Lured into the New Year

How in the world do you explain a New Year’s Eve event in which a big fish is dropped from a crane at the stroke of midnight? I suppose quirky comes to mind first.

While millions of eyeballs are tuned in to watch a sparkly ball of light descend on a pole in New York’s Times Square, there’s something very fishy going on in Port Clinton, Ohio. However, it’s perfectly acceptable in this small lakeside town that is known as the “Walleye Capital of the World.”

Since its start in 1996, Walleye Madness has grown in popularity as word gets out about its existence. In fact, the travel website TravelAdvisor.com ranked the event as one of America’s Top 10 Quirkiest New Year’s Eve Events for 2010. After three years working for Lake Erie Living magazine, I felt it was finally time to see what makes Walleye Madness so alluring.

The events get underway at Fisherman’s Wharf in the early part of the evening with fried perch dinners (the walleye is spared), games and other entertainment for families. The activities are located inside the Port Clinton Fish Company at the end of Madison Street. This is also where vendors hawk gifts and souvenirs, such as sweatshirts and collectible brass cut-out ornaments (3 for $5) from the current year as well as past years. Just before midnight, the prices are slashed to $1 per ornament.

Nearby restaurants and bars aren’t too busy yet, and there’s surprisingly little traffic on Perry Street, the main thoroughfare through town. We get a table immediately at McCarthy’s Pub, which serves Irish fare. The beer-battered walleye dinner calls to me, but the waitress recommends the perch instead (I’m sensing a trend). She likes the taste of the other fish better, she tells me. At least it’s locally sourced.

By nine o’clock, the bars surrounding the wharf are starting to fill up with revelers wearing fish-shaped Mardi Gras-bead necklaces, New Year’s hats and novelty glasses with the year splayed across their faces. I also notice a large number of people rockin’ camouflage clothing from hats to pants. Something tells me this isn’t the result of a current Paris runway trend. One man is even sporting a fox pelt on top of his camouflage ball cap.

It’s around this time that a few Cleveland friends arrive, tipsy on ChocoVine. In contrast to those around them, the girls are wearing short skirts and high heels, creating a mash-up of “Sex in the City” and “The Deer Hunter.” Their first stop is Great Lakes Popcorn Company, which has a line snaking around the small store on the main drag. They have more than 35 delicious flavors, but we buy “Wild Walleye.” No fish were harmed in the making of the product; as it turns out, the popcorn is enhanced with cajun spices that deliver quite a kick when ingested.

The action in the street is also heating up. Unusually high temperatures have brought more people outside to listen to a band playing on the main stage. In between sets, the event’s mascot — Wylie the Walleye — leads the crowd in doing the Cupid Shuffle and pauses for photo opportunities with anyone who asks.

Finally at 11:30, the star of the big show, with a lure in his mouth, is hoisted in the air. People begin to stream out of the local bars into the street. This is the first time you’ll notice just how many people have come out to see the 20-foot-long, 600-pound walleye drop out of the sky. It’s impossible to move through the crowd and my hubby and I get separated briefly.

10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5

I find my husband.

4 – 3 -2 -1

Happy New Year!

And just like that, it’s all over. But we’re hooked. We can’t wait until next year!

PLAN YOUR TRIP:
All the New Year’s festivities are centered around the intersection of Madison and Perry streets.

WHERE TO EAT: McCarthy’s Pub (101 Madison St.) offers Irish fare or go upscale with The Island House Restaurant (102 Madison St.).

WHERE TO DRINK: Kokomo Bay (40 Madison St.) brings the atmosphere of the Florida Keys to Port Clinton, while Rum Runners (102 Madison St.) is a classic sports bar.

WHERE TO STAY: Our Guest Inn & Suites and The Island House are right in the heart of all the action and both cost less than $150. At Our Guest Inn, request a vintage room, which is located in the main building, although Room 401 is right in front and gets noise from the Wendy’s Drive-Through next door.