MOUNT VERNON — Once a year for the past eight years, local fishermen head to Oscoda, Mich., to try their luck at catching the salmon that flock to their breeding grounds. Doug Biddle has made the trip every year, and will continue to do it as long as he is able.
“I love salmon because they give a great fight,” said Biddle. “I was invited on this trip by a neighbor eight years ago and loved it. I don’t fish in Ohio anymore. After fishing for salmon, catching bass just isn’t the same.”
Biddle realized what thousands of fishermen discover every year, salmon fishing is just plain exciting. Not only is catching the fish fun, they also are one of the more popular fish to eat. This year, Biddle brought roughly 50 pounds of salmon filets home with him. Depending on the year, that amount could be even more. The fish range from 10 pounds up to nearly 30 pounds for the largest of the fish.
“This year, we caught six fish,” Biddle said. “In years past, I have caught more. The biggest salmon I have caught was probably about 20 pounds.”
Michigan limits fisherman to three fish for any given day. Biddle fished for five days this year, meaning the maximum number of fish he could have returned with was 15. Coming home with six fish and 50 pounds of salmon meat is a very successful trip.
Many fishermen head down to their local pier early in the morning or in the evening hours to catch their fish of choice. Biddle fishes through the night, when the salmon are the most active. As the salmon work their way upstream to spawn, they feed during the nighttime hours, and when they decide to feed, it is an experience.
“It’s an adjustment staying up all night,” Biddle remarked. “It can be very cold and dangerous at times. The salmon are working their way to breeding grounds and they feed in bunches, almost like a feeding frenzy. You never know when they will decide to feed, you always have to be prepared.”
Biddle has found a special spot to call his own. His group has fished off the same pier for years. The pier is a perfect spot from which to land the fish, although fishing in the dark can cause problems. Even so, that is when the salmon are most active, and when you will find Biddle making his casts to try and land the big one.
Despite the enjoyment of the fishing, Biddle is the first to preach caution. The trek to the pier can be dangerous, especially if one were to fall into the cold waters. At night, the temperature can get down in the 30s, so fishermen need to come prepared for the cold. It’s not as easy as throwing on some shorts and heading down to the local fishing hole and casting right away. There is more preparation involved in the salmon fishing.
“I always make sure to let people know that they need to be prepared,” Biddle said. “It gets very cold, and casting in the dark can be dangerous. You need to make sure to bring the proper gear, and know that you are going to have to be alert to the things around you.”
Casting large lures, up to 4 inches in size can be potentially hazardous, especially if you catch a fellow fisherman rather than a fish. Even so, careful anglers will find the sheer size, weight and especially the fight of salmon one of the most rewarding experiences.
While there might be more preparation, there is also more reward. Biddle has learned that, and will continue to enjoy the thrill of the salmon catch as long as he is able.
