be issued a visa?
Hi Katrin.
A work vis will be needed. Leader Creek has sorted out visas for certain employees in the past. Leader Creek's HR staff would be the ones to reach out to for specifics regarding visa situations.
See you their June 2023 I want to stay a day or 2 after ending contract to enjoy a little after your last shift ended when did they fly you back and was it free ?
Hi Nicholas.
Having a few days to to relax and/or enjoy the area really depends on _ if_ you finish your contract and how soon they send you home if you _do_ finish your contract. If you finish your contract, the later in the season they decide to send you home the better as far as having a few days to yourself. If you finish your contract and get sent home later in the season, there will be a chance to arrange a visit and a flight to Katmai National Park with other Leader Creek employees. Tours to Katmai will be on the day before Leader Creek sends you home. If you don't want to visit, you can spend your last days around Naknek. Yes, if you finish your contract then your flight home will be provided for free by Leader Creek.
Fatigue , rush and sharp blades sound like recipe for accidents . How long does it take for a newbie to get into the "flow"....?
Minor incidents happen for a host of reasons. More serious mishaps and accidents have been extremely rare during our employment.
Most new employees get into the flow quickly - this can be in a matter of a few hours or a few shifts, depending on the type of work they are doing.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thank for the insight , there various jobs ?
You are welcome!
Not only are there are many different tasks performed within the plant, there are also different departments. One department guts the salmon, then the fish moves to another department which filets them. The filets then get moved to other departments, depending on the size and quality of each filet. Once the filets are sealed and packed [in their respective departments] they move on to the shipping department. There is also a department which deals directly with the salmon eggs.
Within each department there are different tasks to be performed by employees. Each of these different tasks require different types of actions like sorting, slicing, lifting, pushing, pulling, placing, inspecting and many others. That doesn't mean employees do one single task for 16 hours each day - leads and supervisors do a good job of switching/rotating employees to different tasks throughout the shift.
Correct me if im wrong... on minute 10:03 you talked about the pay.
And it goes like this:
You worked 16 hours a day... 8 regular paid, and 8 overtime.
$15.85 per hour... * 8 = $126.8
$23.78 Over time... * 8 = $190.24
--------------
TOTAL PER DAY= $317.04
You mentioned you worked 7 days a week:
$317.04 * 7 = $2219.28 a week.... *4 weeks in a month= $8877.12
Basically, you make $8877.12 per month.......Am I wrong?
Hi ramondrpp - thank you for crunching some numbers, however in this case it's more important to know what earnings _can be_ as there is no way of knowing what they _will be_ . Are you correct with your calculation? In a word, no.
You are figuring 4 weeks of continuous 16-hour shifts - this is not typical at all for processors at Leader Creek. In the video we mention 16-hour shifts, seven days a week for _up to_ three weeks (9:43) and that there will be shifts of less than 16-hours on either end of any streak of 16-hour shifts (10:44). We mention _potential_ earnings in the video (10:22) and we never mention 4 weeks (or more) of consecutive 16-hour shifts.
The amount of work is determined by the amount of fish being caught and processed - for processors there are simply no guarantees of x-amount of hours/earnings.
This is great, I was a processor at Leader Creek in 2019. What an experience haha. That overtime though... Overall experience, not bad. Long hours obviously. But good experience. I have not watched all this video but did you take the trip to Katmai national park to see the bears eating the salmon?
I was in the six person bunks.
Thank you, Eric! It's good hearing Leader Creek was a positive experience for you as well - are you returning in 2023?
We didn't go to Katmai in 2022 but we heard from others who did - and we saw a lot of amazing photos from them. We'd love to take the Katmai trip this time around at the end of the 2023 season.
Did you go to Katmai in 2019!
Housing at Leader Creek was much better than we'd expected - we really wondered what it would be like and hopefully this video helps others. The six-person dorms were better than we thought and the lock boxes were a nice touch. Having said that, we were happy and comfortable in our private, two-person room!
@@ACoupleofDrifters I did go to Katmai, highly recommend. I saw Grizzly bears on the trail that leads to the water fall area. I don’t think I will return but part of me wants to. I meet some great people. And the six person bunkhouse was not bad. At the end of the day everyone just wants to go to sleep. Plus I used to be in the Navy and lived in much tighter conditions with many more people.
How often do you get paid during the season is it biweekly or once a month thanks
At Leader Creek we are paid bi-weekly.
