MARTINO: Young angler unexpectedly hooked by fishing

July 21, 2007 12:31 am

— It was a special day for young boys. We are blessed to live in an area where so many different fishing opportunities are available for the taking. Whether you enjoy rivers, streams, natural lakes or reservoirs that hold back flowing waters, it all right here, and who better to share them with than your own children?
We also have another special opportunity many states are completely void of, the Great Lakes, in particular, Lake Michigan. This vast expanse of water provides the chance to hook into the tackle busting salmonoid species. Giant Chinook (king) salmon, the smaller coho variety, lake, brown and the famed steelhead trout all call these ocean-like expanses home.
With the southern tip of Lake Michigan lapping against Indiana soil and less than a two hour drive from Kokomo there is no reason to forgo this unique fishing opportunity. This is one reason why each year I try to make at least one sojourn to the big lake and this year would be no different. What a special trip it turned out to be.
Earlier this summer my brothers Jim and Mike along with our cousin Jim decided to put our sons and several of their young friends on a charter boat. We had booked a trip with our friend Captain Tony Hofstetter owner of “Salmon Hunter” Charters, stationed out of Washington Park Marina in Michigan City. We learned years ago you can charter several times each season at a fraction of the cost of owning, outfitting and operating your own big-water boat.
My brothers, cousin and I mutually agreed we would fish off the long concrete “break wall” which extends out into the blue waters of Lake Michigan while we waited for the boys to return later that afternoon. This barrier not only serves to protect the Trail Creek harbor from storms Lake Michigan is known for, it’s also a gathering place for all walks of life during milder weather. From casual fishermen to experts to people who do not fish at all.
As we picked our spots and settled in for a morning of fishing, it wasn’t hard to notice the different types of people gathered along the one-quarter mile-long stretch of concrete. I paid particular attention to a man to our right. His name I later found out was Glen Cage from Tindley, Ill. It was evident he was a guru. His G-Loomis rod and specially designed custom-made cart used to haul gear for the long walk from the parking lot proved that.
The fish of choice for those gathered that morning was steelhead trout, the “silver bullets” of the big lake. These anadromous fish pull like a tractor and are known for their acrobatic tendencies, sometimes launching themselves five or six feet out of the water when hooked.
Cage hardly spoke to anyone; instead he was completely focused on the task at hand. They say the biggest part of fishing is mental and Cage was in a trance-like state, almost trying to will a fish to bite. The fishing was slow that morning. As a matter of fact, the only steelhead taken by the dozens of people plying the rolling waters was caught, or I should say hooked, by Cage.
As we watched bobbers floating over hooks tipped with shrimp and lobbed fluorescent colored spoons into the incoming swells, a young boy named Hunter Sanders and his father stopped to talk to several of us gathered along the wall. The 13 year-old boy had never fished before, but was visibly evident he had an intense interest. “I want to take him sometime soon,” his father said, “but we need to find out how to go about it first.”
After a few minutes they both walked over to Cage and began asking him a few more questions. He was intent on fishing and his answers were short and concise. There was no small talk. In the middle of the conversation, Cage’s rod suddenly arched under the strain of something heavy. His reel screamed in protest as a Skamania strain steelhead trout made a searing run amid acrobatic leaps for freedom.
Instead of this consummate fisherman settling in for his long awaited battle, he immediately turned and handed his rod to the young boy he didn‘t even know. “Now don’t reel, let him run,” he coached. For the next five minutes the boy fought the tenacious steelhead under Cage’s expert instruction. Before long, Cage slipped the net under the 12 pound fish. After carefully unhooking the spoon, “Here, this is yours,” he said, handing the silver fish to Sanders. The boy held up his prize amid whoops and hollers from everyone standing on the wall. “I’m not sure who just got hooked,” said my brother Jim, “the fish or that boy!”
