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Individual Guide Trips/Trade a Trip (or, be featured in an article!)
A tremendous amount of travel (via my writing endeavors and my husband's career) has me scaling back on my guiding, however, if I'm not available I do my best to find a replacement.
As an outdoor writer, many of my features revolve around encouraging more female participation in the outdoors. I enjoy profiling other guides, interesting characters or techniques, outdoor adventures/events, and conservation related topics.
I diligently try to educate and inspire folks from all walks of life--male, female, young or old-- to step outside and play.
*Folks have asked me why I have expanded out to other outdoor endeavors...well, I've summed it up as best as I can; you can find my "Success in the Field (and on the water)" at the end of this page.
Trade a Trip? Here’s my “list” of outdoor activities I’d like to try. Do you partake in one of these activities? Contact me if you’d like to share the experience...we can either work out a trade-a-trip (I’ll bring you musky fishing, you bring me....) or I can try to obtain a writing assignment to feature the experience.
Outdoor Bucket List
Catch a big tarpon (have caught small ones, but I”d like to land a lunker)
Catch a big catfish (have caught small ones...)
Visit a butterfly zoo
Learn to take better outdoor photos...especially of birds, butterflies, weather, close ups of
wildlife/nature....
Visit more National Parks...especially Utah’s big 5.
Bowfishing (Have shot common carp. Would like to try the flying carp and big gator gar)
Kayak fish the canals for peacock bass, redfish, snook, etc.
Go scalloping.
Become a member of the Tyee Club (catch a 30# chinook salmon out of a rowboat)
Harvest clams and have a clam bake.
Fish for sturgeon (open water)
Rabbit hunt with a trained falcon.
Learn to scuba dive.
Visit more birding areas and sight rare or migratory birds.
Learn to actually catch sheepshead from a pier (those are elusive critters!)
Harvest soft shell (blue) crab
Fish for steelhead
Learn to identify tropical trees and flowers
Visit virgin tracts of timber (ie: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary with 700+ year old stand of cypress)
Things I’ve Already Done...but want to do again!! (So, for instance: if you know of an interesting bike trail in your area, please pass on the info...)
ATV trails in dense woodlands
3-D archery
More biking down trails
More hiking down trails
Driving my 1976 Bronco down rustic routes
Help track large game shot by bows. (One of my all time favorite things to do is to help my husband track a deer he has shot while bowhunting.
I especially like to be out in the woods after dark.)
More bog/boardwalks...enjoy wildflowers, orchids, grasses, ferns, etc.
More Canadian shield fishing for big muskies, pike, and jumbo perch.
More big striper (striped bass) fishing
Ice skate on northwoods lakes before it snows.
More surf and wade fishing
More small game hunting with my terrier (my two old terriers passed away so I guess I’ll need to welcome another dog into my life to fulfill this wish.)
More snorkeling among coral reefs.
More tennis...especially on clay courts.
More sailing
More deep sea fishing...especially for tuna—my all time FAVORITE fish to eat!
More row trolling on blustery autumn days for muskies
More snowshoeing in pristine winter landscapes
*All individually guided trips are musky fishing only.
If you are looking to fish for multi-species trips
please visit the "A Blond & Her Boat Fishing Trips" page.
Guided casting trips out of my Crestliner Fishhawk in Vilas and Oneida counties (northeast WI). Powered by a Mercury outboard, my boat sports top of the line electronics and a Minnkota trolling motor. All fishing gear is provided. For those of you new to musky fishing, I am very patient when it comes to teaching things such as throwing a baitcasting reel or netting a large fish.
Remember, when you hire a guide you are to expect an educational and entertaining day. Since I'm on the water at least five days a week, I will be able to share the current fishing patterns with you while showing you the "hot spots" on your lake. This will surely make the rest of your vacation more enjoyable.
Multi-boat packages are available. I can easily organize several guides (both in power boats or row trolling boats) to accommodate large parties.
*I also offer gift certificates for trips. Guys, this is a great present for your wife's birthday or Mother's Day. Please contact me for details.*
***Your day on the water will be especially comfortable with our Sea-View Marine Shield. My husband and I co-invented this revolutionary boat modification! It is a collapsible console with a retractable windshield. Please visit our website for information on purchasing this product: www.seaviewwindshield.com
A special note to the ladies: I have gear especially suited for a woman's smaller frame, hand size, and strength constraints. I promise you a comfortable, relaxing day on the water with no worries.
Guided row trolling trips in my 17' Guideboat
Man powered while fishing, it is outfitted with an 8 hp Mercury to motor back quickly to our rowing route. (I'm no purist!) Since it is fully equipped with trolling rods, reels, lures, planer boards, etc. all you need to do is show up with your fishing license and a PMA (positive musky attitude)!
**This is my favorite way to late fall fish. Many big walleyes and muskies suspend out in deep water this time of year. Row trolling is the perfect way to stay warm and access these fish.
For the "Top Ten Reasons to Row Troll for Muskies" check out the row trolling page on this site.
"Don't you sit upon the shore now, and say you're satisfied. Choose to chance the rapids. Dare to dance the tide."
Garth Brooks
Lakes We Fish...
