The Drift, by Eleven Angling

BY ELEVEN ANGLING

ON THE COVER

New Zealand rainbow, on a size 14 black humpy with a bright blue body, made possible by a 10-minute helicopter ride from Cedar Lodge on December 7, 2022.

Photo By: BRIAN O’KEEFE

I fish because I love to;

Because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly...

- ROBERT TRAVER 1964 THE TESTAMENT

OF A FISHERMAN

Photo By: BRIAN O’KEEFE

Fall fishing on the Gunnison River, Colorado.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to The Drift, by Eleven Angling. Why we’re here is simple. This first-of-its-kind magazine was born when we realized that the millions of moments happening on the extraordinary water we fish across the world were going unseen. The Drift is here to change that.

The pages that follow are our stories, our obsessions. They’re the moments that inspire us to fish harder, to adventure further, to care deeper. They’re the places at the end of our fishiest dreams, and the people who lend us their rods when we finally spot our dream catch. They’re the “Aha!” when we learn a new casting technique; the “Sign Me Up” when we discover a new angling destination; and the “We” that forms among guests, guides, and locals along the way.

These are the moments we live for; the reasons we’ve made homes in such far-flung places as Iceland, Patagonia, Colorado, and New Zealand; and the scenes we replay in our minds when we’re aching to be out on the water— because we all know looking at big fish in cool places is the next best thing.

WE HOPE YOU CATCH THE DRIFT.

Rods ready to go at Eleven

Photo By: KATIE FALKENBERG

Angling’s Rio Yelcho Lodge in Chile.

ELEVEN ANGLING TEAM

CAMERON DAVENPORT

Angling Sales and Operations Manager

BRIAN O’KEEFE

Angling Product Manager

ELLIOT MANNING

Colorado Angling Manager / Sales and Operations

FOUNDERS OF ELEVEN ANGLING

CHAD PIKE

JOHN FEATHERMAN

CONTRIBUTORS

GLOBAL GUIDES AND STAFF

CREATIVE TEAM

SCOTTIE LITTLE JENNIE EDWARDS

Cedar Lodge Manager

ROBERT BROOKS

Global Angling Guide

Copywriter

ALEX BAMBEI

Graphic Designer

Þ ORSTEINN GU Ð MUNDSSON LAURA HASELTON

Iceland Angling Guide

ZACHARY BURGOYNE

Chile Angling Guide

ZACH JANSSEN

Chile Angling Guide

MARK ROSS

Chile Angling Guide

QUENTIN BAKER

Chile Angling Guide

DOMENIC DIGREGORIO

Global Angling Guide

Marketing Manager

PHOTOGRAPHY

BRIAN O’KEEFE

CAMERON DAVENPORT

KATIE FALKENBERG

and other global contributors

THE BACK CAST

12 THE QUEST FOR ATLANTIC SALMON

A Photo Journey through the Middleof-Nowhere Iceland

THE PRESENTATION

32 REUNITING WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND

A First-Hand Account of Returning to New Zealand After 2+ Years

50 BEHIND THE SCENES IN PATAGONIA

Guide Reports from a Multi-Lodge Journey through Chile’s Best Waters

58 LEARNING THE LANGUAGE

A First Timer’s Memoir of Fishing the Gunnison Gorge

A starry night under the Chilean sky during Rio Palena Lodge’s traditional Asado experience

62 SCOTTIE LITTLE’S BIG ON PERSONALITY

A Q+A on Fishing, Culture, and Lessons with Cedar Lodge’s Manager

THE FORWARD CAST

72 PREPPING FOR SUCCESS ON NEW WATER

e Do’s and Don’ts of Preparing for Your Next Big Fishing Trip

86 ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEVER

Five Reasons To Look Forward to Summer in Colorado

A LOOK BACK AT LAST SEASON’S MOST MEMORABLE ANGLING MOMENTS

Beautiful fall colors, solitude, and a

river full of Atlantic salmon near the Hölkná Cabins

Photo By: BRIAN O’KEEFE

BACKCAST

THE QUEST FOR ATLANTIC SALMON

Þ orsteinn “Rock” Gu ð mundsson with a chrome Atlantic salmon while guiding out of the Hölkná Cabins

A Photo Essay from the Middle-of-Nowhere Iceland’s Hölkná Cabins

PHOTO ESSAY

Words and Photography by: BRIAN O’KEEFE

Far flung in the northeastern expanses of Iceland, Eleven Hölkná Cabins exist for one reason and one reason only—to guide anglers on eight miles of remote water in pursuit of the most highly sought a er fish in the world: Atlantic salmon.

