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Diaries of a Lodge Owner
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.
Episodes
132 episodes
Episode 131: Unplugged On Purpose
The moment your phone loses signal and the shoreline comes into focus, something shifts. We dig into why that feeling matters—and how an outdoor lodge can design for it—by drawing a hard line on connectivity in the cottages while keeping smart ...
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Episode 131
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54:11
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Epiosde 130: Lodge Life, Unfiltered
The story starts before dawn and doesn’t end until the last plate is stacked. We open the door to real lodge life: the 5 a.m. kitchen huddles, the dockside calm for nervous boaters, the septic fixes nobody sees, and the dining room standards th...
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Episode 130
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1:15:57
Episode 129: What Happens When Experience Outweighs The Catch
What if the secret to a thriving lodge isn’t the bite count, but the rituals that make strangers feel like family? We share how a northern fishing lodge shifted from “catch-first” to “community-first” using simple, repeatable traditions that tu...
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Episode 129
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1:18:48
Episode 128: Your Lodge’s Past Is The Blueprint For Its Future
What if your lodge’s past was the strongest marketing you have? We sit down with Willie “the Oilman” to unpack how a northern lodge thrives today by selling a lifestyle, telling its origin story with pride, and using trade shows as a stage—not ...
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Episode 128
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1:04:06
Episode 127: Are Big Trade Shows Still Worth It For Lodge Owners
The floor may be buzzing, but the best trade show wins often happen in quiet moments—over a handshake, a shared story, or a thoughtful follow-up that arrives right when someone is ready to book. We open up about the early missteps, the pressure...
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Episode 127
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1:19:16
Episode 126: Ice Village On Lake Simcoe
Ever seen a town pop up on a frozen bay? We sat down with Donnie Crowder of Hot Box Huts to explore how a three-hut hobby became “Hogtown,” a 52‑hut ice fishing village on Lake Simcoe built around safety, comfort, and catching more fish. An ear...
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Episode 126
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1:17:35
Episode 125: Bears, Bait, And Betting On Yourself
Forget the neat arc of a nine-to-five. We sat down with Kyle Satchery, a small-town barber who spends spring and summer trapping live bait and guiding bear hunts when the weather turns, to unpack a life that moves with ice, bugs, and bookings. ...
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Episode 125
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1:08:01
Episode 124: How An Oil Patch Mindset Rebuilt A Northern Fishing Lodge
A hot-tub sunrise under northern stars. A beached fuel barge after the dam closes. Guests stepping off rocks because the docks aren’t ready yet—but they can see the heart and the plan. We sit down with Willie “the Oil Man” to unpack the real wo...
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Episode 124
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1:04:19
Episode 123: How A Reality Fishing Show Shaped Two Careers And A Lifelong Passion
A tornado on Lake Nipissing. Fifty anglers. Cameras sprinting through bush while boats pound eight‑footers—and a single log that quietly holds the winning bag. We pull back the curtain on The Last Call, the 2004 reality fishing series that push...
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Episode 123
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1:11:05
Episode 122: Walleye, Wolves, And A Year in the North
Some seasons don’t just hand you fish; they hand you perspective. We kicked off with cold rivers, hot saunas, and the truth every lodge owner knows—how you close determines how you open—then rolled into a year that tested instincts, technology,...
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Episode 122
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1:13:55
Episode 121: Science, Myths, And The Hunt For Muskies
The fish of 10,000 casts can feel like a slot machine with a mind of its own—and that’s exactly why we can’t stop chasing it. We dig into why muskie obsession grips so hard, how one strike wipes out weeks of slow days, and why the best stories ...
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Episode 121
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1:25:59
Episode 120: The Mind of a Guide - Lessons from 10,000 Casts
We sit down with French River muskie guide Pat Tryon to explore what actually makes a trip unforgettable: humility, timing, and a sharp eye for what guests truly want. From long days chasing a single follow to easy afternoons spotting eagles an...
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Episode 120
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1:10:54
Episode 119: First Season At Two Rivers Lodge
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 ke...
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Episode 119
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1:09:05
Episode 118: How Chasing Trophy Muskies Teaches Leadership, Discipline, And The Long Game
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 growi...
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Episode 118
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1:14:45
Episode 117: Preventing Rental Boat Disasters On Northern Waters
We share the unspoken truth about rental boat damage, how to read buoys with confidence, and the specific checks that keep people safe and motors alive. Scotty brings years of lodge management and mechanical know-how to help guests, cottagers, ...
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Episode 117
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1:00:05
Episode 116: Winds, Wolves, and Walleye
A glass wall, a dozen yellow-eyed timber wolves, and a wind that wouldn’t let up—our northern run from Wawa to Timmins had all the ingredients for a trip that teaches more than it takes. We hit record in the truck ride home to unpack what reall...
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Episode 116
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1:04:49
Episode 115: From Katrina’s Ruins to a Beloved Waterfront Brand
What if the fastest way to build a profitable company is to stop building for profit? That’s the paradox at the heart of our conversation with Ron Ladner, the force behind Shaggy’s—the waterfront restaurant brand born in the wake of Hurricane K...
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Episode 115
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1:21:18
Episode 114: Manufacturing “luck” through time on the water
What if “luck” isn’t your enemy in fishing, but the spark that starts every great pattern? We dive into the messy, humbling, and unforgettable moments that turn random bites into reliable tactics you can repeat—from a dead-herring stalemate to ...
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Episode 114
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1:34:51
Episode 113: Following the Food - Predator Fish and Migration Patterns
Angelo Viola and Dean Taylor join us at Lodge 88 on Esnagi Lake for an exciting fishing adventure, sharing strategies and stories while filming for the 40th season of Fish'n Canada.• Live bait versus hard baits debate for northern lake ...
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Episode 113
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1:04:26
Episode 112: Finding a Voice in Canadian Fishing
What happens when someone who grew up with a speech impediment suddenly finds themselves co-hosting one of Canada's most iconic fishing shows? Dean Taylor's journey from behind-the-scenes team member to on-air personality for Fish'n Canada reve...
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Episode 112
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1:04:56
Episode 111: When Things Go Wrong At The Lodge
The wilderness has a way of teaching its toughest lessons at the most inconvenient moments. Steve Niedzwiecki pulls back the curtain on the chaotic realities of running a northern fishing lodge, where Murphy's Law isn't just a saying—it's pract...
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Episode 111
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1:09:55
Episode 110: The Hidden Seasons of Lodge Life
Ever wondered what happens at your favorite fishing lodge when the boats are stored and the last guest drives away? The magic of those perfect summer days on the water doesn't materialize from thin air—it's crafted through months of behind-the-...
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Episode 110
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1:15:04
Episode 109: The Return of Willie?
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 pre...
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Episode 109
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1:09:04
Episode 108: Fishing, Finding Purpose, and Full Circle Moments
Have you ever wondered what life might look like if you actually pursued the thing that makes you leap out of bed in the morning? Jake Monk's journey offers a rare glimpse into what happens when passion meets opportunity and purpose finds its p...
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Episode 108
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1:18:22
Episode 107: Wilderness Luxury: Rick Dolishny's Glamping Revolution
Escape to the edge of wilderness luxury in this eye-opening conversation with Rick Dolishny, who alongside partner Jenn Carr has created Ontario's most innovative glamping experience at Maynooth Station Lodge. Rick shares the fasci...
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Episode 107
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1:01:15