Nice to hear from you. I dit not expect you were in Alaska doing seasonnal work. You are both courageous and resourceful. Thanks for the vidéo. 😉
Hi Marthe. Yes we even surprised ourselves with this one 😉! It was a rather impromptu decision on our parts. We were house sitting in New Mexico and just started talking about seasonal work, which led us to look up seasonal work and within a few hours we found ourselves applying for this fish processing job. It was a brilliant though tough experience, however we may even return next summer! Thanks for watching Marthe and for always being there for us 🤗🤗.
I will be going to Ekuk this coming June, so sharing your experience helped me a lot as to what to expect and how to prepare. Do you mind elaborating on the different processing departments/positions in the plant? maybe pros and cons of each? I understand some pay better bonus than others, and some are "specialized". Thanks again
Hi Joseph - we're happy hearing this video was helpful to you. Keep in mind that where we worked wasn't a canning facility and we can only comment on the different departments at a freezing and fileting plant like at Leader Creek.
What type of facility will you be working at in Ekuk - a cannery or a freeze/filet plant? If it's the latter, we will be happy to shed some more light on the different departments, plus any pros and cons of each one. If it's a cannery, we can't be of too much help describing the different departments.
Thanks for your reply. It is not a canning facility. I understand they get the salmon straight from the boats and there is a fish house with machines to process (heading, gutting, slimming) grade and package.
I (Jerry) worked in fish house - this is where heading, gutting and sliming takes place, as you know.
At Leader Creek this is where fish were visually sorted - chum and salmon were manually separated here before going on to the next step. Salmon were then indexed by several employees, or laid flat on a sort of specially-designed belt before they were fed into the butchering machine - this is where the head and fins were cut from each fish. They were manually fed into a gutting machine. The machine dumped the gutted fish onto a belt where the bloodline was manually scraped out - this is the slime line. From there, another visual inspection before being loaded into totes which then make their way to the filet house.
Wrapping it up: In fish house workers can expect a combination of feeding fish into machinery; manually scraping out the bloodlines; manually beheading and finning certain fish which didn't make it through the butchering machine and even fileting some fish; placing fish on trays and stacking them on racks for freezing; sorting and inspecting fish and even sorting through the guts and picking out the roe - this is the most valuable product!
Pros/cons? I liked the physical work - it was tough at first but I adapted to it and began feeling a bit stronger. I found the overall pace a bit daunting. It was also tough on my hands but not enough to write home about, so to speak. Having said all that, we were expected to give it our all, but leads and supervisors were very fair in my opinion and they did a great job of mixing up the tasks for employees.
In the filet house the salmon are fed through another machine which skins them and removes the filet from the body. Workers then trim off the edges and any remaining skin in order to make the filet look uniform and marketable. Another group of workers then remove any residual bones. The finished filets then get sent to packing, which I am not entirely familiar with when it comes to this areas associated tasks and duties. I just know it too is a rather physical department involving moving racks of fish in and out of large walk-in freezers. There was also the vac-pac department (less physically grueling).
Pros/cons of filet house: I didn't work in this department enough to figure out the good and bad - I'm sure there was a bit of both - but to me it largely seemed less physical overall and most (but not all) of the tasks/duties here seemed more detail-oriented - most workers here were trimming bits of flesh from the filets and picking bones with tweezers.
There was also a department which dealt with sorting and grading the roe which is gathered in the fish house - this department at Leader Creek was in a different building from the main plant, at the far end of the property. I can't tell you much about this. There was also a shipping department at Leader Creek but I don't know details of the jobs and duties here.
Our department assignments were unknown until a few days after arrival at Leader Creek - Fiona and I don't know which departments/tasks we'll be assigned this season. She hopes to keep the spot she finished with last season - sorting, laundering and issuing PPE for the plant employees. I am hoping to be assigned a job just as physical as the one I had last season, although in a different department. Last year I was considered for a QA/QC job, but I'd rather do something more physical and less "brain-involved" than that!
I hope to have shed a bit of light on the different departments I am familiar with at Leader Creek - I suspect things in Ekuk are overall quite similar. Whichever department you end up at within the processing department, expect it to be cold, damp, noisy and fast-paced. Don't underestimate the power of warm and DRY socks and clothes. Be prepared with enough warm clothing in case you end up working with the walk-in freezers. Personally, I wouldn't even consider being out on the floor without my neck being covered by a combination of a hood, hat and a scarf or neck gaiter. Again, I can't stress this enough!
