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GAPEN’S
Family History
The Gapens had numerous tent camps on places such ass
Lake Superior’s St. Ignace Island and Lake Nipigon’ss
Shakespeare Island. Tent camps would be the basee
camps for many anglers seeking out their northernn
wilderness adventure.
Gapen’s had the first floatplane fly - in operationn
in their section of northern Ontario. For planes, ann
ancient gullwing Stinson and a cloth coveredd
Norseman were used. Anglers were whisked off northh
into the northern forest where enormous numbers off
game fish awaited their arrival.
In those years the Gapen’s float planes were restricted from traveling beyond thee
Albany River system. If the plane were to go down, there would be no search and rescuee
operation beyond this point.
Dan Gapen, who now has become President & CEO of The Gapen Company, greww
up in the companionship of the native Ojibwa Indian guides who had a great deal to doo
with Dan’s education in this northern wilderness. Rivers abounded in this region off
Ontario and it was here that young Dan gained a true love for river fishing and itss
rewards. The numerous books, videos, TV shows and stories written and hosted byy
Dan are evidence to this rich river wilderness heritage.
It may be of interest to some of you that Jesse Gapen, Dan’s Grandfather, gained hiss
fly tying ability from his father who came from England. This talent has been passed onn
down through four generations of Gapens. Numerous patterns now existing in thee
market were first tied by one of these Gapen men.
It was Dan who broke the mold and came out with other fishing lures such as thee
snag-free, rock walking “Ugly Bug” jig in 1968, and the first bottom-walking wiree
sinker called the “Bait Walker” in 1964. Today, the
Gapen Company specializes in many lures which
other companies haven’t had the foresight to
invent or the willingness to manufacture.
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MADE
USA
IN
THE GAPEN CO. IS A FAMILY
OWNED COMPANY, IN
BUSINESS SINCE 1936.
PRIDE IN ITS ABILITY TO
MANUFACTURE IN THE
U.S.A. IS THE VERY
FIBER WHICH RUNS
THROUGHOUT THE FIRM.
RESISTING THE ALLURE OF PROFITS
WHICH COULD BE MADE BY IMPORTING
PRODUCTS FROM CHINA AND THE FAR
EAST, LIKE MOST OF OUR COMPETITION,
IS NOT A WAY OF BUSINESS FOR THIS
NORTH AMERICAN MANUFACTURER.
✯ IT’S “MADE IN THE U.S.A.”
✯ BY AMERICAN LABOR
✯ FOR AMERICAN ANGLERS!
www.gapen.com
3
Don Gapen, creatorr
of the Original
Muddler fly in
1936 shows off a
10 lb., 4 oz.
brook trout caughtt
on his beloved fly
in the river he
treasured, the
Nipigon.
Fish Gapen’s
If water is really riled up and muddy, switch to a chartreuse-colored bait. This is an
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F i s h G a p e n ’ s
w w w. g a p e n . c o m
GAPEN’S
Philosophy of Fishing
Dan Gapen, Sr.
The Ol’ River Rat
with one of his favorite species.
“THINK LIKE A FISH”
SIMPLE ANSWERS:
Often the pros tend to make fishing too
complicated . . .
Relax, lay back, enjoy your surroundings and
think. Why aren’t the fish biting? Ask yourself
some questions, simple ones like ‘How are the fish
feeling?’
• What about water conditions?
• What time of the year is it?
• Are you working waters that appear to hold no
fish?
• Is the bait you’re using too big or too small to
represent the natural fish food?
• Does the color of the lure you’re using
match the natural food fish?
• Are you personally too hot or too cold as you
work the water?
If it’s a bright sunny day maybe you should slow down your retrieve and go deeper
into shaded cooler water conditions.
If the water you fish is clearly visible all the way to bottom in 10 feet, go for a lighter
colored lure.
If it’s spring, a time for spawn, go shallower with your presentation.
If you’re able to see the bottom in the water you work, and you’ve not flushed a
single fish, maybe you should change location.
Often, many anglers use too large a lure in their attempt to catch a large trophy fish.
Maybe your answer is to go to a much smaller one, food which the local fish are
actually feeding on.
Attempt to match the color of the food the fish you’re after are feeding on. If water
is dirty use dark colors such as black – brown – crawfish – pumpkin or blue; all colors
that match the current fish food and are easily seen because of the sharp silhouette
they give off.