MENTOR-ON-THE-LAKE, Ohio — Do you remember the young man from Mentor-on-the-Lake who caught and released that potential state-record northern pike in Mentor Lagoons?
His name is Sam Spataro. After doing a story on the young man and his catch and release of a fish-of-a-lifetime, and seeing his passion for fishing and caring for the resource, I was moved to start a campaign to get him a replica mount of the 45-inch pike. I asked his dad if I could get the ball rolling, and he gave his blessing.
I talked with the best taxidermist I know: Joe Kastaway Kulis. He recommended a former employee of his who has his own taxidermy business, John Bloch of American Taxidermy Company in Akron.
John and I talked about it, and he said he would happily do the mount at cost, donating his time to paint the replica. I now had a number to target, so I started the process.
Several people stepped forward to support the project, and then, a little something happened. One person — an anonymous donor whose identity is only known to me — stepped forward and said he would donate the total cost of the mount. I was completely shocked, stunned, and overwhelmed.
The project funding was complete. The donations I had started with my own $50 of seed money had grown to $300 through the generosity of several others. It was time to let the process run.
For any outdoors enthusiast who ever had a trophy mounted, they know it takes time, and the wait is excruciating! Over the summer, John kept in touch with updates like, "The replica is here!" and "I'm painting!" and finally "It's ready!"
I can tell you, like every sportsman knows, it was worth the wait. Now, the big reveal.
I picked up the mount Sunday and talked with John. He regaled me with his memories of fishing Mentor Lagoons with his uncle. His face was beaming.
That's what fishing memories do; they are sometimes the best memories you carry with you forever. The work he did — painting the replica from the one picture Sam had sent me of the fish — is nothing short of spectacular. Sam now has a tangible piece of the memory of hooking, fighting, and landing a fish of a lifetime.
I had planned to deliver the replica yesterday and shoot a story on it, but there's always something that happens. There was a call-off at work, a triple two-alarm high-rise fire, and another story I needed to shoot, so it looked like the hand-off wouldn't happen.
But, I got all the other things done and was able to get Sam his mount. I met him and his dad for the big reveal.
The huge fish is mounted to a large oak plank from an old barn. It completely took up the back seat of my news car. I put it in my cart and called Sam and his dad over.
When they first saw it, it was incredible. Both jaws dropped, with words like "Oh my Lord!" and "Wow!" and others I can't mention.
There were hugs, high-fives, and handshakes. I even saw a tear or two during this wonderful moment between father and son. That is the best thing about this whole experience: The simple act of going fishing led to all of it. There are people who fish their whole lifetime without ever catching a fish like Sam's, but they know that it's not about the size of the fish or how many you catch. It's about the entire experience, the sharing time together, the making of memories to carry for a lifetime.
Remember, Sam let the huge pike he caught go. Rather than kill it to get it weighed as an official state record, he happily returned it to the water. That really impressed me as an angler, and that's why it was important to me to get the mount.
I sincerely hope that anyone who sees Sam's fish or reads this long story has memories of fishing or sharing time outdoors flood their brains. I honestly feel sorry for those who don't understand the significance those memories hold.
On the other hand, I am proud to be a part of a community that does cherish those experiences and am very grateful to all of those who helped make this happen.
Sam has an incredible memory to carry for his lifetime and beyond. Both he and his dad were so happy and wanted me to thank everyone for their support. It's YOU that made this happen, and I thank you, as well.
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