What makes a three-mile stretch of seemingly uniform weed line suddenly produce fish in one specific spot? Why do nine out of ten strikes happen in the exact same location? These are the questions that separate casual anglers from true fishing experts.

Muskie guru Matt O'Brian joins us on the French River to reveal his systematic approach to finding productive fishing spots—a method that has made him one of the most successful muskie guides on Lake Nipissing and the Upper French River. From an innovative technique using trolling as a research tool to his digital record-keeping strategies, Matt shares the hard-earned knowledge that allows him to consistently locate and catch trophy fish.

"My best casting spots I've ever found in my life, I found trolling," Matt explains, detailing how covering water efficiently while watching for patterns has revealed his most productive locations. He walks us through the critical transitions he looks for—rock to weed edges, proximity to deep water basins, and access to forage like cisco and smelt—that create the perfect ambush points for predator fish.

The conversation extends beyond fishing tactics to include technological innovations, like the network bridge system beaming internet across three kilometres of the French River that made this episode possible. As spring arrives and black flies emerge, we discuss seasonal strategies for different species and how Matt adjusts his guiding approach throughout the year, from early-season lake trout to his specialty in trophy muskie.

Whether you're planning a trip to the French River, looking to upgrade your fishing approach, or simply enjoy conversations about the outdoor lifestyle, this episode delivers practical wisdom from decades of on-water experience. Connect with Matt directly to book a guided fishing experience and discover for yourself why understanding "the spot on the spot" is the key to consistent fishing success.

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to control thousands of tons of steel, stretching nearly three miles behind you? In this captivating conversation, Willie sits down with Matt Oleski, a train engineer whose decade-long railway career provides a fascinating glimpse into one of North America's most essential yet mysterious professions.

Matt shares his journey from construction work to becoming a fully qualified engineer, detailing the rigorous training process and career progression from brakeman to conductor to engineer. You'll discover the astonishing physics behind train operations—like how even empty rail cars weigh 30 tons, and a fully loaded train requires more than a mile to stop. Perhaps most surprising is the confirmation of an old railway warning: "rolling cars don't make noise," as steel wheels on steel rails can move massive weight in near silence.

Beyond the technical aspects, this episode explores the profound impact railway careers have on family life. With unpredictable on-call schedules and trips lasting up to 30 hours, Matt credits his wife Shelby's understanding and support as crucial to his success. Their story highlights the delicate balance railway families must maintain and the importance of making time count when at home.

The conversation takes fascinating turns through Matt's parallel passions for hunting and fishing in Northern Ontario, including his specialty for turning often-maligned Canadian goose into gourmet delicacies like pastrami and "goose poppers." His enthusiasm for musky fishing reveals how these outdoor pursuits provide necessary mental balance to the high-responsibility demands of railway work.

Whether you're curious about trains, outdoor life in Northern Canada, or the human story behind essential infrastructure, this episode delivers authentic insights into a world most people never see. Join us for a journey along the tracks of one engineer's remarkable life and career.

Some of life's greatest lessons emerge from weathering unexpected storms. In this deeply reflective episode, I explore how the literal thunderstorms of Northern Ontario and the metaphorical storms of major life decisions have shaped my journey as a lodge owner.

The wilderness demands respect. I share the harrowing midnight experience that taught me this truth—slipping off a boat during a violent storm and nearly falling into churning waters, dangling precariously with just my torso on the dock as lightning illuminated the sky. This near-disaster transformed my approach to guest safety and weather management forever.

Weather in the North has its own personality. I recount the memorable expedition with a proper English grandmother who, facing a wall cloud and gale-force winds that turned our 24-foot boat sideways, calmly assessed the situation with unexpected profanity: "Steve, this storm is a fucking doozy." Her composure taught me how grace under pressure reveals true character.

But our most significant storms are often internal. I bare my soul about the overwhelming buyer's remorse after purchasing Chaudière Lodge—that moment sitting alone in my truck with an internal voice screaming "what have you done?" as I contemplated the enormous financial commitment I'd made. This emotional tempest eventually led to my greatest growth.

