About our Guides

True North Trout Guides

Brian “Koz” Kozminski

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.  The Koz family also owns a cabin on a great stretch of the Manistee River where many TNT fishing trips begin. 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. 

Floating with Bear Andrews

Jonathon Chizmadia

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

Jason Bergwall

Jason has over 25 years of experience in fly fishing ranging from the rivers and lakes of Michigan to the salt flats and mangroves of Florida. He’s also an avid fly-tyer and rod builder. Jason’s favorite aspect of guiding is helping bring newcomers to the sport with simplified instruction meant to ease the learning process and make entry into the sport less intimidating. He loves introducing people to the pristine trout waters throughout the Grayling area.

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Travis

 Ryan Travis, born and raised in Gaylord MI, had his first experience with a brook trout at a very young age, where he found the appreciation for the fish in a way few have yet to put into words. His passion for trout was born. Years passed catching and releasing this beautiful char in the 8-to-15-inch range carrying nothing more than a tiny pocket-sized box with hooks and sinkers and a can of worms. Around 2015 he was nudged in the direction of “bigger fish”. Night fishing for big browns and fishing for Great Lakes steelhead became a new obsession and a healthy habit, appreciation and admiration of the fish and the environments in which they live. 

 

 

Logan Halverson 

 Logan is from Montague, a small town in West Michigan located on the White River. He grew up fishing the White and Pere Marquette Rivers and has been fly fishing for anything that will eat a fly since I was around 8. He loves teaching and showing people the amazing outdoor experience that we are so blessed to experience here in Michigan. His true love is streamer and night fishing for trout and bass but also enjoy the musky hunt as well. He has extensive knowledge of the upper Manistee, Little Manistee, Au Sable Rivers and many of the ‘lesser known’ rivers in the tip of the mitt for many years now and is quite comfortable in those systems.  Currently located in Sault Ste Marie, he is looking for a career shift, possibly to move downstate to be closer to the river systems he loves. Just can’t escape the trout bum…

 

 

AFFILIATE GUIDES

Jeff ‘BEAR’ Andrews

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 Mack

Founder of White Pine Guide Service

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 .

Brett Riser

“Brett has been a fishing guide in Michigan since 2012 and has 20 years fly-fishing experience. He enjoys fishing in Michigan, Montana, Alaska and the Low Country of South Carolina. He was a Fisheries and Wildlife professional for 12 yrs. working for Michigan State University, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Natural Resource Conservation Agency and local Conservation Districts.  He is also a hunting guide in Montana with Montana Outfitting Company since 2022 and is an elk guide in Michigan. He is an avid fly tier, outdoorsman, and naturalist. Brett runs a drift boat and an Ausable River boat guiding primarily on the Manistee and Ausable Rivers. Brett currently guides for Drakes Fly Shop in Grayling, MI and The Fly Factor.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True North Trout Guide Service

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.