The Midnight Bite

Here it is now, mid-July and not the ideal time for onshore walleye fishing on Lake Erie. But this 'new breed' of walleye break all the rules we've all lived by since the dawn of The Erie Dearie. It is all about the weather, always has been, always will, which dictates how an animal interacts with its environment. This new brood from an incredibly warm winter is quite different from the 'normal' walleye we're all used to deep water fishing for miles out in open water during the hot summer months. During this past autumn I noticed they preferred extremely shallow water. I mean a mere several inches of water at times! Shining a headlamp at them didn't bother them, would not spook em. They had no fear and are ferocious eating machines hitting on any type lure, even just plain worms.
It was just after the Super Moon in November when I was fishing down at Memorial Park on Route 83, five blocks from my house, fishing out of connivence mostly. There were anglers on each rock pier, including the iron boat launch. No one was getting bites and the last guy to talk to me before going home told me good luck. I told him as soon as those clouds break it is on, but his spirit had already been crushed and he called it a night. Half an hour later the Moon came through and I caught 26 walleye. Kept only 1.
Last night I went down to the boat launch shortly after midnight just to walk my dog and check on things. Noticed bait fish jumping out of the water. Ducks were skimming the water scooping up fry. A green heron was on the launch, something I had never seen before, greens being so shy. But there was so much bait fish circling about when I returned with my rod we fished side-by-side and I landed 3 before the rain set in. Released them all.

Lucky Stone

so, yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day. didn't realize it. always St. Patty's Day for me. but here's some northern exposure along with a story. i've been finding these 'brain' bones my entire life, but with the onslaught of the Zebra Mussels they have become nearly impossible to find in all those white shells. ironically, the brow-beaten 'sheep head' or Freshwater Drum eats the invasive Zebra Mussels. and i still find these bones, though not like in my youth, as i find small things. simple equation; more food, bigger fish. walking the frozen beach in my moon suit i come across this incredible skull sticking out from the rock solid, frozen sand. at the slightest touch it breaks into a million shards of white crystal and disintegrates back into the dust we all come from. but from all that freshwater drum skull dust i see it - the largest to date of 'Lucky Stones' ever and probably ever will be! this fish had to be enormous! i can't even estimate, would probably do this monster an injustice. but i hope this photo of comparison paints a picture in one's mind.

words from the Wik;
A lucky stone is actually the unique ear bone or otolith of a Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), commonly known as the Sheephead Fish.[1] The Sheephead's otoliths are quite large and look almost polished and ivory-like. In times past they have been worn as protective amulets, made into jewelry, and traded into areas far from the fish's native range (such as Utah and California). Lucky stones (otoliths) have been found at ancient archaeological sites, where they are thought to have been used as good luck charms to ward off illness.[2]

Lucky stones wash up on beaches along the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie. This white "stone" is desirable to collectors as the letter L and the letter J appear naturally on these "lucky stones". The J stones come from the left side of the fish and the L stones come from the right side of the Freshwater Drum