Lucky #7?
By Louis Cahill
On Friday Oct 9th I’ll have my seventh eye surgery.
Just a quick update. I’m doing well and am stable, getting stronger all the time and adjusting to my new vision. I’ll indulge in understatement and just say it has been a challenge but I am feeling confident that the worst is behind me.
Friday’s surgery will attempt to secure the part of my retina that is most profoundly scarred by PVR. How this surgery and, more importantly my body’s response to it, goes will determine what the future looks like. Literally. If all goes well and my eye heals with a good bond to the retina, I may only have one more surgery to go. That would be a great outcome, for my condition. Please keep some positive vibes coming my way in the next few weeks.
I have learned that with PVR, like fishing, it’s best to have little in the way of expectations. That said, this surgery is supposed to be easier, recovery wise, than my previous surgeries. I’ll be down for at least two weeks, so if I’m a little quiet here, that’s why. Hopefully it will all go well and I can keep moving forward. We have some exciting new content coming your way soon. I’ll be posting about that before long.
In the mean time, stay tuned and get out there and catch some fish for me.
Thanks!
Read More »Get Slinky With Your Indicator
By Johnny Spillane
AS WE GET INTO FALL AND FISH ARE BECOMING MORE SELECTIVE AND EATING SMALLER BUGS LIKE TRICOS, FISHING CAN BECOME MORE CHALLENGING. USING A FRENCH SLINKY INDICATOR OR SLINKY INDICATOR CAN BE A GREAT WAY TO HOOK A FEW MORE FISH WHEN THEY ARE BEING ULTRA SELECTIVE OR ULTRA SPOOKY.
I like to use it when fish are in shallow water or they are suspended close to the surface in deep water but not feeding on the surface. Typically, I like to use some sort of dry dropper rig in this situation, but if the fish are being picky and ignoring the flies, it might be because of the larger dry fly used to support the nymphs. They have been seeing that stuff all summer.
Removing it can be a big help, but then you’re stuck with the problem of detecting the strike. A slinky indicator is perfect for that situation. It’s easy for fishermen to see, detects even the subtlest strikes and is very difficult for the fish to see. There is no splash when it hits the water so you can get it in fairly close to fish without spooking them and if you grease it with mucilin it actually floats really well and will support a moderately sized dropper. There are countless other ways to use this rig but this is where I have found it to be the most effective for me.
MAKING THE SLINKY INDICATOR
In order to build the indicator, you’ll need a few things. An empty Bic pen case or something similar, duct tape, 15lb high visibility monofilament and some boiling water.
Cut a two foot section of the mono and tape one end to the pen case leaving a 6- to 8-inch tag and then tightly wrap the mono around the pen 8-15 times depending on how long you want your slinky indicator to be.
Read More »The Fish That Took Three Anglers to Land
I’LL NEVER FORGET THE EPIC BATTLE THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN THREE ANGLERS AND A TROPHY SALMONID ONE FREEZING DECEMBER MORNING IN 2010.
I was having the time of my life on a steelhead fishing trip with my great friends Louis Cahill and Murphy Kane. We had made the long drive up from Georgia to chase after Great Lake steelhead for a week. Many of the rivers that feed into the Great Lakes hold huge numbers of salmon, steelhead and brown trout. Unfortunately those large concentrations of fish also attract every fishermen within a 100 plus square mile radius. We all agreed we couldn’t handle putting up with shoulder to shoulder fishing conditions, so we came up with a strategic plan to avoid it at all costs. Our strategy was simple, watch the extended weather forecast, and try to plan our trip around the nastiest weather we could find. This way, angler traffic would be at its lowest and we’d hopefully have plenty of water to ourselves.
