Prehistoric Monsters cruise the depths of Lake Erie

Several weeks ago, my friend Steve emailed a photo to me of his cousin on a beach on Lake Erie posing with a Sturgeon.  

Lake Sturgeon beached at Lotus Bay on Lake Erie (New York)

This specimen of an ancient species of fish had washed ashore on Lotus Bay after meeting its unknown demise.  This Sturgeon is a Lake Sturgeon. 

From Wikipedia:
“The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is a North American temperate freshwater fish, … Like other sturgeons, this species is an evolutionarily ancient bottomfeeder with a partly cartilaginous skeleton, an overall streamlined shape and skin bearing rows of bony plates on its sides and back, resembling an armored torpedo.”  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_sturgeon

Here’s another photo that was circulated last year on the internet labeled as a Lake Erie sturgeon. 

An impressive "Monster" - Yes - Lake Erie - NO.

This was truly a Monster – but not from Lake Erie.  I saw the same photo in In-Fisherman magazine  and it was a White Sturgeon caught on September 19, 2005 in the Fraser River near mission, B.C.  It was slightly over 11 feet long.

The Snake River in Idaho is another excellent place for Sturgeon.  They frequently use 12” – 15” Rainbow Trout for Sturgeon bait on the Snake.

Large White Sturgeon courtesy www.snakeriversturgeonfishing.com 

Here's another photo of a Snake River Sturgeon caught near Payette, Idaho in 1911.  

"Back in the day," they used teams of horses to drag massive Sturgeon onto the shore in Oregon and Idaho

It was reported that a 2,000 pound Sturgeon caught in Oregon was mounted and exhibited at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.  While I was born near Chicago - the Fair was just a bit before my time or I'd have a picture of that fish.

While it’s good to know that Sturgeon still reside in Lake Erie, it’s very sad to see one that should be in its prime of life, dead on the beach.  Lake Sturgeon were once abundant and thriving in the great lakes, so numerous they were even considered a nuisance and a trash fish that was used as fertilizer or dried and burned as fuel in the steamboats that once plied Lake Erie. 

However, once the value of sturgeon was realized, over harvesting soon decimated their numbers to a point where it is a rare occasion when one is caught or even seen washed ashore.  Currently, there is no open season for Lake Erie Sturgeon and possession is prohibited.

The story is quite different on the West Coast from Northern California to Washington and inland to Idaho via the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

When I lived near Portland, Oregon I frequently fished for White Sturgeon – one of some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_sturgeon

My daughter Kristin, a "shaker" Sturgeon she caught, and me on the Columbia River near Horse Tail Falls.

Most of my Sturgeon fishing was in the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam downstream to where the Willamette River enters the Columbia.  While my largest Sturgeon was just over 5 feet long, I have seen Sturgeon considerably larger rocket out of the water within about 10 feet of my 17’ boat.  

And, one of the Fishing Guides on the Columbia guarantees a Sturgeon of at least 10 feet long or your next trip is free.  In the 7 years I lived in Oregon, he never gave away a single trip.

Here are a few more photos of Columbia River sturgeon, fishing from my 17’ Bayliner using typical terminal tackle – no dry flies for sturgeon!

My neighbor Neil with a small Sturgeon - note the tubular mouth it uses to vacuum food from the bottom.
In the earlier photo of Kristin's fish, the mouth is closed and the tube is not visible.

Neil's son with his first Sturgeon

Slider to allow Sturgeon to take the bait without feeling the sinker

Terminal tackle - cannon ball sinker 8 oz. up to 2-1/2 lbs (shown) or larger, in fast water, 8/0 Barbless hook snelled with 120 lb Dacron line - mono was too stiff and Sturgeon have sensitive mouths, and a Quarter to call someone and tell them you caught a sturgeon - this was before three cell phones on every boat!

Here's one getting ready for the smoker!

While Lake and Atlantic Sturgeon are in trouble, the West Coast has a thriving Sturgeon fishery.

The photo below shows a few of the 60,000 plus sturgeon, some up to 14’ long that formed a huge ball below Bonneville Dam on the Columbia in 2008.

“U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Thousands of sturgeon - some 14 feet long - mass below Bonneville Dam in this video frame from a remotely operated submersible sent down to investigate what was first thought to be a pile of rubble. The "Mighty 86th Beavers" on the screen refers to the Army dive team operating the submersible, and the number 55.2 is the water depth in feet.”

More from the Army Corps of Engineers - "We call it the big sturgeon ball," Schwartz said.

“The mountain of white sturgeon contained around 60,000 fish, according to a crude estimate by Michael Parsley, a research fisheries biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Columbia River Research Laboratory in Cook, Wash. He described that estimate as "probably conservative."

It was an aquatic phenomenon nobody had ever seen at such a monstrous scale, offering a startling glimpse into the life of the Columbia's largest and most ancient fish.”  

