Welcome Back

Folks!  Friends!  Ladies & Gentlemen!  

It's been a while... we'd even venture to say, too long.  We certainly had a long winter season, and while we may not have been updating our blog, we were certainly catching fish.  We can at least promise you that much! 

However, with that being said, Wood Island Outfitters has made some adjustments.  We've re-vamped our image and our services for 2013 and beyond!  In an effort to get closer to our true passion, we've done the ground work and hit the books to take our charter fishing business much more seriously.

The man you once knew as, "The Big Kahuna", is now Captain Big Kahuna to you!  That's right, he managed to pass the big test! 

With our official captain's license in hand, we've been spending a ton of time out on the deep blue sea.  Wood Island Outfitters has competed in a few fishing tournaments as well and will continue to do so, as well as continue guided fishing tours through the upcoming season.  In fact, there are already charters scheduled for May!  So, be sure to check out the schedule using the link on the right side of the blog labeled "charters" to see where you can fit a little Wood Island time into your summer!


In other news, our website is really looking great.  Check it out:

http://www.woodislandoutfitters.com/

A little cleaner look we think!  We've uploaded a bunch of ice fishing photos on our Facebook page as well.  Be sure to get a good look at those when you get a chance. 



We'll continue to keep you posted with more up-to-speed news as things take shape.  There's a lot of good stuff we're currently working on as the warmer weather arrives. 


Thanks for checking out our new information for now.  Hope you had a fun & safe winter season, but we also hope you're as excited for summer as we are! 


Until next time,

Morgan Manfredi
First Mate

^ See, Captain Kahuna even let me move up in the world too (ha!)

Baby Get Ready...

It's that time of year folks!

Wood Island Outfitters is officially offering guided fishing tours!

If you haven't read or seen it already, WiO will be taking parties up to four out for a day of casting and reeling in the prettiest fish you've ever seen! Come on out for a day of fun and learning by Wood Island itself! Trips will be accompanied by The Big Kahuna, Jason Perkins as your very own Captain for the day, and one or more of the WiO Girls with lunch from 13 Flying Pigs BBQ & Smokin' Grill!

There are half and full day trips offered. Half days may be in the morning, or evening. Tours will begin on Memorial Day Weekend and run through Labor Day Weekend!  We are open for Tours 7 days a week!


Tour Times:
Half Day (morning): 8:00am - 12:00pm
Half Day (evening): 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Full Day: 8:00am - 3:00pm 

*All leave times are adjustable based on client request, tides, and favorable fishing reports.*

The WiO Fishin' Boat is a 2006 Seaway 21' CC with 115 Susuki Four Stroke Engine. The Boat can carry up to four passengers.  Wood Island will be competing, using this beautiful vessel, in fishing tournaments all across New England during the summer season!


Fishing Trips will leave out of Great Bay Marina in Newington, N.H., and will travel from the Great Bay Estuary to the Isle of Shoals.  Fishing experiences are customizable with your personal choice of heavy, light, or fly tackle!  All of the gear you may require is provided by WiO.

Not only will your tour be fit for your personal needs, it will provide lots of tips, and lessons from an experienced fisherman with the know-how to reel in the big ones.  And no matter what, we won't let you go hungry!  While out in afternoons, we will prepare a home-made, smoked BBQ lunch that will leave you wanting more.  13 Flying Pigs - Smokin' Grill, is a new addition to the Wood Island Outfitter services.  Keep your eyes and ears open for more on ribs, brisket, and pulled pork as we officially roll out our catering services.  You can find it all here, on the Wood Island Outfitters blog.   

To reserve your spot for the best fishing tours in the North East:

call: 603-767-1632 or e-mail us at: woodislandcorp@gmail.com

For more exciting news and additions, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter (@woodislandcorp).

These fishing tours are filling up our summer fast, can't wait to see you on the boat!

Morgan Manfredi

The Freeloading Intern  

Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, a Salt Life For Me

It's hard to believe it's only March with the way the weather has been in the last week! That's New England for yah though!

