In a move to get over his heartbreak, Capt. Jason Rose tied his wedding band to a steelhead on May 4 and released it near the port of Whitehall, Michigan.
The steelhead was recaught Friday, June 21, by a group of fishermen aboard Jim Nelligan’s boat on Lake Michigan, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“So, we caught this steelhead today,” Nelligan emailed the newspaper. “Someone attached their wedding ring to this fish and we caught it. Wonder if it was a divorce or death, but a crazy story!”
Good guess by Nelligan.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported the love-lost story behind the steelhead on June 24.
“Yeah, lost love,” Rose messaged. “I was married for the better part of a decade. My ex wife and I decided to go our separate ways.
“I am a fishing guide, she was always against me following my dreams and hated how much I fished.
“Four years went by since our divorce. I felt I needed to get rid of that ring but I didn’t want to just toss it to the bottom, pawn it or any of that kind of thing. So I released it the best way I know how.
“I am convinced that ring is cursed,” Rose concluded. “My life has been nothing less than great since I released it.”
Jim Nelligan wasn’t surprised when he learned the story behind the ring.
“That was my first guess, a divorce, but funny that the guy says the ring is cursed,” Nelligan told USA Today/For The Win. Because, “That ring is cursed. Ever since it came on my boat, I’ve had problems with my Glendinning engine controls, the switch to raise the helm floor to get at the engines broke and the hose at my dock burst. Sheesh!
“I think we’ll mail it back to him, no return address!”