I fish nearly every day during the open water season. Choice of lake that we will fish on largely depends on what type of fishing you are looking for (casting vs. row trolling, your first legal musky vs. a trophy fish, etc.). Weather conditions and current fishing patterns will also help determine lake choice. If you are vacationing at a resort and wish to get a strong foothold on the lake you will be staying on we can certainly fish there.
Here's a photo of one of my favorite customers, 86 year old Henry Frankel. One October he was getting ready to head back south for the winter and he was lamenting that he had not caught a nice sized fish yet this season. I had been having great success row trolling that week and he decided to go out with me before he left. The day was cold and extremely windy but we caught this nice 41"er only 20 minutes into the outing. When I'm 86 years old, I want to be out chasing 'skies yet, too!
Lakes I know very well:
- The Eagle River Chain of Lakes
- The Three Lakes Chain of Lakes
- North and South Twin
- Kentuck
- North Nokomis
- Lake Tomahawk
- Plum
- Star
- Long Lake (Vilas Co.)
- Buckatabons
- Seven Mile
- Lac Vieux Desert
- many small "area" lakes
Clients Should Bring...
- Positive Musky Attitude!
- Seasonally appropriate clothing (you can always take off layers)
- waterproof, warm boots if there is the slightest chance of rain or snow
- Mittens/gloves/handwarmers if it is cold out
- Rowing gloves (work gloves are fine) to keep your hands from getting blisters
- A fishing license
- Rain gear
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Polarized sunglasses (I have extra Costa Del Mars if you forget)
- Camera (this is optional since I will provide you with a photo of your catch off of my digital camera)
- Munchies and beverages: Be sure to pack extra water to drink. Row trolling makes you incredibly hungry!!
- We will make comfort stops as needed.
***Please note: there is no smoking or drinking of alcohol in my boat***
 Guide Rates
- Full day: $350 (8+ hours of fishing)
- Half day: $225 (4-5 hours of fishing)
- 2nd person $25 extra
- Option: Book two-half days and pay $375 (a savings of $75)
*Most beginners find a half day of row trolling sufficient. A full day can get tiring if you are not used to the rowing action. We can determine how many hours you wish to be on the lake as the day progresses and the cost will be adjusted accordingly.
Please remember that it is total catch and release in my boat. This includes any big walleye or pike that we may catch, too. If the fish can be released healthy I put it back. The future of our fishery depends on it and with the high quality of fiberglass replicas I feel there is no reason to keep a fish.
Success in the Field (and on the water)
For years I had the fever. Musky Fever. I was obsessed with muskies. Those on the outside kind of smile when they hear that, but, big game hunting is indeed an addiction.
I musky fished nearly everyday. If I wasn't fishing, I was thinking about muskies.
I stopped participating in other activities. My world was very myopic—it only involved musky fishing. If the muskies were biting, all was good. If not; despondency prevailed. Before I caught my first 50" musky I was a woman possessed. In hindsight, it was ridiculous. I had caught quite a few 48 ½", 49", 49 ½"...but the monkey wouldn't be off my back until I got a 50". How sad. Nothing had changed. I had just caught a fish that was ½" bigger.
These past couple of years I've re-evaluated my life and worked toward restoring a sense of balance. Receiving writing assignments on a variety of different subjects has helped. It forced me to get out and participate in other activities.
My husband, Jim, has also helped. He has always felt that success in the field is the same as success in life—balance. Being able to enjoy many different activities and adventures; not limiting yourself to just one passion.
It's been a process but I think I'm on the 8th or 9th step now :-) There's hope. I can honestly say that bringing balance back into my life has made me a much happier person. And I'm living a much fuller life. I'm constantly reminded of my past path...when folks needle me with questions like "What was the exact measurement of the musky? Who won the tournament? How many 50"ers have you caught this year?"
Come on, folks, does it really matter? When I say we "caught a big fish" does it matter if it was 40" or 50"? Either way it is a fine fish. I've gotten to the point that I don't even measure my fish anymore (unless a client asks me to.) Balance; I'm searching for enjoying the whole experience more…taking in wildlife sightings while we fish for snook, enjoying a row by myself or with a pal, playing tennis with my husband…mixing it up.
It seems to me that in our rushed and complex society we have become so ultra-competitive (with ourselves and others) that all we care about are numbers. Not quality of life. We applaud guys that fish 14 hours a day, day in and day out. So what if they have no other life...eat, drink, and sleep fishing, right? All we want to do is win the tournament or beat the other guy by catching a bigger fish.
Don't get me wrong. I still love to fish. Muskies are still my favorite freshwater fish. There's still a mystique and adrenaline rush to be felt when I'm out plying the waters for them. And, I know that my path isn't for everyone. Some of you reading this will think "Hogwash! I live for the competition of tournaments and to prove that I'm the best musky fisherman in the world!" Well, God bless you. We are all different and that's what makes the world go around.
However, I just wanted to share my feelings with those of you who are searching for a different fork in the road. It's never too late. If you are feeling like you need a change, try out some other activities. Musky fish one day then take a hike in the woods with your kids the next. Bring your friend to the archery range and try out a new sport. Take a road trip with your family and mix up different activities—fishing, picnics, visiting museums, swimming, watching a baseball game...
Restoring this sense of balance in my life has done wonders for my health—both physically and mentally. I highly recommend it.
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