Sam Page and I had one of the first spinning reels in our area of central Maine. This light-tackle innovation, based on an open reel and a 4-pound test nylon line, enabled a growing number of sport fishermen to cast much further than by bait casting or fly fishing.

To accommodate the soaring distance of light-tackle casting, allowance had to be made for the limp line, yet the tensile strength of the monofilament line was surprisingly strong. Seashore or deep-sea fishermen used a higher test line, but for freshwater fishing, the 4-pound test nylon, with proper technique, handled any fish in our lakes and ponds. The Mitchell reel was an early favorite but soon there were many other such reels on the market.

Lake Wassookeag was a bountiful source for trout, togue, bass and, later, land-locked salmon, regularly stocked by the state. Spin fishing from shore proved the mettle of the productive long casts and the light nylon line.

We discovered that small lures, often polished brass, small as an inch in length, with an attached gang hook, produced good-sized fish. In remote sections of the state, wild trout swarm around most anything, as long as fetching movement is made after the cast. In some cases, smaller trout will attack a moving lure while bigger speckled beauties hunker near bottom.

Although spin fishing is a door to many options, I still prefer fly fishing and its ultimate satisfaction when it’s done right, but that’s another story.

The first time Sam and I spin-fished Moosehead Lake, we drew quite a crowd at East Outlet, where the Kennebec River begins. Bait fishermen and those casting a fly into the wide pool beneath the old wooden dam were interested in our different style of angling. Their interest intensified after we caught a couple salmon in the backwater of the pool below the dam.

The dam at East Outlet has a rich history of log driving. There was a time, years ago, when the venerated steamer Katahdin dragged huge, floating booms of four foot logs down Moosehead Lake to the expanse of water in front of East Outlet dam, where a traditional log drive commenced. Noteworthy fly fishing followed the passage of hundreds of logs.

To take advantage of spin fishing’s superior casting distance, some method of added weight had to be provided that would enhance the cast distance, After trying several methods, we settled on wrapping a small amount of lead tape on the lure itself or shank of the hook. This worked to an extent, but nothing would replace the deftness of a cast fly.

At the time, my fly fishing ability left a lot to be desired, but I had limited success with bass and pickerel in weedy areas at either end of Lake Wassookeag. Again following my dad’s lead, I could tie a respectable fly. I favored dyed bucktail, because bass and pickerel seemed to like bright colors. On the fly fishing side, I had an affinity for Black Ghost or Grey Ghost streamers.

The growing popularity of spin casting prompted tackle makers to market a slew of lures for the spin fish angler. Some were useless, but I did buy a plastic-bodied item built to resemble a Grey Ghost streamer fly. Using the spinning rod, I cast the new lure into the strong current near the strong flow adjacent to one of East Outlet’s open gates. Bouncing with a seductive wiggle, the lure slithered in and out of the current – now closely followed by the sleek shape of a good-sized salmon! It was my first salmon I caught spin fishing, but thankfully it would not be the last.

With a relative living on the ocean, I accepted an invitation to come down and fish for the numerous mackerel. Under a bright sun, I tried several hot spots without success. Throughout that day of no mackerel I heard the sad lament of frustrated fishermen – “You should have been here yesterday.”

Well, at least I tried.