Early morning departures for fishing aren’t so early anymore. I had an old college buddy, Danny Zilker, swing through Hayward for about 20 hours. The short visit consisted of a nice dinner with beers at the Anglers Bar last night and today a full day on the water. We left my house in darkness to … Read more
Mom’s surgery went well and I’m happy to say I returned home from New Hampshire this weekend. Mom is 82 and needed her carotid artery cleaned out. Too many whoopie pies I’m afraid! Having such a surgery at 80+ is risky. Lucky for us, mom is a healthy active 82 year old and the doctor … Read more
I was wading a flat at Cosmoledo Atoll in the Seychelles during November 2021 and found myself fighting a large bonefish. As the bone tired and I had him near, not one, but two Indo-Pacific permit showed up attempting to steal my fly right from the bonefishes mouth. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Naturally I’d … Read more
Indeed it was an outstanding trip to the flats of Texas. But I love it all. I could not wait to get back on the Wisconsin smallies and I didn’t delay. After a couple days catching up on things, Granny and I headed out on a three day two night float trip with Bob and … Read more
It’s been quite a week here in Texas. Thank goodness I took Brian Iannacchione’s offer to join him with longtime friend and guide extraordinaire, Jako Lucas. The fishing this week has been a true eyeopener. I’ve seen great jack crevalle fishing, bull redfish like never before and had some fun on the flats. Both … Read more
I was a little groggy this morning for no particular reason. Then I realized it was August 1. This is when it always hits me. I’ve been up early and fishing hard through the extra-long days for three months straight. They don’t call August the dog days for nothing. I could have easily laid back … Read more
I’ll never forget the first jack crevalle I caught. It was April of 1989 in Belize. The fish was part of a marauding school of crevalle a few miles up in the brackish waters of the Sibun River. I’d not seen such carnage. I remember the cast, the startling smash on my orange Tarpon Glow … Read more
Last November I was invited by once Seychelles client now good friend, Brian Iannacchione, to join him in Texas to saltwater fly fish with another friend, legendary South African now American and world renown fishing guide, Jako Lucas. As much as I wanted to join these buddies, I knew it was during peak smallmouth bass … Read more
The smallmouth bass fishing has been so good this month I can not stop. Despite getting home late last night from yesterdays fishing I got right back on the saddle this morning. At 5 AM, college pal Paul Cavanaugh of Colorado, pulled in the driveway under the first glimmer of daylight to help load up … Read more
You may not know it but there is a serious fly fishing culture here in Hayward, Wisconsin. We have numerous fly anglers along with a fly shop, The Hayward Fly Fishing Co and guide service. The owner of the operation, Stu Neville, has become a good friend since the minute Granny and I arrived in … Read more
I met Dave Gellatly at the Great Waters Fly Fishing Show in Minneapolis back in March. I saw a guy towing a drift boat with Wisconsin plates pull into the parking lot. I went right over and it turns out Dave is from my old stomping grounds of Ashland right on Chequamegon Bay in Lake … Read more
Bob and I rarely fish on weekends because no doubt, here in Wisconsin the waterways are for sure at their busiest. But suddenly the days of summer are passing rapidly. Too rapidly. We decided to take a long haul down numerous dusty roads to a river where the mosquitos and horseflies carry you away. There … Read more