I've done the Russian a half dozen times and had a great time every time. There were lots of fish and the people around me for the most part were courteous and also out for a good time. I'll be back in 2005. People's hole on the Kasilof is the same way - mostly courteous fishermen fishing close together in high density fish holding water. Blue Creek on the other hand tends to have more a$$ho's per square inch. Sometimes the crowd is a good one and other times there's the locals with an IQ pushing 60 that can make things trying. I survive by keeping a sense of humor no mater what (doesn't always work). I have had more 20 fish-on days at Blue Creek than I can count with a high percentage being 3 salt fish. For me it makes it worth it in the end.