While fishing Rangeley Lake last year, our day went from fact to legend in a matter of moments.

Richard Bartlette and I rented a cabin on the shores of Rangeley. We wanted to enjoy some late season Salmon fishing. I believe the time was mid September. We planned on fishing four times and had luck every time out.

The third outing of the weekend happened to take place in the evening. We were catching fish in the two pound range, but had caught nothing of any size when Richard’s rod struck gold. He lunged for the spinning rod and could feel the thumping of a Landlocked Salmon. He started playing the fish. As the salmon approached the boat, it started a run. Richard’s eye’s grew with excitement. As the Salmon approached the boat again, she started a second run. That is when we began to speculate on its size.

On the Salmon’s third approach, we got a good look. "Nice fish"....I exclaimed as I approached the fish with net in hand. My catch and release net made it difficult to net as Salmon started it’s death roll. Then it lunged below the boat and surfaced beside the motor. I approached it again with the net…snap! The fish was gone.

We looked at each other, sulking as we realized the fish was gone. It is always hard to loose a fish you truly respect. Then….Splash! A Salmon jumped a foot and a half out of the water broadside to the boat. Richard look at me in bewilderment, and I gave the same look back while replaying the scene in my mind.

The fish that jumped had a fly line between its jaws. We had been fishing a fly line when the salmon struck and never took it in. I grabbed the fly rod, stuck it in Richard’s hands and said “Reel, Reel, Reel….set the hook!” He did!

He began playing the Salmon. When it got to the boat it started swimming in and out of the swim platform, getting tangled all the while. I started screaming"ah,…ah, ah, ah" and I was handed the Boga Grip to latch onto the fish. We boarded the Salmon to find the previous bait and hook still in its mouth.

This is no BS. It happened to me!

We thought about the story, looked at each other and said “nah…no one will ever believe this!”

From fact to legend in a matter of moments!

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