I couldn’t wait to get back from Italy to once and for all start exploring the new waters around our Hayward, WI home. Yeah, I hit the water some before I left for Italy, but I felt obligated to trout fish to be well tuned for the Worlds. Once back I could do whatever fishing … Read more
I for sure know folks read the blog after the last couple days. I got quiet since coming home from Italy and I’ve received a few concerned emails. No need to worry – the blog will go on! While I knew I wouldn’t run out fishing for a few days after fishing the World’s, … Read more
I’m alive. Since I started the blog in October of 2009 I have never gone so far behind in my daily fishing stories. And even so, my routine is to pick up right where I left off once there’s time, which in this case would be an entry for July 12. And it will come. … Read more
Sleep was hard to come by last night. Today our USA Masters Fly Fishing team entered the last session of the competition in first place by one point over the Belgians, seven over the Czechs and nine over the Italians. Yeah, things looked good for a medal, but all we wanted was Gold. Over forty … Read more
We, Team USA woke up today in first place in the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships with room to spare. But we were determined to get out there in Session 4 and kick butt and grow a stronger lead. But we felt stress – I certainly did. And I know this team. We’re tight and … Read more
5 AM came quick. Currently its day three of the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships. I headed for the feared Noce River. While both sections of the Noce, the Upper and Lower have skunked more competitors than any of the three rivers, the Lower is by far the toughest. Its where Loren blanked yesterday. I … Read more
In 2003 I was on Team USA at one of the biggest World Championships. It was in Jaca, Spain. A rare thing happened for me. All five of my sessions went nearly flawless despite some of the most difficult conditions and wisest wild brown trout in the history of the event. Our Team finished 8th … Read more
The 5 AM alarm I set wasn’t a welcome sound to Pete and I went it blazed off. But each of us and the rest of Team USA had buses to catch at 6:15 AM to head for Session One in the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships here in Italy. It wasn’t only us that … Read more
Today was registration day and the start of the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships here at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. Though Stefano offered to guide us fishing this morning, everyone opted to make today a rest day and a day to tidy up the tackle to be ready for the first session tomorrow. Pete, Stefano … Read more
It wouldn’t have hurt to have spent the final day of World Masters Fly Fishing practice organizing our stuff rather than fishing. At least Pete and I that is, being today was our eighth fishing day in a row. Quite frankly, we’re a little worn out. Our tippet, fly boxes, empty floatants and etc. could … Read more
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