At this time of year, in the Port of Montrose, you will see people lined up by the lake with fire extinguishers-but they are not putting out fires, they are fishing.
It is called power line fishing, and it involves using high-pressure carbon dioxide generated by a fire extinguisher to shoot a weighted fishing line 200 to 300 yards, through the air and into the water.
Fishing lines usually have several hooks with bait, allowing fishermen to wait for something that may be bitten by multiple fish at the same time; the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has set a limit of 50 hooks per fisherman.
The Florin Deleanu power line is fishing in Chicago's Montrose Harbor. (WTTW News)
In early spring, starting from mid-to-late March, power transmission ships are fishing cod and Chinook salmon from the port. When Lake Michigan warms in the summer, salmon will swim farther into the deep water.
Fisherman Florin Deleanu started power line fishing in 2010, after some colleagues introduced him to this unique fishing method. He happened to not eat fish, but said that his family liked the fresh salmon he caught from the lake.
"You can buy salmon in the store, but even if it says wild cod, it's at least a week old anyway," Deleanu said.
Stacey Greene, the owner of the Park Bait Shop, sells almost all the wires you need in her Montrose Harbour fishing shop-for liability reasons, she cannot sell fire extinguishers.
"If they are not deterred, more people will do it," Green said. "It looks more difficult than it really is."
On March 12, 2020, Stacey Greene stood behind the counter of the Park Bait Shop. This store is located near the port of Montrose and was opened by Greene's father Willie Greene more than 60 years ago. (WTTW News)
Like the controversial way of fishing, Green said that some fishermen look down on power line fishing.
"You will meet people who oppose fishing with so many hooks and power lines, because many people will say,'That's not fishing," Green said with a smile. "Don't have a fishing rod-this is not real fishing."
Although Green said she was unable to pinpoint exactly who "invented" power-line fishing, she claimed that the fishermen in the port of Montrose developed this method of fishing sometime in the 1950s-when the fishermen dropped their anchors. String.
Green said the fishermen's target was the perch of Lake Michigan. These fish are most active in summer, when she planned to fish for bass with wires.
Follow Evan Garcia on Twitter: @EvanRGarcia
More photos of this story:
Florin Deleanu adjusts his power line fishing settings. (WTTW News)
On March 12, 2021, Florin Deleanu threw a fishing line into the air with carbon dioxide released by a fire extinguisher in Montrose Harbour. (WTTW News)
Florin Deleanu showed a coho salmon he caught by fishing on a power line. (WTTW News)
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