Sunday Classic / Bonefish Flats Revealed
IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR OPPONENT, AND TO THAT END IT’S GOOD TO KNOW HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
When we look at a bonefish flat we tend to perceive it as two- dimensional. It’s right there in the name, flat. The truth is, it’s far from flat. The bonefish’s world is as three-dimensional as ours. It’s a landscape full of hills and valleys, mounds and burrows. The crabs, shrimp and such that bonefish feed on use these features to hide or escape from the hungry predator. Knowing this can give us an advantage.
Saturday Shoutout / Dam The Corp
“Anyone who believes our dam-managing agencies can do the right thing when it comes to salmon recovery is kidding themselves.”
It’s a familiar story. The stark disconnect between the people’s mandate and the government’s actions. This excellent piece by Jim Waddell discloses what he saw during his time with the Army Corps of Engineers as deputy district engineer at the Walla Walla District, which operates the four dams on the Lower Snake River in Eastern Washington. If you care about the future of wild salmon and steelhead, it’s worth your time,
“DAM-MANAGING AGENCIES WON’T DO THE RIGHT THING FOR SNAKE RIVER DAMS”
Read More »Sightline Contest Winner
Someone’s getting their Sightline on!
The entries are in for the Sightline contest on Instagram and francoisnadeau is the winner. Looks like he’s doing a little atlantic salmon fishing and he’ll be looking good on the river in his new Sightlines gear.
Thanks for your entries and a big thanks to Sightline for donating the prize. If you haven’t seen their stuff, check it out HERE.
What??? You’re not following us on Instagram? Are you crazy? Fix that right now!
Read More »Sunday Classic / The Best Way to Improve Your Trout Game
The single best way to improve your trout game is to fly fish on trout water that challenges you.
I’m talking about super technical water where trout are wary and extremely educated. The places where the smartest of trout live, where all you get is one or two shots to hit your target. These trout streams force you to maintain the highest level of discipline in your fly fishing. You have to think out every step of your approach and presentation to find success. If you fail at executing these strict requirements, you’ll almost certainly be skunked on the water.
It’s really easy for many of us with our busy schedules to focus our time fly fishing locations that allow us the most success, or should I say the easiest success. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy these easy trout streams myself, where I can immediately start catching fish within minutes of wetting my line. Just remember, if all you do is fish easy trout water, you’re going to have a rude awakening when you finally get around to stepping foot on a truly technical trout stream. You won’t find success, your confidence will shrivel, your pride will take a beating and you’ll probably feel like crawling off into a hole when it all said and done. Not only that, but you’ll also be impeding the improvement of your fly fishing skills in the process, and you’ll be no different than a kid refusing to take off the training wheels on his/her bike because it’s easier and safer.
So change up your routine, step away from your comfort zone and the rookie trout water for a while. Next time you go fly fishing, choose trout water that requires you to bring your absolute best to catch fish. Be prepared for there to be a learning curve, and some very slow days. But continue to
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Now Or Neverglades
Don’t miss this chance to help save the Florida Everglades, You won’t get another.
Finally, finally, FINALLY! Something is getting done to help stop the tragic and ongoing destruction of the Florida Everglades. I’d personally like the thank the Orris company and in particular Perk Perkins, who I don’t think gets the credit he deserves for his conservation work. Good job gentlemen.
If you are not aware of the situation in the Everglades you should read this post from Orris news. Either way you should add your name to the Now or Neverglades Declaration. I have. This fragile ecosystem is on its last legs and if it goes down it will take the fisheries in the Florida Keys with it. Don’t hesitate.
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE NOW OR NEVERGLADES DECLARATION.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN.
Read More »The Fishpond Thunderhead Fishing Pack Reviewed
Every couple of years a piece of fly fishing gear comes along that makes me wonder how I lived without it.
The Fishpond Thunderhead pack is one of those brilliant designs. It makes you wonder if the folks at Fishpond will ever run out of great ideas. This pack solves some specific problems for me and is versatile enough that you may find uses for it no one has thought of.
Like many great ideas, the Thunderhead is a simple one. A waterproof sling pack. That doesn’t sound like cold fusion. It’s exactly the simplicity of it that I love. It’s versatile, functional, durable and comfortable.
To start with, the Thunderhead is actually waterproof. Not water resistant, but totally dry, which is great for flies and gear but absolutely essential for cameras and other electronics. This was what initially got my attention. I am always looking for a safe, comfortable way to carry my camera and lenses, sound recording gear and cell phone and still be able to fish. The Thunderhead is the best solution I’ve found yet.
