Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Still Looking Goofy After All These Years

The photo on the left was taken by my big brother, Dick, in the spring of 1955 (late April, early May).  I am holding a Northern Pike that he speared in the creek behind Grandpa and Grandma's house.
The photo on the right was taken a few days ago by my friend Wes.  I am holding a Chinook Salmon I caught while fishing from his boat in White Lake.
I have the same goofy smile, but the hat covers my serious loss of hair over the past 57 years.  About three years after I posed for the photo on the left, I began wearing glasses.  Note also, the similar appreciation in haberdashery between then and now.
I don't recall fishing again until I was in my early twenties when I took up fly-fishing and it became a consuming hobby.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Salmon Fishing

Salmon fishing season has begun on the Great Lakes.  Large numbers of people come from all over the country to participate in this exciting event when the enormous fish begin their annual spawning run from the deep lakes into the rivers and streams.

An interesting contrast is the wide open spaces for boats on Lake Michigan compared to the elbow-to-elbow "combat" fishing on piers all around the lakes.



This shot of the two piers at the White Lake Channel was taken about 8:30 in the morning, two hours after sunrise - well after experienced fishermen have gone for the day.  Most of the fish are caught in the hour or so before daylight and an hour or so after.  Although, during my visit this morning I saw two people catch very nice fish, a salmon in the neighborhood of 15 pounds, and a Lake Trout that weighed in at about ten pounds.