A week later I got the call from Murphy that a huge snow storm was rolling in, and we all immediately needed to pack our gear and hit the road. It ended up being one hell of an adventure just making the trip up there. We had to drive in snow and ice conditions from North Carolina all the way up to New York. I’ve never in my life seen so many wrecks and vehicles sliding off the road. I’ll tell you one thing, it wasn’t easy driving on snow covered roads with sheer drop offs on both sides, and having to guess where your lane begins and ends for hours on end. If that’s not bad enough, then add to that having to safely pass eighteen wheelers that are throwing up blankets of snow on your windshield completely whiting you out for a couple seconds at a time. My ass was puckered up so tight during that drive up, I don’t think the jaws of life could have opened them.
God willing we survived the treacherous drive up to New York and our strategic plan ended up paying off big time. Temperatures never climbed above the teens during the trip, and I remember the wind blowing a constant 20mph with gusts 35-40mph. You had to really want to catch fish to hack it in those arctic conditions. The strange smell of butter filled the air from us constantly spraying down our rod guides with Pam in our efforts to fight off ice build up. Apparently none
Read More »Why ask why? Try dry flies
By Jeff Hickman
CATCHING A STEELHEAD BY SKATING A DRY FLY IS THE COOLEST WAY TO CATCH THEM.
I always have said that one fish on the dry is worth ten on wet flies…but why? It’s not like it’s impossible to catch them on dries. It can actually be quite productive at times but people are often just too afraid to try. If you only have one day to fish there’s a lot of pressure to catch fish, so why opt for the most challenging method? Well, there is, in fact, only one way to catch a steelhead on a dry fly and it start with tying it on your line!
Is a steelhead eating a fly off of the surface that much more unbelievable than a fish eating a fly swung just under the surface, or for that matter, a fly swung deep with a sink tip? It’s not. In fact, I think that there are times when a dry fly can work better. The disturbance and wake it cuts through the water’s surface can excite fish and elicit savage grabs.
The visual display you get when watching the fly skate across the surface is super fun and you can learn a lot by seeing where your fly actually is. Watching a fish come airborne for it, slap it, thrash at it, boil on it or just gently suck the fly down is one of, if not the single, most exciting experiences there is in fishing. Seeing them come for the fly is super exciting even if you don’t hook them. It is that extra element of playing with the fish that is the coolest for me!
photo2But what is even better
Read More »Gink and Gasoline’s Photo Contest v.2020
By Justin Pickett
We are excited to bring back Gink and Gasoline’s annual photo contest for 2020!
It has been an insane year so, again, we wanted to bring a little fun into the mix and give people another reason to escape the chaos and go have some fun out on the water!
This year’s contest will be structured much the same as our photo contests in past years. We want to see your best photos that you capture while enjoying your time on the water! This year’s contest will be open to all photography. Landscapes. Big fish. Little fish. Freshwater. Saltwater. Under water. Off-the-cuff photos of your fishing pal(s) and the shenanigans involved with your trips. Photo entries will be judged based on characteristics such as content, lighting, composition, color, and creativity. When it comes to photographing fish, we ask that you practice proper fish handling techniques and that you only submit photos showcasing fish either under the water, placed in the water, or dripping wet. As you know, be sure to wet your hands before handling fish and have everything ready to go before handling your catch to reduce time out of the water if required. The most important thing, though, is that you have fun while enjoying the great outdoors!
We are excited to welcome Tim Johnson as our guest judge for this year’s contest. Tim is an amazingly talented, full-time artist who is well known for his collaborative designs with Orvis, as well as for his unique “Timmy Grips”. His superb skill and ability to hand-burn highly detailed, one-of-a-kind images onto the cork handles of fly rods is truly amazing to see in person. Tim has also doubled down and will commission a custom “Timmy Grip” for the 1st Place winner’s fly rod! We are looking forward to working with Tim and having his keen eye on board to help us choose our winning photos! If you haven’t seen Tim’s work before, take a few minutes to check out his website!
https://www.timjohnsongallery.com/timmy-grips
What’s Up For Grabs?!
1st Place: Orvis H3 905-4 and Mirage LT lll Outfit AND Commissioned “Timmy Grip” Artwork by Tim Johnson!
2nd Place: Orvis Recon 905-4 and Hydros lll Outfit!