ATLANTIC SALMON ARE ALSO KNOWN TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AS SALMO SALAR, MEANING THE LEAPER. WHETHER THE ORIGINAL DEFINITION WAS MEANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO THEIR LEAPING ABILITY OVER WATERFALLS OR AS A GREAT JUMPER ON THE END OF A LINE, IT ALL BODES WELL FOR THE LUCKY FEW IN THE HÖLKNÁ CABINS. FOR THEY WILL EXPERIENCE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE WITH THE SALMON, ON UNFISHED WATERS, IN FANTASTIC SCENERY, WITH A GUIDE WHO WILL INSTRUCT, EXPLAIN GENTLY, AND IN THE EVENING, ASSIST WITH THE MAKING OF A PERFECT MEDIUM RARE STEAK OR LEG OF LAMB OR MANHATTAN.”

Cameron Davenport leads a salmon to Rock, and the net, hopefully.

PHOTO ESSAY

THE HÖLKNÁ, EVEN BY SPARSELY POPULATED ICELANDIC STANDARDS, IS FAR OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

YOU FEEL LIKE THE ONLY PERSON TO EVER CAST EYES ON THIS BEAUTIFUL ATLANTIC SALMON RIVER— AND YOU BASICALLY ARE.

Rock spots three salmon from the cliff. Cameron makes the cast.

CAST 1

Cameron’s first cast gets a serious boil right against the rocks.

CAST 2

The second cast has another playful boil on the swung fly. Same fish or new fish?

THE CHESS MATCH WITH THESE FIVE TO TWENTY POUND SALMON IS A NEVER-ENDING THAT INCLUDES TRADITION, PERSEVERANCE, SKILL, AND EXPERIMENTATION.”

ENDING CONQUEST

CAST 3

This time the salmon commits, and a heavy strike ensues. One second later, the hook pulls out, but he lands a big salmon minutes later.

BELOW

RIGHT

Cameron uses a ladder system to enter and exit a particularly good pool.

Winter phase Ptarmigan in flight

THIS IS RAW ICELAND, REAL ICELAND.”

PHOTO ESSAY

Cameron fights a salmon surrounded by crimson berry shrubs and tundra.

THE TAKE HAS NOT CHANGED IN 150 YEARS, AND FROM COUNTRY FARMERS FEEDING THEIR FAMILY TO PRINCES, KNIGHTS AND EARLS, THE SPORT IS QUINTESSENTIAL STORYBOOK MATERIAL.”

A paved road crosses the Hölkná River, veers left onto the Hölkná Cabin Road, then disappears into the valley.

THE PERKS

Eat up, drink up, and soak in that you’re only about 100 miles from the Arctic Circle, 150 yards from the river, and have seasoned pro guides who have seen your salmon’s great, great, great grandparents.

THE FOOD

A quick pit stop at the grocery store will equip your time on the Hölkná. It’s not just peanut butter and beer either—Icelandic goods are as uncommon (and phenomenal) as the scenery.

THE CABINS

The two cabins are remote, but not rudimentary. Think hot showers, cozy beds, heated floors, warm fires, and Icelandic wool blankets—which are as iconic as they are functional, especially for taking in views from the porch.

BELOW

Sunrise on the Hölkná, which is frequently accompanied by coffee, eggs, and reindeer sausage.

RECORD YEAR…MORE THAN 150 ATLANTIC SALMON WERE LANDED.”

OH, AND THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

COULD INVITE THEMSELVES INTO YOUR WORLD AND SURROUND YOU WITH A COSMIC ART SHOW THAT IS SPELLBINDING.

PHOTO ESSAY

THE PRESENTATION

A misty day wading in the Los Lagos region of Patagonia, Chile

Photo By: KATIE FALKENBERG

A COLLECTION OF THIS SEASON’S HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

PRESENTATION

REUNITING SOUTH

WITH THE ISLAND

A First-Hand Account of Returning to New Zealand After 2+ Years

AOTEAROA

‘The Land of the Long White Cloud.’

A landscape conceived by volcanoes and raised by glaciers. A land beyond all lands, where the rivers accept no defilement; the expanses offer no conveniences; the weather yields no predictability.

This is the place where the fish are wild, the people fearless, the experiences untamed. This is the place at the end of the tunnels of our most daring dreams.

THIS IS NEW ZEALAND.

Our headwater sections are wild and wooly. Wherever the streams slow down, a greenblue pool forms, and that is where the trout live. Ten miles downstream, this boulderstrewn configuration gives way to less valley gradient and instead of rock hopping pool to pool, you walk casually in flat, grass meadows and gravel bars.

“THE RIVERS ARE IN THE BEST SHAPE OF THEIR LIVES — AT LEAST OF OURS. IT’S JUST THAT GOOD.”

