Watching Robertson work feeds my inner fishing geek’s need to understand what makes this fishery tick. He’s precise, methodical, organized, and incredibly dialed in. Despite those nasty conditions, we stayed away from the fleet and barely went 10 minutes without a bite. Our biggest fish measured nearly 30 inches, but the scuttlebutt at the ramp suggested most people were struggling to catch a limit of keepers . On Lake Erie, Robertson’s ability—and the reputation that comes with it—is comparable to that enjoyed by the star quarterback in a Texas high school football town.
Rewards range from $6 to $10 per fish, and the 37 special tagged fish caught were worth $500 each. Another week of very deep water fishing for boaters. Deeper water just off the Waukegan reefs produced laker limits in the mornings. The food bite stops about 9 am and the rest of the days is a struggle as the lakers are in spawn pattern where they feed early the worry about other things the rest of the day.
Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for Oct. 13
And, if I’m honest, I find that prospect terrifying. Meanwhile, the entire southwestern United States remains in the throes of a 22-year “megadrought” that is, by some estimates, the worst in 1,200 years. Parts of some rivers are running dry for the first time in decades, and some towns are already facing the unimaginable scenario of literally running out of water.
On the way to the bar after that long, rocky day on the lake, I stop to admire the 20-foot walleye mounted on a trailer parked smack in the middle of downtown Port Clinton—the Walleye Capital of Ohio. It’s ready to be hitched up at a moment’s notice for any parade, festival, or carnival that requires a giant dose of walleye pride. But this time there’s no marlin or money at stake. There’s 150 feet of monofilament, a banana weight, and a big planer board between me and the fish.
The biggest one I ever caught weighed 16 pounds and it ate a soft-plastic jig on the Niagara River. In that heavy current, it was a ripper of a fight, which was enough for me to decide these underdogs don’t get enough respect. Nightcrawlers are one of the best baits for any kind of sucker, though crayfish meat also works well, as does shellfish like mussels and clams.
Constance Brownlow is a 38-year-old animal expert and entertainer. She has always been fascinated by animals, and she has spent her entire life learning about them. She knows more than most people about the behavior and habits of various creatures, and she loves educating others about them.
Constance is also an entertainer. She enjoys making people laugh and feel happy, and she uses her knowledge of animals to do this. She has performed all over the world, and she always leaves her audiences entertained and educated.