Articles : Len Hartman

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I Once Knew a Muskie Legond…
In Search of the Missing Len Hartman
By: Steven James Rusteberg

There have been many times I have wondered what happened to the legendary Len Hartman after the mayhem caused by the John Dettloff articles confirming the falsification of his alleged world record catches. Many have inquired into his whereabouts but nobody has been able to come up with hard evidence of his life and times post Dettloff’s damning writings. Rumors have been passed from fisherman to fisherman, from Larry Ramsell, to John Dettloff but nobody had actual fact or confirmation of his whereabouts. Some said he was in Mexico fishing with his buddy, Jerry Trichomi for World Record Peacock Bass. Others spread rumors that he was in Florida trying to capture the World Record Tarpon. None of these rumors are true. In fact, they are far from true!

I have tracked down the man, his whereabouts, his post Dettloff life, and what little “family” he had left. This is the story of a fallen hero… a legend…anyway you look at it. A hero in my opinion… and I am sure after completing this article you will think the same. I don’t condole his dishonesty about his alleged World Record muskie, but he was one of the few, brave, honest individuals to set the record straight before he passed away.

The admission of this fact truly ruined what little life he had left. Len Hartman has passed on. He died a very lonely man on October 23, 1997. With the exception of the Socall’s, his adopted family, he was shunned by his closest friends and most hurtfully the “Muksie Community”. The “Muskie Community” was his life. It was his reason for being… his true love. Every one of you that came to see him at your local fishing meetings, looked up to him, admired his catches, everyone he fished with… you were his family. You were his life. Unfortunately, we all shunned him with his admission of the falsification of his catches.

Most of us only knew his legendary status and never really got to know the man behind the fish. He truly was one of the best muskie fisherman that ever lived. Many that fished with Len even today say that he was a true expert in the angling for big muskie. He was a very loving husband, and very dedicated to his sport of choice. He was known as the Babe Ruth of Muskie Fishing, and even though his fish weren’t as big as he had originally claimed they were indisputably huge.

Now let us explore the facts of his disappearance, not the hearsay nor rumor. Let me shed the fiction that has plagued his “post confession life”. Len was born on February 18, 1916 and died on October 23, 1997. It was a Tuesday. He was eighty-one years old. He died after a lengthy battle with Cancer. Specifically, Prostate Cancer led to his poor health. His death certificate reads “ prostate cancer metastasis bone/liver”. He died in a nursing home in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He had no family per-say but a family named the Socall’s took them under their wings in the mid-1980. Len met Jim and Mary Socall on Eagle Lake Canada at Andy Meyers Resort in 1994. The Socall’s were on a fishing trip and Len and Mary developed a very special relationship. Ever since that trip the Socall’s became his adopted family in every sense of the phrase (with the exception of legally).

Post Len’s confession he was not welcome at any of the fishing clubs. He was ostracized by many, and his speaking engagements became few and far between. Len was not a wealthy man. He relied on his fishing performances, speaking engagements, lure sales, and guide trips to support himself. He was in financial ruins after his admission.

Despite the rumors he never did leave Illinois (with the brief exception of southern most Wisconsin) after his shunning. His financial situation was not the only reason for his lack of travel. His Cancer was catching up to him and he was having problems sitting for long periods of time. Fishing was not in the cards due to his pain. The one thing he truly loved to do became impossible. I often have wondered where I will make my last cast and can’t help but wonder where he made his. Most people who love this sport as much as I do (and Len did) can relate.

Len had no funeral. He left behind very few possessions. He died in October 1997 and his body was cremated. His ashes are possessed by the Socall’s. Mary Socall voughes that when she is ready to part with Len’s remains they will be spread on Eagle Lake. She believes that this is where he would want his final resting-place to be.

One thing very few people know about Len’s final moments is that he agreed to give his body to science. Again, a very noble thing to do when you know your time is up. Len’s organs were used for Cancer research.

Len was a good man. He undisputedly has a place in the World Record Books as a man who taught all of us a great deal about the sport. He was a legend in his time, and a person who will be forever in the history books when it comes to the lore of muskie fishing. He gave me enthusiasm for the sport of Muskie Fishing when I was young, and the dreams every night before bed of catching that elusive World Record. He made me believe that with a little hard work big fish can be caught even today. He taught all of us a lot, and for that we owe him. We owe him the respect that he deserves. He was honest with us when it counted which is a lot more that some of the other World Record Holders can attest to. If only some of them had the guts to come clean before the end, maybe they would have half my respect and some of Len’s integrity.

Len could have continued the charade. He could have disputed the skepticism. He could have challenged the evidence. He could have taken the truth to his grave like several others. But he didn’t! And for that he remains this authors hero. He should, even in death, remain yours. The legendary name of “Len Hartman” lives on in every World Record Muskie Hunter.