Living Large In The Great Outdoors

Golden Eagle Souring

Letting Nature Take its Course

The destination is in the imagination, out there beside the flowing rage of H2O where below lurks the prey. A puzzle to figure out; sometimes with missing pieces and no directions to follow! You stand there bewildered with the mountains as your back drop and Golden Eagles soaring above searching. Nature in its entire splendor and glory! Memories are made here and sweet stories are told for many decades. Friendships are forged for life all for the love of trout, or any fish for that matter. For me it’s brown or silver in color and has many spots, spots and colors of red’s and purple’s, browns and yellows with red halos. Hours and hours have passed as I walk up and down the river excursing my muscles and my will to succeed. For myself, there is nothing like the connecting to a large river trout that puts up more of a fight then most MMA combatants. The heavy weight trout of the river hungry for what swims past their lie is the reason, spring, summer, fall and winter the season.

All fish aside, camp coffee and bon fires along the rocky shoreline are hard to beat. Gazing up at the stars on a clear warm night; listening to the fire crackling beside you and watching falling stars until the late hours of the evening. Telling fish stories until you’re too tired to keep your eyes open any longer. It is like the world is shut off somehow and nothing matters anymore, time seems to stand still. What is it about exploring the unknown that ignites the soul deep within us; the flame burning wild and free inside me! This summer promises all the same as the seasons that have passed; many trips on the river and new friends made. Fish brought to the boat and released back into nature where they belong. Long summer nights of sunshine and warm weather, sure wish I could fast forward the clock a few months.

Until then I shall enjoy Mother Nature’s simple pleasures, her cool winter chill and her splendid rewards taken from just outside my back yard. Whether it is with your mother, brother or significant other, please be safe out there and enjoy what nature has to offer you.

See you outside!

Calgary Boat and Sportsman Show 2013

The 2013 Calgary Boat and Sportsman Show

That’s a RAP

Once again the Calgary Boat and Sportsman’s show is in the books. Each and every year I go down to network with all my fishing friends from all over Canada. This time I decided it was daddy/daughter day to mosey on down and network. I took my daughter over to see Steve Gower who is the Western Canadian Rapala Representative. We stayed and chatted with Steve for quite some time as I usually do, then Steve reached into his box of goodies and presented my 4 year old with a black Rapala hat. She was a little shy at first with Steve, but soon warmed up and was posing for pictures for me. We finished with Steve and walked over to my friends from B.C. at Serengeti Fishing Charters to shake hands and trade stories from the 2012 fishing season. Heather, the mother was so good to my daughter talking to her and even brought her over to pet some puppies across from their booth. It’s funny how I am so protective of my daughter, but in the fishing community it’s a whole different story!

My daughter and I stayed and chatted with Heather and David Senior before leaving for the Crestliner booth to visit my old high school friend Cory. Unfortunately Cory was away from the booth and we never got a chance to visit with him. So onward we went sitting on boats and other cool toys that were on display. My daughter loves boats and wanted to sit on each and every one of them. I would prop her up and take her picture on as many as I could before my phone was so low that the camera would not open. We had such a great time and were blessed to chat and network with so many great fishing folks.

I was looking to inquire about setting up my own booth for next year and found out the information I was looking for. I could not believe it was only 1000.00 for a booth at the show. Next year I will set up shop there and hope to see you all down at the show next year. Until then, here is hoping I see you out on the river this year in the boat on an extreme guided fishing trip.

Mild Winter Weather Temptations

The-winter-sun-sets-on-the-Bow-River

Winter fishing at it’s finest

Well now that the holidays are over and all the stress of Christmas shopping is past; it was a much needed break to fish the river the past few weeks. The sun broke free of the snowy clouds and we finally came out of those freezing -20 temperatures. I was away from the river for two weeks so it is always a mind bender to figure out where on the river I am going to fish first. It is a challenge for me to know exactly where the fish are when the cold has kept me away; but there are always certain starting points I will look to first. I love to fish deep water and also water that has a finer gravel bottom, by floating the river all summer and really getting to know its prime locations, I surly have an upper hand on those fair-weather weekend warriors. Before I left the house I organized the tackle tray’s and made sure I had fresh line spooled up on my new Pflueger President spinning reel I received in the mail just before Christmas break, I kind of bought myself a Christmas present this year.

As I stepped out of the car the wind whistled blowing snow across the field, the snow eater winds we call Chinooks that blow hot air down you parka and visions into your mind. I arrived on the river bank with the wind behind my back; which made for much longer creating distances. The lure almost flew as if it had wings and landed far over almost touching the opposite bank. The longer the cast the better the odds right, right! I snapped the bail wire shut and began to retrieve in anticipation, slowly retrieving my Rapala Countdown and letting it make bottom contact every so often. Continue reading

Give The Gift Of A Bow River Guided Spin Fishing Trip This Christmas

Santa goes fishing this charistmas

Tis the season

Happy holidays friends. This is a post to let you all know I want to wish each and every one a joyful Christmas season. I would like to inform you that I will be offering a Christmas special this year for all the fisherman/women in your household. If you purchase a full price (425.00) Guided fishing trip for the 2013 season, I would like to offer you’re a 50.00 discount on the cost of the trip. This offer will run until December 31, 2012 and is good for one (1) five hour guided fishing trip on the lower bow river.

I understand times are tough these days and buying a fishing trip for your loved one might be a little steep, so I will also be offering gift certificates in 100.00 increments. For those who have already been on this guided fishing trip, you know how fun your time out on the river is. For those that are new or sitting on the fence about a guided fishing trip; now is your chance to get out with me and get into some bruiser trout come spring.

If you decide that this is the perfect stocking stuffer for you, please click the Purchase Gift Certificate PayPal button. If you would like me to send you an email with a picture of the gift certificate, I will be happy to do that for you. If you are wanting the 50.00 discount on the regular priced trip, please send me a message via the contact form in the upper right hand corner of the Blog, I will then send you a request to pay for your trip via PayPal.

Looking forward to seeing you all this spring!

Happy holidays

~Mike.