Let us know if you have any more questions. We wish you a great 2023 season in Ekuk, Joseph!
@@ACoupleofDrifters Hey Jerry, I appreciate your taking the time to go into so much detail, very informative, Thanks. I feel way more prepared after watching your video and reading your comments. I really look forward to the challenge. Take care
Thanks for all your insight & detailed info on the job & company. I was supposed to go up for the 2021 season but ended up keeping my 9-5 because of the security/state of the economy & their covid protocols. I will probably apply & put my name on the list after New Year’s to keep the option of going there for the summer. Do you like seasonal work lifestyle? & do you think it’s sustainable/worth it for the longer term- 3-5+ years? I’ve considering doing A season with another company also while working towards my own business in my free time. I have a good paying job- construction apprentice at a laborer’s Union but can’t help but think that living for just the weekends & the occasional vacation just isn’t what I want in life, not to mention the work culture/environment. I understand that fish processing isn’t easy or pleasant, either. I’m single, no kids. So this has always been something I’ve considered. Love to adventure & travel when I can too! Thanks!
Thank you, Lino! We hope to see you at Leader Creek in 2024. We cannot recommend them enough - from HR to fellow processors and all the way up to plant/production management, the folks here are amazing to work with! Aside from the people we work with, seasonal work at Leader Creek suits us because we're in and out of there real quick and what we earn there keeps us on the road for the year, and beyond.
Outside of our six weeks at Leader Creek, we have a circuit which has evolved a bit over the last handful of years. Our circuit goes like this: Three and a half months of travel during winter; a 2.5 month housesit for friends during spring; six weeks of work at Leader Creek during summer; six weeks of travel and then housesitting for another 2.5 months for our friends during autumn. This represents, to us, the best of both worlds: A chance to earn in Alaska and stay settled during our housesits in New Mexico, and a chance to travel wherever we want for almost half the year.
Before we began our current circuit/lifestyle, we certainly felt the way you did about wanting to simply have more time to see and do. Getting out of any debt, saving money/skimping on mindless spending and hitting the road while [relatively] young were all crucial steps which made this happen for us. Like you, we don't have children.
We did a "dry-run" on long-term travel from 2013 - 2014. During that time we hitchhiked from Maine to the Panama Canal and back, and traveled as inexpensively as we could. It was a lovely trip! From this, we knew we wanted more.
An encouraging thing to consider: The amount of seasonal employment available out there is simply astounding. There are resources out there which bring many seasonal job opportunities together in one place. For example, we found out about Leader Creek from a website called Coolworks. This site features loads and loads of seasonal work across all sorts of categories and it's totally free to look for jobs and apply for them, directly through the employer.
Is this sort of thing sustainable for 3-5 years and beyond? It can be - and it is - for some. For us, it's been over six years and we feel we've only begun to scratch the surface.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Wow, thanks again for all the open feedback. I told myself if I ever did the fish processing it'd be with Leader Creek. I think that's pretty cool that you've both been able to find your way with the seasonal work and have a nice balance of work and fun. Winter is definitely the best time to travel and get away especially where I'm at (WA). I'm in a good position with this company I'm working with and it is a long term project. I feel it's probably best to soak it up since I'm already here since the money is good. But anything can happen, especially with construction. It's always good to have backup plans etc. I'll apply and decide before June if I will be able to do it or not and keep you both posted! Gabby with HR said it's not problem as long as you let them know beforehand and your flight hasn't been booked yet. Best of luck with all of your endeavors and adventures!
Thank you, Lino! We wish you the best of luck as well!
Gabby is an absolute star - her and the HR crew go above and beyond. Do let us know how it goes with Leader Creek and say hello to us if you're there in 2024.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Will do! Talk soon.
I just got done with an interview at LCF yesterday and it seemed to go pretty well. They said that I’ll get a confirmation email. But I’m not sure when or how long it we’ll take to get the job offer.
In 2022 we were given a conditional offer of employment about one week after our interviews. We had to accept the conditional offer in order to get the ball rolling - make sure you read
the conditional offer and respond to it. We wish you the best of luck - say hello to us at Leader Creek in 2023!
