Saturday Shoutout / Central Overland
This weeks Saturday Shoutout doesn’t have a fly fishing theme but the publisher does happen to be a passionate fly fisherman and he’s also a big fan of Gink & Gasoline. Wes Craiglow runs the website Central Overland, for those on the road less traveled.
Read More »New Products From Derek DeYoung
IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO’S HELD A FLY ROD KNOWS THE NAME DEREK DEYOUNG.
Derek’s vivid and stunning art work has shown up everywhere, from magazine covers and fly reels to industry-insider promotional gifts. His unique vision makes his work instantly recognizable. His paintings and prints are highly desirable and owning one is the ultimate mark of fly fishing cool.
Now there are a whole host of new products sporting Derek’s distinctive art. Glassware, iPad and iPhone cases and boat wraps to name a few. Best of all you can get them directly from Derek. www.derekdeyoung.com
In this video Derek and his wife Jenelle show off some of their new products.
Read More »IFTD 2013 Debrief
If you read my article on the 2013 IFTD show, then you know that I think everyone in the fly fishing industry should support it.
What you might not know is that going into this year’s show, I was a little concerned. The last few years have been tough ones for IFTD. Support has wavered for the show and dealer attendance has been hit and miss. Some of the large manufacturers have, at least threatened, to sit it out. AFFTA’s decision to combine IFTD with ICAST, the huge conventional fishing industry show, was a bold roll of the dice. Many people, including myself, were not convinced it would come up sevens.
I am very happy to say that my concerns were unfounded. In fact, looking back, I think combining the two shows was pure genius. Sharing the floor with ICAST gave the show an excitement that it hasn’t had for years. That enthusiasm translated into confidence, and everyone I spoke to at the show felt that it was the most productive IFTD in years.
Some folks were concerned enough to sit the show out, or at least walk the floor as attendees rather than drop the cash for a booth. I talked with several of the “wait and see” crowd and every one of them plans to have a booth next year. I think that may be the greatest indicator of success.
I had been concerned that the fly fishing crowd would not be accepted by our plug tossing neighbors.
Read More »10 Brewing Companies That Protect Our Fish
Not all of us would fancy the idea of pairing beer and fly fishing together. To each their own, but it’s safe to say that the majority of fly fishers enjoy the refreshing taste of one or two cold beers after a long day on the water. For me, drinking a couple beers at dusk with my fishing buddies reminiscing about the catches and the days debacles seem to enhance my overall fishing experience. It relaxes and grounds me, it helps me to see more clearly why I choose to go out and cast a fly rod in the first place, and how special the people are around me that I share my water with. We all have our favorite beers that we like to drink. Some of us are so loyal, we’ve got our go to beer, and we only stray from it when it’s not available. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, believe me, I’m right there with ya, but before I go any further, let me ask you one question. Would you stray from your regular beer of choice if you had an option to buy another brand if it donated significant amounts of money that went towards protecting your watersheds and fisheries? I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I could learn to acquire the taste of a new beer if I knew a portion of the coin I was dropping was going towards real conservation efforts.
Below is a list of 10 beer brewing companies that make a point to not only strive to hold the highest of green business practices, but they also take it a step further and donate significant amounts of money annually to fish and wildlife conservation organizations.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Just When You Think Your Dialed In
IT’S A NINETEEN HOUR DRIVE AND A THIRTY MINUTE WALK TO THE SPOT WHERE THE SYCAMORE TREE IS DOWN ACROSS THE RIVER, MAKING THAT SWEET SEAM.
Flies are tied in the truck on the drive up. The color and size that worked last year but with upgraded hooks. Rods and reels have been selected. New lines have been spooled up. Waders patched, hats, gloves, down vests all packed. We’re on the river less than an hour when the first big male brown goes in the net, followed by a nice steelhead. High fives and smiles all around, followed by a toast. We are dialed in, or so it seems.
The next morning we are reminded of a lesson we have learned time and time again. Fish are fickle, conditions change, you always work for your fish. We had gotten to feeling pretty good about ourselves that first day on the river, and why not, it had been awesome. We had come a long way from our home waters, to a very different river and we had fished like champs. The next day we got back to the business of being humble and figuring it out. By the end of the second day we had a few more fish in the net, but they didn’t come easy.
That’s the game isn’t it? Figuring it out. How long would we stay interested in fly fishing if it was easy? If all you had to do was show up and tie on the same fly that worked last year and step into the same run and catch a fish, would we even come back? Probably. It felt pretty damn good that first day, being dialed in. Maybe that was a gift, or maybe it was that second day, the slow day that was the gift. Who can say. What I do know for sure is that I can’t wait to go back next year and figure it out again.
Fortunately Kent has a proven method for turning around a slow day of fishing. Check out the video for the details.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / The Wisdom of Deneki
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A BLOG POST COMES ALONG THAT MAKES ME SLAP MY FOREHEAD AND SAY, “THAT’S BRILLIANT! WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF IT?”
His week my hat’s off to Andrew Bennett at Deneki Outdoors for his insightful look at the,
“13 Habits of Highly Effective Anglers”
Nicely done Andrew! There is something on this list for everyone no matter how long you’ve been at the game. Whether he’s fishing, blogging or running a fishing lodge Andrew doesn’t do anything half way. You could do worse things with your day than read his thoughts on fishing.
