Brookdog Fishing Co

The State of Being Well-Fished

The State of Being Well-Fished

I’m well-fished. This time is year is insane for guides in Buffalo Niagara and I imagine it’s the same for our peers across the northeast and the Great Lakes region. Memorial Day weekend is often the first good stretch of time off work people get when there is great weather for outdoor activities.

Considering how frigid our spring was here in Buffalo Niagara – there…

The Smalljaw Syndicate – Buffalo Niagara Represents

Buffalo Niagara – A Strong Stop on the Smalljaw Syndicate

A few years ago, Mike Schultz of Schultz Outfittersstarted an Instagram hashtag – #smalljawsyndicate. It was and continues to be a great branding and marketing tool that generates a strong appeal for smallmouth bass. Let’s face it – in the fly fishing world, for generations, trout have reigned supreme as the target game species for fly…

Happy Mothers Day – Show Some Love to the Moms in Your Life

Happy Mothers Day, Mom!

Mothers Day – I’m usually not a fan of contrived holidays but I am a fan of celebrating this one. If it wasn’t for my mother and my beautiful wife I wouldn’t be where I am today – a happy father doing what I love. My only hope is that reading this take the opportunity to reflect on what the mothers in our life have given to us to get us where we are today.

My mother (and…

A New Pattern and Warm Weather – Finally!

Finally! Warm Weather and a New Pattern

At long last, a new pattern is here. If you’ve been reading our posts for awhile now, you know that I lack patience. That comes into play when I’ve been doing the same thing for a prolonged period. Last September was the last time I fished without my bib and warming layers. Finally, this new pattern of warmth and sunny skies over the last week allowed me to…

Big Water Washington – Home Away from Home

Do you know the feeling you get on the final approach to your fishing destination? By final approach, I mean the drive, flight, or boat ride that ultimately gets you to your basecamp. The feeling for me is usually anxiety laden up to the reveal. After the reveal, I normalize pretty quickly and start wanting to fish. That is not what happened when the Zone and I pulled up to the Black Bear Lodge…

The Fishing Workout – Plus Observations from the Water – 20180408 – 20180414

People normally don’t put physical fitness and fishing together in the same sentence. I mean, why would you? For most, fishing is a way to escape the weekly grind and leave the toils of life behind. Considering it a workout may taint the experience for some. However, think about every guide you’ve ever known. How many are fat? I’m betting not many. You don’t often see fat/out of shape guides. In…

False Spring – Being Cold is Getting Old – 20180401-20180407

What is a false spring? I made the term up this past week. Well…in my head I made it up and haven’t bothered to research if it’s a real thing. A false spring is when the images and sensations one so fondly associates with this season don’t seem to come to pass. Things like budding trees, warmer temperatures, increased time outside, the smells of flowers, pairing of animals, birds you haven’t seen…

How to Execute a Fishing Bender

Do you need a fishing bender? Look no further than Buffalo Niagara

We’ve had the pleasure of executing numerous fishing benders all over the country in the past couple of decades. We cataloged many of them in our Re-Discover Your Regionseries of short films. However, it wasn’t until a client of ours executed a bender to Buffalo Niagara that I felt compelled to capture how perfect this place is…

Reconnaissance – the Cure for Slow Fishing

Reconnaissance – the Cure for Slow Fishing and Getting in Touch with your Fishery

“Just drive down that road, until you get blown up,” – General George Patton, about the role for reconnaissance troops “Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted,” – John Marsden

Viewed through the lens of modern warfighters, General Patton’s methods for reconnaissance were extremely crude.  Although a bit…

Complacency Kills Angling Prospects

Does Complacency Kill in Angling?

Back in my military days, Complacency Kills, was a phrase embedded in our heads starting in basic training. The theory behind the idea is that if you become complacent, you lose situational awareness.  If you lose situational awareness, you could end up getting yourself and your fellow warriors killed. Yeah, that’s a bit extreme if you try to directly apply that…

Late Winter Fishing Report – 20180305-20180311

Late winter in Buffalo Niagara often feels like, well, winter. Just like it did this past week. The temperatures were below freezing, the wind blew from just about every direction week, and it snowed – white outs at times. That may sound dreary to some – to most people probably. From casual small talk at the gas station to random conversations with…

Take Someone Fishing

Take Someone Fishing. It’s a simple ask. Whether you consider yourself an angler or someone who fishes every once in a while – chances are that when you reflect on your time spent fishing, it brings back fond memories. There’s some science/psychology behind this reaction but that’s not my area of expertise. I do believe I’m kind of savvy in the science of fishing and based on…

The Dog Days of Winter – is That a Thing?

Are the dog days of winter a thing?

I was out fishing on the Lower Niagara River with Chuck and his bride Sara a few days ago when the concept of the “dog days of winter” popped up. Not even a week earlier, he and I both had strong days in the same spot using the same tactics. That day, however, action was sporadic. Not so slow as to make us lose interest but slow enough for us to start…

To Harvest or Not to Harvest – That is the Question

To harvest your catch or to not harvest your catch? In a culture where catch and release is sacrosanct, proper fish handling procedures lead to arguments, and advocating eating our catch is political suicide, why would that question even pop into my head? Our clients rarely ask to keep fish (except for salmon and I haven’t run any walleye…

To Harvest or Not to Harvest – That is the Question

To harvest your catch or to not harvest your catch? In a culture where catch and release is sacrosanct, proper fish handling procedures lead to arguments, and advocating eating our catch is political suicide, why would that question even pop into my head? Our clients rarely ask to keep fish (except for salmon and I haven’t run any walleye…

Guyana – Paradise for the Adventurous Angler

Guyana – An Adventurous Angler’s Paradise

Our Guyana trip was a resounding success! It’s no secret – we love to fish and think about it incessantly. We are fortunate to live and guide in a fishery that keeps us engaged year-roundand we love advocating for it every chance we get. Although we love our home waters here in Buffalo Niagara, we still have a wanderlust that pushes us to explore new…

Winter Fishing in Buffalo Niagara – 20171218 – 20171225

Winter Fishing in Buffalo Niagara – 20171218 – 20171225

Winter fishing in Buffalo Niagara can be magical. Right now, as I type this, there are thousands of steelhead and brown trout in the lower river and great lake tributaries throughout the region. While cold weather keeps many anglers and would-be anglers inside, those that avoid the shack nasties will capitalize on relatively unpressured…