A Fishing Frenzy!

As a fisherman isn't supposed to tell where his/her new hot spot is (at least, that is what I keep telling Eric! ha!), I will just say that "somewhere out east, about an hour away", Eric had one heckuva hay day fishing with a couple of buddies from work.

Eric's "keepers".

The guys left early from work on Friday to the slew where the walleye have been going nuts.   This site requires waders to cast, so the guys fished in water up to their chests.
They were there a total of about 3 1/2 hours, but had their limits almost immediately.  As they can keep four walleye total (all over 14" but only one over 20"), Eric's first large fish was 23" and the smallest was 16".
They threw back at least a dozen fish that could have been keepers.  His buddy Jeff caught and released a 28" walleye and Eric caught and released a 27" walleye.

Here's where the trip becomes more exciting.... (as if catching a ton of hog walleye wasn't enough)!
While Eric was reeling in the 23" walleye, he noticed a large mass following the walleye.  He thought it was a log, since it appeared to be about 4 foot long.  As he reeled his walleye in closer, the large mass continued to follow.  It turned out to be a giant Northern trying to eat his walleye!   The Northern wasn't slowing down and was heading straight towards him.  As both fish drew closer, Eric had to slap the Northern to divert it and stop it from eating his catch!  The Northern turned around and continued back vehemently towards the walleye, completely intent on catching its prey!   While Eric was trying to hand-land his walleye, he had to hit the Northern again to stop it.   In doing that, he fell backwards and into the water!
BUT... he landed his walleye and added it to the stringer.   ...not sure what happened to the Northern!?!?
If that ginormous Northern would have hit the walleye... and if Eric could have hand-landed it (which would have been a feat in and of itself), we'd have another fish in the freezer, awaiting an appointment at the taxidermist.   THAT would be one heck of an expensive mount, but it would have a priceless story!

So now, that said, Eric has been planning his next trip to the hot spot, before the walleye spawn, triggering the end of the short-lived craze.

In the interim, here's a present Eric just ordered for me so that I can join him.  How romantic!! HA!  (They should fit Connor for a bit too!)  If the walleye hit as well as they have been for the guys, I am certainly not complaining.  It will be fun!

...just too bad they don't come in pink!  :-)