When I was ten, I frequented a spot on the Saco River. It's not that the spot had superior fish or spectacular beauty; it's that the spot was close to my home and easily commutable by bicycle. I would fish the area high and low, high was from a bridge and low was from the river's edge.

One noon after the fishing had slowed, I was becoming particularly bored and decided to horse-around with my fishing pole. I kept lowering my lure to the water from the bridge to make dimples. It was a calm day; the air was dead still.

As the bottom of my treble hook barely hit the water, I would lift the rod and watch the dimples that formed. I tried to make different figures like Mickey Mouse by barely touching the treble to the water and quickly moving it to a new location. The commotion did not go unnoticed. I unwittingly was driving a Yellow Perch mad as he positioned himself under the lure.

My constant lifting of the treble hook must of seemed tantalizing and frustrating to that Perch from it’s underwater world. As I lowered my rod making an approach for another dimple the fish jumped out of the water and onto my hook. I was astonished. I assume this was not the case for Taylor Esty.

Taylor was taken out on to Rangeley Lake by Jeff Sunday morning. The fishing had slowed due to a strong high pressure front that had moved into the area. This did not stop Taylor from going out on the water, and it did not stop Jeff from giving her the opportunity to land a nice sized Landlocked.

At twenty-three and a half inches long, the Rangeley Landlocked Salmon weighed in at close to four pounds. This long and skinny Landlocked is known as a racer; it is more prevalent on Rangeley Lake right after ice out. The gerth of these "racer" fish will fatten as the season progresses.

Jeff's motto of “putting your time in” sure paid off for Taylor. They were on the lake for a total of ten minutes by the time this fish was netted. That’s good fishing on a slow day. Jeff looked at Taylor and asked “Have you had enough fishing for today?" Taylor replied “Yup!” and they headed back to the dock for a relaxing Sunday morning.

It goes to show that there can be good fishing on a slow day, but you have to put your time in, and believe me, Jeff has. If you feel like chewing the cud with Jeff, you can catch up with him at the Rangeley Region Sports Shop in the center of Rangeley Plantation. You can’t miss it! It is right across from the Rangeley public boat launch. If your lucky, and Jeff likes you , he may turn you on to a few secrets.

Be safe and have fun fishing.

E-mail this entry to a friend