With the weather being the way it is, we've decided to start prepping the WiO Fishin' Boat!

There it is, The Big Kahuna's Boat! WiO is getting really pumped for this striper fishing season! We are hoping to begin to offer fishing tours with yours truly!

Our tours would be a fantastic, and delicious experience! Our crew would take you and yours out to some of our favorite spots and show you how it's done. Learn how to catch a striper like a pro! The day would consist of many laughs and lessons, as well as some of our very own BBQ sandwiches! Not to mention, the WiO Girls like to tag along, too!

Now, while out on a tour, you may want to be suited in the right gear! Here's what you want:


Salt Life is a new and hot brand that we've just fallen in love with! So much so, we've made them one of our newest affiliates! They offer gear for the salt-water life styles including fishing, surfing, diving, and just lounging on the beach!

How it all began:
"The four partners of Salt Life are avid "watermen" and extreme surfers, free divers, spear fishermen and blue water fishing experts. All have traveled the globe surfing, fishing and diving in pursuit of the Salt Lifestyle. Today, we live by our commitment to our original concepts and continue to visit places like the North Shore of Hawaii, Tavarua Fiji, Indonesia, Central America, Venezuela, the Bahamas and other remote Salt Life locations on a regular basis."

But,who says you have to be somewhere tropical to take part in the "salt life"? We've got plenty of ocean right here in New England! The team at Salt Life agrees:

“At Salt Life, we are passionate about the Ocean, just like you. We are fishermen, captains, dive masters, free divers, surfers, and spear fishermen with salt in our veins. We know what it's all about and it's what we love to do.”

Salt Life offers clothing in all sizes for both men, women, and juniors. Personally, I love their tanks! (@morgmanfredi).

Check out the Salt Life flickr account for some great pictures of their line in action:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/saltlifefish/pool/

Salt Life is also connected via Twitter (@RealSaltLife) and through some sweet blogs like this one! Read their personal one here: Official Salt Life Blog

They have some awesome videos and some great tips as well!

Keep your eyes and ears open for more upcoming information about our WiO Fishing Tours for this spring/summer season!
(http://woodislandoutfitters.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=browse&id=30980&pageid=77)

They promise to be worth your while!

For now, don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@woodislandcorp) and "like" us on Facebook for more exciting news that'll really "reel" you in!




Morgan Manfredi
The Freeloading Intern

C'est Fou!

Troy Landry from the hit series "Swamp People" loves to get down and dirty "chooting 'em'" up in the bayous of Luisiana, and it's been rumored that he has some fun loving family members who really know how to season those gators up after a hard days work...

Brandon "Cowboy" Cormier is the founder with his wife, Tammy Cormier (and rumored cousin of THE Troy Landry), of a deliciously cajun season & spice rub known as C'est Fou Cajun. Cowboy Cormier and his family know all about the Louisiana ways from racing lawn mowers to good ol' hearty BBQ. The Cormier family races three different classes of lawn mowers under the number #723. Both Cowboy and his son, Parker have their own. Cowboy Cormier has been awarded as "Rookie of the Year" and has come in first place to win lawn mower championships! The WiO Crew hasn't exactly reached lawn mower status yet, but the races certainly look entertaining:

This fun-loving family also loves to cook and share their edible creations with neighbors, friends, family and now, you! After many different tries and adding a dash of "this" or "that" Cowboy & his crew came up with C'est Fou!

C'est Fou is a cajun word meaning, "that's a crazy"!

Cajuns:

"An ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles (French-speakers fromAcadia in what are now the Canadian Maritimes). Today, the Cajuns make up a significant portion of south Louisiana's population, and have exerted an enormous impact on the state's culture."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cajun

There are two different seasonings offered by C'est Fou, both of which everyone at WiO finds to be delectable. Boss man, or "The Big Kahuna" loves to put it on his eggs, and has even seasoned his Thanksgiving turkey with it!

