Brian Kozminski, known as “Koz” by friends, has been fly fishing Michigan waters for over 30 years. Originally from Grand Rapids where the Rogue River and Grand River were his home waters, his frequent trips to Grayling to fish the Holy Waters were not enough. Over two decades ago, he and his wife, Lesley, daughters, Simone and Camille, made ‘Up North’ a permanent way of life. For years, the Koz family owned a cabin on a great stretch of the Manistee River and this is where many TNT fishing trips began. A lifetime member of Trout Unlimited and ex officio for the Miller-VanWinkle Chapter TU, he shares his passion for the resources by teaching locals the art of fly tying. We promote catch and release, to ensure good fishing for future generations. He has been tying flies since his father taught him at the age of nine. Although Steelhead and large Brown Trout at night are exciting, the true treasure of northern Michigan lies in the vermiculation and blue halos of the native Brook Trout from its cold, clean and clear rivers. Listen to Podcast on Remote. No Pressure.

As a lifelong angler Jon Chizmadia grew up near Flint, Michigan fishing for warm water species in the muddy streams of the Saginaw River watershed. He picked up a fly rod as a young teenager and became completely infatuated. He hasn’t put it down since.

He began catching bass and bluegills locally but traveled to trout water as frequently as possible. Following a quick stint overseas with the Marine Corp. Jon returned to Michigan to attend college in the UP where he mostly studied the effects of a dry fly on native brookies. Today Jon lives in St. Joseph, MI but spends most of his summers at his summer cabin near Grayling. He fishes for everything from Carp to Steelhead and still prefers his fly rod.

Jon is active with several conservation groups including Michigan TU. He serves as the Executive Director of Education. He has also been the director of the Michigan Youth Conservation and Trout Camp since 2021 and is passionate about introducing new anglers to the sport. When not on the water he can probably be found in the northern MI woods. Behind a bird dog and alongside his son.

instagram: @stjoeangler

Michigan native Jeff “Bear” Andrews has been fly fishing and tying flies for 48 years. In 1998 he was the recipient of the “Buz” Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a fly tyer by the Federation of Fly Fishers. At the time he was the youngest to have ever received the award and only the third from the Midwest.

Annually Bear travels throughout the United States and Europe sharing his tying skills through demonstrations and classes. He has taught thousands of people to tie flies. Bear’s extensive fly tying background has led to the development of deadliest carp patterns on the planet. From 1977 until 1984 he ran Bear’s Fly Shop in Grand Ledge, Michigan He has tied flies commercially for 34 years, producing as many as 24,000 flies a year.

Bear created the “Tie-a-Thon” for the Federation Of Fly Fishers, and for ten years held a 24 hour tying marathon to raise money the FFF’s conservation projects, raising over $140,000.00 Bear’s flies are sought after by both collectors as well as fly fishers. His flies have appeared in numerous books, and magazines; as well as limited edition artwork.

Bear has set 3 IGFA World Records for Brook trout during his 27 years of fishing Labrador. He is currently the Fly Fishing Editor for Michigan Out-Of Doors magazine and has been for over 20 years. In 1999 he released his first in a series of fly tying instructional videos, currently available in DVD format are “Best Of The Bear Steelhead” “Best Of The Bear Steelhead II “ and “Best Of The Bear Tying Traditions”. Since 2000, Bear’s flies have been available in fly shops through the Umpqua Feather Merchants Fly Tyers Royalty Program. Currently Bear works as a Fly Fishing guide for Fuller’s North Branch Outing Club in Lovells, Michigan guiding for trout, salmon, steelhead, and carp on the fly.

Dakota is a fishing guide to the core. He loves collecting information on fish, but not nearly as much as he enjoys helping others learn to catch them. Dakota started his career at 16, as a dishwasher at a lodge in Alaska. That season, getting to tag along on big group trips got him hooked. He has been working in the industry ever since. From Northern Michigan to Alaska to Patagonia, guiding is now his full-time job. Dakota rows a SmithFly raft, and his preferred methods of fishing are both centerpin and fly fishing. Off the river, Dakota enjoys catching up with family and reading anything fishing related, especially enjoying John Gierach and Don Thomas. You can check him out on Instagram @capt.dakotamack.

