Fishing Trips, Lodges, and Destinations: A Man's Guide to Getting on the Water

Wisconsin welcomes travelers of all kinds, including those looking to experience an amazing mancation. From a weekend on the lake with the boys to seven days of rugged outdoor activities, Wisconsin offers four seasons of unbeatable fun. So whether you take a plane, train or car ride to get here, just know when you visit the cheesehead state, you’re sure to find Wisconsin fun.

You've finally found a weekend when you and all of your buddies can get away to the lake for some R & R, away from the endless honey-do lists and invitations to brunch. The cooler’s stocked, there’s gas in the truck, and the boat’s ready to go. It should be an amazing week, with nothing to do but land that large mouth that you just know is lurking somewhere out in the lake. Except that the trip is a disaster and you come home more stressed than when you left — and bummed that it didn’t even come close to meeting your expectations.

Colorado is known world-wide for its excellent ski resorts, but you don't have to wait for cold weather to visit this amazing state. Outdoor activities abound all year long. Let's take a look at some of the favorites among adventure seekers.

So, you're contemplating a fly-in fishing trip to Manitoba? This vast province is home to a wide array of trophy fish like walleye, pike, bass, and trout that swimming in those pristine waters... some have never even seen a human before. However, as you'd expect, there's more to a fishing trip like this than just dropping your lure in the water and waiting. To make this as epic as possible, it is essential to select the right lodge, best locations, hiring experienced guides, select the right amenities, and of course, make sure to check the local fishing regulations. When all that comes together though... yeah you've got one heck of an awesome bucket list fishing adventure!

Florida is one of the best states to visit for freshwater fishing trips. It has over 7,500 lakes in addition to numerous reservoirs and rivers, with dozens of different fish species to catch. You're so spoiled for choice that it can be difficult to pick the best spots for freshwater fishing if you're planning a trip. Here's a list of some of my favorite locations.

New York State has some of the top bass fishing spots in the country and this makes it a great place to visit year round - including ice fishing as well as from the shore, a bass fishing boat or even a kayak! You get away from the city noise and replace that with nature. Along with the fresh air, it can also be a great exercise. However, choosing the perfect place for your day-off may be harder thank you think. We are talking about 70,000+ miles of rivers and streams. To help you make this decision, here are 5 bass fishing spots in the New York area you should definitely have on your radar.

Fly fishing is an art form that not only brings food to the table, but allows you to connect with nature and unwind. Between tying your flies and patiently teasing the fish, your head must be in the game. While you can practice fly fishing just about anywhere there’s water, it’s in shallow lakes, rivers and streams you find the best fly fishing experiences. To get the most out of your adventure, you’ll want to get at least a weekend away, and will need to lodge overnight. While you could shack up at the local hotel, the hustle and bustle detracts from the experience. Rather than communing with the rowdy family next door, try one of these luxury fly fishing lodges near some of the best fishing spots on the continent.

When it comes to hunting and fishing lodges, my experience has been the accommodations are typically at one end or the other of a wide spectrum with very little in the middle. That's why I was thrilled to spend the night at the new Legendary Suites, part of the Woodland Resort in Devil's Lake North Dakota last week. The moment I walked through the door, I knew it was something different. While it was affordable it wasn't crummy. Instead, it felt extremely well designed and perfect for exactly what it is - a place to sleep, eat, and share stories before and after a day on the lake or marshes.

What is better than opening a can of a delicious beer and gazing at a splendid river in front of you while you fish? Not many things, honestly. If you are a fishing enthusiast and you want to plan a trip for you and your best buddies, then a fishing adventure may be the best option.

There’s an off the beaten track, very special place in Florida that provides endless opportunities for every type of fishing imaginable: surfcasting; fly-fishing in saltwater and freshwater; back-bay fishing; kayak fishing and of course, deep-sea fishing.