Perhaps most poignantly, I share how my biggest regret—failing to purchase a lakefront cottage that later increased 6.5 times in value—ultimately provided the courage needed to take the life-changing risk of buying the lodge. Sometimes our apparent failures are preparing us for greater opportunities ahead.

These stories remind us that life's storms, whether literal or metaphorical, don't just test us—they reveal our resilience and often guide us toward experiences we might otherwise miss. What storms have shaped you?

There's something magical about outdoor gatherings—those special moments where food, nature, and companionship blend together to create lasting memories. In this episode, Willie the Oil Man takes us deep into the art of the shore lunch, a beloved Canadian tradition that transcends simple outdoor cooking.

Willie shares decades of hard-earned wisdom on creating unforgettable wilderness meals. From selecting the perfect shoreline spot (flat, safe, with a beautiful view) to handling hot oil safely over an open fire, every detail matters when cooking outdoors. You'll discover ingenious hacks like replacing metal pan handles with wooden shovel handles to prevent burns, and using burlap sacks to store used cookware.

The culinary secrets come thick and fast: why beer-battered fish needs cooler oil, how to achieve that perfect golden crust on your potatoes, and unexpected alternatives like wild rice pilaf that can elevate a standard shore lunch into something extraordinary. Beyond technical advice, Willie weaves in personal stories—both heartwarming and cautionary—that bring the tradition to life, including a poignant moment teaching his young son to build a fire during a father-son outing.

At its heart, this episode celebrates the deeper meaning behind outdoor gatherings. Whether it's an elaborate shore lunch for fishing clients, a simple picnic with family, or even just coffee shared with a spouse on a dock, these gatherings create the backdrop for our most cherished relationships. With summer approaching, Willie urges listeners to create these experiences with their loved ones—teaching children outdoor skills, sharing stories around a fire, and forging connections that will outlast any meal.

Subscribe now to hear more stories from the north, and share your own shore lunch experiences with us online. What outdoor cooking traditions do you cherish with your family?

Gary Tibo's life story reads like an adventure through Canada's cultural identity. Raised in the Sudbury Basin with Aboriginal roots—his father a Beothuk native from Newfoundland—Gary grew up hunting with a loaded gun at age ten, bringing fish home after school, and learning to live completely off the land. His father's determination that Gary wouldn't follow him into the dangerous mining industry led to an apprenticeship that shaped his future.

With hands that could feel differences in engine parts others couldn't see, Gary became a renowned automotive machinist whose expertise made him legendary in performance engine building. His innate curiosity drove him to understand root causes rather than just symptoms, whether in engines or later, in human health. This mindset of looking beyond the obvious would eventually save his life.

At age 38, Gary faced a devastating diagnosis of Crohn's disease and colitis. After two frustrating years of conventional treatments that only made him worse, he walked away from modern medicine and turned to his ancestral knowledge. Drawing from childhood lessons learned from his grandmother and indigenous elders, Gary began a radical transformation—growing his own food, eliminating processed foods, and discovering powerful plant medicines that healed his intestinal inflammation when pharmaceuticals couldn't.

The results were extraordinary. Not only did Gary heal himself, but he maintained a family food bill of just $30 weekly for three decades through self-sufficiency practices. His journey from master machinist to nutritionist demonstrates how indigenous wisdom can offer solutions to modern health crises and food insecurity. Gary's story challenges us to question conventional systems and reconnect with traditional knowledge that sustained humanity for generations before supermarkets and pharmaceuticals.

Ready to discover more about living self-sufficiently and healing naturally? Gary's experiences offer practical wisdom for anyone seeking greater independence from systems that often fail to address root causes of our most pressing health and social challenges.

From the moment a float plane touches down on a remote lake to the camaraderie of sharing stories around a community dinner table, the outdoor adventures waiting in Canada's wilderness create memories that last a lifetime. In this captivating episode, Steve and Willie draw on their extensive experience as former lodge owners to guide you through planning the perfect outdoor getaway.