@@ACoupleofDrifters just got the response to the job offer and accepted it. What I am Curious about is what are the hours like and will I come out with good money? also do they tell menthol cigarettes in the stores?
Congratulations on landing the job - we'll see you there!
Is there a specific question or questions you have about the hours?
We mentioned what the hours are like in the video and Leader Creek does their best to let you know before you apply. During your interview would've been a good time to ask any questions you had about the hours.
Generally speaking: The hours are long and difficult. Your shift could begin around 5 am, or it could begin around 10 pm, or somewhere in between. Your shift will be assigned after you arrive at Leader Creek. There will be mandatory 16-hour days, 7 days a week.
We think the amount of money which can be earned over such a short amount of time is amazing. Having said that, it all comes down to how many fish get processed at the plant - last season was a record as far as the amount of fish processed at the plant and there was a lot of work because of that. Projections for this season are indicating less fish overall in 2023 versus 2022, but the hourly wage at Leader Creek has been increased significantly....over $2 more per hour than last year.
We don't smoke but we can say cigarettes were sold in Leader Creek's shop last year - we don't know for certain about menthol flavor or what the price was per pack. Also, there was a small shop located off Leader Creek property, about a few hundred yards up the road from the bunkhouses. We don't know if that shop sold your type/brand of cigarettes for sure but we suspect they would. Aside from the two shops mentioned (Leader Creek's shop and the shop just up the road), that's it - the nearest shops beyond these are in the actual town of Naknek which is a couple of miles from the Leader Creek campus.
Leader Creek has a lot of info on their website regarding what you should consider bringing enough of and cigarettes are on the list. We suggest you stock-up on a carton or two - the price at home is likely much, much less than in Alaska.
Good for you guys . For that many hrs of work a day,Sounds restless! . So only 5-6 weeks and that’s it? Or can you work longer than that?
Thank you Sala. Indeed, the days were long and the sleep was fleeting - we'll likely return in 2023! For general processors, the season can be less than 5 or 6 weeks, or more - it depends on strength of the salmon run. From what we understand leads, supervisors and some non-processing positions can be there for a few weeks or months before and/or after the salmon season.
Amazing video. You gave us so much information about everything. Can i ask 18dollars per hour are after tax? How its calculated? Also if someone from europe go there to work every year until retirement the two months each year there in alaska give you some monthly money retirement?
Thank you, Gs! That is $18.06 per hour before taxes. We would love to answer your other questions but we aren't the best source for that type of information. These would be good questions to ask during an interview, or by reaching out directly to Leader Creek's human resources personnel.
Hello. The trident company are here in GUAM rightnow if you know this place lol they are hiring thousands of employees to go to Alaska. Well i'm thinking about it😊 question: the season is only 2 months? That made me think if quitting my current job is worth it😬
Hi emjay. For us in 2022, processing Sockeye Salmon lasted just under two months at Leader Creek. This company, and similar Sockeye Salmon processors, require employees to commit two months for the job: June 15th through August 15th. As for processing plants throughout Alaska dealing with other types of fish, we don't know how long their seasons last.
Is there a convenient store near by that you can walk to ??
Hi Allen.
There is a shop a few hundred yards from the bunkhouse. We don't know if this shop keeps regular hours. Expect limited supplies and prices to be generally much more than what you'd pay in the lower 48 states. We suggest bringing whatever you may need or want. Also, once 16-hour days begin, that short walk to the store will feel like it's miles away (and it may not be open)!
Thanks for all the info
Safe trip 🎉
Thanks a million alexa (Mrs. Taco). We are currently sitting in Anchorage airport, waiting for our flight to King Salmon. We'll see you at Leader Creek in just a few days' time! Safe travels to you too and thank you for thinking of us. 🤗🤗
Hello guys, I have a question. I have experience and I have worked for silver bay before. I want to work at naknek with ledder crrek. Will they pay me 18.06 for my experience or would they pay me 17 because I am new?
Here is a quote from an email we received from Leader Creek at the start of the new year:
"2024 First year employees will have a base hourly rate of $17.15/hr regular time and $25.73/hr overtime."
We feel it wouldn't hurt to ask your question to HR when you apply at Leader Creek. We hope to see you in Naknek for the 2024 season!
Dry socks 🧦 noted… that is amazing advise
Hi Dan.
Dry socks for your feet are absolutely crucial! We really do recommend keeping a few pairs readily available while working. Staying dry and warm is part of the battle with working such long, long hours.