It’s the perfect size. You can load it with a surprising amount of gear without it becoming cumbersome to fish in. It swings completely behind you where it doesn’t interfere with line management or hang up on bushes. The wide shoulder strap is comfortable and doesn’t wear on you, even when the pack gets heavy. A waist strap can be used to keep the pack from sliding around, but I seldom find it necessary.
The Thunderhead uses the same waterproof zipper as the Yeti Hopper soft cooler. It’s extremely rugged and completely waterproof. It also makes the pack easy to get in and out of, unlike roll-top packs. I discovered a bonus to
Read More »Happy Birthday To Me
Happy 4th of July G&G fans! Here’s a piece of trivia for you, the good old US-of-A shares its birthday with Gink and Gasoline.
Today is a kind of special day. G&G turns 5. It’s hard to believe but it was 5 years ago today that the first post went live. It’s been an amazing 5 years and I can not tell you what your support has meant to me in that time. I simply can not thank you enough.
Much has changed and much has stayed the same. We remain committed to delivering the best fly fishing content possible. We stay focused on our community and we dedicate ourselves to our readers. I would like to share with you the 2 things I am most proud of in the last 5 years.
Our annual readership has grown to 2.5 million.
In our 5 years on lime we have posted every single day.
Now, just for fun, Here is the first ever Gink and Gasoline post from July 4th 2011.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Careful Where You Point That Thing
TOOTHY AND GENERALLY ILL TEMPERED, BARRACUDA ARE A BLAST TO CATCH ON THE FLY.
Their vicious attack is almost unbelievable to watch. My buddy Andrew Bennett holds a nice one here for a sub-surface hero shot.
The Bahamians eat them. Barracuda are generally not edible because they eat poisonous reef fish and store the toxins. Eating one in the Florida Keys will kill you. The cuda that live on the flats can be safe, but it’s a risk. The Bahamians have a test.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / America’s Most Un-Wanted
It’s official, the most endangered American river runs right by my house.
“The basin that includes the Chattahoochee, Apalachicola and Flint rivers is the country’s most endangered, according to a study released today by the conservation nonprofit American Rivers.
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers report says chronic mismanagement of the rivers, coupled with legal jockeying between Florida, Alabama and Georgia over water control has “put the basin at a breaking point.”
Excessive water use, mishandling by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and political gridlock have caused disastrous consequences for Florida’s Apalachicola Bay, the report says. Oyster, crab, shrimp and other species in the bay — where the rivers deposit into the Gulf of Mexico — were “decimated in 2012 and have scarcely recovered since,” the report states.” – Lagrange Daily News
Most of our readers will not even recognize the name Chattahoochee River. It has never and will never be known as one of America’s great rivers but it has been a very special place to me. This beautiful river was the first place I ever had a 100 fish day or saw a blizzard hatch. Unfortunately, those are but distant memories. I have watched this river die right before my eyes.
Yes, there are still trout in the Chattahoochee and
Read More »Umpqua’s Bandolier, Just What You Need
By Louis Cahill
The more I fish, the less I want to carry, and the Bandolier fishing pack from Umpqua makes it easy to carry just what you need and nothing else.
The bandolier is one of Umpqua’s new Zero Sweep packs, which feature slick, anti-snag design. These durable fishing packs are beautifully designed and keenly functional. They have the features you need and nothing you don’t to get in the way. The Bandolier is the smallest pack in the line and my personal favorite.
It’s designed to work as either a sling pack or wist pack and does both well. It’s made for the angler who knows what they need and keeps things simple. It’s light weight and stays out of the way. The materials and construction and very good and it dries quickly. Best of all, you can wear it all day without knowing it’s there.
The main compartment easily holds 2 large fly boxes. There are 2 side compartments for accessories, which are large enough to hold a trout reel. There are 6 internal pockets, one zippered, for organization and a lanyard for keys or whatever you like. The space is well organized and everything is in sight when you open the pack. No digging for lost tackle.
There are 4 Zero Sweep tool docks on the front of the pack.
The 2 on the outsides accommodate zingers. You can also use elastic cords or rubber bands to keep nippers and other tools in their pockets. The 2 center docks hold hemostats or similar tools. These docking stations perform as advertised. They keep tools at hand, while keeping them from grabbing your line or catching on brush. A cord hidden in a velcro pocket up front holds tippet spools for easy access.
The drying patch on this and other new Umpqua packs is a huge upgrade. The foam patches are now
Read More »