On June 21, 2025, while trolling in Sebago Lake, Maine Sportsman subscriber Casey Elliott of Casco experienced the catch of a lifetime, when this 7.73-lb., 28-inch landlocked salmon came to net. “After a 25-minute battle with my fly rod and mooching reel, I finally got a look at him through the water,” recalled Casey. “I thought he was fake, since he looked too perfect — bright, thick (16″ girth), and massive, like something out of a display case.”
Then Casey began worrying about whether his net had sufficient capacity for the monster. “My net only has a 20-inch opening, and it barely held him,” he told us. “I had to use the gunnel as a fulcrum, levering the net just right to cradle the fish in without losing tension.”
The salmon’s weight was certified by Jeffrey Cutting at Jordan’s Store in Sebago, earning Casey Elliott a coveted “One that Didn’t Get Away” patch from The Maine Sportsman magazine. Nice job, Casey!
