The Best Grayling Day of Our Lives

The morning was a cold and only in the mid 30°s.  It was obviously we were going to get smacked with bad weather once again here in the north of Manitoba at the Gangler’s Courage Lake Tundra Outpost.  The clouds above were thick and the wind shifted from south east to the north overnight.  The … Read more

We Finally Made it to Courage Lake!

We suspected before it was even a real day that today would be the day we finally made it to Courage Lake.  At 1:15 am I woke up and looked outside.  It was clear and the greenish beams of the Northern Lights were jumping.  I woke Granny and we sped down to the Gangler’s Lodge … Read more

A Tundra Curse

Well so much for the weather looking excellent for today here at Gangler’s.  At around 5 AM it started again – rain.  And it was heavy and though it stopped around 7 AM, we were socked in bad and it was evident we weren’t flying to Courage Lake in the tundra anytime soon.   Granny … Read more

Postponed Again Leads to Long Lake Trout

If you’ve followed this blog for a number of years than you’re aware I have a horrific track record when it comes to flight travel and weather.  Today was day three for trying to get from Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge up to Courage Lake on the tundra.  Saturday we got delayed out of Winnipeg … Read more

A Great Day Fishing Despite Weather Changing Plans

We awoke to the freshest air imaginable.  Air quality rating was 1.  One!  Canada wildfire smoke got blown far south of Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge here in northern Manitoba overnight.  Morning light crept through the windows of our cabin at 6 am and Granny and I were so excited to be flying to the … Read more

Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge Trip Begins

It’s been a fantastic little visit here in the Winnipeg, Manitoba area fly fishing for huge channel catfish on the Red River with my longtime pal Stu Thompson and camping at Bird Hill Park with Granny, but today the main reason for our Manitoba visit commenced.  We are here to fish Gangler’s North Seal River … Read more

A Few More Cats Before Gangler’s Time

Granny and I had a good sleep in the van at the Bird Hill Park north of Winnipeg, Manitoba.  I pressed coffee early and caught up on email and wrote the blog for yesterday.  Then we headed back to Lockport to meet Stu Thompson for another day of fishing on the Red River.   While … Read more

Stu Thompson – Master of Channel Catfish on Fly

Granny and I got an early start today departing our gorgeous little Minnesota campsite around 7 AM shortly after daylight.  We eased our way along the MN border with Canada and finally made our crossing six miles north of Warroad in to Manitoba.  The reason for this trip is eight days of fishing for northern … Read more

Manitoba Bound

A long awaited trip commenced today.  Granny and I began our journey to Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge in the far north of Manitoba.  But we didn’t start by plane.  I recently discovered that it’s a 7 hour drive from Hayward, Wisconsin to Winnipeg, Manitoba so we left a few days early in the Ruby … Read more

One More Crack at Chequamegon Bay Smallies

Granny and I are headed for Canada on Tuesday for ten days of fishing ranging from Red River catfish around Winnipeg to huge pike and lake trout up at Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge in Manitoba.  It’s a trip we’ve been looking forward to all year and its finally around the corner.  Being I won’t … Read more

Fly Fishing for Redhorse

Aug 22-24, 2023 I’ve fished an insane amount this summer and have a packed fishing schedule the next three months that includes two trips to Canada starting next Tuesday, Mexico in October and Borneo in November/December.  Surely, this week I’d buckle down and catch up on work.  Perhaps life?  But then the forecast came.  A … Read more

Fishing or Work?

Every so often I over do it with fishing and not getting my work or the basics of life done.  I’m in the dust this time and once you fall this far behind you need to decide, fish or write long detailed blogs.  I chose fishing so today blog is short.   Bob and I … Read more