Minnesota Steelheader staff

The Crew behind Minnesota Steelheader

Meet the MN Steelheader Staff
All of us are volunteers who donate our time, talents and/or treasures. We work together with one goal in common: to inform, inspire, and entertain veterans and new-comers alike to this unique Steelhead fishery.

Drop us a line sometime. Let us know how we are doing, what you would like to see, submit an article, or simply send us a picture of your latest catch or scenic splendors.

Paula

Pete

Birdog

NMF

Paul

For more than 20 years his professional life has been in the sign and graphics business. Today you can still find him there as the owner of the reputable Big Idea Signs in St. Paul, MN.

DB - Founder & Director, Minnesota Steelheader

" My Steelheading life started at age 17 with my first steelie on what is still one of my most coveted river's. Since that day I have worked the retail side of the fishing industry, served on the Board of Directors for the LSSA, fishing guide, and owner of Ninemile Fishing Co."

John

"My fishing adventures have spanned from the rivers of Alaska and BC to the blue waters of the Virgin Islands and a few cool spots in between. Most of my steelhead fishing has been in Minnesota and Wisconsin, with the largest steelie out of Lake Michigan back in '91. My good buddy Eric and I were experiencing the trip of a lifetime with a 25+ fish day... really, we counted. My 37.5" Steelhead is still looking good on my wall today."

John Fehnel - Minnesota Steelheader - Fi eld staff

John's professional life finds him currently as the owner of Great Lakes Fly Shop in Duluth, MN. He has been fly fishing for 20 years and has been Steelhead fly fishing for 17 years. A transplant from his native Kentucky due to service in the U. S. Coast Guard, he retired in 1998 and decided to call the Northland his home. John has been tying commercially since the his business got started and conducts many fly tying courses and fly casting clinics. John is our go-to guy when looking for the latest in fly gear, and fishing conditions on the North Shore.

Birdog - Minnesota Steelheader - Field staff

Born and raised in NE Minnesota, trout fishing on the North Shore has been one of Birdogs passions since his early childhood when his Dad would take him to get "trout for breakfast". He has been a fly fisherman since the mid 80's, and a dedicated Steelheader a short while after. Though he enjoys using a variety of techniques to catch fish, his favorite technique is swinging flies for steelies, whether with single handed or Spey rods. He has also assisted as a special Guest with DB on a Steelhead episode of Kent Hrbek Outdoors

Birdog is currently serving as an Instructor Pilot and the Operations Support Flight Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, MNANG. He has an awesome wife and 2 great kids. Other interests include; Grouse hunting, canoeing, model railroading, and playing hockey.

TU - Minnesota Steelheader Field Staff

I owe my fishing heritage to my grandfather. My earliest memories are of salmon eggs under bobbers for stocked rainbows, but Gramps quickly moved me to more interesting environments and presentations. He was a dry fly fisherman and I spent my formative fishing years in the mountain streams of Wyoming and Montana. Fast forward to my adult years and those streams still draw me as do the wild rivers of Alaska, Canada, and Lake Superior.

When I'm not fishing, you can find me with a shotgun chasing pheasants, ducks and geese.

Pete - Minnesota Steelheader Field Staff

Being a true blue Minnesotan who grew up hunting and fishing I always felt like something was missing. Then one day my good buddy DB talked me into going up to the North Shore for a little Steelhead fishing. Ever since that day I have been hooked!! Of course it helped that I caught a fresh 24 inch steelie on my 8th drift. My steelheading adventures have since spanned to the waters of British Columbia. Look at the header on www.rodrule.com you will see me fighting my first BC steelie.

Fishing the rivers of the North Shore with some buddies is what life is all about. Thanks to DB and my fellow staffer Todd, my Steelhead fishing adventures have been incredible.

NMF - Minnesota Steelheader - Field Staff

Paula- Minnesota Steelheader Field Staff

Paul started his fly fishing career at the age of twelve chasing trout and sunfish. His fishing career started at a local Sporting goods shop as their fishing department manager for a number of years. He also spent some time in Anchorage, AK working at Gary King's sporting goods and as a fly fishing guide at Bristol Bay Lodge out of Dillingham, AK. Paul is still working in the outdoor industry as a ballistics technician for Federal Premium Ammunition. Paul has a degree in Fisheries and wildlife biology and as a Gunsmith.

