It wasn’t worth speeding and fishtailing treacherously down the dusty roads of Idaho like it was our first time fly fishing for huge carp. Today’s Blackfoot Reservoir trip wasn’t only my most humbling carp day ever but also the most strenuous hiking and fishing day of the year. That’s saying a lot after Tuesday. … Read more
September 8-9, 2015 The drastic slam-dunk of fall weather that hit me while up in Montana this past weekend put a fire under me to get out fishing and camping. The last camping Granny did was with my nieces and her last cast was over a month ago in Labrador. Monday night as the Cubs … Read more
September 4-5, 2015 Four months ago I was contacted by the Madison River Foundation about presenting “Four Seasons of the Yellowstone Trout Bum” for ‘Ennis on the Madison’ Fly Fishing Festival held annually in Ennis, Montana. I’m home for a change with a break between events. I considered saving the time for fishing but this is … Read more
I finally got out with my longtime friend and blog regular of past years, Gary Eckman. Gary is the man responsible for me giving the chance to fish the Jackson Hole One Fly the last five years because he’s placed me on his team. But this year Gary doesn’t have a One Fly Team for … Read more
Say the word reservoir to a trout fly fishermen and they run for cover like cutthroat in the radar of an osprey. Mention furthermore that the reservoir is only 33% full and they envision a dried up cracked earth desert. Personally, I love fly fishing the reservoirs simply because I know I’ll have a body … Read more
At 1 PM Tim Brune and I headed for a day and half adventure over around the Henry’s Fork. Along the way I phoned my Blackfoot Reservoir Carp Classic Tournament partner Ben Smith and he was quick to join in on the fun. Ben moved to West Yellowstone this spring and guides for Trout Hunter. … Read more
The forecast wasn’t great going into Monday night for my brother Greg and his family’s visit. A drop from the 80°s to the low 60°s was predicted in Jackson, Wyoming for Tuesday and Wednesday. That means even colder at our family-favorite camping spot up the Gros Ventre River. And the forecast didn’t lie. For the … Read more
With the plane not coming till midafternoon to return Granny and me back to society there was time to fish. For the first time the skies were blue in every direction and there was no wind. The joke here at McKenzie River Lodge was that today was THE day of summer. After breakfast Andrew (I … Read more
With so many brook trout of dreams this week, today, our last day, was all about ouananiche, better known as landlocked salmon. Paul Ostiguy, owner of McKenzie River Lodge, our friend and the man responsible for bringing Granny and me to Labrador was able to join us on the quest. This was fitting because Paul’s favorite … Read more
On a brutally cold morning for August, even up here in Northern Labrador, Andrew, Granny and I and Ninja Média’ man alias Bill made our way back up Andre Lake from McKenzie River Lodge to the Come Back River. The boat ride to the Come Back is much longer than yesterdays, pushing 1 hr 20 … Read more
It started out cold and drizzly for our twenty minute boat ride half way up Andre Lake this morning to where we anchored our canoe at the mouth of the Quartzite River. The ride speaks of how deep in the wilderness in Northern Labrador we are. There are no houses or any signs of man … Read more
It was a gnarly storm through the night. Heavy rain pummeled our cabin at McKenzie River Lodge and wind shook the walls. Granny got up at 2 AM for something and I heard her mumble, “I’m not fishing in this crap”. I’m not sure anyone would’ve but to our good fortune at 4 AM the storm … Read more