Diaries of a Lodge Owner – Details, episodes & analysis

A northern lodge season can turn on a single moment: a kid’s jig drops to a LiveScope mark and a 41.5-inch pike surges from the deep. We ride that energy across a year of big fish, bigger decisions, and the quiet math of winter planning that keeps a remote camp alive. Willie the Oil Man joins us for a no-filter catch-up on Two Rivers Lodge—what worked, what broke, and what we learned while chasing muskies in 55-degree water, stacking 100-walleye days a mile from the dock, and filming fly anglers who make a boatside figure-eight look like art.

We dig into the nuts and bolts of remote operations: mapping safe ice around current to tow 500s and drums, cutting barge runs with smart logistics, and leaning on customer-first partners who keep fleets humming. On the water, we talk fly fishing for trophy pike with Orvis talent, boatside eats, and the patient mechanics of a cast that becomes a strip and then a perfect figure-eight. Off the water, we take cabins from good to elite by following one rule—every arrival should feel brand new—and back it up with professional visuals that finally match the experience.

The wilds push back too. We break down a bull moose encounter at ten feet, deer that treat town like a buffet, and coyotes smart enough to lure dogs. Most importantly, we walk through Ontario’s Bear Wise protocol step by step—who to call, what to report, and how to act when a bear turns from curious to dangerous. It’s a frank look at safety, responsibility, and the judgment that keeps guests protected without grandstanding. We wrap with show circuit plans, rehab progress, and some pure fan joy—Bills Mafia highs and Blue Jays postseason grit—because up here, community matters as much as any catch.

If this story from the North hooked you, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves wild places, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more anglers and adventurers find their way to the lodge.

What keeps you casting when the lake goes dead quiet and your fingers are numb? We sit down with Ugly Pike co-host and Passador BJJ owner, Frank Ungaro, to map the shared DNA between landing trophy muskies, leading a thriving academy, and growing a podcast people trust. The common thread is obsession paired with integrity—showing up, learning fast, and respecting the community that makes the chase worth it.

Frank takes us into a Lac Seul trip derailed by a brutal cold front, where structure, timing, and humility became the only tools that mattered. We talk fall muskie strategy on the St. Lawrence, Georgian Bay, and the Ottawa corridor, why the “fish of a lifetime” often arrives in freezing wind, and how local intel outperforms a suitcase full of the wrong baits. From blades tuned to skim thin weed windows to trolling tracks that hold under helicopter shadows, the tactics are hard-won and specific.

Off the water, we dive into building culture—how Frank refuses to be ruled by membership numbers, how attrition shapes a gym, and why promoting people is about character as much as skill. We trace the Ugly Pike Podcast from a scrappy two-episode start to a weekly platform that mixes advanced muskie talk with real life.

If you’re chasing bigger fish and bigger goals, this conversation will sharpen your edge. You’ll leave with practical fall tactics, a clearer sense of what real leadership looks like, and the reminder that patience isn’t passive—it’s active, disciplined pursuit.

The legend returns! After mysteriously disappearing, Willie "the Oil Man" has resurfaced at Two Rivers Lodge in northwestern Ontario. This episode reveals his ambitious journey of resurrection—transforming an abandoned fishing resort into a premium wilderness destination.

Willie walks us through the extraordinary challenges his team faced: a main lodge sinking into the water, wildlife reclaiming the buildings (including bears using the shuffleboard table as a toilet), and devastating forest fires that nearly derailed the entire project. Yet through ingenuity and determination, they've created something spectacular. The elite-level cabins have been restored to their former glory, while innovative techniques like using airbags to re-level a massive lakefront deck showcase their resourcefulness.

What makes Two Rivers truly special is its unique location at the convergence of four major Canadian watersheds—creating a fishery that produces trophy specimens across multiple species. Willie shares stories of incredible fishing success: 74 fish before 10:30am, northern pike exceeding 40 inches, and muskie adventures where first-time anglers are connecting with multiple trophy fish in a single day.

Perhaps most remarkable is the appearance of an extremely rare albino beaver on the property—considered by local indigenous communities to be a powerful spiritual sign of protection and good fortune. This extraordinary encounter happened just days after the team had disposed of a damaged taxidermy specimen of the same rare creature that had been in the lodge.

Rather than maximizing capacity, Willie is deliberately keeping Two Rivers intimate—focusing on exceptional experiences for a limited number of guests. It's a philosophy that prioritizes sustainability, conservation, and creating authentic connections to this special wilderness environment.

Ready for your own northern adventure? Experience the resurrection of Two Rivers Lodge firsthand—where wildlife, walleye, and Willie await to create memories that will last a lifetime.

This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we spend some time with this outstanding lifelong angler, professional guide, and owner and operator of Rising Sun Charters.

And when he's not guiding his guests to the fish of a lifetime, he's co-hosting with Brad Sinopoli, one of the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's newest podcasts, The Tackle Box.

We get to know this Ottawa man of mystery in a new light and reveal the dirt road he followed to get to where he is today. And it is now my pleasure to introduce to all of you Jamie Pistilli.

On this show, we find out how Jamie decided at an early age that he was going to make his passion, his profession, and the doors that it opened. We talk about all that's important. And discuss in detail some freshwater fish species that may not have hit your sonar, and a lot that do.

