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| Beaver Pond Serenity ~ photo credit Alex Childress |
A gentle wind blows down from the cool waters of northern Michigan. Often, there is a subtle sound whispered softly that can only be heard if one listens intently. Koz, what does this sound mean. Is it a man or even an idea? The sound however quiet can have a profound effect. Wildlife takes notes of this sound. Brightly colored rainbows scatter from riffles lit by the golden sun to hide in the shade of sturdy Eastern Pines. Brookies become even more elusive and seek the safety of undercut banks, beyond the reach of most predators. Even the nearly fearless Brown Trout pauses to scan the skies through the refracted lens of the river's surface seeking the shadow overhead indicating the presence of a feathered raptor. The sound ripples through the soil making grubs, worms and other creepy-crawly things slither free of their safe haven. Is the sound caused by the gentle whoosh of carbon fiber oars guiding a drift boat along cool swift spring-fed waters or the barely audible overhead sound of the fly line dropping a stimulator in the perfect presentation along a seam between two currents? Sometimes there is a smell of bitter fresh brewed coffee that may give it away. Is this reminiscent of an H.P. Lovecraft Cthulhu horror story or simply another fable to scare the ignorant?
Folks, most importantly there is a predator on the prowl.
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| Squatch and the "Koz" ~ photo credit Koz |
I decided to investigate this phenomenon called "Koz" and went right to the source for information. In certain circles, there is this cool cat named Brian Kozminski. I have only met him once in person but have been in contact with him on social media for several years, Facebook in particular. Brian is also a major contributing factor into my blogging endeavors. After a lengthy phone conversation, I was able to verify that Brian Kozminski was in fact this "Koz" sometimes spoken in hushed whispers in the dimly lit corner of Michigan's northernmost bars and taverns.
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| Brian 'Koz' Kozminski, the man, the myth, the legend ~ photo credit Jimmy Chang |
I have come to find that Koz is a nickname that is used by his many friends and associates, myself included. Brian is truly a legendary local trout fisherman. Well, it is true, that many fish stories are just exaggerations of the truth. It is safe to say Brian is not an eight foot tall behemoth of a man willing to wrestle with the likes of Randy "The Macho Man" Savage."Oooooh YEAH, brother". Koz is willing to wrestle with any scaled beast willing to tangle with him on the end of a taut line. Koz has a deep understanding of many fish species and their feeding habits. Brian's humble fishing experience started at the young age of 8 years old fly fishing with his dad & grandpa catching mostly gills and small bass hooking into a few trees along the way. He later fished the mighty Grand River & Rogue River close to his home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sometimes life gets in the way of our passions as was the case with Koz, taking a break from fly fishing until his late twenties when his passion for the sport took hold and this is where the legend begins. When he met the love of his life they traveled to Petosky then later to Boyne City where they dwell until this very day.
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| Flexing 3 weight in the cedar confines of Upper Jordan River. ~ photo by Kim Mettler of Northern Michigan Barefoot Memories. |
Koz is a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited and was once the President of the Miller Van Winkle Chapter of TU for four years about a dozen or more years back. Brian was also involved with Salmon in the classroom. Salmon in the classroom is a project Brian started in 2012 in Petosky. Students raise Salmon from the egg to parr or fingerling size, usually between 3-4 inches long. Each student keeps a diary recording temperature, Ph levels, and growth of their salmon younglings. They are then able to release the salmon in May where they will reside and become imprinted to that particular river so they may return when ready to spawn a few years later. Koz is all about protecting and advocating for sustainable fisheries. He avidly practices selective harvest. He rarely will keep trout, but for table fare, he keeps walleye or panfish especially when fishing through the ice.
Brian is the owner operator of True North Trout Guide Services. He plies his craft on an Adipose Drift boat on The Au Sable, Jordan, and Manistee. Walk-in guide trips are available for the Black and Pigeon Rivers. He stalks those waterways in the pursuit of Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout sometimes targeting Smallmouth Bass if on appropriate waters. Koz is an excellent assessor of the where, why and when of fly fishing. His knowledge of insects and flies are unparalleled. He is the Great Lakes Sales Representative & Brand Ambassador for Umpqua Feather Merchants. Brian knows flies like no one else I have talked to. Here is a peek into one of his fly boxes.
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| photo credit Alex Childress |
While talking with someone who knows flies so well and has cast hundreds if not thousands into local streams, rivers, lakes, and trees. I was hoping to learn of some new secret weapons I could add to my own arsenal. Take a peek at two of those beauties. Please note that both are in purple, a long time secret of mine is purple or white for flies. May I introduce you to the Blowtorch & the Stimulator, both from Upmqua. The Hairy Drake and Hippy Stomper as his other go to flies.