Click this link (or copy and paste in a browser) to view the video: http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/_when_sonar_surveys_spotted.html

Many thanks to Steve and his cousin for sending me the photo of the Lake Erie sturgeon.  It brought back many great memories of fishing in Oregon. 

If this reminds you of a special or unusual fishing story – 

I’d love to hear it, and see the photos.

Thanks for stopping by – Good Fishing!

Dave

Chautauqua Lake Bass, Catfish and Blackened Shrimp

Which of the above don’t belong in the title?  

If you guessed Blackened Shrimp you’d be dead wrong!

You’d also be wrong if you guessed Bass or Catfish. 

The key is where to find these “tre amici” (three friends in Italian).  

Fortunately – I was lucky enough to find all three at Chautauqua Lake.

 

My daughter Meghan was home from NYC for the Independence Day weekend.  It was the first time for a long time that her schedule and the schedule of her sister Kristin and that of my wife and me allowed us to take a family road trip.

One of the areas we've never been to is Chautauqua Lake.  Hard to believe since it’s one of the traditional top fishing destinations in the state.   My wife, Joyce, heard that the Chautauqua Institution was a place that needs to be on everyone’s bucket list.  I knew little about Chautauqua Institution except that it was an international community for art, theater and intellectual endeavors – so, I devised a plan to go fishing while the family got some culture!

I thought I’d bring my inflatable kayak, fly rod and a couple hundred flies and try my luck!

Guess how long this will decorate my family room?

After coming to my senses, I realized that every time I tried to combine fishing with a family trip it was a disaster.   Family trips are great – family fishing trips are great – but never the twain shall meet!

So now, I’m waiting to see how long Joyce will let me leave the kayak in the family room – anyone want in on the pool?

But I digress – We got a late start – typical for us – made a wrong turn at Tim Hortons, and finally got to Chautauqua Institution about 1:30 pm.  Since we were late, we didn't stop at M&T for cash – we had $10 combined – but ATM’s are everywhere - right?  However, the one at Chautauqua Institution was out of service. 

We looked around the visitor center and collected about a ton of brochures for places to visit in the area.  Then we noticed that to get into the Chautauqua Institution, it would cost $8 to park and $13 per person just to walk through the gate!  

I’m not a math major, but for a family of four, that looks like a $60 bill to walk around a place just to see what it looks like. 

Among the brochures was one for Bemus Point – just on the other side of the lake – lots of quaint shops, art galleries, food, drink and ice cream – and no parking or cover charges! 

We hit the road and zipped over the Route 86 bridge and were soon in the picturesque village of Bemus Point.  We followed Main Street to the water’s edge where we were greeted by the Italian Fisherman.   

Fine Casual Dining!

By this time it was about 2:30 pm and after taking a look at a couple of shops, we were all ready for lunch.  The Italian Fisherman Restaurant was right there inviting us in.  The first decision was which level for lunch?  Upstairs, downstairs at the water’s edge or out on the water at the Italian Fisherman’s Water Grill – a floating restaurant!  

On the Water at the Italian Fisherman

We picked the middle ground and settled in on the deck for a fabulous lunch.  

We're in the right place to be Hungry!

Meghan opted for the Bourbon Walnut salad and grilled chicken, Joyce and Kristin went for the gourmet burgers and white truffle parmesan fries, and I went for the Blackened Shrimp with NY Cheddar grits. 

http://www.italianfisherman.com

I love shrimp – I love blackened seasoning – learned from many meals in the Big Easy, and grits – well, two out of three ain’t bad!   But, I soon learned that the Italian Fisherman knew their grits!  Absolutely fantastic! I've been converted!  The Blackened Shrimp were the best I've ever tasted!

BEST EVER Blackened Shrimp and NY Cheddar Grits!

And the fries – their white truffle parmesan fries are the only fries EVER that I did NOT need an application of ketchup!  Honest!  And, the burger was also delicious – Joyce never finishes a meal so I typically get at least 1 and a half.

The atmosphere was outstanding, the food was to die for, the service and staff was incredible – but don’t take my word for it – go there and see/taste for yourself – one of the best restaurant experiences we – as a family and individually have ever had!  www.italianfisherman.com

And – on the way out, I met the manager, Jade, and told her of our wonderful time, while whining about not being able to go fishing.  She promptly told me that her 10 year old son, Simeon, loves to fish and showed me a couple photos of his very first fishing trip.  

Simeon and Bass - Crank Bait and ultra lite rod

Simeon and catfish - First trip - this kid's a Natural!

He’s way ahead of me – at his age all I’d ever caught was a tiny blue gill! I hope I can talk him into telling me where to fish if I can get back down to Chautauqua Lake.  But, until then, Simeon will keep the fish nervous and I’ll plan my next trip – fishing and eating – to Chautauqua Lake and the Italian Fisherman!

Fishing and food just go together – anyone out there have a story and photos to share?

Good fishing and eating!

Dave