CEDAR LODGE

captured by quotes

A visitor shares a glimpse of the Cedar Lodge angling experience as it reopened in December of 2022

“It’s been two years since we’ve opened our doors. During the pandemic, we decided to make a few upgrades to the lodge… anything to distract us from all the guiding we weren’t doing. The time passed, is all, and sure, we might’ve knocked down a wall or two that we wouldn’t have otherwise, but we’re not here to talk about the walls, we’re here to talk about the fish.”

—Lodge Manager Scottie, as he welcomed his first guests after the shutdown

Photography By: BRIAN O’KEEFE

“On all my river hikes I only saw one human footprint and it was from a deer hunter. A few hardy locals have probably shed the streams we shed while the country was closed during the pandemic, but who knows, there were lots of trout and no signs of any foot tra c. e rivers that Cedar Lodge accesses are remote…really remote.”

On Sight Fishing

“I was certain the guides had X-Ray vision. eir ability to spot sh was nothing short of magic. One of the guides, Nick, let us in on the secret— “look for a smudge.” He wasn’t kidding. I started making out the grey-ish, oval-ish, blurryish movement, and it paid o Once we’d spot a sh, I’d move into a casting position, which was determined by many factors—the wind, how spooky the sh was, currents that mess with a perfect dead drift, glare…the list goes on. Most casts were at around 25 to 40 feet. And let me tell you, most casts were rewarded. ink brown and rainbow trout averaging 21 inches, with many around 23–24 inches. We landed quite a few around ve pounds. e two biggest were six pounds and six and a quarter.”

“It’s remote. Really remote.”

“YOU GO TO NEW ZEALAND TO LEARN THE TROUTS’ WAYS, RESPOND TO THEIR EVERY MOVEMENT, PLAY BY THEIR RULES.

AND IF YOU PLAY IT RIGHT, GOOD LANDS, YOU’LL NEVER FORGET IT.”

“THE FISHING PROGRAM HERE IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMPS.”

Kevin Jurgens casting on New Zealand’s South Island rivers, which are what all rivers in the world are compared to for clarity and color.

On Walk Wading

“We walked a lot, and on varying terrain. Sometimes along perfectlevel grass banks, others across small cobble river rock, and others over washer-and-dryer-sized boulders. All the shing excursions go upstream. is is because we shed mostly dry ies and the presentation is best from a downstream position.”

“THE HELICOPTER WOULD PICK US UP AT A SPOT 3 TO 5 MILES UPRIVER, SO THERE WAS NO BACKTRACKING NECESSARY.”

On Guides

“One guide has been at Cedar since the 1990’s, another for 15 years, and so forth. ey love their jobs. And beyond being great guides, the guys were just terri c people. ey coached gently, and gave hardy handshakes when sh were landed. ey could spot sh like I’ve never seen before, with a truly impeccable handle on the art of y shing. Scottie, the Lodge Manager, is the perfect man for that post, and I hope he stays for a long, long time and retires as an old man.”

On Bugs

“A few times we added a nymph, a dry dropper rig, and several times the sh came up and hit the dry anyway. With a size 18 parachute Adams, on a 4x tippet, one sh rose slowly, took the y, zig-zagged around the pool, into the tail out, and then skedaddled through the rapids going downstream. We landed the ve pounder 100 yards downstream.”

On Helicopters

“It’s all about safety and reliability in this business, and the Squirrel helicopter is the best. It holds six passengers, plus the pilot, in forward-facing seats. e windows were in ample supply, giving everyone great views. But “great views” is an understatement. I remember when a friend of mine visiting Cedar years ago started to cry tears of joy on his rst helicopter ride there. Anyways, here and there the pilot would twist and turn and ride thermals into and over jagged mountain ranges and peaks, high up in the snow and over glacier zones. Some might call whizzing through the Southern Alps like that a bit hair-raising, but there’s no need to worry—it’s all in a day’s work for these quali ed pilots.”

“WE CAUGHT ALMOST ALL OUR FISH ON DRIES.”

“HOW LONG TO HIKE INTO THIS SPOT?”

“FOUR DAYS, NONSTOP.”

“HOW LONG TO FLY?”

“TWELVE MINUTES, MATE!”

On Food, Wine, and Golf

“Along with being a total genius in the kitchen, the lodge chef, Chef Gordon, is an avid angler and an all-around great guy. I would put his creations right up there with the best food I’ve ever tried. Super local ingredients. Really tasty. One day, we visited beautiful wineries (many of which stock the lodge), a relaxing day spa, and even a 9-hole golf course, where Scottie put us to shame. Watching him golf was like watching the PGA.”

ABOVE

Lodge Manager Scottie showing off his mind-blowing golf skills, which he’s leveraged to create a rather unique set of rules at the lodge’s front yard “course.”

