Sam De Jonge | Wild Rise Outfitters
Born and raised in Petoskey, MI, the great outdoors has always been a part of Sam's life. Fly fishing however was one of the outdoor activities that came late to him though. It wasn't until his sophomore year of college that this passion took a deep hold of him. What started out as a small interest quickly exploded into a full-fledged passion and the exploring has yet to show signs of slowing down. In addition to guiding/fly fishing his other interests include CrossFit, hunting, road cycling, designing, photography, and shooting. Sam currently sits on the board for the Miller Van Winkle Trout Unlimited Chapter and is a member of Michigan Fly Fishing Club, TU, & BHA. Having the privilege to live in such a special place, it is with great enthusiasm that he can now look to share the northern Michigan woods and rivers with others.
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'Wild Rise Outfitters was formed in April, 2019 to fulfill half of my current mission. In conjunction with my full time job as an architectural designer in Petoskey, it is my goal to use both fly fishing and design as vehicles to bring people closer together and closer to nature. I look forward to the opportunity to show you the wonderful rivers here in northern Michigan.' - Sam De Jonge
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 a decade ago, he and his wife, Lesley, daughters, Simone and Camille, made ‘Up North’ a permanent way of life. A recent transplant to Boyne City now allows the Jordan and Boyne Rivers to become his backyard home waters. A lifetime member of Trout Unlimited and ex officio for the Miller VanWinkle Chapter, he shares his passion for the resources by teaching locals the art of fly tying.
An advocate for catch and release, Koz is also Great Lakes sales representative for Temple Fork Outfitters, Dreamcast Flies, Fishewear, Graplrz, Snowbee, and Wind River Gear – he is also northern Michigan’s ambassador for SUPontheFly and Adipose Boatworks, as well as an FFF member. 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.
fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It's not even clear if catching fish is actually the point.
- John Gierach