Wild Smallie

Jimmy Buffett, you will be missed

Jimmy Buffett, you will be missed

The fish cleaning shack at Tikchik Narrows Lodge was a great place.  Late afternoons would see the planes return to the lodge, and salmon that had been retained were loaded into wheel barrows to be processed by us fish guides in the shack. It was always cool in there,...

Who Wants a Beer?

Who Wants a Beer?

  What’s better than a beer?  Free beer? How about a surprise free beer?  Like there you are, minding your own business.  You might be a little hot, a little thirsty. Suddenly, without warning, you are presented with a beer.  Maybe you are at a friend or relative’s...

Fishing Shows

Fishing Shows

I have been hooked on watching fishing shows since I was a little kid.  To really illustrate this, let’s go back to winter, 1975.  On a Saturday morning, my mom announced that the family was going to go to a movie, it was the new Mel Brooks film, “Young...

Dangerous Journey

Dangerous Journey

We’ve got crows back at home.  In my town we see them every day.  Sometimes solo, sometimes in a group.  I am well aware that a group of crows is referred to as a “murder” but despite this ominous label, they’re pretty shy and generally fly away at the first sign of...

Learn the Lingo

Learn the Lingo

The lingo.  The jargon.  The nomenclature.  Seems like every group of guys has their own dictionary of words, phrases and coded language that is specific to them, and you’d better learn it if you don’t want to feel like an outsider. Try this sentence: “Something just...

Slipped a Mickey

Slipped a Mickey

If you were going to head onto the trout stream with one fly, what would it be? Most would choose something safe, like a hare's ear, pheasant tail, scud.  A woolly bugger would be a good bet.  Dry fly snobs would likely pick an Adams.  I got it in my head the other...

Who Moved My Trout?

Who Moved My Trout?

Last week I headed across the border for the first trout session of the year.  I’m glad to be getting out, but lacking the usual amount of anticipation.  Typically on the first trip of the year I head to the “K” River and do a milk run of easy spots, usually catch a...

Sea Monsters

Sea Monsters

 I've seen every documentary about the Loch Ness monster and all of his cousins ever made.  Shows about "Champ" from Lake Champlain or "Ogopogo" from Okanagan Lake in British Columbia will always get me to watch.  There is even the legend of "Peppie" from Lake Pepin...

One Particular River

One Particular River

This was going to be the first year that I did not buy a Wisconsin non-resident fishing license. All of the Covid hype last spring had us convinced that while we should participate in outdoor activities, we should do so close to home.  Once my 2019 license expired in...

Stick to the Plan

Stick to the Plan

The best moment of my life?  Well of course it would have to be when I was wedded to my beautiful wife.  We were on a beach on Captiva Island in Florida.  We said our vows just before sunset, and all who were there agreed it was a perfect ceremony.  Of course, the...