Saving the day on Erie

Matt Vermilyea was hooked up, but he dropped everything when his co-angler fell into Lake Erie.

Matt Vermilyea was hooked up, but he dropped everything when something more important came up.

Vermilyea, of Perrysburg, Ohio, and co-angler Clifford Esmond, Holton, Mich., were fishing an island on Lake Erie during Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open presented by Allstate when potential tragedy struck.

“It was Clifford’s first fish,” Vermilyea said. “I ended up getting hooked up while he was working on it. I started working with my fish and I felt something move, and I looked back and he’s head first. I saw legs and feet.”

The combination of Esmond reaching down at the back of the boat and rough water sent him overboard. Vermilyea, who is in contention for an Elite Series invite, jumped into action, throwing down his rod and getting to Esmond quickly.

“I got a hold of his clothes, and I literally never let go,” he said. “Clifford came up coughing water good. He was freaking out. I got him to relax. Your first instinct is to get back in the boat.”

Vermilyea said he helped Esmond get to the right side of his Ranger, easing him around the Yamaha, pulled the pin on the ladder, then grabbed his bibs and helped him in.

“He was exhausted,” Vermilyea said, mentioning how hard it is to swim in soaking wet clothing. “At the moment, he didn’t have his life jacket on. Some people go to the bottom.”

Bassmaster’s Ronnie Moore was shooting photographs and put down the camera as he and his boat driver hurried over to help.

“They were on it, but were a good 150 feet away,” Vermilyea said. “They had got over to the back of the boat when we got him in. They were literally feet off the back of the boat. It could have been a bad situation, but it worked out good.”

Once it was determined Esmond would be fine, Vermilyea went back to the front of the boat.

“I picked up my rod and that fish was still on that crankbait,” he said. “This was one of the craziest days I’ve had on the water.”

Seems it was rather crazy for a bunch of anglers on Lake Erie, as 5-10 mph winds increased about 10 miles and made it a rough ride for many.

“Multiple boats had issues,” Vermilyea said Thursday evening as his trolling motor was being worked on. “That lake is rough. That’s Lake Erie. Mother Erie will definitely raise her head.”

The day was odd for others, among them Brian Schramm, whose boat sank when his bilge pump failed.

The odder occurrence was about a half hour after Esmond lost his dignity, Vermilyea saw fish busting, threw his bait that way and caught the fish Esmond lost.

“It had his red drop shot hook,” he said. “It probably came up to the surface trying to throw that hook and sinker.”

In all, Vermilyea said Esmond is a great guy and they had a great day. Vermilyea stands 19th with 20 pounds, 5 ounces, and Esmond, who despite his fall trying to land his first fish, caught a limit and is 41st on the co-angler side with 10-3.

“It was a pretty good day,” Vermilyea said, “one he’ll never forget.”