Newborns and old timers bring memories to a Fish of the Week

Andrew Gale caught a surprise lake trout at Navy Pier the day after the birth of his niece. | Provided

Everly Rose Black came into the world with more memories than usual.

On the evening of Nov. 25, Andrew Gale’s sister gave birth to her first baby at Northwestern Hospital.

``It was just a few blocks from Navy Pier, so I couldn’t resist taking my dad out after perch!’’ Gale emailed. ``So I picked him up at 6 a.m. and we headed out to fish the pier and celebrate the family first-born. We were about to head back up to the hospital, sure enough, about 9:15 a.m. we finally got the first bite and it was not what we expected.’’

It was a 31-inch, 13-pound lake trout.

``The diver ducks kept spooking all the fish but this big boy was not concerned about them!,’’ Gale emailed. ``I would like to thank the old timer next to me who had a net or we NEVER would have landed this fish on 4-pound ultralight with a crappie minnow and a small Aberdeen hook!’’

The final tribute to old-timers and newborns came with the laker brined overnight and slow smoked for three hours with brown sugar, lemon juice and soy sauce.

The final production of Gale’s memorable lake trout.

FOTW, the celebration of big fish and their stories (the stories matter) around Chicago fishing, runs Wednesdays in the Sun-Times. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).