Getaways
SASKATCHEWAN FLY-IN FISHING LODGES
Oliver Lake: Where Fantastic Fishing Is Only Part of the Fun
Anglers spend a nice chunk of change to go to a fly-in fishing lodge, and the primary reason is always the terrific fishing. But fly-in fishing lodges offer more than fishing. What goes on before and after--and during--the fishing also matters, which is what makes the little fishing camp on Oliver Lake so special.
Northern Saskatchewan has about 60 fly-in fishing lodges. Of those, about a half-dozen are large corporate operations with their own landing strip, planes and pilots, large marketing budgets and a sizeable staff to make it all work. Large lodges cost more, mainly because they coat the fishing with a lot of luxury. They often cater to high-net-worthers and corporate clients, even offering corporate retreats and team-building seminars with a little fishing thrown in on the side.
[more]
YES, YOU CAN TRY THIS AT HOME
Shore Lunch: More Than the World’s Finest Fish and ChipsMany people haven't even heard of shore lunch, but if somebody started a restaurant and served it, I suspect he or she might be quite successful.
In early September, I spent a week in northern Saskatchewan at an angler's paradise called Oliver Lake Wilderness Lodge. During my stay, I not only had fantastic fishing but I was reminded how really great shore lunch can be.
[more]
MICROBREW MONTANA
Montana Smith and the Temple of Malt Now Playing in Helena
After many long delays, Blackfoot River Brewing of Helena has finally opened its new facility, and it has been a hoppin' good time ever since.
Opened on October 7, the first week has been "incredible," according to co-owner Brian Smith. The first Friday night crowd was so huge, in fact, that his servers could barely handle it, so he had to institute a new system to manage the success--the three-pint check-off card used by many other microbreweries.
[more]
GAG RIDE SHOWS THE CHARMING SIDE OF CYCLING
Most Motorists Courteous, Cautious, Helpful
My cycling buddies wanted me to write about what happened on this year's GAG Ride, which stands for Geezers Around Glacier, but I had decided not to do it.
Until I read all the recent negative news about the escalating conflict between cyclists and motorists on our roadways, that is.
[more]
MICROBREW MONTANA
Montana Brewing: More Medals Than Any Other Montana Brewery
As near as I can figure, after visiting 20 of Montana's 23 microbreweries, Montana Brewing is unique. The company's owners have offered craft beer fans something that comes about as close to a brewpub as possible under Montana's archaic liquor laws.
Instead of a small brewery with a small taproom, which is the case with most Montana breweries, Montana Brewing is three businesses in one--a microbrewery, restaurant and sports bar, all separated but connected, right in downtown Billings.
[more]
THE FORCE IS WITH YOU
Score One for the Brewmasters
If you know how government works (or doesn't) and followed last week's quick reversal of a Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) proposed rule to limit taproom hours, you might be as amazed as I am.
Government officials usually dig in deep and don't like to admit mistakes, but in less than a week, we saw a rapid and decisive turnaround by the DOR and even an admission that the agency hadn't properly thought out the proposed rule before throwing it out into the public arena.
You might be saying, "No Big Deal," but for me, this little skirmish has a big back story.
[more]
OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BREWERIES
Revenue Department Pulls Proposed Rule Restricting Taproom HoursFollowing a meeting this morning with representatives of the Montana State Brewers Association (MSBA), Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) Director Dan Bucks pulled the proposed administrative rule which was due to be hotly contested tomorrow afternoon in an official public hearing.
Meeting with Bucks and his staff were Sam Hoffmann, owner of Red Lodge Ales of Red Lodge, and Brian Smith and Brad Simshaw, co-owners of Blackfoot River Brewing of Helena. Hoffmann is president and Smith vice-president of MSBA.
This means tomorrow's hearing is essentially meaningless. It will be held, but will only cover minor issues of little or no concern to brewers.
[more]
SOUTH DAKOTA'S WALLEYE FISHING DESERVES ITS REPUTATION
Video: The Eyes of OaheIf you like to fish for walleyes--often called "eyes" because they need such big ones to gather as much light as possible down at the bottom of the lake where they almost always dwell--you're probably like me and dream about fishing South Dakota's Oahe Reservoir.
I finally had my chance this summer, and now, I'm already trying to figure out how to get back there for more.
[more]
PUNISH THE VIOLATORS, NOT THE INDUSTRY
Here’s Your Chance to Support Your Local Brewer
I've been on the Montana Beer Trail for six months now, visiting 19 of our 24 microbreweries so far and writing profiles of their business operations for the Microbrew Montana series currently running on NewWest.Net and the Travel Montana website.
Besides being constantly reminded of the passion the brewmasters have for their product, I've been amazed how well this micro-segment of our economy is faring in the face of today's economic downturn. All Montana microbreweries are all running profitably at capacity, experiencing double-digit growth, or doing major expansions. Three new breweries opened in 2007.
So why does the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) want to knock down the microbrewing industry? Has it been too successful?
[more]
EXTORTION OF THE MASSES?
New Video Slams Forest Service for “Illegal” Mount Evans Fee ProgramA new video produced by Aaron Johnnson, a long-time recreational user of Mount Evans in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado, is creating quite a stir down in the Centennial State. Johnson takes no prisoners in its criticism of the Forest Service (FS), calling the program "scandalous and extortionist."
The video, almost 8 minutes long and titled "Mount Evans Illegal Fee Program," has been posted on YouTube.Com and already has a five-star rating.
Johnson works for summitpost.org has is a frequent hiker and climber in the Mount Evans area, and did the video at his own expense.
[more]