Born and raised in Michigan, Ethan was never far from a body of water that he could wet a line in. After school, weekends and during summer breaks you’d find him exploring the woods and waters near his home. Ethan picked up a fly rod for the first time in his late teens. Coming from a conventional tackle background, it was not an easy transition, but he quickly became obsessed with fly fishing, eventually selling off all his conventional gear and trading it for feathered hooks. Ethan first started in Alaska guiding on the Mulchatna River and its tributaries. Now in Michigan, he focuses his guiding on the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers, floating in either his drift boat or Au Sable River boat in search of Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout.

As a kid Ethan was fortunate enough to have friends and family members that had bird dogs, and introduced him to bird hunting. Bird dogs were always something he’d wanted. Ethan now has two bird dogs, a German Shorthaired Pointer and an English Setter. In the fall and early winter, you will find him walking behind his dogs in search of grouse and woodcock.

As a guide, Ethan is first and foremost a teacher. Whether it’s a bird hunting trip or a fly fishing float, there is always something to learn, no matter how long you’ve been participating in the sport.

Greg Frey’s grandfather taught him to fly fish and tie flies when he was eight. His guiding experience came while working for Streamside Orvis in Traverse City during college. With degrees in environmental journalism and elementary education, upon graduation, he began teaching in the Gaylord Community Schools and guiding for Whippoorwill Orvis in Petoskey. He took a 10-year sabbatical from guiding when his two daughters were born and then returned to guiding at Boyne Outfitters for the past 13 summers. Last June, Greg retired after 30 meaningful years in the classroom, which has allowed him to devote more time to guiding, especially in the spring and fall.

In addition to guiding, Greg continues to write, publishing articles and essays in Gray’s Sporting Journal, Sporting Classics, Fly Rod & Reel, The Double Gun Journal, Game & Gun, The Orvis News, Midwest Fly Fishing and Michigan Out-of-Doors among others. He collaborated with three other writers called The Lost Branch Sportsman Club in a trilogy of anthologies available through Sporting Classics Bookstore and Amazon. He currently is the copy editor of Michigan Out-of-Doors and writes a monthly column for the Traverse City Record Eagle.

His favorite river for big browns at night is the Jordan, but he also loves the Manistee for its gentle flow, wide bends and casting space. Greg spends time guiding both float and wading trips on the Pigeon and Sturgeon as well as backcountry walk-in trips to the Black in the Pigeon River Country. Each river has its own charm. Which one to fish on any given day depends on many factors, the ultimate decision given to his guests. His goal for all of his trips is a memorable day on the water with good conversation, helpful instruction to improve casting skills and fly presentation, and hopefully enough fish to make it interesting. Most of his float trips are made in the wooden McKenzie drift boat that he built 30 years ago. He believes his real niche in the guiding world is his patience and communication skills which come from a career in elementary education and a heart toward building relationships.

Our Goal: To provide an educational and relaxing experience on the water while catching a few fish.

Many people come to northern Michigan to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us each and every day. We merely wish to share that experience with others. We are often asked what our clients should bring on a guided trip. Here is the short list:

1. Bug spray- not Skin-so-Soft, Blackflies eat that stuff with their Wheaties. I recommend Deep Woods Off! or something with Deet in it.
2. Polarized Sunglasses- I do have back-up sunglasses, but it is best if you have your own.
3. Hat- either a baseball style cap or fishing hat will keep sun off your head and help you see the fish better.
4. Rain Jacket or Parka- don’t like the weather? wait five minutes.
5. Waders- I do have multiple pairs, but your own waders that fit YOU would be best.
6. Suntan lotion.
7. Fishing License- get yours MDNR E-License.