RANGELEY — The White Nose Pete Fly Fishing Festival brought hundreds of people to the region Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, in celebration of all things fly fishing. Haze from Canadian wildfires blocked the sun but the weather remained dry throughout the festival – breaking a months-long pattern of rainy Saturday mornings. The event was sponsored by the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce and included speakers, vendors, demonstrations and more.
The festival’s legendary mascot, White Nose Pete, is famous for breaking the lines of any angler who tried to catch him. Pete ended up with a mouthful of flies and such a reputation that Charles “Shang” Wheeler immortalized him with a carving and a poem. The carving and poem are on permanent display at the Historic Rangeley Outdoor Heritage Museum, 8 Rumford Rd. in Oquossoc Village.
“We’re thrilled with the incredible turnout and enthusiasm at this year’s White Nose Pete Fly Fishing Festival,” said Ally Kaiser, chamber executive director. “In its fourth year, the event has truly found its rhythm, bringing together our community in celebration of both the sport of fly fishing and the natural beauty that surrounds us. The growth we’ve seen over these four years has been remarkable, and we couldn’t be more proud of what this festival has become.
“It’s wonderful to see families, seasoned anglers, and newcomers alike coming together to share their passion for fly fishing. With this momentum, we’re excited to explore ways to expand the festival in the coming years and welcome even more people to experience what makes our community so special.”
The two-day festival began Friday evening at Rangeley Inn & Tavern with a Fly Fishing Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This year’s inductees were Caption Fred C. Barker and George Shepard Page. Barker (1853-1937) and Page (1838-1892) left indelible marks in the region’s sporting and fishing history.
Barker was a woodsman, trapper, trader and author. He ran excursion steamers on Mooselookmeguntic and operated camps, hotels and resorts – including The Barker on Mooslookmeguntic.
Page was a founding member of the Oquossoc Angling Association and has been credited as being largely responsible for the success of the region as a sporting mecca. His early work in ichthyology – the study of fish – led to success not previously seen.
A live auction, also on Friday evening, raised over $9,000 for the chamber and co-beneficiary Casting for Recovery Maine.
Casting for Recovery provides healing retreats for women with breast cancer, providing a chance to connect with nature and fellow thrivers and survivors, at no cost to participants. The retreats are open to women of all ages and stages of treatment and recovery. The annual Maine retreat was held May 30 to June 1 at Bald Mountain Camps.
On Saturday, the Rangeley Inn & Tavern lawn and event space was abuzz with activity. Children learned to tie flies, casting clinics were offered for adults and youth, and a casting competition was held.
Alexandra Gourlay, of Morrisville, VT, traveled to the region with her boyfriend, Hunter Campbell, an avid fly fisherman. It was their first time visiting the area and her first introduction to fly fishing.
“We came for the festival but we are staying for a while to explore the area,”Gourlay said.
She took advantage of casting lessons offered by Trout Unlimited volunteer instructor Jane Cleaves McKenna. Gourlay learned a few casting tips while Cleaves McKenna helped her find a rhythmic casting groove. Campbell said Gourlay had never picked up a fly rod before and he was genuinely impressed with her skills. The couple were planning a fly fishing excursion while in the area, they said.
As part of the festivities, a presentation on the Magalloway Collaborative conservation effort was hosted at Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust. The Magalloway Collaborative is a group effort of RLHT, Forest Society of Maine, Northeast Wilderness Trust, and The Nature Conservancy to conserve 78,000 acres in western Maine.
The casting competition, hosted by Dave Fenderson, attracted fishermen and fisherwomen attempting to cast the farthest using common rod setup. Eleven men and three women entered the highly competitive event for both the prizes and the bragging rights. With a 73-foot cast, Dave Shirley won the men’s division. Cleaves McKenna took the lead in the women’s division with a 50-foot cast.