Brian is also a Brand Ambassador and Sales Rep. for Temple Fork Outfitters. Koz loves the line Temple Fork rods and reels. When asked what his favorite set-up was he excitedly responded "
Favorite rod - tough call . All around best rod is Temple Fork Outfitters 8'6" BVK with BVK II. It has caught everything from hex browns to hopper season bank smashers. Although I do really love the soft easy going feel of the Finesse glass 3/4 7' (matched with BVK 0) for brook trout beaver dam hopping and skinny blue line mapping.
If I had to choose a meat throwing stick - the new and vastly improved TFO AXIOM II-X has the lifting power and fine tuned laser guided target assist you can't find on other softer rods. This is a CANNON, willing and able to pick up and deliver larger feathered creations like articulated Meat Puppets/Red Rocket/Hog Snare or Game Changers". ~ Koz
Brian has been the owner operator of TNT guide services since 2012. He writes articles on the TNT blog site as well. If you like a good read about everything fly fishing you should give him a read after you finish this of course. Brian offers half day walk in trips, half and full day float trips too. You can get some good casting instruction, studies about aquatic bugs (food for the trout), reading the water and how to match the hatch. All guided trips are catch & release only.
Brian simply loves watching other people catch fish. Seeing excitement on someones face when they get into a good fish or have them catch their very first fish on a fly rod is what gets his juices flowing while "on the job". Koz finds fulfillment in guiding his Adipose drift boat along the water and being able to put people in the position to make a good presentation to elicit a strike and hopefully a hook-up and a landed fish.
Besides fly fishing, tying flies and teaching others about our great fisheries, Koz is a ladies man! He loves to spend his free time with his wife of 16 years, Leslie and two daughters, Simone 15 and Camille 6. I'll send him prayers when the boys come knocking at the door! The Koz family can be found hiking, having a picnic, camping, canoeing, kayaking or SUP paddle boarding. Koz is an avid gardener and at home chef for his family.
The family can also be found in the northern wilderness hunting the delicious morel mushrooms. During the winter months Brian can be found on an ice covered lake fishing for some equally delicious walleye, gills and perch.
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| Brian teaching his daughter the craft #girldad Pink and purple are great colors for catching trout. ~ Photo by Koz |
Let us not forget that Brian Kozminski is also a Salesman. Oh! But what's he selling? Elixirs that treat men's health problems, oinments for sore achy muscles, the cure for Typhoid fever...Of course not! Most of all, Koz is a representative of his brand, True North Trout. Many of his clients receive memories of an outdoor adventure on the waters of one of Michigan's many beautiful scenic rivers. They receive a learning experience of Koz's spoken words about his passion for the environment, nature and most of all trout. Holding a trout in one's hand just before releasing it gives you the sense of having a rare connection with nature and the ability to feel that connection with one of it's most beautiful creatures. Catch a trout in it's natural environment on a fly rod and reel is special even more so if one created the fly that fooled the wily fish. Memories of a great outdoor adventureis what is for sale.
Koz is also selling somethin invalueable. Conservation and sustainability of things money could never buy, the beauty and wonder of nature. We have a gift here people. Not just in Michigan, but across our nation. It takes thousands of Koz's for us to keep what we have now. We must try to fix the wrongs or else we face a sad bleak world. Koz is not just a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited.Koz is a Guide Advocate for #KICKPLASTIC through Costa. All of his single use plastic bottles were replaced two years ago. "As a guide we need to inform our clients about the importance of bringing a Nalgene/HydroFlask on trips and the ability to refill water bottles with my RTIC/Yeti.
He is involved with the Tip of the Mitt watershed council, friends of the Boyne, friends of the Jordan and Back Country hunters & anglers (a group fighting to keep our public lands from falling into the grasp of big money. Think Pebble Mine.) The Mayfly Project is a good place to get youth involved in this fight.
I asked Koz if there was a lucky item he took with him on all of his trips he replied "coffee and my Yeti tumbler." Sandhill Coffee Company makes a secret fish catching brew for the Wizard of Boyne City, True North Signature Blend.
I would like to end this article by posting a photo about why some of us do what we do. Leave it better than you found it. That goes for protecting the environment and our resources as well. I would like to thank Koz for letting me delve into your life's passion and enduring my many questions. A special thank you to those who have taken the time to read my written words. Lastly don't forget to treat each other kindly.
Now practice casting, tie some flies and hit the water!
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