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, educate, and entertain veterans and new-comers alike to this great 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 your latest catch.
Birdog
NMF
DB
TU
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
field 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.
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.
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.
2010
Regulations
lake superior steelhead techniques - practice catch & release - steelhead management - steelhead gear - steelhead fly box - fish tags - lake superior north shore rivers - fishing knots you should know fishing etiquette - cool product reviews - steelhead photo gallery - steelhead fishing articles - minnesota steelhead fishing links - steelhead fishing in Minnesota
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Minnesota Steelheader and Ninemile Fishing Company, LLC • PO Box 10848 • St. Paul, MN 55110 • All rights Reserved
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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.
Bio will be here soon....
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 Fisheies 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:
As we move forward in 2010 we hope to 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 become involved, we welcome all who share the same passion. Simply visit our Contact us page.
The mission of Minnesota Steelheader is to inform, educate and entertain anglers to the Lake Superior Steelhead fishery of Minnesota's North Shore Streams and Rivers, primarily through a content rich website and a committed volunteer staff working passionately both on-line and on the water.
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.