RIGHT

Après fishing appetizers and a cool chardonnay greeting anglers as they return from fishing. Here, being fully present is not a cliché.

“THE LODGE TEAM IS ATTENTIVE, BUT NOT IN YOUR FACE; TIGHTKNIT, YET BIG ENOUGH TO NAIL EVERY LITTLE DETAIL.”

“THE WATER IS SO CLEAR THAT YOU CAN SPOT FISH SOMETIMES FROM OVER 100 FEET AWAY. THAT MEANS THEY CAN SPOT YOU TOO, OF COURSE, BUT IT’S THIS GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE THAT MAKES FISHING IN NEW ZEALAND SO UNIQUE.”

After 35 minutes of sneaking and changing flies, this sturdy rainbow took a small size 18 Parachute Adams, after first refusing a size 12 Madam X.

BEHIND THE SCENES IN PATAGONIA

Guide Reports from a Multi-Lodge Journey through Chile’s Best Waters

An Eleven Angling boat gets angler Brian Jarvis on big browns, rainbows, and fat 20-inch brook trout that rarely, if ever, see a fly.

Photo By: BRIAN O’KEEFE

RIO YELCHO LODGE

RIO PALENA LODGE

RIO ROSSELOT LODGE

For those who love to fish, really fish, Martín Pescador is your one-stop spot for some of the best fly fishing in the world. Why? Well, a lot of it has to do with the fact that it actually isn’t one stop—it’s two. The week-long sequence takes anglers from Rio Yelcho Lodge to Rio Rosselot Lodge, accessing two separate watersheds and literally countless fisheries—a rare experience captured here by the unabridged trip reports of a guide team who lives it day in and day out.

GUIDE NAME:

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

SECTION FISHED:

FISH CAUGHT: FISH SEEN:

NO. OF OTHER ANGLERS SEEN:

We motored up to the canyon above the put-in, landing six or so sh, one nice brown trout…all on black and copper sparkle minnows. e rest of the day we switched back and forth from dry dropping to stripping/swinging streamers. Black Bou Face and sparkle minnows were our hot ies for the day. Solid day across the board. Lots of big sh were moved.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Dry/Dropper action was consistent all through the day. With a large number of dry y eats. Spotted a number of large black stone ies on water. Large black Chubby Chernobl was the best dry y. Fished a small streamer for a little while and got a large brown to the net. But Dry/Dropper was more consistent. Guests had a great time and really enjoyed the oat.

FISH CAUGHT: FISH SEEN: 53

GUIDE NAME:

GUIDE NAME:

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

SECTION FISHED:

FISH CAUGHT: FISH SEEN:

NO. OF OTHER ANGLERS SEEN:

Real nice, sh were caught, good times were had. We tossed Chubbies into the water with a pat’s rubber legs attached as a dropper and out came Brown and Rainbow Trout. Super neat.

GUIDE NAME:

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

SECTION FISHED:

Started the day out on Lago Rosselot before jetting up the lower g. e scum line was pretty blown out with high winds but we caught a couple of 16-20” bows. en jetted up the miracle mile of the lower g and the shing started out pretty good. Pretty much right o the bat, we caught an 18” fat brown on a fat Albert and then 10 minutes later we caught a 23” brown on a mop turd. We shed hard through the g and we caught 20 or so in there. A couple of decent ones after the beginning on dry, dropper and sparkle minnow. en jetted over to Rio Rosselot to end the day and caught a couple of nice ones.

GUIDE NAME:

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

SECTION FISHED:

FISH CAUGHT:

NO. OF OTHER ANGLERS SEEN:

Dry or die today- we had so many eats on black and peacock / black and purple chubby- good changeover morning

GUIDE NAME:

SECTION FISHED:

FISH CAUGHT:

NO. OF OTHER ANGLERS SEEN:

Great day on the reeds, all colors worked well, a lot of doubles. Guest said it was the best he’s seen the lake in 20 years

FISH SEEN:

FISH SEEN:

the

LEARNING LANGUAGE

A First Timer’s Memoir of Fishing Colorado’s Gunnison Gorge

Photography By:

Story By: REBECCA VEHIK

JENNIE EDWARDS

ey say that once you begin dreaming in a new language, you can be certain you’re gaining a degree of uency. Or, at least, it’s a sign you’re pursuing uency with all that’s in you—in your waking hours as much as in your dreaming ones. e latter, I believe, became harrowingly true for me on a multi-day oat trip in the Gunnison Gorge, about ve miles in and two hours of sleep deep.

Before I found myself drifting through the haunting red faces of Southwestern Colorado’s archaic Gunnison Gorge, I’d absorbed a thing or two from a few certain someones in my life who lived and breathed y shing—so yes, whether I liked it or not, I had learned to cast a y rod, mend a line, and set a hook. How well? I’m not the one to ask. But even though I had caught a handful of good sh, I hadn’t yet caught the bug.

