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Big fish in a big pond

Thursday’s MWRD hearing on the Wilmette Harbor contract was a somewhat somber affair, as board members weren’t eager to leave the meeting room with the future of the harbor’s lease still in the air.

Among the few people who came up to the podium to discuss the matter that day was Thomas Curtin, president of the Arlington Anglers, a group of line-casters that Curtin described as “mostly older, retired guys like me who just like to fish.”

In his testimony, Curtin advocated for expanded access to the Wilmette Harbor and for more cross-planning with the Coast Guard, the Wilmette Park District and the nearby Baha’i Temple.

Later, while the board was in recess, I chatted with Curtin a bit about fishing in the heavy blue of Michigan. Among my inquiries on powerboats and freshwater salmon, I asked Curtin about the best places on the lake to hook a prize-fish, fully expecting his answer to include a bunch of coastal inlets that I’d never heard of.

“Navy Pier,” he replied.

“Really?” I returned.

“I’ve got a friend who gets up early and does pretty well out there,” said Curtin.

Needless to say, I felt like a fish far out of water.

-Ian Fullerton