The two flavors offered consist of:

-C'est Fou Cajun Seasoning

"This all purpose Cajun seasoning is used on any type food item. Sprinkle on vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, fish, fries, fries, vegetables, even eggs, just about anything you can think of. This product is low sodium, mild heat.... with a surprise twist... not too hot and spicy... "

-C'est Fou Gar'lick Butta

"This is a wonderful blend of garlic, butter, and special spices, designed to be used just like you would use regular garlic... This one is low sodium, with a lil heat added.... Sprinkle it on your steaks, porksteaks, seafood, potatoes, and other vegetables ... you can grill with it or just mix with butter for garlic bread. You have to taste this one to believe it..."

And as the Cajuns may say, "OH DAT GOOD!"

The C'est Fou website offers a page of recipes that are favorites of Cowboy & his family:

Yummy Recipes

These seasoning have become so popular, even Johnny Trigg from Smokin' Triggers BBQ Team has had the pleasure of some of the cajun craziness! Smokin' Triggers BBQ has been featured on TLC television:

But of course, the best part about all of this is that you can get your hands on your very own can of cajun crazy right from the WiO website! As always, FREE SHIPPING!

Keep your eye out for their cajun man logo at all of our WiO events and at the races!

For more updates that'll bring out the "C'est Fou" in you, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter: @woodislandcorp

Morgan Manfredi

The Freeloading Intern

Aren't You A Muddy Girl!

Now, the WiO Crew's girls have been famous a time or two for getting a little "mud on the tires", but never did we think we'd find some kick-ass camo that suited us so well!

Moon Shine Attitude Attire was founded in October of 2007 out of Beavertown, PA. Their mission is to deliver, "An attitude driven, quality, designer casual wear for the outdoor audience". Their clothing line is built to last; built to work. They use special "flat lock" stitching to create higher quality clothing.

What is flatlock stitching?

"This type of sewing creates a flat seam to the garment and instead of a traditional seam that is raised on the inside, the seam is flat on both sides. The stitching is visible and some of our customers have said it even feels more comfortable."

(http://champ-sys.com/custom/pages/flatlock-stitching)

Moon Shine took two years to develop and finally hit the markets in 2010. The brand came out with three different camo designs consisting of:

• Muddy Girl
• Outshine
• Harvest Moon

Outshine & Harvest Moon were designs targeted at the male population of their market, while Muddy Girl has been tremendously popular among the ladies! The camo is being dipped and printed on more and more custom items as time has gone on as well. Everything from deer heads, ATVs, and high heels (and you best believe the WiO girls are getting their hands on a pair of those)!

Have a look at each:

All of these great products are flying off our racks at any of our events. People are truly flocking to it! The clothing line is fantastic because it fits so many different lifestyles. Moon Shine even said it themselves: "for those who love camping, hiking, farming, military, rodeo, country music, recreational shooting, motor sports, hunting, fishing, etc. An apparel company that appeals to the entire outdoor audience." The crew over here at WiO agrees 100%!

Now, don't you want to get in on this?

Moon Shine Attitude Attire can be found & ordered directly from the WiO website! And you know what the best part is? Just like all of our products, free shipping! So, what are you waiting for? Get to it:

http://woodislandoutfitters.com/index.cfm?id=17683&fuseaction=browse&pageid=76

While you're at it... Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook for a Free Gift!

For more great news that'll really rile you up, follow us on Twitter: @woodislandcorp

Morgan Manfredi

The Freeloading Intern

Sporting Traditions Since 1856: Orvis

http://moldychum.typepad.com

Orvis is a local Vermont, family owned outdoor sporting business. They have some of the best fly fishing gear, and experience to offer, and they are a company that's well respected.

The main focus for the company is their clothing, tools (rods, flies, knives, crates, etc.), and home decor. However, Orvis goes much farther beyond being a general store for outdoor sporting goods. Orivs, is a lifestyle.

Not only does the company offer you a rod, they offer you a trip to take the rod on, plus all of the training required to use it. Fly fishing coaches, Truel Myers and Tom Rosenbauer (to name a couple) are professionals when it comes to fly fishing, as is the company they represent. Orvis and their fly fishing coaches offer fly fishing schools and trips in multiple locations from Vermont to California, all the way down to New Zealand, and everywhere in between. They even offer women-only trips!