Here are a few more.
Top Mistakes Made Bonefishing
10 Ways to Justify Your Fishing Trip
5 Ways to Blow a Shot at a Bonefish
5 Ways to Catch More Alaskan Rainbow Trout
Spey Fishing for Trout, Part 3 – Tactics
Come fish with us in the Bahamas!
Read More »NetStaff Product Video – 3 Reasons I Love This Fly Fishing Net
Having a quality net with me on the water is something I take seriously because it assists me in several ways on the water. Most obviously, of course, I use it to land fish, but I also use my net as a third leg for safe wading, for pulling my clients fly line to me for re-rigging so neither of us have to move positions, for bug sampling with my DIY Bug Sampler, and last but not least, to help me pull limbs down when they’re out of arms reach to retrieve flies (doesn’t always work). One could argue that a quality net to fly fisherman serves very much like a multi-tool. When we find a good net it usually stays in action for the products life span. Unfortunately, not all nets are created equal and it’s usually hard to find a net that will do it all. Some of us prefer handcrafted wood nets for their beauty and lightweight construction, others just go with what they can find on the shelves at their local sporting goods store, and lastly, there’s a good portion of anglers out there that only settle for using nets that provide the highest levels of durability, strength and functionality.
Today, I’m very excited to shed light on the company NetStaff, who had a warm welcoming at this years IFTD show in Las Vegas with their one of a kind NetStaff. It not only turned heads, it got a bunch of chatter started. As you’d expect from the name, it’s a cross between a fishing net and wading staff, but it also has a couple other cool features in the bag.
Read More »IFTD New Product Showcase Awards Get It Right
IN THE PAST I HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED WITH THE CHOICES MADE AT THE IFTD NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE.
If you’re not familiar with it, the showcase is where manufacturers display their new products and the media vote on which products for the coming year are best. In fairness, voting on products that you haven’t had the chance to try on the river is not easy and there is a lot of, well…guessing involved. I do it myself, and I try to make it an educated guess, but it’s still a guess.
Some products are easy to get your head around. It’s fairly simple to decide if you like a fly box or fishing pack but a fly rod can be tougher. It’s hard to know how a rod will fish just by giving it a wiggle. If you think rods are tough, how about a fly line?
Choices are often based, unconsciously, on a company’s marketing and public relations. Those products get press and you end up buying them for better or worse. In my experience the odds of the right products getting the nod are at best 50/50.
This year I actually have some real experience with a few of these products and I’m happy to report that the New Product Showcase awards got it right.
Here are my picks for 2014
The Chard Grand Slam Line from Scientific Anglers: Best Saltwater Fly Line of 2014
Bruce Chard is a good friend of mine so I got this line in my hands really early. I’ve had the chance to fish it thoroughly and in my opinion it’s the best fly line I have ever used. Every saltwater angler should own one. I’ll not go into all the reasons I love this line but you can read my full review (HERE) and you can click (HERE) to buy one from Bruce.
The Rio Perception Fly Line: Best Freshwater Line of 2014
I’ve had a chance to fish this line as well and I really like it. RIO has really put some time in designing this line and it’s paid off. It’s a great performing, very castable line and the tricolor design offers some real benefits for
Read More »Fish The Bahamas and Take Home Some Sweet Gear
WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS. THE DATE IS SET FOR THE GINK AND GASOLINE 2014 SOUTH ANDROS BONEFISH TRIP!
March 22nd – 29th is your chance to hang out with the G&G crew at the Andros South Bonefish Lodge. Eat some great food, drink some rum and experience the best bonefishing anywhere. Kent and I will be teaching the skills needed to catch bonefish including a Bonefish 101 for beginners, fly tying and more. We are dedicated to making this the best fishing trip you have ever taken.
But wait…It gets better!
This year we will be joined by the boys from Simms and they will be bringing every angler on the trip a package of bad ass 2014 Simms flats wear! That’s right, free Simms gear for everybody. How could it get any better than that?
BUT WAIT…IT GETS BETTER!
One lucky angler, chosen at random, will take home a brand new Thomas and Thomas saltwater fly rod! That’s an $850 rod and let me tell you, it is sweet.
You don’t want to miss this trip!
SHOOT US AN EMAIL TO HOOKUPS@GINKANDGASOLINE.COM AND LET US KNOW YOU WANT IN ON THE ACTION ASAP.
YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THE DETAILS INCLUDING COST AND TRAVEL (HERE)
We would like to thank Simms and Thomas and Thomas for their generosity, their support and their enthusiasm. They are the best of the best and we are proud to see our names along side theirs.
COME ON GUYS, LET’S GO TO THE BAHAMAS!
Read More »Sunday’s Classic / Fly Fishing, No Pain No Gain
Have you ever felt like this when you got back to the truck after a long day of fishing?
Giving it my all on the water is a trait I strongly believe in for my fishing and guiding. I always try to make a point to explain to all my clients, that as long as they give it their all and have fun on the water, that’s all that really matters. There’s no reason for them to be disappointed about having a slow day on the water or get upset when a big fish fails to eat, so long as they took the time to approach their holes with stealth, made their best presentations, and fine-tuned their rig and pattern choice. After all, that’s why it’s called fishing not catching, right? We can only do so much as anglers, and even when we bring our best, there still will be times when we won’t be able to persuade certain fish to eat our flies.