A Peaceful Morning on Superior

Granny and I made a major scouting trip yesterday looking at lakes, rivers and places to camp for the future.  Our fun day ended with dinner in Bayfield and we slept in the back of the Exploder on the banks of Lake Superior.   This morning we awoke to drizzle but also amazing calmness on … Read more

Itching an Urge to Trout Fish Near Home

I had a lot of work to catch up on over the weekend and by around 8 PM last night I was 99% done.  This morning I woke up incredibly early – 4:22 AM early to be exact – and I got up and enjoyed the birds while inventing things to do.  I worked on … Read more

Beat the Heat!

I was a little groggy when the robins were singing at 4 AM.  I rolled over a few extra times before finally making the coffee at exactly 4:45.  Heck, I fished till 10 last night then didn’t get to sleep till midnight.  But today’s forecast was for another brutally hot one so it was important … Read more

A Spur of the Moment Evening Float

When Granny and I made our move to Wisconsin official, it was amazing how many local fly fishers reached out and welcomed us.  We got advice on places to fish, some folks offered to take us fishing, and Stu Neville, owner of the Hayward Fly Fishing Company, Stu offered to promote my art, sell my … Read more

Always Wet a Line on the Longest Day of the Year

Its hot here in northern Wisconsin.  I’m mean like really hot.  Temps have been in the mid to high 80°s since I got home from Arkansas Monday.  While Granny and I wanted to take out our new Striker raft and float a river on today’s summer solstice, a full “longest day of the year” roasting … Read more

Dreams of a Repeat!

It was a busy Saturday on the famous White River of Arkansas.  You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day.  The cold river flowing from below the Bull Shoals Dam created a thin layer of fog.  The temperature began comfortably cool. As you would expect, everyone from anglers to sightseers to kayakers wanted their piece … Read more

Celebrating Gold on the White River in Arkansas

As you may know, I’ve had the good fortune of fishing on the USA Masters Fly Fishing Team.  Last year, Bret Bishop, Pete Erickson, Loren Williams, Mike Sexton and I took home the Gold Medals in Italy.  None of this could have happened without our generous friend and sponsor, Jerry Arnold.  Jerry has been covering … Read more

When the River Shuttle Goes Wrong

Granny and I broke out our new Outcast Striker Raft again today for an early morning float.  We left last night and did our shuttle leaving Granny’s car at the boat ramp.  We took my car and the raft to the boat launch and slept in the Exploder.  We woke up at 5 AM and … Read more

Cold Front and Wind Prohibit Return to Lake Superior

Dreadful weather moved in last night.  I could feel the temperature drop while sleeping in my van.  Then the drizzle started followed by gale wind.  By the time college pals Howie, Mike, Mark and I were ready to head for Lake Superior for our second day we got word there was a small craft warning … Read more

Good Times But Bad Fishing on the Bad

I’m lucky I’m still friends with many of my college buddies.  We all met in 1983 studying in Wisconsin at Northland College and managed to stay in touch all these years.  About eight of us are like brothers.  Today Howie, Mike Neuman and Mark Reiser met up for the first time in a while and … Read more

A Fun Day Thanks to Science on the Fly

If you aren’t yet familiar with Science on the Fly let me help.  Science on the Fly is an organization founded by the Woodwell Climate Research center and Fishpond.  They seek to further our understandings of changing watersheds around the world through long term, world-class river science.  They strive for cold water, clean rivers, healthy … Read more

Our New Boat the Striker Outcast Raft

One of the luckiest things during our big move across country from Idaho to Wisconsin was that I was unable to sell our drift boat before leaving.  This led to a dreaded drive across country with the ancient baby-blue Slide Rite on an old rusty and cracked trailer behind a 1991 stick shift Exploder.  But … Read more