SOME FISH ARE WIMPS!

Back a few years ( more than a few) Chuck Schwartz owned Fairfield Tackle. Chuck introduced me to first, fishing Great Lakes tributaries for steelhead and then followed with an invite aboard Gypsy Charters for  a shot at salmon fishing in Lake Ontario the following summer.

I had hooked big salmon while steelhead fishing in the Salmon River in Pulaski during the spring run, but the 4-pound tippet regulation for steelies always resulted in a long run until we put the brakes on and the line snapped. I was really excited as the boat left the dock.  Chuck, Phil Stein and Win Cyrus were also aboard as we moved a half-mile offshore and the skipper set a whole bunch of rods rigged with a variety of lures at a variety of depths on downriggers.

We picked straws for who would get to play the fish. Phil was the first to score, but not on a salmon. He hit a respectable lake trout, admired it and released it back into the water. Our fishing beats changed every half-hour and the day passed slowly with very little action. There was another hit or two and the two-way radio crackled with complaints from other skippers on the lake who were't doing well either. Hey, it happens!

By the time my turn came, we had eaten all the sandwiches, drank all the beer and soda and it was almost time to pull in the rods. That's when one of the reels started to sing and the skipper handed me the rod. I set the hook, leaned back and started reeling. The fish quickly turned and came towards the boat. I commented that it must be another small laker and continued to reel. No fight! No turning and heading away from the boat. The critter ran right for the transom, stopped and splashed on the surface and somebody put a net around it.

When the fish was swung aboard, we all stood there, mouths wide open. It was a sizable salmon that later weighed in at 28-pounds. It looked healthy, was healthy but just didn't fight worth a darn. Turned put to be the last fish of the day, even though we trolled for another hour or more.

Back at the dock, I posed for this photo with the fish and donated it to the skipper. It was a fun day spent with great company, but it was the wimpiest fish pound for pound that I ever landed.

                                                 DWA