 When planning the mancation adventure of your dreams, it is important to look for ultimate experiences that you can only get in certain areas. For instance, there's only one Las Vegas, only one Munich. While you can get similar experiences in other places, this is your ultimate mancation adventure and you want to make sure that it is so amazing that your friends want to join you no matter what the cost!

I absolutely love fishing and some of my best and oldest memories involve sitting in a boat hoping to catch some fish. However, as much fun as it might be to simply sit there and be men while harvesting your dinner - it's essential that we are good stewards of this important natural resource. This is even more challenging when you travel to new areas where you might be less familiar with regulations and are ultimately farther away from your kitchen. However, here are some tips and advice that I've learned over the years to help men be more responsible fishermen when they travel.

If you have never been, fly fishing is as much an art form as it is a sport. While virtually anyone can stick a lure in the water and drag it behind the boat, fly fishing, IMO, requires even more understanding of your environment and brings you closer to nature - it is just you and the fish right there in the stream together.

There are trails of all sorts in this wonderful country, but North Carolina has created the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. If you love fishing and you love being out in god's country then you must at some point in your life visit this area.

One of the spots you should visit while in the area is the High Hampton Inn. Located in the heart of the new Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, the High Hampton Inn now features their very own fly fishing school!  Being the only trail of its kind in the U.S., fishermen can experience peak fishing in an area with temperatures that are generally 15 degrees cooler than lower-lying regions because of the 3,600-foot elevation.

If you've ever dreamed of the ultimate fly fishing adventure, it doesn't get much better than this. Imagine spending 17-days in the Chilean Patagonia dipping your fly into remote waters barely touched by civilization.

Thinking about heading out into the wilderness for some Montana fly fishing? The Montana Office of Tourism was nice enough to help us out with a list of some of their favorite fly fishing lodges.

I strongly encourage you to click on the links to check out the individual lodges. If you are anything like me, you will instantly want to whip out your checkbook and start making plans!

Fishing is the perfect opportunity to unwind, take in beautiful scenery, and do something you enjoy either by yourself or with a group of friends or family members. If you visit the same fishing spot quite often, a change of location can be good for you. It may seem like a difficult task to find that ideal fishing spot that has everything you're looking for, but there are many great areas available right in America.

The Gulf Coast of Florida is one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the country to visit. It's a playground for those who love to celebrate all the great things that the water can bring, without worrying about rough waves. The folks at Visit Bradenton invited me and a few of my best friends on a trip recently to Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, Florida to check it out. Here's some of the awesome fun we had while visiting the area.

Drawing from the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin who said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," I recently invested some time to check out the Hedgehog Turbo Boot and Glove Dryer. Straight from the icy fjords of Norway, this little gem is a travel friendly accessory that will keep you comfortable hiking in Utah, fishing in Montana, or Skiing in Tahoe. No matter where you go, you'll be armed with a compact brushless motor and high-pressure airflow, promises to nip the problem of damp footwear in the bud. Its design has claimed prestigious accolades including the Red Dot Award, MUSE Design Award, and NY Product Design Award in 2022.

Fishing is a great mixture of pastime, sport, interest, hobby, art, and science. Historically it is also an important skill that is critical to the survival of your family and a way for men to show that they possess the necessary talents to be considered a man. It is a peaceful thing to experience, something you can take pride in, and also something you can engage in to get away from the hardships of the world for a few hours. Today though, we can buy food from the market and fishing is more of just a healthy activity and way to spend some time on the water with clean fresh air. It is something that can be enjoyed by many no matter their age, gender, or career. Not only that, but there is a real skill to fishing. Easy to learn, hard to master is often the best phrase to use for this.

In a world dominated by technology, there's something special and primal about heading out on a boat to go fishing or in search of other adventures. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the benefits of modern technology but this connection between man and nature is something special that those choosing to sleep in and stay clean just won't ever understand. I had the opportunity to celebrate this connection between man and nature recently by taking a fishing trip with some of my blogger buddies to Punta Gorda, Florida and I can't wait to do it all over again.