Now is the crucial time when savvy adventurers are finalizing their bookings for the upcoming season. We break down the full spectrum of experiences available—from high-end executive lodges with helicopter access to budget-friendly Crown Land camping where you're completely self-reliant. Each option has its unique appeal, whether you're seeking isolation on a fly-in lake that sees fewer than a dozen anglers per year or the social atmosphere of an American Plan lodge where lasting friendships form over shared meals.

The logistics behind these wilderness experiences are fascinating. We reveal how outfitters maintain dozens of remote cabins, flying in everything from propane to fresh produce, and the extraordinary measures taken to ensure guest comfort in the most isolated settings. You'll hear firsthand accounts of soaring through mountain passes in float planes, watching forest fires from the air, and experiencing the world's largest tides in the Bay of Fundy.

Beyond fishing and hunting, we explore the growing interest in ecotourism—northern lights viewing, wildlife photography, hiking pristine trails, and even astronomy experiences under unpolluted skies. These diverse options reflect a deeper truth: what draws us to the wilderness isn't just the pursuit of fish or game but the immersion in nature's majesty and the connections formed along the way.

Whether you're a seasoned outdoor enthusiast or planning your first wilderness adventure, this episode provides invaluable guidance for creating an experience tailored to your preferences, abilities, and budget. The wilderness is calling—what kind of adventure will you choose?

Ever had that perfect fishing moment slip away? Now imagine it happening on international television.

When British angler Matt Hayes and German social media star Babs Kijewski arrived at Chaudière Lodge in 2015, Steve Niedzwiecki was determined to showcase the best of Ontario's Upper French River for their series "Castaway Canada." What unfolded instead was a masterclass in Murphy's Law and human dynamics pushed to breaking point.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what happens when the cameras stop rolling during outdoor TV productions. From a massive television crew that occupied three cottages to the unbridled enthusiasm of an influencer who couldn't resist casting even when explicitly told not to, the behind-the-scenes tension is palpable throughout Steve's retelling.

The heartbreak is visceral as Steve recounts not one but two trophy fish—a monster muskie and a 40-inch northern pike—that were hooked and lost before cameras could capture the action. The resulting friction aboard the boat reached critical mass, culminating in one host being effectively "grounded" to her cottage for the remainder of the shoot.

Beyond fishing drama, Steve also touches on the devastating ice storm affecting southern Ontario and shares thoughtful reflections on the upcoming Canadian federal election. But it's his candid analysis of how negative energy spreads that provides the most powerful takeaway from this unforgettable shoot gone wrong.

Whether you're a fishing enthusiast, a content creator, or simply someone who appreciates genuine stories about human nature under pressure, this raw account of missed opportunities and clashing personalities offers invaluable perspective on what it truly means when we say "the one that got away."

Deep within Canada's Arctic territory lies a world most Canadians will never experience - a place where snowmobiles are purchased at the grocery store alongside milk, where polar bears rip steel doors off community freezers to steal walrus meat, and where lake trout grow to mythical proportions. This is the world Justin Jenkins has embraced, splitting his life between Winnipeg and remote Nunavut communities where he works in mental health.

Justin's journey north began with a childhood fascination with lake trout after watching fishing shows featuring these mysterious cold-water giants. What started as an obsession evolved into a life-changing decision to move to Baker Lake, Nunavut - not for the quick money many southerners seek in northern jobs, but for the fishing opportunities and deeper connection to community.

The conversation paints a vivid picture of life in Canada's most remote territory, where communities exist as islands with no roads connecting them to each other or the rest of Canada. Everything arrives by annual sea lift or expensive air freight. Yet within this isolation, Justin found purpose, describing how working in these tiny communities feels meaningful compared to southern life where one feels like "a grain of sand on the beach."

Wildlife encounters feature prominently, from Justin's strategies for avoiding polar bears (more common in his current community of Chesterfield Inlet on Hudson Bay) to fascinating insights about barren-ground caribou and Arctic char. Particularly compelling is the contrast between southern conservation narratives about declining polar bear populations and the observations of Inuit elders who report seeing more bears than ever.

