The man who helped Granny and I with this move to Wisconsin more than anyone was my old Northland College roommate Matt (Howie) Norton. In the process Howie and I talked often about how much fishing we’d be doing once I got here. But since officially moving here on May 9th, we have fished together … Read more
1987, my first year working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop, was a good one. At the end of the season Jack had a cancellation on a “Fly up to the Bighorn River in Montana” for two guided fishing days. The trip was fully paid for and the customer that cancelled told Jack to have … Read more
One of the many great things about being in the fly fishing industry for nearly 40 years are my affiliations with the top anglers, guides and companies. As Granny and I made our way towards Lake Michigan yesterday, I rang my friend Joe Wolthuis at Scientific Anglers. SA is based in MI so I figured … Read more
Today was the walleye fishing day on the Columbia River we were hoping for. We woke up to sunshine and the warmest temps of the week. It was at least mid-40°s at sunrise and it went up fast from there. Though the clouds would move back in throughout the day, our high would reach 57°. … Read more
I almost always do my last New Hampshire Lake Winnipesaukee smallmouth bass fishing session alone. Its much more than a fishing morning. I reflect on the trip and go much deeper than that. I reminisce on my entire fishing life. It all started here. More than 50 years ago I was in this same Old Town … Read more
The wind keeps on tormenting canoe fishing here in Wolfeboro, NH. It is so unusual to have it cranking at 5 AM but it has been and today was no different. I took out my nephew Eli who’s in love with fly fishing to enjoy a morning of nice smallies. Unfortunately the wind made it … Read more
It’s wonderful that the US is close to putting the pandemic in the rearview mirror but I already miss flying on half empty planes. Last week my flights to Memphis were packed and crossing the country Tuesday was like the old days of crowded airports and one or two dip ****s holding up departure because … Read more
That was one heck of a June. It ended Wednesday morning with one last smallmouth jaunt at 5 AM on Lake Winnipesaukee. I caught two but it was much slower than when I arrived due to warm water temps from all the heat over the last two weeks. Yea, I missed out on the … Read more
4 AM comes fast in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire when you haven’t adjusted yet from MST time. Therefore my fishing partner in crime today, Granny, was out for heading on a smallie feast with poppers early this morning. In fact, the 4 AM departure yesterday was too much for everyone except for Montana. So it was … Read more
For the third morning in a row I woke up feeling great despite this week being a reunion on Lake Mille Lacs in Minnesota with some old Northland College pals. A group that when we get together have been known to get a little wild after a good day of fishing. But we were thrilled … Read more
July 18 & 19 When I’m camping and I don’t wake up in the back of my Explorer but rather outside on top of a picnic table, this usually means I’m at least a few hours from home and a friend did the driving with his car. That’s exactly the scenario these last two days. … Read more
I heard the first bird chirp and sat up in my sleeping bag on the camps porch and looked out across the lake and Wolfeboro Bay. The sight was stunning with amazing pink skies and absolutely no wind. It was a mere 4:10 AM but things were perfect to start fishing. Unfortunately, last night I … Read more