Saturday Shoutout / Koz’s Steelhead Kandy & TFM 12 Days of Xmas
Today’s fly fishing Saturday Shoutout on Gink & Gasoline, we spotlight Brian Kozminski’s signature Great Lakes Steelhead Kandy. If you like surfing the web for fly fishing related content, you’ve probably run across Michigan fly fishing guide and veteran blogger, Brian Kozminski many times in the past. Brian is highly active in the fly fishing scene, an all around friendly dude, and a very talented guide and fly tier. There’s nothing not to like about this Brian and I love that he’s stayed humble despite his huge following.
When I ran across Koz’s Steelhead Kandy fly pattern, I immediately wanted to showcase it on the G&G website. This proven Great Lakes steelhead fly pattern tied by Brian, is special for a number of reasons. First, it’s extremely easy to tie. So easy, in fact, a first-time fly tier could manage the tying recipe), but it’s also extremely durable and versatile enough that the attractor pattern can be downsized to catch trout and other species. I’m in the process of tying some of these guys up right now, and I’ll be getting them wet later this week.
Check out the Step-by-step fly tying tutorial for all the details on this great fly pattern.
Read More »The TFO Mangrove Saltwater Fly Rod
WE CAUGHT UP WITH BRANDON POWERS FROM TFO AT IFTD THIS YEAR AND HE SHOWED US THE NEW MANGROVE SALTWATER FLY ROD.
TFO charged Flip Pallot with designing the fly rod he wanted to put in his client’s hands and the Mangrove was the result. A smooth action rod that anyone can cast. The perfect balance of power and presentation.
I was impressed with this rod and took one to the Bahamas on my last trip. It was a joy to fish. You can read about that (HERE), but make sure you click on the full post.
In this video Brandon gives you the lowdown on the new Mangrove fly rod.
Read More »Bahamas 2 Fly Free special
IF YOU’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MAKING A RUN FOR THE BAHAMAS TO DO A LITTLE BONEFISHING, NOW IS A GOOD TIME.
The Bahamian board of tourism has extended its “2 fly free” program through June 30th 2014. This is a great way to save some serious cash on a Bahamas vacation. I’ve done it twice now and it’s a sweet deal. Here’s how it works.
Stay 4 nights at a participating hotel on any of the Bahamian out islands and the price of the flight (for 2) from Nassau to the island comes off the hotel bill. Stay 3 nights and get one free flight. That’s around $150 per person.
All you have to do is book your trip by June 30th 2014 and travel by October 31st 2014. Black-out Dates: December 22nd – 31st, 2013 & March 4th – April 14th, 2014. You can find more info (HERE) or call Bahamas Tourism at 1.866.689.5505
Of course, we still have a couple of spots open in our G&G Andros South trip with Simms and Thomas & Thomas April 19-26! If you want to enjoy the world’s best bonefishing with the islands’ best guides and get some free gear from Simms and T&T you should act fast. It’s going to be awesome. Email us at, hookups@ginkandgasoline.com today.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Light Where You Need It
THE SUN HAS DIPPED BELOW THE HORIZON AND THE EVENING CHILL IS IN THE AIR.
You’ve got maybe thirty more minutes to fish if you push it. The hatch is on and you can hear fish rising all around you as you struggle in the waning light to change your fly. The fish keep rising and so does your blood pressure but the eye of the hook continues to evade you.
That sounds familiar doesn’t it? I know my eyes aren’t what they used to be. I’ve used a clip on head lamp for years but it frustrates me. When I lift my head to look through my bifocals the light is shining over my hands and I always feel like I’m spooking fish with that lighthouse on my hat. Then I saw my niece and nephew playing with their Christmas stockings. They had the answer to my problem. Finger lights! They slip right on to your finger with an adjustable elastic band and put ample light right where you need it to tie on flies. Best of all they’re super cheap. Seven dollars for a pile of them so who cares if you dunk them in the river and if you happen to find yourself at a rave on the way home, you’re set! Just add XTC.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Michael Kilkenny’s Wake
A while back I shared a wonderful story by Jon Tobey called “To Die With A Human Heart.”
I was not surprised that it met with resounding approval. Jon is a talented writer with a unique perspective on fly fishing. I always enjoy his yarns and I thought this holiday weekend would be a great time to share another. An ongoing serial titled “Michael Kilkenny’s Wake.” A tale of wayward Irish anglers on the stream and in the pub. Light a peat fire and pour a pint and take a wee trip to the island with Jon.
“MICHAEL KILKENNY’S WAKE”
Read More »Vedavoo Gear – Deluxe Tightlines Sling Pack & Arc System
I’ve always looked up to individuals that have the God given talent to design and build things with their own two hands. Scott Hunter, owner of Vedavoo, happens to be one of those individuals. He’s crazy smart, super likable and he’s not afraid to take the road less traveled. Scott Hunter clearly takes his own unique approach, when it comes to designing and manufacturing his fly fishing packs and other outdoor enthusiast gear. For staters, 100% of Vedavoo gear is built-to-order in the USA, and every Vedavoo product is manufactured from American made fabrics and hardware. That’s something you rarely see from companies these days, when it’s so easy to cut costs and go overseas. Scott has a true knack for creating super functional gear that’s simplified. Just take a close look at the superb design of the Tightlines Sling Pack, and you’ll quickly see why its created such a buzz in the fly fishing industry. We’re very proud to help spread the word about Scott Hunter today, and we ask you all to support the Vedavoo brand.
