Today was team practice on the feared Noce River. I say feared because our Italian guide Stefano thinks this river will blank many contestants in the World Master’s Fly Fishing Championships next week. A blank and your team is in trouble. With that in mind, we all had to catch at least a fish today … Read more
We had a full team practice today. We split up a little only because in Italy they don’t allow more than three anglers on a piece of water at the same time but for the most part we hung together. Pete and I watched a lot to give the new arrival teammates more time to … Read more
The rest of our World Masters USA Fly Fishing Team (Brett Bishop, Mike Sexton and Loren Williams) landed in Milan, Italy this morning and began the four hour drive up to meet Pete, Jerry, Stefano and I. Jerry and Stefano drove to the lower Sarca River to meet them to immediately get them on the … Read more
During the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships next week there we will fish two sessions on Italy’s Sarca River. There will be an upper and a lower section. Both parts of this beautiful river run in an off blue glacial like color over shallow boulders and rocks. Pete and I fished the Sarca ourselves … Read more
Before I get started on today’s fishing adventures here in Italy, I want to re-introduce our Team Manager, Jerry Arnold. He’s been on this blog many times – with every World Masters Fly Fishing Championship along with a couple trips to Mexico over the years. Plain and simple, we (me, Pete and the rest of … Read more
We got in so late last night it was weird waking up. When I first opened my eyes I didn’t know where the heck I was. Then came a deep snore from Pete in the bed next to me and it dawned on me, we are here in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy for a week … Read more
I’ve had a lot of big travel the last six months and I can’t tell you how good it feels. I’m not sure the pace I was moving before Covid would be welcome, but a big trip every four months or so fits the bill. And keep mixing in the speaking gig travel once a … Read more
I did an exploratory fishing drive on Tuesday. All I wanted to do was get one last warm up on trout before heading to Italy today for the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships. But it was 89° and I never put on the waders. It would have been a waste of time. But, I found … Read more
1987, my first year working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop, was a good one. At the end of the season Jack had a cancellation on a “Fly up to the Bighorn River in Montana” for two guided fishing days. The trip was fully paid for and the customer that cancelled told Jack to have … Read more
It was a long but fun day yesterday. It began leaving Hayward at 4 AM for the Duluth Airport. It was my first business trip since moving into our new home in Wisconsin. I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get to the Duluth Airport nor what the parking scene would be. I’m … Read more
It was time to go fishing early. I’m talking 4:30 AM. Here in northern Wisconsin, it gets light at 4 AM now. Crack of dawn would put us on the water before the temps rise high into 80°s like they have been each day for almost two weeks. I went with my new friend … Read more
There are a ton of rivers to explore here in northern Wisconsin. I’ve dabbled with the trout fishing but deep inside me, I want warmwater fish action. I’m talking smallmouth bass in particular. Toss in some pike, crappie, walleye and perhaps a musky on occasion, and I’ll be in heaven. I’d also like to fish … Read more