Caddis Shack Guide Service

06/15/2026

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06/15/2026

06/15/2026

This should not be legal…

What an absolute blast! Woke up to a cold front, minus 20 degrees from the past weeks. Cloudy after days on days of sun. Change, smallies dont like it. Except for when the cold front and rising water moves all the minnows and a full day long minnow bite opens up. They spit minnows up in the boat all day after a 3 day crawfish binge.

This was my last trip that I had with the Chicago Anglers club. This one I donated to the club and I found out the proceeds were donated to ! Thats super cool! I like that clubs make money off my donations but its better when they are able to give that money away.

Today, Holy hell, Bill, Quinn and I had a incredible day! Bill nabbed a 5 # and we all hit 4’s! Me too! Just one, 😂 my first guide fish of the year, totally unintentional, I waded over to free a fly, as I was walking back, it got hammered. It was that kind of day, I walked into the frickin hole and got hammered on my way back to the boat. 🤪

Both these guys throw darts at 40 feet, both of them strip set until the line can play a F sharp, both of them follow instructions without question. Both of them got PAID in BRONZ! Both of them were mentioned by every guide who had them last week and every guest I guided to me. Super impressive people and I cant wait to take them again in May27.

Two more important things, hope you read this far. One my next post on the Caddis Shack IG page will be a 2 dozen Zelda custom color give away. ☝️😎 that fly has put more bass in my boat than all of the others I fish combined. Be sure to follow us on IG!

Second, you can book Pre spawn trips now for 2027. Last week of April-ish thru june1-ish. Full spawn in June 1 - June 12, so let’s go dry fly fishing for big trout instead eh? Picking back up and running all summer.

I was full this past May, was full, had dates open.

Prime dates May 5-25, thats your best shot at a 6+. Two last year, one this year. Im adding dates next season. Lets Go!!

06/13/2026

had a much better day too….

Steamers were the game today and we have a new smallie ju**ie, completely hooked on the bronze

06/13/2026

Much better today….. report below

First off Id like to say thank you and Job well done!

Thank you to Tim and the Anglers Club of Chicago ! I had the pleasure of guiding Tim and Rob. Rob is the Club president Tim is the Club VP. Tim as the VP set all of this up, he handled a bunch over the last year, he did an amazing job and put in a huge amount of work!

And…… they loved all the guides and are planing to come back in 3 years!!

Ao who was involved?
@ hemlockriverguide

and the yooper OG, Brad and crew at . If you are looking for a new adventure and a new place to see and experience, all of these guides are TOP NOTCH!! Come up and visit any or all off us!

Ok so today…. Was not yesterday. The river finally bounced up a bunch, so much that I’m running the lower river tomorrow! 😎its my favorite Smallie water on the planet, soooooo yeah. 100% im taking them there! Water temps were the same low 70’s, all the beds are clear, we are 100% post spawn. Craw colored Zeldas were the ticket! Need to tie more!!!😂

We are so grateful to have been a part of this! 5 guides 3 days and more fun and laughter than fish, and we poked a whole bunch of fish!

This was super fun, not only the 3 days on the water with super fun people but the convos between the guides talking about the fun they had at…. Work.

13 rivers 7 outfitters and one awesome time!!

06/13/2026

We are fortunate to have excellent relationships with other guides in the yoop. Its one of the things I enjoy the most. Very little drama its easier to be friends. One of our good friends is Nick Simon he is the owner operator of in Marquette Mi.

He is helping us out with the Chicago Anglers Club UP outing. Ill post a full list of all the guides tonight.

If you are coming to the yoop do the right thing, always stop and visit the local fly shop. Buy something and meet the crew. Fly fishing needs locally owned fly shops more than anything. They are the life blood of the passion. The conversation in the shop is way better than buying online, and its free.

Come to the Yoop go meet Nick and his crew at ehe shop, then go to pictured rocks or Tahquamenon Falls. Fly shop first sight seeing second…..🤣🤙

Yesterday Nick and his clients worked hard, thru lots of wind and rain but put a few dingers on the board! Did you see the size of the motor on that smallmouth? 😳

06/12/2026

The difference in a day. 🫣

As guides and anglers who fish 60+ days a year we see it, we learn from it, and we pattern it.

Yesterday was on fire until the clouds came in. Today sunny and bright, just like yesterday and the fish were negative. They would respond to the fly, act on the fly and bump it with their nose. Just push it and turn away. had the same situation play out all day as well.

Im rethinking my trip tomorrow. Im going to take post spawn a lot more seriously. I think I may start on 6wts with foam bugs and stripping buggers on 10 # until the fish show more aggression.

Go micro, and move up.

Oh and, when your eagle population is extreme shadows become more important.

If you fish with me we will have a conversation about your fly line shadow, it’s an eagle…. Its always an eagle to the fish. 🤙

06/12/2026

Excellent first day with Chicago outfitters for all the Boats!

Today I had Ben and Bob. Ben and I have met before, I knew this trip was going to be up his ally! This was my first time with Bob, and i hope he comes back again!

So i took on the unthinkable, floated the lower Smallie water 200 cfs lower that ever. The river is a free float no obstructions at 800, 270 is the lowest that I’ve done it.
Today , 170😂🤣😂. I walked my boat for 2 of the 7 miles. I love impossible hard work….😂

It was all worth it! We boated so many fish, no beasts 2 4 pounders and a heap of 3’s.

Interesting day, we had hot sun all morning into the afternoon, and the fish loved it! Other than a stretch below a creek in the am that was running cold, we moved fish consistently. Later in the day some clouds moved in, and the bite got tough. The guys scratched up a few more fish missed a few more but there was definitely a mood sift.

Awesome day! Super happy to have shared the day with Ben and Bob.

06/12/2026

and his guests today Bill and Hank. Holly smokes that looks like a banger day!

3 18’s and a 19! Landed 20+ fish! 50/50 split poppers and streamers!