BULLHEADS - MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

There are very long and cold winters here in Western New York. That's okay, the fair weather fisherman like me can wait because it's better than earthquakes and hurricanes. Our winter weather makes me think of what is in store for me come spring.

My blood flowed through my veins like ice skates on smooth ice just thinking of spring and the very fine fishing in this area. I was one of those people who were fishing when the thaw was over.

Down at Four-Mile Creek State Park on the West Side of the creek where the summer cottages are, is where I fished as well as many others. Boy, this area really had the quality and quantity of bullhead I needed for the fishing league I was in.

The parking lot stayed full at that time of the year with fishermen and others having a good time around a bonfire o the beach. Parking wasn't a big deal for me because my grandparents owned one of those cottages near the parking lot, and I just pulled in there. That cottage is now my Dad's permanent address year 'round.

Four-Mile Creek is only one of the many creeks that flow into Lake Ontario. It is my favorite because of the easy access and the fabulous Lake Ontario shoreline. The beach area not only has quality fishing, but also is blessed with beautiful scenery. On a clear night, you are provided with a memorable view of the lights in Toronto, Ontario across the lake. On clear nights, I never saw so many stars surrounding a very bright and well-defined moon. The stars and moon did a great job adding to Toronto's view. This type of night leaves Lake Ontario waveless. The rush of the creek draining into the lake was adding sounds to the view. Creeks have real life sound. Imagine a sunset. I've seen sunsets every time I went fishing there in the evening. However, every time I went night fishing for bullhead it wasn't always the perfect weather.

When I went bullhead fishing, I made sure I had all the necessary gear with me. On my great adventure, a lantern, a five-gallon bucket, matches for my campfire and, of course, my bait and tackle, and finally warm clothes were the necessary fare. Always wear several layers of warm clothing. If I got warm under the layers, I would just strip some layers off.

Everyone packs his or her own personal belongings. Everything I needed went in the bucket, except of course, the lantern and the matches. The matches went in one of the front pockets of my one piece insulated coveralls.

There are many spots to fish along the path to the Lake Shoreline and fishing the lakeshore was decided on the lake conditions. The shoreline is where to go beginning the peak for bullhead. Before the "Midnight Special", the moon cast a light on me, I gathered firewood for my campfire at the lucky spot I chose to fish.

Everyone has their own way for fishing bullhead. You'll find out there is no wrong way. "Here's my story, and I'm sticking to it." I used your basic hook, line and sinker. I like using a number 4 hook and 10# test line, the least expensive one at that time, and my own lead molded sinker. (Nothing special here). Smelt was the favorite choice for bait. Yes a bobber is used.

The smelt run was always at its peak during the bullhead season. This is how I got my bait. I did my best on fresh caught smelt. All my dipping was done at the well-known Lewiston sand docks along the beautiful Lower Niagara River. I only needed two dozen smelt for the whole season. I froze my bait (only 3 per bag) in water. If I caught more bait than I could use, the leftovers went to the people next to me, and if there were no people, they went back into the water for the seagulls to recycle.

Before I leave this story, there are things that were not said. The bobber I used is hi-tech. It was a lighted bobber and very useful. I used two rods that rested on a stick and stabbed into the ground. They look like a "Y" I retrieved them from the beach or a willow tree. In my snack, I had bullhead that I caught but I made sure they weighed less than the ones I needed for the contest! The fish that were weighed were released in Hyde Park Creek for someone else to catch and enjoy. I support the Catch and Release policy.

THE END

My "Bullhead snack" recipe follows:

One very clean and gutted bullhead, (1 lb. fish) tin foil, pepper, salt, lemon juice, butter and garlic

1.   Salt and pepper to your liken
2.   Lemon juice 2 capful
3.   Butter 4 tablespoons
4.   Garlic (optional) to your taste

Wrap to cover the bullhead in the tin foil with ingredients. Cook until done on the hot coals of campfire.

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