Enter the Gunnison Gorge. ough who am I kidding? e Gunnison Gorge doesn’t enter your reality, you enter hers. 2-billion-year-old rock, 2,000-foot walls, 33 minutes of sunlight at its narrowest point, and a number that won’t t on this page worth of sh. Some might dismiss it as a little sister to the Grand Canyon, but I couldn’t make out what lurked along the towering rims, so it was big enough for me, and assumedly for anyone else who doesn’t frequent the shadows of vertical walls that make the dinosaurs seem like modern history.

Anyways, in late September of 2022, under the trusty guidance of Eleven Angling and RIGS Fly Shop, our crew of six crept down a vaguely distinguishable trail, with every step abandoning the duties of keeping life’s hamster wheel in motion, and approaching a 3-day orb of buoyant stillness only disturbed by the childlike hoots and hollers of a tight line.

I must admit, I wished at the onset that I could direct one eye towards my y and the other upwards to the beauty that surrounded me, but I hear the scientists are still working on that particular functionality. And so, begrudgingly at rst and with a fervent intensity all too soon, I began to do what we all came here to do—catch sh.

It was electric. I suddenly cared what y I was throwing, begging my guide to explain each bug’s intricacies—my favorite amongst them the Playboy Bunny, a breed of his own making—to stow away in my memory bank for safekeeping. I abruptly assimilated to my new canyon surroundings, not daring to pause my gaze’s laser focus to take in the views lest I miss a bite. I impulsively began reading the water, scanning its surface for any signs of shy water where I imagined the big one had staked a claim below. I started to wonder with borderline fury about how sh think, what they like, when they eat, where they hold, why they rise, and for the love of all that’s holy, whether or not we could extend this 2-night trip.

Much to my boat partner’s dismay, I verbalized the large majority of these quandaries, and though my guide answered each with patience, diligence, and shared enthusiasm, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was giggling at me between breaths—another angling-adjacent adventurer, lost to the ways of y shing at last.

As the sun set each evening, which happened quickly seeing as our new roo ess box-home prohibited the entry of any low angle light, we’d watch in bewilderment as “camp” reminded us (and delighted us) that we were in fact dry land creatures. We were dazzled by a strung-light mini bar, artistically presented seared tuna, chocolate-drizzled ice cream, and no less than a blow up cornhole set that quickly became the main attraction at our nightly “pop-up parties,” as another angler dubbed them.

And, as some guests took to the water to wade for a trout nightcap, I contentedly made my way to my lofted, padded sleeping bag, where my dreams whisked me right back to where I longed to be— drifting along the Gunni with a sh on, absorbing the excitement of my spirited guide, following his rm guidance to let him run, get him on the reel, turn him this way, lead him that way, lift your rod, wet your hands, and to nally release him back to his all-but-humble abode, the Gunnison Gorge, the place I learned a new language.

SCOTTIE LITTLE’S BIG ON PERSONALITY

A Q+A on Fishing, Culture, and Lessons with Cedar Lodge’s Manager

As if the accent’s not enough, Scottie Little’s inspiring take on life, fly fishing, and his homeland of New Zealand will have you wondering when your next trip to the South Island is. A native Kiwi, a long-time Cedar Lodge employee, and an all-around good guy— with a variety of hidden talents. Meet Scottie.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT CEDAR LODGE?

I originally started here when I was 19 years old. At that point, I had one year of fly fishing under my belt and very limited experience. I was fortunate enough to be brought in under a proprietor at the time who told me, “You’ll pick it up. You’ll get used to it.” I was actually about to pay for an airline ticket up to Winter Park to go be a ski instructor when I got that call, but you just can’t say no to Cedar Lodge.

HOW HAS THE FISHING CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

You work for your fish a bit here in New Zealand, so in that sense, it’s really still the same. Of course, the sighted dry fly fishing has always been and always will be one of the world’s pinnacles of trout fishing. And you see beautiful parts of the countryside, no matter what. What’s changed is the helicopter side of things. The access you get with the helicopter is just incredible, and honestly continues to fascinate me.

Of course, the sighted dry fly fishing has always been and always will be one of the world’s pinnacles of trout fishing.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MYTH ABOUT FISHING IN NEW ZEALAND?

There’s a myth around the world that you have to bring your A-game to fish in New Zealand. The reality is that someone who brings their C-game is going to have a great day here. Just work on your cast a little, and our great guides here will help you out from there. Just get rid of that “buck fever” you get when you see a big fish, work properly with your guide, relax, and take your time.

