New Hampshire and Costa Rica based fly-fishing, sporting marine, gamefish, sportfishing painter and illustrator, Mike Savlen finally connected with one of his fishing goals: catching a huge bull roosterfish.

There are younger fish with intact dorsals, unscathed skin who are frankly prettier looking. But this fish was so right for the moment that one is left wondering just what forces may have been at play here.  The time-n-chance factor is a major player in life – but there are times when even it doesn’t have this much pull on life’s events.

The old bull wrestled Mike for an exhausting 45 minutes before allowing himself to be subdued. Mike carefully hoisted the old ‘boy’ aboard. Snapping the requisite shots, Mike then carefully lowers him back into the briney world from whence he came.

For a few moments – with his gills being surged with fresh oxygen – strength returns to the old warrior and with a thrust from his tail, Mike gets the nod and releases him back into the depths.

Mike captured this moment on this video of : Mike Savlen releasing his 1st buck Roosterfish.  A testement to the value of this meeting.

Mike Savlen, fab marine sporting artist, lands his first roosterfish; a big, old buck;

In the fading light of a peaceful afternoon’s fishing, Captain Roger LaPenter, with poling staff in hand, watches the ‘flats’ for signs of feeding fish.

Dressed in his customary ‘guide gear’ – shorts, short-sleeve flats-shirt, baseball cap and sporting his signature, flowing white fu-goatee, he scans the water looking every bit the part of the consummate flats fishing guide. And this is very true. However, it is NOT where most would believe: that being off Florida or elsewhere in the warm, sapphire blue waters of the Caribbean.

The waters on which Capt LaPenter plies the majority of his days-on-the-water, are those in the northern water world of upper Wisconsin; specifically the water flats of Chequamegon Bay, Lake Michigan, out of Ashland, Wisconsin.

Capt LaPenter, through his guide business Anglers All Wisconsin does guide in many parts of the world, his primary ‘business’ is conducted in the Chequamegon Bay ‘office park’. If you’re interested in fishing in his country, then contact him. You will have a memorable experience, even if the fish are less than cooperative.

Capt. Roger LaPenter, AnglersAllWisconsin.com, sets atop the sighting platform as he negotiates the 'Wisconsin Flats' of the nothern Wisconsin Chequamegon Bay country