@@ACoupleofDrifters really appreciate the video…I’m looking form seasonal work and ran across a Craig
List add for this salmon work. I’ve done work in a popcorn factory with twelve hours shifts many years ago. Not sure I could handle the “intensity” of this 7 day a week business…. But you insight on the experience definitely makes me think this could be a good experience. Always wanted to visit Alaska too.
I’m from USA but Currently I live in Brazil…looking for a return visit and earn some cash have some experiences. Thanks definitely got a like 👍🏼 and sub. If you ever drift to southern Brazil let me know. If I get the gig I will load up on some Darn Tough 🧦 they are the best
Thanks so much Dan for the lovely comment, the like and for subscribing - this really means a lot to us!
We are actually in Peru right now, heading north to Ecuador and then back to the US by late March. We already want to return to Peru, so maybe Brazil is in our future? Bolivia was meant to happen on this trip, but travel to southern Peru got real dicey as soon as we arrived in early December - the political situation in Peru has been tough on a lot of folks.
Since you want to see Alaska, we want to tell you this about working at Leader Creek: If you finish your season with LC, the company can arrange a flight and tour for you to Katmai National Park at cost to you (cash only!) - this is a national park which is not the easiest place to get to! Once at Katmai visitors can get really, really close to bears feeding on salmon in the river - just do a google image search of the bears at Katmai and you'll see them submerged in the water at the base of the falls gorging on the salmon which are making their way upstream. For as close as you can get to the bears, they are too busy eating to be bothered by the presence of humans. We opted to skip this tour last year, but we'll likely do it this season. We've talked to quite a few fellow employees who did this trip - it really sounds like it's worth it and their photos were simply amazing. The trip/tour is done in one long day - you'll leave Leader Creek in the early morning, take your flight out to the park and return to Leader Creek later that day.
It's intense work mentally and physically for sure - at 48 and 50 years of age we're quite pleased to have been able to stick it out. Hopefully mention of that, the money you'll make at Leader Creek ($18.06 regular time/$27.09 overtime - they raised the pay this season) and mention of Katmai National Park will get you to think about it a bit more.
Go on and apply at Leader Creek.... and say hello to us when you get there!
@@ACoupleofDrifters thanks I sent you a message on Instagram
Hopefully you can see ny comment, can I ask if I and my husband can apply, we're from Philippines, is there any chances of working there too? thanks new subscriber here
Thank you for subscribing! Although it's too late to apply for the 2023 sockeye salmon season at Leader Creek you can apply on their website later for the 2024 season. You should be able to apply around the beginning of 2024.
hello! great video. what are the main requirements to get the job?
Hello. Thanks a million for enjoying our video.
There is no experience required for the job at Leader Creek, however you must be be eligible to work in the U.S. Once you apply it helps to have references, or at least a character reference from a reliable source.
Do you need any particular experience in the industry to get hired? Im really interested in contributing to this position. Are there any ways for me to increase the chances of securing this job?
No, you don't need experience in this industry to be considered for a processing job. A good, solid work history with a varied background can go a long way.
Do you have to clock out to use the bathroom while working?
No, you do not clock out to use the bathroom. You also do not clock out for breaks. The only time you clock out is for meal times.
Thanks for this, I've been looking for a cook position at these places, but they are rare. Two questions, though, if you don't mind. (1) what do the breaks look like over 16 hours? (2) is there an option to wash your own clothes? Thanks again.
The breaks on a 16-hour shift at Leader Creek are like this: A paid 15-minute break after about four hours from the start of the shift; an unpaid 30-minute break (clock out) for either breakfast, lunch or dinner in the middle of the shift and then another paid 15-minute break about four hours before the shift ends.
Laundry: We would have to say you wouldn't be allowed to do your own laundry at Leader Creek. Also, there is no laundromat nearby that we know of.
Are you guys going to be in Naknek for the 2023 season? If so, please message me. I'd like to take you out for lunch/dinner and get some info from you.
We'll be there for 2023. Will you be there as well?
@@ACoupleofDrifters sorry for the delayed response. I’ve been getting a bunch of chores done at home/work before I head out to Naknek. I’ll be there from June 6th until the 30th. I’m going out for work myself. I thought it would be nice to meet some other people and make some new friends since we are all stuck out there together anyways! It’s nothing official or an interview or anything. Our company is based at the LMI yard so we are in close proximity to Leader Creek.
