It was as American as a beer-filled pontoon parked on a sandbar. It helps that it was the weekend of the Fourth of July, too. And that’s how Minnesotans do it. We all have a cabin or know someone who does. So when work wraps up on Friday, we all head North. Cabin traffic is a thing ’round these parts, especially on holiday weekends. My … Continue reading Fourth Weekend
When you have a cabin within 90 minutes of home, you need to escape to the lake as often as possible. That was my parents’ belief when I was younger. Sounds great now, but when you’re forced to go to your cabin every weekend of your youth, it wasn’t. Angsty teenage years when all I wanted to do was go to a mall with the … Continue reading Cabin Weekend
I bought Audra a Wisconsin fishing license online without her knowing it. It wasn’t my proudest moment, but I live life with no regrets. Well, she kind of knew because she handed me her drivers license and told me her social security number, but the payment, that was all me and she was in the other room when I did it so I’m considering this … Continue reading It Might Be Illegal
February isn’t typically a fun month to fly fish. Rivers are quiet, yes, but it’s usually cold, rivers are lined with ice, snow could turn to rain whenever it damn well pleases, and there’s always a risk of your reel freezing. Fish are generally sluggish, as well, as hatches are few and far between, save for sporadic midges climbing mounds of snow like first ascents. … Continue reading February Shouldn’t Be Like This
At a certain point, I lost count of the times something didn’t go right. Navigating three feet of powder on a mountain side with cross-country skis strapped to numb feet seven miles from the nearest road; losing footing while trying to cross a river in waist-deep, snowmelt raging water; finishing your last water bottle in 104F heat 17 miles from the car on a bike. You … Continue reading Get Uncomfortable
The best trips happen spontaneously. No planning require. Get in the car and go. That, at least, is how we feel. Two weeks before heading west, I had an idea. I’ve never been to Utah and I needed to use some PTO. Yeah, let’s go to Utah. After some quick research, it would take too much time to drive all the way out there. What’s … Continue reading Wyoming and Back
We all need time spent in the place that gives us energy. The place that replenishes drive, creativity and inner peace. Introverts crave time alone. Those who love the outdoors crave fresh air and living things. As an introverted outdoors-lover, I crave solitary time where the trees move in the breeze and the rivers flow with a determination unchanged in 10,000 years. My need for recharging … Continue reading Rush to Recharge
A guy can excuse himself from writing in his blog, right? Because that’s what I’m doing. A lot has happened since April. Professionally, I left my job at the ad agency for a position as the marketing manager at a menswear company in Minneapolis. It’s my dream job. I went from managing social media strategy at an agency to leading marketing for a brand. I … Continue reading Where I’ve Been
When you’ve got a mean case of stircraziness, any chance to get outside is an opportunity you seize. (Yes, I know that stircraziness isn’t a real word, but if you felt it, you’d understand.) So we made a plan to head east on I94 and fish the Rush River. It’s been warm around here lately. Spring is slowly showing its lovely face. Days have been … Continue reading Winter Trout
When you spend a full winter without a fish on the line, you can understand why I would question if bringing my fishing gear to Montana is worth it. My trip was meant for skiing and breweries. Adding waders, rods and reels, a net, boots and fish food to a compact car full of three people (including myself) and ski gear wasn’t on a list … Continue reading Winter on the Gallatin
Birch & Flannel 