An Evening on Windigo Lake

I’ve been drooling over Google Earth Maps a few evenings now that it gets dark earlier.  There is so much water to fish within just ten miles of our house here in Hayward, WI its almost unbelievable.  While I’m certain may of the lakes are far from epic fisheries, all are fun to explore.  Late … Read more

Drifting with Sturgeon

Its hard to explain how invigorating it is to go fishing on new water almost every time I go fishing.  And to be able to do it from home – unreal!  The newfangled adventures around every corner had me bouncing from bed at 4:45 AM this morning to meet up with my friend Bob Butler … Read more

Docks Day on Lake Superior

I couldn’t wait to get back from Italy to once and for all start exploring the new waters around our Hayward, WI home.  Yeah, I hit the water some before I left for Italy, but I felt obligated to trout fish to be well tuned for the Worlds.  Once back I could do whatever fishing … Read more

Covid Smacks Me Hard

I for sure know folks read the blog after the last couple days.  I got quiet since coming home from Italy and I’ve received a few concerned emails.  No need to worry – the blog will go on!   While I knew I wouldn’t run out fishing for a few days after fishing the World’s, … Read more

Team USA

We Are the Champions My Friends!

I’m alive.  Since I started the blog in October of 2009 I have never gone so far behind in my daily fishing stories.  And even so, my routine is to pick up right where I left off once there’s time, which in this case would be an entry for July 12.  And it will come.  … Read more

Gold At Our Fingertips on the Last Day

Sleep was hard to come by last night.  Today our USA Masters Fly Fishing team entered the last session of the competition in first place by one point over the Belgians, seven over the Czechs and nine over the Italians.  Yeah, things looked good for a medal, but all we wanted was Gold.  Over forty … Read more

Team USA Struggles but Holds First Place

We, Team USA woke up today in first place in the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships with room to spare.  But we were determined to get out there in Session 4 and kick butt and grow a stronger lead.  But we felt stress – I certainly did.  And I know this team.  We’re tight and … Read more

Session 3 Upper Noce

5 AM came quick.  Currently its day three of the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships.  I headed for the feared Noce River.  While both sections of the Noce, the Upper and Lower have skunked more competitors than any of the three rivers, the Lower is by far the toughest.  Its where Loren blanked yesterday.  I … Read more

Unexpected Hurdles in Session 2 – the Chiese River

In 2003 I was on Team USA at one of the biggest World Championships.  It was in Jaca, Spain.  A rare thing happened for me.  All five of my sessions went nearly flawless despite some of the most difficult conditions and wisest wild brown trout in the history of the event.  Our Team finished 8th … Read more

Crawling for Fish on the Upper Sarca – Session 1

The 5 AM alarm I set wasn’t a welcome sound to Pete and I went it blazed off.  But each of us and the rest of Team USA had buses to catch at 6:15 AM to head for Session One in the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships here in Italy.  It wasn’t only us that … Read more

The World Masters Fly Fishing Championships in Italy

Today was registration day and the start of the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships here at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.  Though Stefano offered to guide us fishing this morning, everyone opted to make today a rest day and a day to tidy up the tackle to be ready for the first session tomorrow.  Pete, Stefano … Read more

The Final Day of Practice for the Master’s

It wouldn’t have hurt to have spent the final day of World Masters Fly Fishing practice organizing our stuff rather than fishing.  At least Pete and I that is, being today was our eighth fishing day in a row.  Quite frankly, we’re a little worn out.  Our tippet, fly boxes, empty floatants and etc. could … Read more