“That was an awfully nice thing you just did,” I said to Cage after the excitement subsided. “Seeing that boy catch his first fish meant more to me than any steelhead,” he replied matter-of-factly. “He’s a true fisherman now,” he added with a sincere smile.
Later that afternoon as the charter boats began filing into the harbor we noticed the fishing was slow on the big lake to, as we watched entire groups of anglers leave with only two or three fish. “Here comes the boys,” said Brother Mike, as the Salmon Hunter pulled into the marina.
As Hofstetter expertly maneuvered his 30-foot Pursuit into the slip, a mischievous smile crossed his face. “Fishing was tough this morning,” he said over the deep rumble of the twin 350-horsepower motors. “But check this out,” he added smugly, opening the huge cooler revealing well over a hundred pounds of glistening salmon and steelhead.
Standing on the dock, the boys were still giddy with excitement as they each took turns telling us about their trip. “My arms got so tired reeling in this one,” said Joseph with a broad smile as he held up a big king tipping the scales at nearly 20 pounds.
Later that afternoon after all the fish were cleaned, bagged and put on ice, we settled in for the ride home. “This was the most fun I have had all summer,” said my brother Jim, “and I never even caught a fish.” Every adult voiced their agreement, because as it turned out, it was a special day for the boys!
Special note
If you are interested in sharing a unique big-water fishing experience close to home, you can contact Captain Tony Hofstetter and Salmon Hunter Charters at (219) 872-8556.
Tournament results
• Lake Shafer was the latest stop made my participants of the Bullseye Team Bass Fishing Tournament Trail. After weigh-in it was the team of Jay McKenzie and Todd Lowery who were crowned tournament champions. The winner carried an impressive eight-fish limit to the digital scales weighing a total of 21.83 pounds. Second place went to Shane Melton and Craig Reed with six fish totaling 13.89 pounds. Roby Ahnert and Jerry Pickett finished third with seven bass weighing 12.74 pounds. A largemouth bass tipping the scales at 4.62 pounds gave the team of Wayne Eads and Tony Long the event’s “big bass” award.
• The Kokomo Senior Bass Anglers just came of a tournament staged on the Kokomo Reservoir. This time it was Jerry Hogan and Wayne Eads claiming the top spot with three fish weighing six pounds, one ounce. A three-pound, 10-ounce fish also gave them the contest’s “big bass” award. Second place went to Dick Mugg and Tony Long with three fish totaling five pounds, three ounces. Mike Bailey and Larrell Norris were third with three fish tipping the scales at four pounds, 13 ounces.
• Bob Rose and Terry Thor won last Monday morning’s Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney with three fish dropping the scales at five pounds, three ounces. Second place ended in a tie between Joe Parent and Carlos Padilla, each fishing solo. Parent had two fish while Padilla put three in his livewell. Both anglers’ fish totaled four pounds, seven ounces. Steve Kelly had the tourney’s “big bass” honor after weighing in a two-pound, eight-ounce fish.
• Dennis and Nick Hartley won last Wednesday evening’s Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney with two largemouth bass weighing just one ounce shy of five pounds. Second place went to Padilla and Rod Varnell with two fish totaling four pounds, four ounces. Third place and the weekly event’s “big fish” honor went to Phil Reel with a largemouth tipping the scales at two pounds, 12 ounces.
Tribune catches of the week
Bryant’s Outdoor Store: Bruce, Hannah and Christian Babcock along with Dustin Magnett enjoyed a good day fishing Mississinewa Reservoir. During their visit, the family caught a mixed bag of bluegills, crappies and catfish using live bait.
Malone’s Nyona Lake Bait and Tackle: Jim Hettinger and Fred Steinmetz reeled in 91 bluegills averaging between seven and eight inches in length. The area anglers hooked their fish from Nyona Lake using beemoth and crickets.
Springhill Camp ground and Pay Pit: Six year-old Zach Bailey reeled in a channel catfish tipping the scales at three pounds, five ounces. The young angler took his fish using live bait.
John Martino is the Tribune’s outdoors columnist. He may be reached through the sports department.

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