Looks like a fishing mission but no, it’s the start of the 2024/25 speaking tour. Tomorrow night I’m presenting “Trout Bumming the Lakes in and Around Yellowstone” in Spokane, WA to Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club. Then Wednesday night its “Streamer Tactics for More and Bigger Trout” for the Spokane Fly Fishers. My flight departs … Read more
We experienced a drastic temperature drop the last 24 hours. It plummeted enough that Bob Butler and I put down our smallmouth 6-weight rigs and broke out the 9-weights. I put on an SA Toothy Predator leader and clipped in a big black Brush Fly that goes with on giant trevally trips. We went prowling … Read more
Matt (Howie) Norton and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to chase smallmouth bass on Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior. The morning was cool and crisp and as the sun rose so did the thermometer. But it never got too hot. The thermometer touched the low 70°s and there was a refreshing … Read more
Labor Day weekend always triggers a little stress in my life. First and foremost, my summer fishing feels like its going away. Its really not. The best is yet to come with fall. But it’s a natural instinct I can’t control. Then there’s the approaching show season. While the tour always goes well, the preparation … Read more
Early morning departures for fishing aren’t so early anymore. I had an old college buddy, Danny Zilker, swing through Hayward for about 20 hours. The short visit consisted of a nice dinner with beers at the Anglers Bar last night and today a full day on the water. We left my house in darkness to … Read more
Mom’s surgery went well and I’m happy to say I returned home from New Hampshire this weekend. Mom is 82 and needed her carotid artery cleaned out. Too many whoopie pies I’m afraid! Having such a surgery at 80+ is risky. Lucky for us, mom is a healthy active 82 year old and the doctor … Read more
I was wading a flat at Cosmoledo Atoll in the Seychelles during November 2021 and found myself fighting a large bonefish. As the bone tired and I had him near, not one, but two Indo-Pacific permit showed up attempting to steal my fly right from the bonefishes mouth. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Naturally I’d … Read more
Indeed it was an outstanding trip to the flats of Texas. But I love it all. I could not wait to get back on the Wisconsin smallies and I didn’t delay. After a couple days catching up on things, Granny and I headed out on a three day two night float trip with Bob and … Read more
It’s been quite a week here in Texas. Thank goodness I took Brian Iannacchione’s offer to join him with longtime friend and guide extraordinaire, Jako Lucas. The fishing this week has been a true eyeopener. I’ve seen great jack crevalle fishing, bull redfish like never before and had some fun on the flats. Both … Read more
I was a little groggy this morning for no particular reason. Then I realized it was August 1. This is when it always hits me. I’ve been up early and fishing hard through the extra-long days for three months straight. They don’t call August the dog days for nothing. I could have easily laid back … Read more
I’ll never forget the first jack crevalle I caught. It was April of 1989 in Belize. The fish was part of a marauding school of crevalle a few miles up in the brackish waters of the Sibun River. I’d not seen such carnage. I remember the cast, the startling smash on my orange Tarpon Glow … Read more
Last November I was invited by once Seychelles client now good friend, Brian Iannacchione, to join him in Texas to saltwater fly fish with another friend, legendary South African now American and world renown fishing guide, Jako Lucas. As much as I wanted to join these buddies, I knew it was during peak smallmouth bass … Read more