Hi RR.
Hopefully the 16-hour shifts won't begin as soon as we arrive. Last year at Naknek we didn't have reliable enough wi-fi to check email and message people and we suspect the same thing again this year. We'll be at Leader Creek after June 15th. We hope our paths cross in Naknek!
How long after filling out our I9 does it take to get our airplane tickets? Or how many days in advanced before our departure do they give us our tickets?
Hi alexa.
We just received our flight information May 14th. We fly out on June 14th and arrive at Naknek on June 15th. We understand how eager employees are to get their flight information. Staff are working hard right now to book flights for everyone.
@@ACoupleofDrifters thank you so much for the reply did you receive your flight via email?
Yes, Leader Creek will email all flight information. We were very happy when we finally received our flights.
@@ACoupleofDrifters I got my ticket yesterday and I’ll be arriving on June 21 see you guys there 🤗🎉
That's great news! Make sure to say hello to us, Alexa! 🤗🤗
Did y’all see anyone who left early who had trouble getting back home? Because if you leave early u have to pay right?
Hi AB!
Yes, people left early in 2022 - they either quit or they were fired. We don't know if any of them had any troubles getting home, however them getting fired or quitting meant they had to pay for their transportation. Also, getting fired or quitting meant the employee had money for food and housing withheld from their earnings - that is up to $15.00 for each day as an employee living on site in Naknek.
This may sound harsh to some, but Leader Creek spells all of this out in no uncertain terms BEFORE employee are flown to Alaska,. We repeat: It's all very clearly mentioned in writing well before Leader Creek arranges each employee's outbound transportation. Further, each employee should be aware of this and will agree to this by first reading and then signing an agreement during the onboarding process.
Having said all of this, we spoke at length with an employee at the plant in 2022 who opted to leave early for their own reason. This employee was quite shocked to suddenly learn that they would be charged for their flight home, plus room & board for the time they were working there - they even talked about contacting an attorney to sort this all out. There is nothing to sort out - each employee is made aware of this and signs off on this before they ever get their hands on a fish. The employee we mention in this case simply didn't read the agreement and what they were signing off on, or didn't understand it. In our opinion, Leader Creek makes this very, very clear to employees from the start of the hiring and/or onboarding process.
According to Leader Creek, if an employee finishes the season (completes their contract) all airfare will be provided by Leader Creek - there will be no charge of up to $15.00 for each day as an employee to cover Leader Creek's expenses for food and housing said employee.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Thanks for responding to all the questions guys! I do have a few more questions for y’all! Lol Do you guys know how that employee manage to leave and did Leader Creek at least help in planning her leave? And you said you started working within the first two days there, bout how many hours did you do those first 2 weeks for pay on the 1st of the month? Also thinks again just trying to get a full picture and y’all have been awesome with the answers! :)
We don't have more information about that employee leaving, like how it was planned or by whom. Having said that, the local airport (King Salmon) is about a 30-minute drive from the plant - we suspect Leader Creek would drive terminated employees there, just as they would for employees who finish the season. Again, we simply don't know who exactly arranges/books flights home for employees who quit or are fired.
Your next question sent us to our records/pay stubs from last year. We actually began the 16-hour shifts sooner than 10 days in, as we initially told you - our apologies for that! The first 16-hour shift began on our fifth day there. Our sixth day was the same. Our seventh day was about 6 hours only. Our eighth day was the start of us working 16-hour shifts, seven days a week. Toward the end of the season, our final three or four days were reduced to about 12-hour shifts.
Keep in mind that last season was not typical - it was a record-breaking season for the mount of fish processed at Leader Creek and it was a very strong salmon season in general. There are never any guarantees regarding how many total hours will be available during the season - it depends on the amount of fish processed.
nice
I am Trying to make a list now for clothes I leave in one week. What’s the essentials ?
Hi Marc.
We suggest old, warm second-hand clothes from your local thrift shop because it's possible they'll be ruined/worn out after the season. Think hoodies, old denim jeans, thick wool socks, thermal tops and bottoms, a woolly winter hat or two and a neck gaiter (fleece is good). It's important to stay warm and layering is the best way to stay warm. It's possible you may end up wearing 2 pairs of socks at once to stay warm! You're on your feet all day so definitely make sure you've got enough socks with you. Just keep in mind it's a very cold, wet environment. We also recommend Bama socks (sokkets). These go over your socks and are worn inside your boots and are an added barrier against the cold and wet. Gloves are not necessary as liners and gloves are provided, however you can bring a light pair for added warmth if you want.
