The Big Chill!!

With the cold and snow across the region, fishing has pretty much shut down for the time being. Good time to switch gears and try for some waterfowl. Although most of Sandusky Bay is frozen, there are scattered open patches of water that will attract puddle ducks and geese. A few decoys are all that is needed to attract birds under these conditions. Just be sure to dress warm so you can wait them out!

Fly Fishing Loses a Great Friend

The fly fishing community as a whole and the Midwest area, in particular, lost a great friend recently with the passing of Tom Helgeson on November 12, 2010. Tom was Editor-In-Chief of Midwest Fly Fishing magazine, a wonderful publication that focused on fly fishing throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes area. Tom also ran the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expos in Chicago and Minneapolis.

Helgeson was an active steward of the environment and preserving the resources of the region. He had a passion for educating anglers and bringing young blood into the sport of fly fishing. It was my pleasure and honor to have known Tom and worked with him for many years. He will be missed by all.

Fly Fishing Southern Lake Michigan

JD is on a search for fly fishing guides working ON the Great Lakes. Recently he was able to hook up with Capt. Austin Adduci of Grab Your Fly Charters. Capt. Austin works the south end of Lake MI and does a season-long program that covers both warm water and cold water. He starts at ice-out in the spring and can work until freeze up. One of the unique species he targets is late-season lake trout. Not many places where you can cast a fly to lakers without going way-way north and spending beaucoup dinero.

Capt. A runs a Maverick flats skiff on the lake and will will offer float trips for smallies when the lake is too rough. Great guy, give him a shout!

Silver Bullet

This just-from-the-lake chromer has all the characteristics of a wild fish- lean, mean, and clean. All the fins are sharp and crisp with no deformities. Stream-born steelhead are available in all the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie, where several Ontario and New York tributaries support substantial natural reproduction.

This fish taped 28 inches and found its way into Ohio's Grand River where it hit a swung grapefruit head purple rabbit tube.

Good Moon Rising

Here is the moon rise over the breakwall at Kewaunee, WI, harbor from a recent stop there. It was too windy to fish, so did a little tourist stuff instead.

Brown Town

Got a chance to fish with dog friend, Dave Pinchcowski near his home base in Milwaukee, WI. The WI shoreline of Lake Michigan has turned into brown trout mecca. When baitfish are not available, the browns will munch on gobies. This fish hit a classic Feenstra Emulator sculpin pattern while swinging a two-hander in a power plant discharge