Fly fishing & photography magazine
www.flymage.net
Nยบ 9 October 2011
9
Fly fishing & photography magazine
www.flymage.net www.flymage.net
Nยบ 9 October 2011
,
There is another Chile, in addition to Patagonia, which is called the Central Zone, a beautiful region where trout fishing is very interesting indeed, in rivers at over 2,000 m.
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At the end of the summer, huge flying fish shoals come, or should I say flocks? The Straits of Gibraltar boiled for weeks.
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Mikel Elexpuru reveals step by step a very effective and realistic emerged nymph, an advance of our new monthly video series that will appear shortly.
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A lost, forgotten and dangerous jungle river, inhabited by the biggest peacock bass in the world, and where access is currently banned.
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Not only Patagonia The Central Zone in CHILE Text and Martin Aylwin Texto y Photos: fotos: Martin Aylwin
Fishing in Chile has its synonym not only in Patagonia, there is another Chile, one perhaps less fascinating but that has very attractive fishing indeed. That strip of land we call “The Central Zone� is an area of poets, wine and country people who work the land with the sweat of their labours.
A trophy trout in this area bending a lineweight # 4 rod
This trout is one of my records in the central area.
The “central zone� is majestic, nestling among the highest mountain peaks and steeps of our mother mountain range, it is that impressive snowfall postcard that accompanies our narrow but long country in reds, oranges and yellows. It has rivers of pure blue, of violent flowing currents that sculpt the stones of central valleys.
Fishing is Cordilleran-style “pocket fishing�. Due to the great depth but small size of the structures, fishing is with nymphs over the ledges using only the rod tip. In many cases there is virtually no need to cast.
Fishing at altitudes over 2,000 meters with the Andes in the background.
Trout caught in the shady area of the pool.
Although the trout are not big, they are remarkable for their beauty, their colours and shapes. This fish was caught sight fishing at 2600 meters with a #20 Griffith’s Gnat.
A place full of surprises like this cute dog that accompanied us throughout a whole day.
The capture of a beautiful rainbow trout. Fooled by a #16 Prince nymph, from a pristine Andean river.
The author, Martin Aylwin, casting to tempt trout at the head of the pool.
This area is characterised by steep terrain with difficult access for fishing. We often have to climb over the rocks to fish the rivers, and catch trout like this wild brownie.
A typical image from Chile, the sheepdog and a large herd of sheep along the riverside path.
Martín Aylwin
A fly fisherman since the age of 11, casting instructor and guide, who has worked at several lodges in Patagonia, but is a strong supporter of “the other Chile”, the Central Zone. If you want to know more about Martin and his work this is his website: http://martinpescadorfishingschool.com
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MANNA FROM
HEAVEN
Text and Photos: JosĂŠ H. Weigand The end of summer marks one of the most prolific fishing seasons in the waters of Strait Gibraltar with the arrival of the flying fish. Few natural spectacles are as impressive as the flight of these magnificent fish escaping from predators.
Navigating over 20 knots, every few minutes dozens of flying fish take off and glide alongside the boat, like a flock of silver birds.
During their escape flights, some flying fish fall into the boat.
At first morning light, boats begin fishing the coastal waters of the Strait.
A bonito failed attack on a blue popper.
Fighting a bonito from a traditional boat.
Flying fish are hunted from the water and from the air. It is at the moment of landing that they are most vulnerable, and this time the bonito has arrived prior to the Cory’s Shearwater.
Ready for action. Flying fish and their predators move at high speed and you need to follow them with the boat. Once at the hunting area there are only a few opportunities to cast and then start again.
Despite the abundance of fish, casts should be as long as possible, a constant exercise in distance and accuracy.
A blue Bush Pig fly attacked by the barracuda before touching the water, that’s how these fast predators hunt flying fish.
One, two, three, four...
Bonito hunt on the surface early and late in the day, basically fleeing from bright sunlight.
With Gibraltar in the background, the lights of a ship coming into port form an “electrocardiogram”, but the Strait is not dead, it’s just the opposite, it is one of the best saltwater fishing areas in Europe.
Francisco Martinez is one of the most knowledgeable individuals regarding the waters and predators of the Strait. A defender of catch and release fishing and promoter of fishing with lures, he also tries his hand at fly fishing, especially during flying fish season when the chances of success are greater.
