When I was a kid my time spent chasing migratory trout was limited, not due to any lack of want, but more a lack of knowledge. Not knowing the when, where and how kept me off the water during crucial times of the year. That doesn’t mean that limited time wasn’t great; some of my … Continue reading The Pursuit of Happiness and Migratory Trout
A Question of Sanity
The moment was not brief, as I stood beside the truck and questioned my mental state. It was also not the first time I’d done so. Who in their right mind would leave the comfort and warmth of their own home to stand riverside in the pre-dawn darkness and sub-zero temperatures? No one. No one … Continue reading A Question of Sanity
The Ultimate Fish Catcher
Fishermen love to talk fishing. Most are opinionated people so it really didn’t surprise me that when the topic of the ultimate lure came up the other day, everyone had a different answer. From cranks to jerkbaits, tubes to swimbaits everyone had a favorite and I listened intently to the reasoning behind each one. None … Continue reading The Ultimate Fish Catcher
#keepemwet
Well the trout opener here in Ontario has come and gone and the rivers have been inundated with anglers itching to do some open water fishing. I’d like to be that stand up guy and say how nice it is to see people getting out on the water, taking in the great past time that … Continue reading #keepemwet
The Opener
As a kid, the night before resulted in a serious lack of sleep. It was my Christmas Eve. The trout opener was just about as exciting as it got. The unofficial end to a long cold winter and the official start of open water fishing. Anticipation wasn’t only for the day to come but the … Continue reading The Opener
Size Doesn’t Matter
Size doesn’t matter. I’m sure it’s a phrase we’ve all heard. I’ve desperately wanted this to be true. For years, I’ve told myself that it is true. I’ve even tried to convince my friends that its true. I don’t know if I ever had them convinced or if they were simply amusing me just to … Continue reading Size Doesn’t Matter
Bring on February
January is coming to a close. Surprisingly enough for a guy who absolutely loves winter steelheading, I’ve spent very little time on the water. To be honest the weather has been kind of all over the place to start the winter off. December cold snaps and what seemed like an unbelievable amount of early snow … Continue reading Bring on February
Ghosts of Steelhead Past
It’s a short list of fish that haunt my dreams, but it’s a list none the less. As fishermen we all have tales of the one that got away, but this is different. These are fish that when I close my eyes I envision. I awake in a cold sweat in the middle of the … Continue reading Ghosts of Steelhead Past
The Centerpin Revolution
This article was originally published in Great Lakes Angler Magazine The head shakes reverberated through the rod, into my arm and deep into my shoulder. It was a good fish and I was losing control of it. Too much pressure; not enough pressure; the reel slipped through my fingers as I struggled to find a … Continue reading The Centerpin Revolution
Steelheading Kryptonite
There is a strong possibility that I have found my steelheading kryptonite. You see, for research purposes I’m spending a fall, if not more, experimenting with color. I’ve been going completely scent free, focusing on the fact that steelhead are primarily sight feeders. It led me to using beads; a lot of beads. In fact … Continue reading Steelheading Kryptonite