As always, we tell a few stories and talk fishing, baby! So if you love fish talk, guide stories, and all that's important, grab a big net. We don't want you to miss this one. 

This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, I am so excited to bring to you a wonderful group of guys as we sit around the table and sum up our annual musky fishing trip. For the first time, our group of five has expanded to include two sons and one father. 

And it reminded me of one of the most important things in life, spending quality, undistracted time in nature with the ones you love. And it is my pleasure to introduce Brian and his son, Dec Ingram, Pat and his dad, Bob Tryon, Paul Cooperschmidt, and my son, Mikey, to all of you. 

As Canadians, we are so blessed to have such rich natural resources steeped in history at our fingertips. And it is in our DNA as human beings. To explore and experience it. And in my humble opinion, there is nothing that brings us closer together than sharing time in nature without distraction with the ones we love. And I know for a fact that if we took more time to disconnect from our phones and daily stresses of life, to reconnect with our children, family and friends, This world 100 percent would be a better place on this show.

We sit around the old cottage table and talk about our experience, tell a tale or two, and we even share the blueprint for the highlight of any trip: how to prepare a proper Upper French River Shore Lunch.  So if you're searching for a way to reconnect with your loved ones,  listen to this. Here's the round table conversation with the Muskie Hunters. 

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we sit down with one of our country's finest fly fishermen, whose roots run over 25 years deep in the television industry.

But the path he followed from the back rooms of TSN to the forefront of WFN must have seemed like a thousand winding roads. His journey saw him produce and host WFN shows like... Reel Road Trip and Guided, which laid the foundation for where he is today. And it is my pleasure to sit with this co-owner and co-host of one of the most popular fly fishing television shows on the planet, The New fly Fisher television show. I know you will love spending time with this outstanding angler and amazing family man, Mark Melnyk.

On this show, we see Mark in a different light, a truly raw and honest look at where he came from, his struggles, and ultimately his many successes along the way. So grab them New Fly Fisher rods and hold on tight. You won't want to miss getting to know Mark Melnyk.

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's, Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we tackle a large topic - the health of our ecosystems and shed some light on what's happening in Northern Ontario.

When you own a business that revolves around, and literally lives inside an ecosystem,a prudent owner knows it's crucial to protect it. We sell experiences based in nature that revolve around clean water, fresh air, and the stunning beauty of the flora and fauna within. One of my greatest joys was sharing with my guests the extraordinary beauty of nature in a way that very few could and, over the years, I was always involved in protecting our resources in any way possible and that continues to this day.

So when I found this passionate, ambitious young man doing the same thing, I had to jump on board. This host of the Wild Ontario Podcast can be found on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. And it is my pleasure to introduce to you, James Alofs.

On this show, we focus on the use of glyphosates, one of the most controversial chemicals on the planet. Some studies say this herbicide does not affect the health of the environment at all. Some studies say it is a probable cause of cancer in humans. What else is affected? Why is it used? And is it necessary? And with the health of our ecosystems in mind, should we be doing something about it? You be the judge.

So if you want to know what's going on in our outdoors, you need to take this one in. And I think you will be stunned to find out what's going on right under our noses.

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's, Diaries of a Lodge Owner, I grab the reins and go this one solo.

Well folks, with fall briskly marching on, my favourite time of the year is quickly slipping away into winter, once again. And this change in seasons always forces me into a very sad task, closing the cottage until spring.

But, as a lodge owner for over a decade, I learned how to become extremely efficient at this task, and I wanted to sit down and talk to you about some cottage closing cracks that I learned the hard way.

On this show, I take you through UV lights docking systems and s***  pipes Share some of the wee nuggets that I learned along the way over the years To help you save time and money when it comes to closing up your cottage for the winter.
 
So if you have a place to winterize, or just want to hear some stories about me doing it the hard way, then stay tuned, I know you will enjoy these cottage closing cracks!

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast  Network's, Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we explore one of the most fundamental ingredients used in raising one's vibration, building relationships and creating long-lasting memories and experiences. That ingredient... Music.

One of the traits that defines the human species above all others is our passion to make, listen, and enjoy music together, something we've been doing since the beginning of time. It is one of the keys to my success as a lodge owner, and once again, while I was enjoying a visit to the lodge, through music, I met and thoroughly enjoyed an evening with another musician and all around fantastically interesting guy. And I knew I had to introduce him to all of you.

Folks, meet Rory Wardell.

On this show, we talk about the power of music, the positive ways it affects everyone it touches, and how it has moulded us into the people we are today. We share stories of how music has bridged gaps and how it can and has created long-lasting memories in the minds of people in every facet of life.

So pull a stump and a six-string up round the old campfire as we pick, and you grin, and we get to know Rory Wardell!

This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we get into the mind of a man who seized the day and turned his passion into a way of life. With a great story and an outstanding product, I know you will thoroughly enjoy getting to know this titan of the handcrafted musky-bait-making world, the boss man himself, Paul Festerio.

On this show, we get to know this kingpin and the passion that drives him to hunt down this toothy lion of the lake. We share some stories and learn how to tune and use these iconic boss shad baits right from the source. So if you're wondering who's the boss, well, the big boss man himself is in the house.

The creator of the Boss Shad Muskie Bait Company, Paul Frusterio.