I haven’t had much fishing to share in a week. That’s because I was working on some Florida Slam Cliff Fly Boxes for Back Country Fly Fishers Naples and a large Indo-Pacific permit painting for my friend Mike Lodge. Mike goes with me on most my hosted Yellow Dog trips and two years ago he … Read more
Looks like I’m on a schedule of fishing only once a week for a while. This is the time of year where I begin preparing for show season. The 2026 season is shaping up to be a big one and I’m feeling the pressure already to update my programs, add some new ones and get … Read more
August 12-14 There’s a lot of good pics and stories from a three day float trip we finished up today, however this blog will be short. I spent so much time on last weeks Labrador blogs that my back hurts and my eyes are tired from sitting at the computer for hours. This being said, … Read more
I grew up dabbling with landlocked salmon in New Hampshire. It was a big deal when we caught one. They were small too but it was a celebrated event. Wow, if only I knew what incredible landlocked salmon days were coming my way some 50 years later. Last time here at McKenzie River Lodge in … Read more
The trip is winding down. Man these adventures go fast. You book them years out and then in a blink of an eye, they’re over. Today was the second to last day here at McKenzie River Lodge here in Labrador. On this day it’s a tradition here to fish a morning session then take the … Read more
On the complete other side of Andre Lake here in Labrador, the lake McKenzie River Lodge is based on, is the Come Back River. It’s a long 1 hour and 15 minute crossing and can only be done when the wind allows. After yesterdays gales, today calmed enough for Norm and I to go for … Read more
It was a cold night at McKenzie River Lodge up in the north of Labrador. Yesterday’s rain subsided during the night but then the temperatures dipped down into the upper 30ºs. Each cabin has a woodstove but Norm and I didn’t light ours. There are extra blankets in the room. Lucky for this baby snowshoe … Read more
The rain came down hard during the wee hours this morning here in the boonies of Labrador at McKenzie River Lodge. And it didn’t let up for fishing. Norm and I wore our rain jackets to get from our cabin to the kitchen for breakfast and we wadered up in our room. Complete with boots … Read more
Nothing like the first day of a trip at an epic fishing destination. McKenzie River Lodge here in Labrador more than qualifies. I rigged my Winston 5-weight for dries and a 6-weight for streamers last night. Our guides for the week also tweaked our wading shoes by adding studs to them. The river rocks here … Read more
I made a late departure from Hayward, WI yesterday afternoon via my 1991 Explorer for Duluth, MN. From there I caught a 4 pm flight for Minneapolis and then an 8 pm flight for Montreal, Quebec. I arrived in Canada at midnight and quietly snuck into an airport hotel around 1 am without waking up … Read more
I leave for Labrador tomorrow and am not back until August 10th. I’ve already been gone most of my Wisconsin fishing season. Although my excursions away have been awesome, I am craving more smallmouth bass days. The worst part about me being away a ton this season is that Granny doesn’t fish when I’m … Read more
After a fabulous and successful “Fishing for the Fight” event, the opportunity to stay an extra day and fish the Nunya River, one of my favorites for over 30 years, came about. I took the opportunity. Furthermore, what truly made the day spectacular was that I floated it with a couple of my oldest and … Read more