Diaries of a Lodge Owner

Hosted by Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network

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Episodes

146

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-CA

About the show

In 2009, sheet metal mechanic, Steve Niedzwiecki, turned his passions into reality using steadfast belief in himself and his vision by investing everything in a once-obscure run-down Canadian fishing lodge. After ten years, the now-former lodge owner and co-host of The Fish'n Canada Show is here to share stories of inspiration, relationships and the many struggles that turned his monumental gamble into one of the most legendary lodges in the country. From anglers to entrepreneurs, athletes to conservationists; you never know who is going to stop by the lodge.

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60 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 14551 min

Episode 145: How To Reboot A Remote Fishing Lodge Without Burning Out

Lodge season does not “start” so much as it hits you all at once. Early June brings that first real wave of guests, the scramble to reopen cabins and docks, and the reality that Mother Nature controls the schedule, especially when you are running an island lodge on the French River. We talk through what those first days actually feel like, from the excitement of opening to the gritty details that never make it into the brochure. A big theme is staffing a remote fishing lodge when turnover is normal and training time is limited. We get honest about why overhiring can be the only sane plan, how culture shock shows up fast when young staff live in a dorm-style setup, and why lodge owners spend so much time managing personalities. We also share what helps people last, including scheduling true escape time off-island so staff can reset and come back stronger. We dig into guest experience and expectation management in hospitality. Instead of pretending everything is perfect in week one, we explain the “training period” approach: subsidising early trips in exchange for patience and feedback. That shift turns guests into partners, helps returning anglers reinforce dock routines, and builds a community that improves service, reviews, and morale. Along the way, we get into the unglamorous systems that matter, like orientation, fire drills, and the very real grinder pump rules. Then we tell a spring work story that sums up lodge life: rebuilding a stone walkway with 987 bags of concrete, moved by hand on an island, right up until guests arrived. If you are thinking about lodge jobs in Canada, we also share exactly how to stand out by calling, researching, and making a real impression. Subscribe, share this with someone who loves the outdoors, and leave a review so more people can find these Stories Of The North.

May 27, 2026Episode 14419 min

Episode 144: Grief, Gratitude, And The Lessons Dad Left Behind

He wasn’t flashy. He didn’t say a whole lot. But he always had my back and that kind of fatherhood changes everything. After losing my dad just days ago, I sit down for a raw, personal reflection on grief, gratitude, and the lessons that still guide me as a lodge owner, a parent, and an outdoorsman.I talk about what it meant to take the leap into lodge ownership when the timing felt impossible, the money was tight, and the pressure was real. The story goes straight to the unglamorous truth of small business life: broken plumbing, long days, and that sinking feeling that you might not get it all done. Then comes the line my dad gave me that became a survival tool for entrepreneurship and for life: you get it done because you have to. No shortcuts, no excuses, just steady work until the job is finished.The memories that hold it all together come from the Canadian outdoors. Catfish at a local bridge, the smell of cedar and fresh water, and the quiet way a father can pass down a love for fishing, hunting, and stewardship without making a speech. If you have ever learned who you are from a parent or a father figure, this one will hit close to home.If it resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these Stories of the North.

May 13, 2026Episode 14358 min

Episode 143: Rookies On The River

A thousand-foot gill net can hold a whole day’s worth of truth about a fishery and Paige Drew has lived that reality on Lake Superior. We sit down with Paige and Caleb Johnson, two newly minted guides at Two Rivers Lodge, and talk honestly about what it means to earn your place in a lodge family when the season is just starting and the water is still near freezing. The conversation starts where most guests never get to look: broken water lines, massive food orders, generator upgrades, new docks, and the kind of teamwork it takes to make a remote Northern Ontario fishing lodge feel effortless.Paige walks us through her route from growing up around Ontario fish hatcheries and studying Fish and Wildlife at Fleming College to working Great Lakes field projects. We get into invasive species control, targeted netting, and the detailed sampling that happens after the nets come up: sorting by mesh size, measuring fork length, taking scales, collecting fin clips for genetics, and even pulling otoliths for aging. If you’ve ever wondered what fisheries science looks like on the water, this is the clearest picture you’ll get without stepping onto the tugboat.Caleb brings the next-generation angle, coming from Alberta with a YouTube goal and the drive to build something real as “The Alberta Angler.” We talk about chasing better fishing opportunities, filming in a working lodge environment, and why fish handling ethics matter if you want a sustainable trophy fishery for pike, walleye, bass, and muskie. Subscribe, share this one with a buddy who loves the North, and leave a review with your biggest question about guiding life.