His steelheading experience really started with the meeting of DB when they worked together at Burger Bros. Along with Steelheading Paul enjoys trout fishing, especially for Brookies, Turkey Hunting, and upland bird hunting with his Gordon Setter, Charlie.

Paul - Minnesota Steelheader - Field Staff

Our Mission Statement:

The lack of Steelhead information readily available to Minnesota Steelheader's has been a frustrating issue to many over the years. In 2005 Minnesota Steelheader (MS) was formed with a goal to change that. The website was developed and with the help from a few bright volunteers we have created an in-depth resource for veterans and newcomers alike to find interesting information, fisheries data, maps, pictures, fishing reports, fishing guides, custom data charts and more all in one easy to navigate website.

As we move forward through 2012 we will build upon MS with more organized angler involvement, and more in-depth personalized Steelhead and Kamloops related information. Feel free to contact us if you would like to get involved with MS, we welcome those who share the same passion for this unique fishery. Simply visit our contact us page and send us a note.

Paula has been employed in the outdoor Sporting Industry for over 20 years, and has fly fished equally as long. She grew up on the Mississippi River, where her love for fishing began early. She spent many days on the river with her brother, along with countless family fishing trips to the Boundary Waters and Minnesota's North Shore. "I have been fly fishing for 20 years now, and in love with the sport. My favorite tag line is: Paula Elert - future famous fly fishergirl. A girl can dream, right?"

Having spent 7 years as an Outdoor Travel Specialist, she's had the privilege of fishing and hunting across North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. Still, she says her favorite place to fish will always be in her own Minnesota/Wisconsin backyard.

Paula's favorite Minnesota Steelhead highlight was as a co-guest with DB filming Randy Meier's TV Show, "Cook What You Catch". "What and adventure that was!" Along with her interest in steelhead fishing, Paula loves saltwater fly fishing (tarpon are her favorite), turkey, upland bird, waterfowl hunting, and caribou hunting. Her goal is to share her experience and knowledge of the outdoors with others, along with the pursuit of protecting our local fisheries.

My steelhead mania began towards the tail end of the North Shore hay-days of the 1960's. If I close my eyes I can still see (and hear!) the swollen, roiling waters of the Knife as I stared wide-eyed out of a sleeping bag perched on the tailgate of my Dad's 1949 Willy's Overland 4x4. At 4 years old though, I didn't have much patience or tolerance for the cold… Fortunately my Dad would always figure out a way to get me into fish, even if it wasn't a steelhead, which was how I was introduced to stream trout.

From there I spent virtually all of my free time exploring Northwest Wisconsin, Southeast Minnesota, and eventually Southeast Wisconsin for trout, steelhead and salmon. A renewed interest in the North Shore

Since then I've been lucky enough to have traveled and fished all over North America, parts of South America and a fair chunk of Europe; but I am still drawn like iron to a magnet back to the North Shore. I've also been party to various conservation organizations and run a few websites.
I would briefly like to acknowledge my Dad, "The General" at this point: Teacher, Fishing Partner and Chief Rival. You could drop that S.O.B. in the middle of the dang Sahara and he'd come out with fish. GEEZE that gets annoying! I hope to become 1/64th the steelhead fisherman he is. Thanks Dad for teaching me everything I know about fishing, now quit holding out!

brought me back, but I soon discovered that information about actually fishing the Shore was in short supply; and a new obsession took hold: That of putting together as much statistical data on the Shore as I could lay my grubby little hands on.

Dear Minnesota Steelheaders, I'd like to thank you for your time today! I called to book a guide, and ended up talking with Davin, and got a whole lot more. One of the things about fly fishing is the elitist attitude some fishermen and guides have. I've never had a conversation where the guide helped me to understand that I might not even need him, and if I did, a different season would be a better bang for my buck. I also appreciate you sharing some tips with me on where and how to get started.

Carl - 9-1-2010

North Shore
Weather Conditions

Two Harbors area

Silver Bay • Lutsen

Grand Marais • Hovland

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Minnesota Steelheader strives to inform, inspire, and educate anglers, with an interest in the Lake Superior Steelhead fishery of Minnesota's North Shore Streams and Rivers, through a content rich website staffed by passionalte volunteer staff members committed to the steelhead fishery - on-line, in the community, and on the water.

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