*If you book a trip now for a June school before April 30th, you can bring a friend for half price! For more information, visit their site: Orvis Fly Fishing Schools

But, you don't have to spend the money on a fly fishing trip to get training from an Orvis' professional, you can visit their blog!

http://www.orvisnews.com/

The blog offers five major topics including:

-Fly Fishing

-Dogs

-Conservation

-Adventure

-Hunting

It includes pictures, videos, how-to tips, suggested books, and a fly fishing "Pic Of The Week".

The blog also has links to all of their social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Youtube

Flickr

And you can subscribe to their podcast: http://www.orvis.com/podcast

Their blog is easy to follow as you can subscribe via e-mail for free, and you can select the topics you'd like to receive more info about.

http://www.merchantcircle.com

Orvis also has this great link to teach you how to tie all of the best knots, step-by-step. It's animated, and is very easy to follow. This is helpful to any fisherman, or fisherwoman!

You can see it here: http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/index.html

Some history...

Orvis was founded in 1856 in Manchester, Vermont by Charles F. Orvis. The company has changed hands twice through it's 150 year history, and it's the oldest mail-order retailer in the U.S.. In the U.S., they have 48 retail stores, and 9 outlet/warehouses. Charles Orvis designed a reel in 1874 that was said to be a "benchmark of American reel design". Since then, Orvis has certainly had it's fair share of competition such as L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and Norm Thompson.

In the early 1890's, daughter, Mary Orvis Marbury, published an encyclopedia reference book on fly patterns: Favorite Flies and Their Histories. This book made Orvis stand out and it was known as "the country's foremost arbiter of fly-pattern authenticity and style."

1966 was the year that Orvis began it's Sporting School programs (as mentioned above). The school started in Manchester, Vermont but it has now spread all over the country and as of 2006, 40,000 students had graduated from an Orvis Sporting School.

Because of all of their accomplishments, both Mary & Charles both been inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. A high honor!

Orvis has kept up with the times as well with their new smartphone application: Orvis Fly Fishing. The app has it all, and I would definitely recommend it (more of these apps can be found in a recent post).

I think that you can expect to continue to see good things from Orvis, and they are definitely a brand that you can count on. Go see what they have to offer you!

Morgan Manfredi

The Freeloading Intern

There's An App For That!

Hey all of you smartphone users! You're gunna like this!

Not too long ago, I left you guys a post about Field & Stream Magazine. Well, the other day, I was sent a link to the new Field & Stream App! This of course, led me to find all sorts of other goodies for your smartphones. So please, enjoy!

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.zumobi.android.fieldandstream&feature=search_result

Here's the list of the top 5 apps for both Android and iPhone users:

Android Users

-Field & Stream

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.zumobi.android.fieldandstream&feature=search_result

-BackCountry Navigator

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license&feature=search_result

-Time2Fish (there is also a free version available for this app, but it's not the full version)

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.baddaddy.time2fish&feature=search_result

-Fishing Status

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.FishingStatus&feature=search_result

-Fishin' Buddy

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.joolasoft.android.fishinbuddy&feature=search_result

iPhone Users:

-Field & Stream

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/field-stream-online/id421042070?mt=8

-Orivs (also available for Android)

http://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?subject=7752

-Fishing Knots

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fishing-knots/id324161498?mt=8

-Bass Fishing Guru Pro

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bass-fishing-guru-pro/id362538505?mt=8

-Fishing Calendar

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fishing-calendar/id305708971?mt=8

Unfortunately, I am still stuck in the dumb phone era. So I have not actually tried any of these out. However, after reading reviews, seeing the star-ratings, and reading up on the app's functions, these seemed to be the best functioning, and most popular. I really wish I could use some of these handy tools myself!

If you can, give some of these a shot and let me know (in a comment if you'd like) how you like em'!

Morgan Manfredi

The Freeloading Intern