3rd Place: Orvis Clearwater 905-4 and Clearwater LA ll Outfit!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET IN ON THE ACTION!
Read More »Guide Thoughts
I’M A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM STARTING MY THIRTEENTH YEAR AS A TROUT FISHING GUIDE.
Where have all the years gone? It seems like it was just yesterday that I was just hired on by Upper Hi Fly shop in Hiawassee, Ga. Man, a lot has changed since then. That once prospering fly shop is no longer in business and many of the guides I shared the water with during my early days have moved on to other vocations or retired. My trout water as a whole has taken a beating over the years from the population booms, poor land development practices and year after year drought conditions. Hatches aren’t as consistent anymore and traffic on the water has increased on my home waters. My trout water that used to be beginner friendly now has become technical and moody. Our cost of living has increased, gas prices are higher than ever and hatcheries are either shutting down or running at a fraction of their capacity from their lack of funding. It’s not always been easy over the years. If it wasn’t for my deep passion for the sport and my personal belief that guiding is my true calling in life I don’t think I’d still be at it today. Its got me through the tough times wearing a smile on my face damn near every trip. I’ve done what many businessmen have had to do to keep the doors open during these challenging times. I’ve trimmed the fat and shrunk my region of operations (guiding) to maintain profitability and keep my trips closer to home, so I’ve got more time to spend with my growing family.
Sometimes, I wonder if I made the right decision when I chose to guide in my home state. But then again, when you guide, it always seem like there’s greener pastures afar. When I find myself having those thoughts, I just reflect back on why I chose North Georgia for my guiding in the first place. It’s where I’m from and its the closest place trout live to my family. I could just as easily be guiding on blue ribbon trout streams with wild trout galore and epic hatches, but then I’d be forced to be far away from
Read More »DIY Bahamas Bonefish, with the Family
PERHAPS THE MOST TECHNICAL FEAT IN FLY FISHING IS COMBINING A FISHING TRIP WITH A FAMILY VACATION.
Leaving the wife or girlfriend behind, with or without a number of restless kids, while you slip away for a little fishing almost always ends in, what my brother calls “Hot tongue and cold shoulder,” no matter how delicate your presentation. It makes landing a permit look like child’s play. My last attempt, however, came off pretty well so I thought I’d share some of what made it a success.
My wife and I hade a great time in the Bahamas and you can too, but first here’s a pile of disclaimers.
1. Sharing your fishing time with family means compromising. What we’re talking about is a decidedly soft core fishing trip. I spent an average of two hours per day fishing. It worked for me but I’m confident in my ability to find and feed bonefish on my own. If you have never bonefished or are just learning you will need to tweak the strategy.
2. If you are new to bonefishing there is no replacement for the total immersion you get at a fishing lodge. It shortens your learning curve immeasurably. That said, in terms of both time and cost, it’s not in the cards for everyone.
3. I elected to fish on my own, without a guide. Lots of guys prefer to fish on their own and there’s nothing wrong with it. However, it is impossible to overstate the value of a good guide, especially when fishing waters far from home or unfamiliar species.
4. A good measure of the credit for my harmonious marriage goes to my wife. She is blessed with patience beyond belief.
Read More »The Bahamas is Open for Business
By Louis Cahill
The Bahamian borders have opened and there are still a couple of spots open in the Jan 2021 Bonefish School!
Many of us have been holding our breath since the Bahamian government closed its borders in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. With three weeks booked in January, I’ve been holding it tighter than most so I was thrilled to here that the world’s best bonefishery is once again accepting visitors.
Bahamians are still being very cautious. Travelers are required to show a negative COVID test, taken within five days of travel, to enter the Bahamas. Some airlines are using the same requirements. Fortunately, it’s easy and fast to do a home COVID test without a doctor’s visit. The Pixel test from lab corp is easily accessible and covered by most insurance. The folks at Bair’s have used this test to enter the country with no issues.
