Stained and rotting snowbanks. Sideways rain that wants to turn to snow. Grey skies. Roads bleached with salt. Green and brown patches of snowplow scarred lawn start to show beneath the snow on the edges of driveways and parking lots. Mud season is coming fast. Just about here.  And not one of us in “The Real Upstate New York” are immune to the dullness of the local landscape and the ensuing mild depression that results. We are coming to the end of one of the longest ice fishing seasons we have had in years here in Upstate New York. It is not over (in factRead More →

The years seem to go by like yesterdays. When the age of 50 hits it requires me to sit down and think about life a little bit. A lot of bit in fact. The year 2022 marks my 19th year leading others in pursuit of fish and game as a licensed guide. Vibrant and vivid memories of all the nice people and beautiful places I have known in nearly two decades of professional guiding come to my mind. It is easy for me to get lost in reflecting on memories of seasons past. I become overwhelmed with happiness and satisfaction. What stands out most, besidesRead More →

The ultra-light spinning outfits were gone. We backtracked, scanned the roadside, but were unable to recover the rods. Without dwelling on my mishap, too much, we turned the truck around and headed north. Losing two rods before we get to the river is not a great way to start a trip. We crossed the Blue Line on NYS Rt #3 at 0800 hrs and arrived in Childwold to meet Butch at 0855. About 15 minutes behind schedule. The skies were bright blue and cloudless on the first day of our trip. At 0930 we made our way to the take-out where I would leave myRead More →