April 29, 2026Episode 1421 hr 14 min

Episode 142: A Lodge Owner’s Playbook For Weather And Growth

Spring at a Northern Ontario fishing lodge can feel like two different worlds at once. We’re watching flood water threaten roads and docks around the French River and Lake Nipissing, while up near Kenora the ice is still hanging on and every plan depends on wind, rain, and when the system finally opens up. That push and pull sets the tone for a candid lodge-owner conversation about preparation, risk, and the messy reality behind a smooth guest experience. Willie “The Oilman” joins me fresh off an 11-day Louisiana fishing adventure, and the stories are as useful as they are wild. We get into bull redfish in brackish bayou water, why the slip bobber and live shrimp bite is so violent, and how the Everglades-style maze of reeds changes everything from casting to boat control. Then we zoom out to what really matters to operators: how a place like Captain Allen’s Native Adventures runs hospitality, pricing, cabins, meals, and service in a way that makes people want to return. From there, we talk fishing lodge marketing and power networking the kind that actually moves the needle. Cross-promotions, partnerships, and helping “competitors” when they’re short on staff or supplies can protect the whole region and keep standards high. We finish on team building, cross-training, and the leadership challenge of matching the right staff personalities to the right guests, plus a few hard-earned kitchen and dining room lessons. If you like fishing stories with real business insight, hit subscribe, share this with a lodge buddy, and leave a review so more anglers can find the show.

April 22, 2026Episode 1411 hr 24 min

Episode 141: Lake Simcoe Ice Fishing Recap With Hotbox Huts

The best ice seasons are not always the ones with the most chaos, they are the ones that run smooth from first hut to last pullout. We’re back with Donny Crowder of Hotbox Huts to debrief a Lake Simcoe winter that started early, stayed stable late, and gave his crew something rare: time. Time to stage “Hogtown” properly, time to avoid panic days, and time to connect with clients one-on-one so families leave with more than just fish photos.We get into what showed up under the holes this year, from big early-season perch to walleye talk and the odd sightings that make you question what you thought you knew about Simcoe. Donny also breaks down why underwater fishing cameras can be a game-changer for stationary ice fishing, especially for kids and new anglers who learn faster when they can actually see the bite and fish behaviour in real time.Then the conversation goes deep on ice safety. Donny explains how heavy snow, melt cycles, shoreline runoff, and springs can turn a “good” year into a constant monitoring job. He shares how measuring core ice temperature helps predict breakup, and why candled ice can look walkable while being structurally ready to separate when sun and water do their work.Off the ice, Donny walks us through his hundred-acre conservation-minded property, a thriving duck pond, semi-guided waterfowl hunts, and the realities of regenerative farming and making maple, birch, and silver maple syrup the old-school way. If you care about guided ice fishing in Ontario, hardwater safety, conservation, and building a life around the land, this one delivers. Subscribe, share the episode with a fishing buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

April 15, 2026Episode 1401 hr 42 min

Episode 140: We Can Train The Nervous System To Handle Modern Life

Your body already knows how to come back to centre. The problem is we rarely give it the right signal, long enough, often enough, to override modern stress. We talk with Spencer DeLeal, president of Art of Living Canada, about how rhythmic breathing and mindfulness can help reset the nervous system when life starts to feel like constant fight or flight.We dig into Sudarshan Kriya, a structured breathing technique built around rhythm, and why the breath is the most overlooked “inner technology” for stress management, anxiety, focus, and resilience. Spencer explains how stress chemistry like cortisol can hijack clear thinking and push us into reaction, and why practices that pull us into the present moment can change the way we show up at work and at home. We also connect this to real-world health: hypertension, inflammation, and the hard truth that progress disappears when we drop the daily routine.Then we get practical about what an Art of Living retreat in Quebec actually feels like: simple comfortable accommodations, vegetarian meals, morning yoga, guided breathing sessions, lakes, trails, and optional Ayurvedic spa treatments, plus a real chance at a digital detox. Spencer shares powerful outcomes from veterans’ programming, including a story about deep sleep returning after years of hypervigilance, and we talk about how learning in a group can accelerate growth the same way a guide accelerates learning outdoors.If you’ve been running on fumes, take this as your sign to try something measurable and repeatable. Listen, share this with someone who needs a reset, and subscribe and leave a review with your biggest question about breathwork and stress.

April 8, 2026Episode 1391 hr 1 min

Epiosde 139: Late Ice, Shifting Plates, And The Hard Work Of Opening A Northern Lodge

Spring up north doesn’t arrive politely. It shows up when the ice starts talking, when a route that was open yesterday is suddenly blocked by a drifting plate, and when a lodge owner has to decide whether “maybe we can make it” is actually worth the risk.It’s just you and me for a straight, practical run through the shoulder season on the French River in Ontario. I share a real late ice-out story from my Chaudiere days, including honeycomb ice, solid chunks hidden in the mess, and the cold-water safety habits that matter most when kids are in the boat. From there, we get into the part nobody wants to learn the hard way: dock damage. I break down why spring flooding can quietly destroy crib docks, how buoyancy pulls decks apart, why boat wakes turn into a jackhammer, and how those 45-gallon drums on docks are meant to keep things pinned down.Then we shift into what’s next. I talk about renting our island, why guided experiences are getting more popular, and the strange bit of north-country history sitting on the property, including a massive old chimney and the fur-trade rumours it sparks. Finally, I introduce Northern Rifle Revival, a YouTube project built around Canadian hunting heritage, old rifle mechanics, restoration choices, and the stories that come with every well-used firearm.If you enjoy real northern stories and useful lessons you can apply to your own camp or cottage, subscribe, share the show with a buddy, and leave a review. Then drop a comment and tell me what spring looks like where you are.