WHAT SURPRISES PEOPLE MOST AT CEDAR LODGE?

How many different types of fisheries we can get into. Tight rivers, small creeks, big braided rivers, the works. A really great variety of different water. We can also cater to individualized fitness levels, so we can personalize how much you have to work for your fish.

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE AT CEDAR LODGE?

We’re so fortunate to have a small lodge. 8 people, maximum. The staff, we’re family, we’re friends. We fish together. We’ve known each other for a long time. There’s a lot of connection here. My wife works here, and ya know, we know each other pretty well. We make guests feel welcome and provide that really personalized service. Even when people arrive a bit nervous about fishing in New Zealand, they always walk away with a whole lot of good memories…a whole lot of good friends.

WHAT MAKES FLY FISHING IN NEW ZEALAND SO UNIQUE?

I’d have to say the sighted fly fishing opportunities you get here are just unsurpassed in this world, really. Spotting those fish, getting those casts out there, and watching these big fish make deliberate moves to eat your fly.

The other unique thing around here is the utilization of the helicopter. Fantastic bit of machinery. Get to see a variety of fisheries from here—some out to the east don’t get quite as weather affected as those out to the west, and the helicopter creates the opportunity to get anglers out on the best spots on the right days. A real good deal instead of having to walk in, carry a pack and pitch a tent.

When you’re on the end of the fly rod there and you see those big lips come out, you have to ignore your nerves, and wait to set the hook. The whole visual is just quite incredible.

WHAT’S YOUR GO -TO FLY?

Well the classic around here is a blue bottle; a blow fly imitation. It’s a bit of a go-to in this region. Then cicadas and grasshoppers—parachute hoppers—in January. Right now, green beetles are productive—the fish are keen on those iridescent beetles.

WHAT ROD DO YOU PREFER?

We fish 6-weight rods here, with a weight-forward line. We get some wind here so we want something that we can punch into it…a rod with a little bit of backbone. We throw big flies. Something to attract attention. I’ve been throwing that Epic Nano lately, and it’s definitely perfect for New Zealand conditions.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?

I’m that classic Kiwi guy that says, “I love all my sports.” There’s so much outdoor opportunity. Golfing, skiing, hunting—they all are a part of my life. I feel very fortunate that I get to work in that environment, and take my hobbies to the next level.

The cicadas are like a steak sandwich.

I’m that classic Kiwi guy that says, “I love all my sports.”

A rod with a little bit of backbone.

IF YOU HAD ONE DAY TO SHOW SOMEONE THE BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

The lodge is right on the Makarora River, just next to Mt. Aspiring National Park. Hard to beat by anyone’s standards. For an excursion, I’d take them to the west coast. It’s a really untouched, beautiful rainforest. There are dramatic mountains on your right, and ocean on your left.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD?

Right here at home. I came to this region for a 2-week holiday 35 years ago now, so it’s really hard to go past my hometown now.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO BESIDES FISH AT CEDAR LODGE?

There’s incredible hiking all around us, just a short drive or helicopter ride away. We’re right close to Wanaka for a day out, which has everything you might want. We’re right on the edge of the National Park, there are wineries 40 minutes away, you can horseback ride, and you can golf.

IF YOU COULD BESTOW ONE ELEMENT OF KIWI CULTURE ON THE ENTIRE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

We’re such a laid-back country, so I’d probably bestow the noproblem attitude we have. We’re a great country to travel around, quite friendly. We call ourselves “#8 wire Kiwis.” We’ll give anything a go. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll patch it up with #8 wire. We’re a go-getter sort of culture.

A beautiful spread of locally inspired dishes at Cedar Lodge

TRAVELING

THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF PREPARING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG FISHING TRIP

TIPS FROM THE GUIDES

You’re headed to your bucket list destination to fish, and your mind is reeling with anticipation. What gear is best to bring? How many fish will I land? Do I need to practice my cast beforehand? How much time should I spend researching the area? Breathe deep, we’re here with the #1 top tips from the Eleven Angling guide team, whose angling obsessions have taken them around the world a time or two, and equipped them with a few words of wisdom of what to do, and what not to do.

TIPS

Scottie’s favorite destination angling trips: TIP #1

01 02 03

The Makarora River out in front of Cedar Lodge

Any of the rivers on the west coast of the South Island, especially during cicada season

“Consider your rod your new best friend. What do you do with your closest mate? You spend time with it. You get comfortable with it. It’s that simple.”

–Scottie Little

Cameron’s favorite destination angling trips: TIP #2

“Get out and do some hula hoops on the lawn. Not the twirl your hips kind, the lay it on the ground and cast your y at it kind. When you focus on accuracy, distance comes naturally. When it’s windy, practice even harder.”

