How’s this for a lost-and-found fishing story: Paul Kosmatka was wading Minnesota’s Lester River when he slipped and got swept out into Lake Superior. He dropped his rod as he struggled in vain against the overpowering current and famously cold water.

A passerby launched a small boat, then raced out and rescued Kosmatka, who was already 150 yards from shore.

The following night, another angler who was trolling snagged the rod (what are the odds, in the world’s largest freshwater lake?) and got in touch with Kosmatka after hearing about his unexpected dip the day before. He returned the rod, which happened to be a $795 Orvis.

OK, your turn. Have YOU ever lost a rod or some other piece of equipment and then had it returned? Or reeled in someone else’s fishing pole, rain jacket or who-knows-what?

Tell us the tale here––the stranger, the better! Log in and post a “comment” to share your story.