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Walleye Makes Waves on Messalonskee Lake

August 18, 2009 - WINTHROP -- Last week, Nathan Lawler did something no one else had done on record: He caught a walleyed pike in Messalonskee Lake. There are other records of walleyes in the Belgrade Lakes chain, but none of anglers catching them in Messalonskee.

Lawler, 28, of Portland talked about the experience afterward.

Q: What do you remember about the details of the day?

A: We caught huge (black) crappie and smallmouth (bass). When I caught that walleye, it was like 5:30 or 6 p.m. It was on 30-pound braided line on a 6-foot rod. I was using a jointed Rapala (lure) that goes down about 12 to 15 feet. It was 23 inches long and 5.8 pounds.

Q: How was your story of catching a walleye on Messalonskee received?

A: When I got to the boat launch, there were like five or six people there, and they were all saying, 'No way. There's no walleye in here.' I've been asking every person I possibly can. There just seems to be no record of them.

Q: What made you think it was a walleye?

A: I've been fishing my whole life, and I like to think I know what I'm looking at. I mean, I knew it was a walleye right off. If I can come up with the money, I'd like to get it stuffed. It's a beautiful fish. Kind of scaly, but the eye is so translucent, you can almost look right through it.

Q: How was the battle to land the fish?

A: It was the most amazing freshwater fight I've ever had.

Q: What made it unique in terms of fishing on a lake?

A: I think I fought him for 15 minutes, no exaggeration. It never broke water, not once. The fact he didn't break water like a bass would was what absolutely amazed me. He just wouldn't quit.

– TRAVIS BARRETT, Maine Today Media, 8/16/09


Lakes: Messalonskee Lake
Regions: Belgrade


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