Why Thomas & Thomas Might Succeed, Really This Time.
I should start by saying that Thomas & Thomas is a client of mine. In fact they were one of the first companies to use my photography. That said, like many anglers, within a year or two I was cursing the name Thomas and Thomas. There was a point when I wouldn’t take their phone calls. It was a rocky relationship to say the least. So don’t think I’m blowing sunshine up anybody’s skirt when I say I truly believe things might be turning around. If your not up to speed on the story, there was a time when T&T changed owners and the investor who bought the company, as well as the outgoing management, made a complete cluster fuck of the place. Rods weren’t delivered, repairs weren’t made, a lot of people were pissed off. I have friends who will tell you that T&T rods are the best made and that they will never own another. Things looked pretty dark up there. Not an easy turn around. So what makes me think they can pull it off? At the IFTD show in New Orleans I had the chance to meet with Mark Richens the new owner of T&T. We had lunch and this is what I came away with. T&T is in great hands. Firstly, you don’t have to talk with Mark for long to know that he’s a serious fisherman. He knows the sport and the people who love it. Secondly, he’s a smart guy with a head for business. He has a plan and a vision for the company and he realizes he has a hell of a job ahead of him. Thirdly, my gut feeling is that this guy is a pit bull. I don’t see him walking away from a fight, ever. Not the kind … Continue reading
Read More »Spooky, Spooky Permit
Permit in glass calm water. It doesn’t get any tougher than that. I know of no one who know more about permit than my buddy Bruce Chard so I ask him for a tip on making a successful presentation. Here’s his reply. Casting to shallow water permit in calm wind conditions can be challenging to say the least. These are the two main conditions that seem to make permit even more skidish than normal. Is that even possible? Shallow water depth and calm wind conditions help to put permit on another level of the spooky scale. So how do we effectively cast to these shallow water feeding circus fatties? Well an even powered wide loop presentation is a good start believe it or not. An even powered wide loop presentation cast will help to spread all the energy in the fly line evenly over the wide loop leaving just enough dispersed energy to slowly and softly roll out the leader and fly with a quiet presentation. This helps you to present your fly right in the permits wheel house and that means game on! Thanks Bruce! Louis Cahill Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »Why Can’t We Have Cutthroat Trout Everywhere
If I had the ability to ask for one additional trout specie in my home waters, I’d ask for cutthroat trout. In my opinion, cutthroat trout are one of the best trout species for introducing and teaching beginners the sport of fly fishing. Although there’s locations where they can be just as spooky and picky as other trout, more times than not, I often find them as a whole, to be more forgiving on presentation and fly pattern choice than brown and rainbow trout. I don’t know about you but I’ve never fought a brown or rainbow trout for ten seconds, broke it off, and two minutes later caught that same trout, and got my fly back. I’ve accomplished this multiple times with cutthroat trout, and I’m sure there’s anglers out there, that have experienced this more times than they can recall. As a guide, I love an attribute like this in a trout, and it doesn’t hurt that cutthroat’s seem to have a weakness for dry flies. There strikingly beautiful fish and I’d love nothing more than to have the opportunity to guide my clients to them on a daily basis. Too bad I guide in North Georgia, where I’ve got better chances of stumbling upon a gold nugget than a cutthroat trout. It’s all good though, I thoroughly enjoy making trips out west and catching cutties each year. Maybe one day I’ll even have the opportunity to move and guide where cutthroat trout are plentiful. That’s my dream anyway. What’s yours? Keep it Reel, Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »Shoot Raw Files
Here’s another tip for the shutter bugs. Most cameras default to shooting a jpeg file. Jpeg files are great for looking at on your computer, sending in email, posting on the web and even for casual prints. But if your camera has a raw file setting, there is a whole world of rich color and contrast control at your fingertips. Raw files are intimidating for most people and with good reason. You will need special software to process these files before you can really do anything with them and this will require an investment of money and time. But if you really want to take your photography to the next level, raw files are a valuable tool. I don’t usually recommend specific products or brands but I feel so strongly about Adobe’s Lightroom application that, in this case, I am going to say you should seriously consider it. I know of nothing on the market that comes close for processing raw files. I’ll take a break on photo tips now. If you want more, let me know. Louis Cahill Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »6 Saltwater Fly Patterns You Should Stock
Are you new to the saltwater flats game? If you’re like most fly fisherman you’re confident in your trout game and fly pattern competency. But when it comes to your saltwater game, you probably find yourself a little less unsure of what saltwater patterns you should stock. Capt. Joel Dickey is a veteran Florida Keys fishing guide, and he’s laid out six must have saltwater fly patterns you should load up on, before stepping onto the skiff and hitting the flats. Take these six fly patterns and tie them up in different color variations, size, and weight to round out your saltwater fly box. Keep it Reel, Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »Hold That Fish
