FISHING AND HUNTING GUIDES

Sam Rose

Sam returns in 2019 for his fourth year at MRL. Sam has made himself an invaluable part of the MRL team, working tirelessly to study and learn our waters, hunt down new fishing holes, tracking fish behavior and marking structures in order to optimize guests’ productivity for every trip. He never tiers of fishing and is always looking for ways to change the game and improve results. It’s his passion. Sam Rose Guide Sam Rose Guide fish hunt

Equally enthusiastic about our bear hunt program, Sam yearns for every minute he can spend in the bush. Weather its building new stands or repairing others, brushing new and existing trails, studying game trails and bear behavior or rethinking baiting strategies… he plays to win every time. Sam oversees and maintains a rigorous baiting protocol that produces high activity rates each season.

Two things we’ve learned about Sam – his passion for the outdoors is limitless and, don’t give him a challenge unless you’re prepared to see it through with him!

Sam grew up in Gananoque, Ontario and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age. He spent many years fishing local waters chasing large and smallmouth bass, pike and walleye becoming a proficient and avid angler. His intrigue and passion for the outdoors led him to also take up hunting in his youth, pursuing both large and small game including waterfowl and upland birds, deer and moose. Today he is a knowledgeable outdoorsman, equally comfortable in the bush and on the water and eager to share his experience helping others enjoy, learn and succeed in their wilderness pursuits.

Prior to joining MRL, Sam also guided successful whitetail deer and black bear hunts in northern Saskatchewan. There he attended to all aspects of hunt operations including clearing and brushing, sighting reports, baiting, transportation, tracking and retrieval and processing of game. He worked closely with hunter guests ensuring their safety, providing guidance and advice and ultimately meeting their needs for optimizing their experience and success.

Sam has also trained and worked in the resort hospitality industry in various roles including maintenance, grounds keeping and food preparation. He possesses a strong work ethic, positive demeanor and commitment to customer service.

Needless to say, we are thrilled to have Sam back for 2019. We love him and our guests love him. Welcome back Sammy!

Brad Foster

We are pleased to announce the addition of Brad Foster to our professional guide team for the 2019 season. Brad hails from Oshawa and Peterborough areas and has been a life-long outdoor enthusiast and committed sportsman. Brad-Foster-Bass

Part of Brad’s commitment to developing his strong knowledge and experience has been his ten years of study, employment and certification in the environmental, natural resources and fish and wildlife sectors. Through his schooling and work with organizations including WSP Canada, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute and the Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research, Brad has developed strong habitat identification skills and a comprehensive understanding of fish and wildlife species movements and behaviours. Brad-Foster-Walleye.

In his youth Brad spend his summers at his grandparent’s cottage near Bancroft where he would fish Walleye, Pike, Bass, and Trout. As he grew up he developed a close connection with his Uncle Curtis, who also lived in Bancroft and was a versatile tradesman, hunting guide and trapper. Brad’s passion and knowledge for construction and hunting flourished as a result of that bond. Today Brad is the beneficiary of a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm.

Brad brings to MRL his results-driven approach and his tool box of techniques to keep guests catching fish under all conditions. Brad has spent countless hours on the water and in the bush guiding people on many successful hunting and fish expeditions and educating them about the wonderful and awe-inspiring Canadian outdoors.

MRL is committed to providing our guests with The Ultimate Outdoor Adventure and we are confident Brad’s addition to the team will uphold our high standards of customer experience.

Welcome Brad!

Sean Costello

Sean Guide at Marten River Lodge After a productive season with MRL in 2018, Sean has decided to pursue other career goals in North Bay, but his passion for the outdoors remains strong. As such, Sean remains part of our freelance pool of guides that we can call on when needed.

Having grown up in North Bay and area, Sean has spent most of his life in the bush and on the water…fishing and hunting many species of wildlife and developing a remarkable knowledge of the outdoors.

A true northerner at heart, Sean exudes a feverish enthusiasm for all things outdoors. He holds nothing back and is eager to share his insights and experiences with our guests. He brings his lifetime of local, in-field expertise on area lakes and waterways, and practical awareness of the bush, wildlife and real-life accounts of northern living.

Sean’s skills assets and outdoors life experiences complement the high service level standards we strive to uphold at MRL and we are happy he remains a resource for us and our guests.

Brian Dougall

A.K.A. “The Fish Whisperer”, Fishing guide Brian Dougall Marten River Lodge Brian has been guiding in the Temagami region for over 40 years and a member of our guide pool at MRL for many years. He is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable outdoorsmen in the area, having spent most of his life in Marten River, moving here with his parents when they owned and operated their own fishing camp.

A trapper by trade, entrepreneur and multi-talented tradesman, there’s not much Brian doesn’t do. His cool and calm demeanor and dry sense of humour makes spending time with him on the water a unique and entertaining experience. Not to mention his natural ability to get you on fish! You’d swear he speaks to them!

Brian has fished just about every lake in the area and has trained others in the art and science of guiding. Few have mastered his magic touch. “Old School” in his approach, he is a champion of the back-trolling technique that is the mainstay of fishing in our northern waters and a proven method for high-volume productivity.

Many people marvel at Brian’s simple, straight forward and unpretentious disposition. He is an honest, gentle man with real-life stories that exemplify the northern wilderness experience. With Brian, there’s no fuss, no muss…just a genuine, matter-of-fact, get-‘er-done attitude about fishing. And when the stringers are full, that says all he needs to say.

After a successful day’s fishing and guests return to camp, Brain enjoys a beer (or six) in the garage and sharing new and old stories that captivate and inspire. He has been a friend and mentor to Marten River Lodge for many years, an active member of our community and we are grateful for his association with us.

Here’s to another season Brian…and more great stories to come!

Dave Simpson

Dave Simpson Guide Davey has been associated with MRL through three different owners over the past 17 years and worked as a Guide for most of that time. In fact, he played a leading role in the development of MRL’s back lake fishing and bear hunt programs which remain key drivers of the business today. The protocols and service standards he helped establish remain firmly engrained in our operations.

A proficient hunter, angler, trapper, knife maker and outdoorsman, Davey cut his way through our vast wilderness to explore and open up remote lakes in the pursuit of quality fishing experiences for MRL guests. Similarly, he combed through 150 square kilometers of our Bear Management Area to locate and construct our stands and blinds and create optimal positions for MRL’s bear hunt program. His legacy of work remains core to guest experiences today and MRL’s ongoing success as a premier lodge.

In more recent years, Davey has been part of our mentorship team and a tremendous resource to us and to a new generation of guides who have benefited from his tutelage and who now carry on the tradition of providing our guests with the Ultimate Outdoor Adventure. Though Davey now runs his own Home Inspection business, he remains a valued ally to the MRL team and occasionally guides for us when his schedule permits.

Guests who have the opportunity to venture out into the bush and on the water with Davey are in for a special treat, some great stories and a memorable day’s experience.