01 02 03

Lago Yelcho in the Los Lagos region of Chile - rainbow and brown trout

The Marls of Abaco, Bahamas - bonefish

–Cameron Davenport

“Bring an extra pair of sunglasses. ey are one of the most vital pieces of equipment, whether it’s to protect your eyes from hooks and others’ ies, cut the glare of the water to spot suspended sh, or cover your face while motoring around when it’s raining. ey pack light, take up little space, and are easy to lose!”

–Elliot Manning

Elliot’s favorite destination angling trips:

The Upper Rio Futaleufú in Chile

The Gunnison River in the Black Canyon

The Lago Yelcho in Chile

“Even though our lodges provide top-of-the-line equipment, including waders, rain coats, wading boots and all y shing tackle, I still like to bring a few simple things just in case I am away from the guide. I like to have hemostats for unhooking sh and attening barbs, plus a spool or two of tippet, oatant if I am dry y shing, and a couple extra ies. is is mostly for

Cedar Lodge in New Zealand, where every trip is a walkwade trip, after an amazing helicopter ight, that is. I also usually grab a Halloween-type bag of Snickers for a lodge trip. Eleven food is world-class and world-famous. But, out on the water, mid-afternoon, I just crave a Snickers, or a Kit-Kat or an Almond Joy! If you crave it, I bet your shing partner and guide and pilot will take one, too.”

–Brian O’Keefe

01 02 03

Brian’s favorite destination angling trips:

Cedar Lodge’s headwater streams, high in the mountains

Lago Yelcho in Chile

The Hölkná River in Iceland

Zach’s favorite destination angling trips: The Naknek River near King Salmon, Alaska

The Skeena river and its many tributaries in British Columbia, Canada

The Kvichak River near Igiugig, Alaska

“I would suggest learning some basic words in the local language wherever you are traveling. To me, shing is all about the Where I am, the Who I’m with, and the How I’m doing it. Knowing how to speak with the local folks can greatly enrich your overall experience and allow you to walk away with more than just the sh at the end of your line.”

–Zach Janssen

THE FORWARD CAST

A GLIMPSE AT WHAT

WE’RE

LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST NEXT SEASON

“The Butte, ” a 12,168-foot beauty that stands in the heart of Crested Butte, Colorado, home of Eleven’s flagship property Scarp Ridge Lodge, and neighbor to the more remote Eleven Angling property, Taylor River Lodge

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEVER

Five Reasons To Look Forward to Summer in Colorado

There’s a reason why Colorado has earned a worldwide reputation for its fly fishing. Beyond its tens of thousands of trout fisheries (hundreds of which boast Gold Medal status) and its legendary landscapes that hit you with a rush of sensory dopamine on those rare o days when the fishing’s slow, there’s still innumerable spots across the state’s colorful mountainside that have yet to be discovered. That’s where we come in—your on-the-ground and in-the-water Eleven Angling team, ready to show you the best of it all.

REASON #1

YOU JUST CAN’T BEAT THE ANGLING HERE.

PICTURE THIS: GOLD-MEDAL TROUT FISHERIES AND 360° PERSONALIZATION

It’s about where you are (and who you’re with.)

is

A diverse drainage system, including the gold medal fisheries of the Taylor and the Gunnison, provides a wonderfully healthy habitat for the four major species: brown, rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. There you have the foundation for the ultimate in never-to-be-forgotten angling experiences that keeps you coming back for more until the end of time. The grand slam? Eleven’s access to hundreds of miles on the Gunnison, Taylor, and East Rivers; and the finest of guides, customization, and lodging. Welcome to the full package, the whole nine yards, and the full caboodle.

All else aside, the Gunnison Valley (which all but haphazardly houses Eleven’s agship property)

home to some of Colorado’s nest trout waters.

REASON #2

YOU CAN FINALLY GO ON YOUR BUCKET LIST FLOAT.

PICTURE THIS: TWO NIGHTS AND THREE DAYS IN THE FAMED GUNNI GORGE

Welcome to multi-day madness, all summer long.

The Gunnison Gorge package starts with three nights at Taylor River Lodge, followed by arguably the best overnight fly fishing trip in the lower 48—the 2-night Gunnison Gorge wilderness float. This coming summer, we’ll be o ering flexible reservations throughout the summer, so you’ll be able to pick and choose your dates to best suit your summer plans. Trust us when we say that the combination of chasing trophies just o the porch of your private cabin and float fishing the Gunni Gorge’s Gold Medal fishery deserves a spot on your calendar.

If you’re one whose angling appetite gets the best of you in your waking and dreaming hours, put our multi-day experience with RIGS Fly Shop on your radar.