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ubscrption Here
REALISTIC EMERGER Baetis Rhodani
Fly Tier: Mikel Elexpuru Photos: Antonio Goñi & José Luís Garrido
1 Tie on the thread.
2 Tie in the tails, yellow rib and olive plastic sheet that will form the nymph´s body.
3 Form the segmented body of the fly leaving space between the turns for ribbing.
4 Once the body is ribbed tie in a few CDC fibres to form the wing case.
5 The fibres are folded to form a “hump� and cut the excess.
6 Tie in two Medallion strips to form the wings that will be close to the body.
7 Tie in two plastic strips, the black one will form the wing case and yellow one is to cover the thorax
8 Tie in the legs.
9 Trim and fold to form the legs.
10 Fold the black plastic to form the wingcase.
11 Tie in two pheasant fibres as antenna. With the fly complete, paint the head in black and finish with varnish also coating the wingcase and legs.
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MATERIALS HOOK VARIVAS 2200 BL # 18 BODY PLASTIC SHEET OLIVE THREAD YELLOW 8/0 TAILS LEON COCKREL PARDO OSCURO RIB YELLOW THREAD 8/0 WINGCASE BLACK PLASTIC SHEET AND CDC WINGS MEDALLION HOPPER-YELLOW LEGS BLACK FIBRES FINISH VARNISH
Pellet, emerger nymph and CDC emerger.
Baetis Rhodani CDC emerger.
Mikel in action on a lost river in France.
A beautiful wild brown trout.
Just before releasing.
Mikel Elexpuru and Flymage Magazine
Since the birth of Flymage magazine, we have had an
exceptional regular contributor in Mikel Elexpuru. In his role as professional fly tier, he joins the avid wild trout angler. His passion takes him to lost rivers where he fishes and tests each new fly design before its commercialisation. For several weeks we have recorded in some lost corners of France with Mikel, as shown in this photograph, with Antonio Go単i filming the release of a trout under water. Earlier this next year we will release a DVD and also from next November, we will publish a fly tying video with Mikel every month. www.mikelfly.com
New Flymage Fly Fishing Videos. Full HD Watch a preview Play
PASIMONI THE BANNED RIVER
Text & Photos: José H. Weigand Additional photos: Gerardo Alonso
T
he Venezuela-Colombia border, the Pasimoni river is one of the key destinations for big peacock bass fishing, but their access to foreign anglers was banned some years ago by the Venezuelan government. This is a tribute to the “river of records” with pictures of the last fishing season.
A beautiful peacock caught sight casting on a sandbar.
Flying over the Orinoco and our arrival at San Carlos de Rio Negro
The leader of the camp, the Venezuelan Geraldine Yacotte, who had to take the reins after the sudden death of her father, Dr. Jesus Yacotte, a passionate fisherman who realised his dreams in a corner of Pasimoni.
Pasimoni River Lodge, located three hours by boat from San Carlos de Rio Negro. Below, anglers bedroom.
Sandbanks which contrast with the colour of the Pasimoni waters; during the dry season, inland lagoons are formed away from the river.
Gerardo Alonso with a nearly 20lb peacock, caught on a foam popper.
Drawn on a board in the camp, a map of the Casiquiare basin and its tributaries. Names like Pasimoni, Yatua or Pasiba are listed in the world record peacock bass books.
Petroglyph on the riverbank. Yanomami Indians in a nearby village.
José de la Sota with a speckled peacock or “paca”, so named because of its similarity to the skin of the paca, a South American rodent.
Peacocks under 10 pounds are not targeted in the catch book of the camp.
Butterfly peacock.
Rafael Llamozas with a big peacock bass.
An amazon “trout”, that’s the Jacundá, a nice fish that also attacks large peacock flies.
Fresh jaguar tracks on the shore of Yatua river. One of the Orinoco crocodiles that frequently attacked surface lures.
26lb of peacock, nearly a world record. Next day we found it partially devoured by the piranhas.
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Contributors in this issue Martin Aylwin - Mikel Elexpuru - José Luís Garrido Francisco Mtnez. Joya - Daniel Salas - John Langridge Gerardo Alonso - José Luís García - Juan Urán
E D I T O R S José H. Weigand Angler, photographer and TV fishing editor at Caza y Pesca channel on Digital+ fronm the last 14 years. Contributor to some international magazines, blogs and forums.
Antonio Goñi Antonio Goñi, fishing video producer, photographer and angler. Currently producing fly tying series “The Silk corner” at Caza y Pesca channel on Digital+.
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