Check out the product video with Scott Hunter, as he talks with us about the latest Vedavoo gear and news.
Buster Wants to be a Fly Fishing Guide
Every couple of months, for about the last ten years, I’ve been contacted by recreational fly fisherman around the country, asking me to give them advice on how to go about becoming a fly fishing guide. Choosing to become a full-time fly fishing guide is a big decision to make, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Yes, there’s lots of perks that come with the job, but there’s also plenty of hardships. For starters, guiding can prove to be very stressful at times, so don’t think by you making the move to step away from your current job (to become a fly fishing guide), that you’ll be saying goodbye to all the stresses of everyday life (remember, it’s up to you to get fish in the net). There’s no doubt, as a guide, you’ll have the luxury of calling the beautiful outdoors your private office. It beats the hell out of crunching numbers in a tiny cubicle or doing a job that you absolutely hate, but it still doesn’t change the fact that guiding is still a job.
Most importantly, guiding doesn’t come with a retirement plan, it doesn’t usually provide health insurance, and it generally compensates you with variable pay. If you’re the kind of person that has a hard time saving or managing your long-term investments, guiding might not be a good fit. You also should understand, no matter how hard you work or how successful of a fly fishing guide you become, you won’t get rich. The majority of guides hack it for four or five years, then move on to jobs that pay an annual salary and have the potential for higher earnings. A very small percentage of full-time fly fishing guides figure out a way to sustain a long career, and make a good living. That being said, when done correctly, guiding can make you feel like you’ve got the greatest job on the planet. You’ll make wonderful friends and you’ll regularly feel the blissful rewards of creating life-long memories and teaching your fellow fly fisherman. You’ll find it a little easier to maintain your health, from the active lifestyle that guiding demands, and you’ll carry pride knowing you’re one of the local experts on your home waters. If you’re dead set on becoming a guide, I wish you the best of luck, and you’ve got an open invitation to contact me by email if you need further assistance. That being said, before you start chasing down the dream of becoming a fly fishing guide, I highly recommend you first review a comprehensive list of questions and facts that I’ve put together, which explains what being a full-time fly fishing guide is all about. You’ll need to ask yourself the question, “Will I honestly enjoy guiding if I have to put up with this every day on the water?” If your answer is yes, to all of them of course, then you’re probably ready to move forward and review my next series of suggestions that you’ll need to think about before you become a full-time fly fishing guide.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A CALLING TO BECOME A FLY FISHING GUIDE?
The most successful guides, that I’ve met over the years, didn’t just wake up one day in their 30s, 40s or 50s, and decide that they were going to become a fly fishing guide. Almost all of them knew they wanted to be a guide at a very young age, and they started the process of learning the myriad of skills needed to make the dream a reality. I’m not saying that you can’t quit your job now and become a fly fishing guide, all I’m saying is the odds are probably going to be stacked up against you. Every year, the competition among guides gets higher and you have to really want it, if you stand any chance at all of becoming a successful guide. You need to carry a passion for guiding that’s unwavering, and you should have no doubts in your mind that guiding is what you want to do for a living.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN BE A GOOD TEACHER AND MAINTAIN A PATIENT PERSONALITY?
Just because you’re a great fly fisherman doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good guide. In a nutshell, guiding is teaching out of the classroom. For you to be a good guide, you have to be talented at teaching, entertaining others, and above all, you need to be able to maintain your patience from the first cast of the day, until the very last. You’ll also need to be ready to explain and instruct clients in a number of different ways to get the job done on the water. No two clients are the same. Some are a dream come true, while others are a nightmare.
Read More »Sunday’s Classic / Drop-Offs Are Trout Hot-Spots
Definition of “Adjacent” – just before, after, lying near; neighboring
Drop-offs located adjacent to shallow water are trout magnets. The slower moving water and cover found downstream of drop-offs are the two main reasons trout are drawn here. If you’re looking for super consistent water where you can almost always find trout, you should be searching out dropoffs or buckets on your streams and rivers where shallow water transitions into deeper water. The more significant (larger the area) the stretch of shallow water is, the more appealing the adjacent drop-offs will be to trout, especially when the shallow water upstream or downstream holds very little cover.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / 1of750.com – Help Save the Greenback Cutthroat
SAVE THE GREENBACKS
Today’s Saturday Shoutout goes to 1of750.com, a website recently created by the Greenback Trout Unlimited Chapter to raise awareness and fuel a grassroots campaign (on Indiegogo) to raise $10,000 or more for critical conservation work on Bear Creek. It’s the sole home for the last remaining documented population of Greenback Cutthroats alive today (only about 750 of them left).
Please watch the video and read the information below about this very important conservation project and please donate to this wonderful cause if you can. In the very least, please share this initiative on your social media outlets.
Read More »The Airflo Super Dri Fly Line
THE AIRFLO SUPER DRI FLY LINE IS ONE OF THE COOLEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE FLY LINES I’VE EVER SEEN.
We got the chance to check them out at IFTD this year and Kent and I were both very impressed. I wish I could put one in your hand because the only way you can believe the slickness of this line is to feel it. The expression on Kent’s face in the video says it all.
Not only is the Super Dri the slickest fly line ever made, it also features Airflo’s exclusive ridge texture, a low stretch core and the new Zone Technology. Airflo is really on their game with this one. Watch the video and get the full story from Tim “The Man” Rajeff.
Read More »