I’ll be doing a few tips on how to take better fishing photos. Here are a few tips on holding a fish for a photo. First and most important, always respect the fish. They are a precious resource and we want to release them in good condition. Hold the fish gently under the peck fins and by the tail. If you squeeze him he will panic and struggle. A gentle grip will make your fish and angler more relaxed for the photo. Keep him close to the water and drop his head under for a few breathes every 10 seconds or so. Fish start to fade when they are out of the water and this will keep his colors bright. Be sure all of his fins are nicely displayed and not held back against his body or under a hand. Lastly, most anglers will instinctively tail a fish with an overhand grip but an underhand grip covers less of the fish and looks better in a photo. Louis Cahill Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »Look At The Body On That Thingamabobber
I use Thingamabobber’s almost exclusively these days for my nymph fishing. They seem to cast easier for my novice anglers than traditional synthetic fiber strike indicators, and I don’t have to load them down with fly floatant. Westwater Products caught my attention this year at the ITFD show, introducing their Thingamabody product line with 61 different colors. That’s right, now you can tie some killer fly patterns with the super buoyant and waterproof Thingamabody. I really think this is a great idea, and it proves that Westwater Products continues to think outside the box, catering to fly fisherman with their innovative product development team approach. We’ll be trying these guys out the first week in September in Wyoming and we’ll follow up with you on how they work. Keep it Reel, Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »Look Up Once In A While
I’m driving from Colorado to Wyoming to fish the upper Green River. The sun is going down and I’ve just passed over Flaming Gorge when I come upon this view. I stop the car and walk out to the edge. The car door is open and Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” is blaring. The wind is cold at my back and strong enough that I have to lean into it, like it’s saying, go on, do it. I have goose bumps. It feels like a perfect moment. It makes me think of Spalding Gray. Sad, I feel sure he had one more perfect moment left in him. Maybe this all sounds pretty fruity if you weren’t there but it reminds me that it’s easy to get so focused on the fishing and the shooting photos that I miss the perfect moments. Look up from the water once in a while. Louis Cahill Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »You Got to Know When to Fold Um
Thumbing through the latest Fly Fisherman Magazine recently, I read an article about lightning safety while fly fishing. It was packed full of good safety advice, and I recognized the familiar photo of Louis’s, with our friend Brad on the Gros Ventre River with a lightning strike in the background. I tagged along with the two of them that day, and I’ll never forget how close we all came to being struck by lighting. My finger tips were literally tingling with electricity, which brings me to the purpose of this post. You got to know when to fold um when your out fishing. When weather gets nasty and life threatening, don’t be a hardcore idiot. End the day short to ensure you have the opportunity to come back and fish another day. When you get back to the truck and open that cold beer, you’ll know you made the right decision. Keep it Reel, Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »Slamtastic!
Here are three reports from last weekends Denver Carp Slam. Ummmmm, tasty! The Denver Carp Slam, This Is Not Your Father’s TU When was the last time you attended a Trout Unlimited event where a bottle rocket fight broke out? That was the scene last weekend when I attended the Denver Carp Slam, as an observer, not to fish. The Carp Slam is a carp tournament started five years ago by the Denver chapter of Trout Unlimited. It takes place on the South Platte in downtown Denver and the proceeds pay for stream improvements on the river. The Platte, at least the stretch that runs through Denver, is truly a challenged river. OK, that’s too polite. It’s severally F’ed up. Full of trash, dead animals, murder weapons, and amazingly, fish. Carp of coarse but also walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, and to my surprise, trout. Not in big numbers but pretty good size. That’s where TU comes in. They’re using the carp, to save the trout. It’s a great cause and a great time but most of all, a great bunch of guys. The group is young, energetic and energized about their mission but not taking life too seriously. The experience renewed my faith in TU. I am particularly interested in a group who call them selves The Greenbacks. A group of young TU members on a mission to preserve Colorado’s native fish, and have a good time doing it. Their enthusiasm is contagious. It’s awesome to see a great old institution alive with wish youthful vigor. Hats off to the Denver chapter of TU. Natural Born Carper While photographing the Denver Carp Slam I witnessed something strange and wonderful. The slam is a “pro am” event. Sixteen teams consisting of one pro and one amateur compete to put the most … Continue reading
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