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Welcome to RiverQuest Charters & Muskegon River Lodge
Greetings!
Happy New Year! The calendar has turned over a new year and that finds us on the road headed to a fly fishing show near you! Feeling like you're suffering from the winter doldrums? Make sure you take the time to read the first two articles as they may contain a remedy....
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Cold Water Therapy
Ask Captain Don Graham of RiverQuest Charters what gets him through the long winter months in Michigan and he will surely tell you that "cold water therapy" is the ticket! As the river waters cool to the mid and even lower 30's, the steelhead fishing brings the ultimate winter challenge. Whether it is the cold water where the steelhead reside or the elements the anglers can have to endure, the rewards of "cold water therapy" can surely get you back to an equilibrium much needed in the long winter season.
Winter steelhead fly fishing has long been seen a C&D delivery for success. Over the past few seasons fly fisherman have been experimenting with other techniques to deliver their flies to the depths or more importantly into the cover where conventional C&D techniques left you snagged in the logs. "Pin" fisherman have for many years held a distinct advantage drifting their presentations long distances over the prime winter cover that most fly fisherman were unable to drift. Now with cutting-edge fly lines and modern switch rods, the fly angler can rig and present indicators with a stack mending technique, drifting flies over long distances and through cover with minimal snags. I have found this technique not only extremely effective, but a very enjoyable way to fish the winter steelhead. For more information on this technique or to schedule some therapy time, click here for more information.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder 
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues. Common to those without anything to look forward to during the long winter months.
While I'm not qualified to diagnose forms of depression, I can tell you that I have a hard time going through the weeks of winter without something to look forward to on the short term. Looking forward to the fresh flowers of Spring or the first returning song birds just doesn't get it done for me. I need to do something! One such thing that keeps me going is to gather my good friends and head off on a weekend of no kids, no obligations, and nothing but relaxation and good times shared together with friends. I can tell you first-hand that a great game of poker or in my case a poorly played game of pool in the lounge with friends is exactly what I look forward to. Or, maybe you would like nothing more than to hike through the woods on a snowy afternoon and just need a place to go. The Muskegon River Lodge is my prescription, surely putting you on that path of "looking forward to" and out of the winter blues! Please inquire about our current introductory winter specials here.
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January 9, 2010 
Reel Women-Reel Men of Indianapolis, Indiana host the season's first fly fishing show at the Indiana State Fair Grounds. Club President Patti Beasley runs the show, and this year has added wing shooting as a new feature. We will have our show booth set up, and Captains Don Graham, Tom Kuieck, and Steven Kuieck will be manning the space. For more information regarding the show times and location click here. |
January 29-31, 2010
Tom Helgeson's Great Waters Expo has a new venue this year. This year's show will be held at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL.This new venue is slated to bring even more unique features to an already great show. Whether you are a novice just looking to get into the world of fly fishing or a seasoned angler looking to book a trip of a lifetime, this show has it all! For more information on the show please log onto the official website of the Great Waters Expo.
Captains Steven Kuieck, Dave Devries, and Don Graham will be in our booth this year, eagerly waiting to greet old friends and new.
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February 6, 2010
The Greater Cincinnati Fly Fishing Show, sponsored by the United Buckeye Fly Fishing Club, makes for a great start to the month of February. Each year, this show is held at the Receptions in Cincinnati, OH. The show is jam-packed with vendors and friendly people from the Mid-South region. For more information regarding this show or the club, please log onto their site.
Captains Dave Devries, Steven Kuieck, and Don Graham will be hosting the RiverQuest Charters booth this year.
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March 13-14, 2010
Rounding out our featured shows of the year is the Michigan Fly Fishing Clubs show held at Macomb Community College in Warren, MI. This show is by far and away, the largest gathering of all that is fly fishing anywhere in the Mid-West. The club has more volunteers throughout this show than any other we attend. This show shines bright on an area that needs some sunshine! For more information on the show, please log onto the club's site.
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Life's Extras
As most of you realize, my job comes with a few perks other than just holding down the floor in my boat on one of Michigan's most beautiful rivers. Periodically, I am able to sample some of this world's great cigars, wines, and scotches. Recently, I was able to enjoy a very nice Romeo and Julieta Habana Reserve from the comforts of our leather-appointed furniture in the "cave." Below, is a review of this cigar from a writer who can better explain the beauty of this fine smoke than I.
At 7 inches with a ring gauge of 54, this is a CIGAR. Looking over this Churchill before lighting, I found it constructed very well. No veins or
cracks and a firm body. It's fairly dark Nicaraguan wrapper leaf which
you'll find inside a long-leaf combination of Nicaraguan and Honduran
tobaccos.
Churchill's as a cigar length is not my usual choice. I tend to find
the length difficult to enjoy. The draw on this size of cigar is
often difficult. However, even with the length and firm construction, the
draw on the Habana Reserve was very adequate.
Rated as a medium to full bodied cigar, I found it milder that I expected.
There was a smooth, toasty aftertaste with some peppery back taste. The
flavor remained constant for the first half of the cigar. After the half-way point, there was a more obvious earthy taste, and I picked up just a hint
cinnamon. The last third maintained the wonderful flavor and injected just a
hint of spice to the mix. In the last 2", I picked up a slight peppery
tang.
I've realized that I need to start using a rating scale on my cigar
reviews. Since I'm a simple guy, I'll be using a simple point
system. The Romeo Y Juliet Habana Reserve Churchill rates a 7 points on
my 1 to 10 scale. to read more reviews from Mike, click here. I hope you find this section informative on those "extras in life"! Capt. Steven Kuieck
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