Daniel L. from Holland, MI tells of a fishing trip on Lake Michigan…

On a chilly fall day in 2004, my two oldest boys and I rose early to try to catch some salmon in Grand Haven.

My sons had been fishing since they were very young. Now, at ages 7 and 11, they had hooked into almost everything the inland lakes had to offer. I had been coming to the pier with them over the last couple of weeks, believing it was time for them to feel the strength of a Great Lakes fish. Although they had yet to bring a trophy home to mom and their little brother, they had seen enough fish caught to whet their appetites for the fight.

When we arrived, the sun was just beginning to peek over the eastern horizon. The wind was cold, coming out of the west, so we waited out the wind talking about the fish we had seen so far.

When we finally ventured out on the pier, we had it all to ourselves, except for one lone camper bundled up in a down jacket. We settled in about halfway out. The wind had died down but it was still steady, so we stayed on the upper portion of the pier, just in case a wave crashed over the lower surf breakers. It was windy and cold, but the waves weren’t very high, and the day seemed full of the promise of a catch for one of my sons.

Placing my tackle box and net on the pier, I clipped spoons onto each boys line. Instructing them one last time as to the proper speed to retrieve and how to keep a salmon hooked, I cast each of their lines out for them. It looked like the beginning of a good day of fishing.

Then the wave hit me full force from behind. I hadn’t even heard it coming. It slammed into me just below the waist. I wouldn’t have thought this could happen even on the lower section of the pier, as I am 6’5”, and the waves were barely cresting over the lower pier. As my mind was racing to catch up to what had just happened, I saw my 7-year-old son flipped off his feet by the force of the wave. I reached for the strap on his life jacket, grabbing hold just before he was swept from the pier.

Turning around, I saw that my oldest son was safe. He had seen the wave coming in time to take hold of the catwalk just before the wave hit. As I turned back to look out over Lake Michigan, I saw my tackle box floating south, the only victim of the awesome power of the Great Lakes. The camper had hidden himself behind the lighthouse, and was safe as well.

Later, the DNR officer on duty said, “I’ve been stationed here for many years, and I’ve come to appreciate the power of that water, and the fact that it is so unpredictable.”

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