The episode culminates with incredible fishing stories only possible in the Arctic - catching 70-80 lake trout in three hours, hand-wrestling a massive Arctic char, and landing a 46-inch lake trout that fought for 50 minutes during never-ending daylight. Justin's YouTube channel "Assorted Meats" captures these adventures, including fishing with unconventional items like tampons and sunglasses.

As climate change transforms the Arctic faster than anywhere else, Justin's stories preserve a moment in time while honoring the resilience of communities that have thrived in this challenging environment for thousands of years. Join us for this remarkable conversation that will change how you see Canada's true north.

As winter's grip begins to loosen and the snow starts melting away, Willie and I find ourselves eagerly anticipating spring's arrival. There's something magical about these seasonal transitions – that feeling of renewal and the rush of excitement as we prepare for all that the warmer months bring.

This week, we're diving deep into springtime activities that connect us to the land and its rhythms. I share my lifelong experience raising chickens – from hatching eggs to managing flocks of laying hens and meat birds. We explore the fascinating differences between breeds, the satisfaction of collecting fresh eggs daily, and the sustainable cycle of maintaining your own poultry. For anyone considering backyard chickens, you'll find practical wisdom gained from decades of hands-on experience.

Our conversation takes an unexpected turn as we reveal how remote lodges manage waste in creative ways. At Chaudiere Lodge, I employed a remarkably punctual "cleanup crew" consisting of seagulls and turkey vultures that arrived every morning to handle food scraps and fish waste. These natural solutions highlight the ingenious ways lodge owners work within ecological systems rather than against them.

Willie shares his upcoming ice fishing plans while the roads remain solid, targeting walleye, crappie, and potentially trophy-sized lake trout. We reminisce about the recent Toronto Sportsman Show, where Fish and Canada celebrated its impressive 40th season with tremendous turnout from dedicated fans. The strong attendance suggests the outdoor community is thriving post-pandemic, with more people than ever seeking connection to wild places.

Whether you're a lodge owner, an avid angler, or simply someone who feels that springtime pull toward outdoor activities, this episode celebrates the seasonal rhythms that define life in the north. Join us as we turn our faces to the sun and embrace the promise of longer days ahead.

What does it take to risk everything for a dream? Sean McAughey, the passionate new owner of Crow Rock Lodge on Lake of the Woods, knows that feeling all too well. In this captivating conversation, Sean walks us through his remarkable journey from wide-eyed young guide to lodge owner, revealing the perfect storm of experiences that prepared him for this moment.

Growing up under the mentorship of his biologist father and surrounded by the wisdom of a generational commercial fishing family, Sean developed an unparalleled understanding of Lake of the Woods. His hilarious early guiding mishaps (including hitting rocks with lodge boats on consecutive days) contrast beautifully with the confident expertise he now brings to Crow Rock Lodge. The parallels between Sean's journey and host Steve Niedzwiecki's own path into lodge ownership create moments of profound connection and insight throughout the episode.

What makes this conversation truly special is Sean's infectious enthusiasm for the multi-species fishing opportunities at Crow Rock. From the strategic location providing access to trophy walleye, smallmouth bass, muskies and more, to the unique portage lakes offering intimate fishing experiences, listeners get an insider's view of what makes this property extraordinary. Sean's detailed account of catching thirty-inch walleyes during tournaments illustrates why he believes Lake of the Woods fishing is better now than it's ever been.

Beyond the fishing tales lies the emotional reality of lodge ownership - the financial leap of faith, the sleepless nights, and the unwavering support needed from family and partners. Sean's candid discussion of "putting every penny we own and many we don't" into this venture resonates with anyone who's ever considered risking it all for something they believe in.

Whether you're dreaming of owning a remote fishing lodge, planning your next Canadian adventure, or simply enjoy stories of people pursuing their passion against the odds, this episode delivers authentic inspiration. Visit crowrocklodge.com to connect with Sean and experience the fishing paradise he's pouring his heart and soul into.