Get your test here. https://www.pixel.labcorp.com
The crew at Bair’s Lodge are hustling to get ready for arriving anglers now. They are working on lodge safety protocols to insure a safe trip for everyone. While safety measures are important, I personally feel reassured knowing that everyone on the trip will be tested and in good health.
If you’re like me, you are seriously ready to put 2020 behind you and get on with living the dream. If that sounds good to you, shoot me an email to hookups@ginkandgasoline.com to reserve a spot.
I HAVE ONLY 4 SPOTS OPEN.
2 FOR JAN 16-23 2021 AND 2 FOR JAN 23-30 2021.
I expect these spots to book quickly so call a friend or spouse and book your spots. If January is not in the cards for you, I will be holding another Bonefish School June 6-13 2021.
The cost of the school is $4995, a savings of almost $2000 over a normal week at Bair’s. The price includes all meals and drinks, shuttles on the island and all the instruction you like. The only thing not included in the price are tips and tax. You can find tons more info by visiting our hosted trips page. https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/hosted-trips/
I look forward to fishing with you in the Bahamas!
Read More »Working a Steelhead
I had the opportunity to watch my friend Jeff Hickman work a shy Steelhead the other day and his effort was exemplary.
Swinging flies for winter steelhead is a game of numbers, very small numbers. It’s a given when chasing winter fish that there may be limited numbers of fish present in the river. Even fewer of them will be willing to eat a swung fly. You can not afford to miss putting your fly in front of every fish. These fish are on the move so you never know where they will be. You have to be methodical and know that it could happen at any time.
When you really think about it, the mathematics of the system are remarkable. For those not familiar, the idea is pretty simple. You cast across the current far enough to cover any possible holding water and swing the fly down and across until it hangs directly below you. Strip in your line, make the same cast with exactly the same amount of line, step down stream the length of a fish and repeat. Granted, this is a gross oversimplification of a very nuanced technique but that’s the general idea. If you take the time to draw a picture, using a drafting compass you will see that the concentric circles your swinging fly makes cover the water with amazing efficiency. It’s a bit like Tai Chi. You are always striving for perfection.
After hours, or days, covering water in this way it can be heartbreaking when you find a fish who’s interested but won’t commit. Often a single tug is the only evidence that you have found a player. I had the opportunity to watch my friend Jeff Hickman work just such a shy player the other day and his effort was exemplary. Here’s how it went down.
Jeff was fishing through a run and got a timid pull on a purple and black fly. He immediately changed flies rather than show the fish the fly he had rejected a second time. A good call in any type of fishing. He went to a pink fly. The water had some
Read More »The more things change, the more they stay the same
I RECEIVED THIS PHOTO FROM MY BROTHER TOM, VIA TEXT MESSAGE.
It seems he has been sorting through some of the belongings that my grandparents left behind. In an old dresser he found this list in my young handwriting. My guess is that this dates from about the time I was ten. I believe I had just read “The Old Man And The Sea” for the first time. For those who can’t make it out, I’ll translate.
Fishing List
Harpoon
1000 yards strong rope
Case of dynamite
Buoy
Take pistol
Dynamite
License
A few of my favorite points to this list are these. Dynamite appears twice. I’m not sure if this was meant to imply that a case might not be enough, or that dynamite was so key to my plan that I couldn’t risk forgetting it, or possibly just a testament to my enthusiasm about dynamite. There was no need to find a pistol, just the need to remember the one I had, at ten. And best of all my reverence for the regulations. We wouldn’t want to ‘fish’ without a license.
It occurred to me that maybe I harp on the catch and release thing a little heavy from time to time and it would only be what I deserve to share this with my readers. None of us, I suppose, start out as catch-and-release anglers but few, apparently, start as far from it as I did. In my defense I’ll say that this proves my views on catch and release are not an unconsidered opinion. I tried it the other way!
When I shared this with my wife as a glimpse into the mind of her betrothed when he was only a child she smiled, laughed a knowing laugh and said,
“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
I guess I’ll always be ten at heart. At least when I go fishing.
Read More »