REASON #3

PICTURE THIS: ABOVE-AVERAGE SNOWPACK NOW, OPTIMAL FLOWS LATER

And you thought skiers loved deep powder…

For a live update of what’s happening in the upper valley, follow the link here to get an accurate gauge reading. Even though we’ve seen a drop in water levels over the past few years, we’re shaping up really nicely this year, particularly thanks to last summer’s healthy rainfall. We should be seeing much more of the runo actually making its way to the tributaries rather than being absorbed by dry soil. High water would certainly provide a muchneeded flush for the river systems, and help roll out the red carpet for the first couple of months of 2023’s fishing season!

WE COULDN’T BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS.

We’re incredibly excited about the nonstop snowfall we’ve gotten. Why? Because in our minds, good snow doesn’t mean good skiing, it means good shing.

REASON #4

YOUR GUIDES ARE THE STUFF OF LEGENDS.

PICTURE THIS: LOCAL EXPERTS, SEASONED TEACHERS, FAST FRIENDS

A trip is only as good as the guides, and we’ve got great ones.

Guides not only make or break your time out on the water, but they also are the key players in stewarding our resources responsibly—sustaining our fisheries so that we can all keep fishing forever. For the first time ever, Eleven Angling will be o ering a Fly Fishing Guide School to equip the next chapter of guides with the best training and education possible. We couldn’t be more excited to expand our commitment to angling from start to finish, and ultimately, blow your time with us out of the water.

Eleven Angling guides are troutobsessed. ey’re also obsessed with the sheries in their backyards, and showing you where to cast, when to mend, and what to throw.

REASON #5

YOUR LODGING EXPERIENCE

WILL BE SECOND TO NONE.

PICTURE THIS: A COZY COLLECTION OF PRIVATE CABINS STEPS FROM THE TAYLOR

Taylor River Lodge is for those who live to sh, and sh to live.

Imagine eight log cabins brimming with angling heritage, reimagined with the finest of luxe touches, situated along Taylor Creek. Wet a line at any hour of the day, along with a local guide who will take you to the best runs. It’s all about you here. As always, our professional and tenured guide team is ready to pick up where you left o , or introduce you to our world as a newcomer. Chase wild trout and native cutthroat every hour of the day, exploring the Gunnison River, Taylor River, East River, and Tomichi Creek. Throw nymphs, streamers, hoppers, and dries, then enjoy seasonal, local dishes prepared by a flavor-obsessed chef.

When you think of Taylor

River Lodge (so long as you like shing), think of paradise.

ABOUT ELEVEN ANGLING

A global portfolio of iconic angling experiences based out of Eleven’s bespoke lodges

From the glacier-carved valleys in Iceland and the countless trout streams in Colorado to the globally renowned fisheries of New Zealand and Chile, Eleven’s global portfolio of angling experiences is second to none. We’ve scoured the globe for unique places that deliver the most riveting fly fishing opportunities, then created the kind of intricately planned itineraries and well-appointed lodging that distinguish us from other leaders in the angling world.

In these far-flung lodges, chalets, and cabins, we customize all-encompassing adventures that revolve around the fishing, yet all the while are characterized by personalized touches of service and detail. Expect chef-prepared meals at riverside outposts, comfortforward accommodations saturated in cultural authenticity, and guided activities tailor-made for those who prefer to explore the outdoors by foot and bike.

Our guides are the cornerstone of your time with us— count on them to know every ri e, run, and pool in the water; every trail and lookout point on land; and every insider tip for experiencing the area like a long-time local. No matter your skill level, our Experience Team lives and breathes to make your time on and o the water truly unforgettable.

ELEVEN ANGLING LODGES

ELEVEN MARTÍN PESCADOR

PATAGONIA, CHILE

A multi-lodge angling sequence designed to maximize the avid angler’s time on the water

ELEVEN CEDAR LODGE

SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

A natural yet modern lodge in the world’s trophy trout capital, boasting an exclusive heliangling program

ELEVEN TAYLOR RIVER LODGE

ALMONT, COLORADO

A cozy collection of riverside cabins in the Rockies, with trout shing for all levels

ELEVEN DEPLAR FARM

TROLL PENINSULA, ICELAND

An award-winning Nordic lodge with an exotic angling program that targets unique species

ELEVEN HÖLKNÁ CABINS

NORTHEASTERN ICELAND

A self-led, o -grid cabin experience for the adventurous angler pursuing Atlantic salmon

ELEVEN RIO PALENA LODGE

PATAGONIA, CHILE

A riverside lodge set in the wild of Patagonia with diverse trout shing opportunities

COMING SOON

NEW ANGLING EXPERIENCES IN REVELSTOKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA SKWENTNA, ALASKA

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THE STAFF, GUIDES, COMMUNITY OF ELEVEN AROUND THE

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