Also remember Leader Creek does not sell toiletries, so make sure you bring what you think you'll need.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Perfect thank you so much and will be a pleasure to meet you guys :)
No bother Marc. Make sure you find us and say "Hello". Let us know if you have any more questions.
@@ACoupleofDrifters absolutely 😎
@@ACoupleofDrifters I leave this Wednesday should I bring soap and hygiene products or is it provided?
Can I bring my small dog? Do you have to share a room?
We very much doubt you can bring your dog but you can always ask HR before arriving, just to be certain.
You will have to share a room with other employees.
Unbelievable experience - not sure I would be able to survive that, not having done physical labor in my life... how did you know you could do it? They would have probably sent me back in the first plane and have me pay the bill 😃
We didn't know we could do it. We had no idea what we had signed up for 😂🤣. Well we kind of did, the company was very up-front about the 16 hour workdays, but it's a completely different kettle of fish (no pun intended) when you're actually working them! We reckoned it would be something different and an adventure, and it was. So much so we're seriously contemplating returning the summer of 2023! Thanks for watching, we really appreciate it. 🤗🤗
@@ACoupleofDrifters Great! It is intense but you give away 6 weeks for gathering money to use as you please for months after that. Not a bad trading! :) At least next year you will know what you are getting into, and may have friends from this year that return back too, which is always helpful !
That is very true, if we return next year at least we'll know what to expect and hopefully a lot of the folk we met this year will also return. Actually Leader Creek has a very high return rate of employees, there are folk who have worked there every summer for 15/16 years and more! It really was the people that we worked with who made the experience for us. There really was such an incredible sense of camaraderie amongst everyone there.
Even though it certainly felt a LOT longer than 6 weeks, there really was such a sense of accomplishment when it was all over and done. In reality 6 weeks is nothing to earn such a nice chunk of change which allows us to continue travelling as we do. We're looking into other seasonal jobs but we'd rather throw ourselves into a gruelling 6 weeks and be done, rather than possibly 4 months of work elsewhere, without the guarantee of making even close to what we made at Leader Creek.
@@ACoupleofDrifters you definitely found an awesome hack to make money quick (with lots of real work, no "passive income")... Passive income is seen as all the hype, but sometimes doing honest/physical work is so much more
rewarding!😃🥰
We try the "passive income" with the channel here and our blog but in reality it...passes us by 🤣. Doing seasonal work we're guaranteed an income as long as we show up, and of course as long as the salmon show up. We knew when we hit the road in 2017, seasonal work was a very real prospect down the line, back then we were thinking probably fruit picking. It is truly amazing the amount, and variety of seasonal work that is out there. It's also amazing how many folk follow a circuit of seasonal work or utilise it as a means to pursue a non-traditional lifestyle. It's not for everyone, but for us it seems it allows us a perfect balance of how we are currently living - house sitting, seasonal work and travelling. 🥰🤗🥰🤗
How to apply sir im from phillipines..
You can apply on Leader Creek's website - applications are available around the beginning of the new year.
Hello my friend I would like to know now in the June season which company is the best to work for sitka craig or Valdez I want to work 16 hours a day.
Hi Luis. We can't say which company or place would be the best for you - we've only ever worked at Leader Creek in Naknek. As far as 16-hour days, there will very likely be some, but it all depends on the amount of fish coming in. Have you applied to any companies?
Thank for the information!!
What are the pay periods
Is it’s once a month or bi-weekly or every week
Wages are paid bi-weekly. Employees can opt for direct deposit or have live checks issued however keep in mind the nearest bank is in King Salmon, about 15 miles away. Your very last paycheck, along with any bonuses, will be a live check that is handed to you on the day you leave.
@@ACoupleofDrifters thank you so much hope to see you guys this upcoming season I just applied
You are welcome, Alexa - we hope to see you, too!
Hey I would love to sign up what website can I apply on?also thanks for the info!!!
Hi Alan - we're happy you found our video helpful!
You can apply on the Leader Creek website - their website is in the description of our video, or you can follow this link: www.leadercreekfisheries.com/
If you apply, could you please list "Fiona and Jerry" in the section of the application which asks how you heard about Leader Creek? We would really appreciate this!