April 1, 2026Episode 1381 hr 32 min

Episode 138: How Joe Robinet Built A Bushcraft YouTube Legacy

One mistake can end a survival challenge. One accident can erase weeks of memory. One loss can change the shape of a whole family. We’re joined by Joe Robinet, a Canadian bushcraft and camping creator who helped define outdoor YouTube long before it was a career path, and he brings a rare mix of hard-earned skills and hard-earned perspective.We talk through Joe’s early life in Windsor, Ontario, chasing wilderness without a mentor, and the way online forums and a trusted teacher helped him become a legit outdoorsman. From there, Joe breaks down what actually built his channel: switching from “how-to” clips to story-driven canoe trips and tarp camps, staying honest on camera, and learning the unglamorous realities of the algorithm, thumbnails, titles, and audience feedback.Then we dig into Alone Season 1, including the tryouts, the pressure to film for airtime, and what it’s like to get dropped in a cedar swamp with tides, soaked wood, and no sunlight. Losing his fire steel on day two ends the run, but it also lights a fire that pushes him to outwork the setback and redefine what success looks like.The second half gets even deeper: bear safety and food storage, why hypothermia is a bigger threat than most people admit, and the story behind his CBC documentary Nerve, including a dirt bike crash, traumatic brain injury, and three weeks in an induced coma with vivid “memories” that never happened. Woven through it all is grief for his brother Isaac, and the lesson Joe wants to leave behind: learn from our mistakes before they become your pain.If this conversation hits you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these stories.

March 18, 2026Episode 1371 hr 11 min

Episode 137: How A Remote Fishing Lodge Gets Spring Ready

The season doesn’t start when the first guests arrive. It starts when you look at snowpack, water height, and a dock system that can swing by feet, then decide how you’re going to make it safe, simple, and fast for everyone walking down to the boats. Willie the Oil Man joins us with a full spring readiness download from Two Rivers Lodge, including what he’s changing on the docks, how he thinks about access for older guests, and why the smallest fixes often prevent the biggest headaches.We also get into the unglamorous part of lodge life that keeps everything alive: fuel and freight. When ice conditions and current make winter hauling risky, you need a Plan B that still protects the operation. We talk barges, staging, long runs to fuel up, and the surprising math behind paying for a helicopter sling to move barrels quickly. Along the way we detour into a Louisiana fishing trip and a fascinating breakdown of how offshore platforms stay in position, which somehow loops back into what it means to manage risk in the outdoors.From there, it’s the business side of running a fully booked fishing lodge without leaning on trade shows. Willie shares why he’d rather spend that money on guest comfort upgrades like new duvets, better coffee systems, and simple food touches like always-on homemade soup. We finish with staffing philosophy that applies to any service business: hire for character and consistency, screen for real red flags, and remember that the best guides create an experience first, fish second.If you enjoy behind-the-scenes lodge owner stories, remote lodge logistics, fishing guide culture, and customer service that actually works, subscribe, share this with a fishing buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

March 11, 2026Episode 1361 hr 31 min

Episode 136: How Tracking Jig Colours Led Me To Unlock Muskie Patterns

What if your walleye box held the key to your next muskie? We sit down with veteran multi‑species guide Patrick Tryon to unpack a hard‑won breakthrough: when walleyes get picky, the jig colour they favour often maps directly to the belly colour that triggers muskies. It’s not a theory born from luck—it’s the product of years of obsessive journaling on Lake Nipissing and the Upper French River, controlled trolling tests, and a willingness to question assumptions about colour, light, and predator focus.Pat walks us through the early breadcrumbs: chartreuse ruling most days, then suddenly failing while orange or white took over; walleyes locking onto one hue during “weird” windows; and muskies going quiet at the exact same times. He details how he stripped variables by running four identical crankbaits differentiated only by belly colour matched to jig paints, and what he learned when conditions tightened. The turning point arrives with a simple clue—black jigs outfish everything on a slow walleye day—followed by a bold switch to an all‑black Suick. Fifty‑five minutes later, two high‑40s are in the net and a pattern becomes a tool.Beyond the fish tales, this episode doubles as a blueprint for anglers who want reliable results under pressure. You’ll hear how to keep a useful fishing journal, why belly contrast can outperform top‑side flair, and how to use a high‑volume species like walleye as a real‑time sensor for apex predators. The takeaway is practical and repeatable: when walleyes get selective, match that exact jig colour to your muskie bait bellies and tighten your spread around it. It won’t win every hour, but it can save the hours that matter.If this story sparks ideas for your water, share them with us, subscribe for more field‑tested tactics, and leave a rating so other anglers can find the show. Got a colour that’s bailed you out? Tell us—we’re all adding lines to the same journal.