We're more than happy to answer any more questions you may have. Hopefully we'll see you in 2023, Alan - look for us and say hello!
I am interested in the job!!!!
Go online to Leader Creek's website and apply for the job - the link to their site is in this comment thread.
$8.50 for a beer???!!! Wow. I'd have saved my money to indulge in Mexico, for sure...lol. I mean, that would mean it would take, ya know, $50+ to cop a good buzz? My Dad was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska (military) before he met my mother and he used to tell me stories of the cost of some things...
That was exactly what we did - saved our money to indulge in a Pacifico or two here in Mazatlán. There were a couple of little food trucks parked along the road in front of Leader Creek. They charged $25 for a burger and $18 for a burrito. The bar up the road also charged $25 for a burger. Needless to say we didn't indulge in these either, not when we had our meals and snacks provided by Leader Creek. Some folk did treat themselves though and said the burger was lovely (it better be for that price)! A few nights out in Naknek, and you could definitely deplete your pay cheque very fast.
@@ACoupleofDrifters Oh my! As much as I like my beer I'm with you there...screw it at that price! I'll bet you were telling folks what it costs to have a hamburgesa and cerveza in Mexico!
R u guys there yet ??
Hi Allen. We're not there yet. We'll be there on June 15th. See you soon.
Do they do direct deposit every 2 weeks and how soon do you start work after you arrive in naknek? Also what’s the temp inside the plant? Thanks!
Hi AB.
Yes, direct deposit every two weeks or you can opt to be given a live check to cash or deposit once you get home instead.
For us in 2022, we started working limited hours within two days after we arrived in Naknek. Our 16-hour shifts did not begin right way - this happened after about 10 days.
As for the temperature in the plant: In general throughout the majority of the plant we can only guess about 50º however some employees in certain departments may be working in colder environments, like walk-in coolers and freezers. No matter where you'll be working in the plant, come fully prepared, bring warm clothes and a lot of them.
I will be there on the 19th will I be able to make phone calls from my Verizon phone ??
Hi Allen.
We don't know if Verizon works there - have you checked Verizon's online coverage area map? Some providers have coverage in that area and some do not.
You may have very little phone contact to the outside world. the internet will be dreadful, but then again you'll be working all day every day and very little down time. I'm heading there on the 21th
@lillpoetboy I think I've seen you at the Orientation few weeks ago for WestWard Seafood. I believe you were sitting next to me. Did the Plant offer you the job yet? I was told they will be emailing everyone who applied this week...
I confirmed my conditional job offer waiting on the onboarding process how long do that usually take
Here's how it went for us in 2022 - keep in mind this may not be typical:
After our conditional job offer for the 2022 season was made in March, the onboarding process for us began within a few days later. The first real step after our conditional job offer was to submit our covid vax records - Leader Creek was preferring vax'd employees in 2022 and since we're returning this year we aren't sure if they are still looking for this from new hires.
About 10 days after submitting our vax records we had a short phone call with HR. About three weeks after this, we received our flight information to Alaska. Flight information is a pretty big deal and we all want to know when we're being sent to Alaska - we cannot say when Leader Creek will have that information for you.
Look for us at Leader Creek and say hello!
Would i be able to apply now & get in?
Hi Isaiah.
According to Leader Creek's website they are no longer hiring for any positions. If you are still interested next year we suggest checking Leader Creek's website early 2025 [January] in order to apply - positions tend to fill quickly.
Thank you!
@@ACoupleofDrifters thank you
I think I missed this about the position is for two months correct?
Hello Mrs. T
Yes, this job requires a two-month commitment: June 15th through August 15th.
Are men and women bunked together or separated?
Hi Lulu.
It's both, actually. Males and females bunk together _if_ they request it - this can and does happen when a group of male/female friends are there for the season. Aside from that, males and females are bunked separately.
Is there any way to get a seasonal working visa for that type of work? I'm from Europe - Croatia
We don't know but hopefully someone can come along on this comment thread and answer your question. You can reach out to some companies to see if they can answer any visa-related questions.
@@ACoupleofDrifters
When does this position start? April, May, or June until when? How early should we apply when the time is approaching?
Hi Mrs. T
The job begins June 15th and ends no later than August 15th. you can apply around the beginning of January. Just go to Leader Creek's website and you can apply directly from there.