Southern Saltwater
Fly Fishing Magazine Edition 6 June 2018
CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
www.southernsaltwaterflyfishing.com
Publisher Don Kirk don@southerntrout.com Associate Publisher Claude Preston, III claude@southerntrout.com Managing Editor Leah Kirk leah@southerntrout.com Assoc. Managing Editor Loryn Lathem loryn@southerntrout.com Field Editor
Polly Dean pollydean22@gmail.com
Contributors
Bob Borgwat Andrew Cox Polly Dean Tony Friedrich
Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing is a publication of Southern
Unlimited, LLC. It is produced in conjunction with Southern Trout Magazine and Southerntrout.com. Copyright 2018 Southern Unlimited, LLC All rights reserved.
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JOURNEYS OF SGI St. George Island, Florida
Editor Jimmy Jacobs jimmyjacobs@mindspring.com
40 E 3rd Street, St. George Island (850)927-3259 www.sgislandjourneys.com info@sgislandjourneys.com
From the Editor
S
o far in 2018, Mother Nature has proven to be a fickle lady. In our southern climes, the weather has been quite erratic, as winter has seemed to hang on forever, but tossing in some warm spells. As for spring, again it has been rather cool, often wet, with quick changes to warm periods showing up. The result has been unpredictable angling. The weather has often been inclement enough to keep us off the water,
and the frequent changes in conditions have made the fish hard to pattern. The good news is we seem to be settling down a bit as summer approaches. Here at Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine we are ready for that predictability and the summer edition offers some great places to do some exciting fishing. We kick off the magazine with a Close Look Section at Florida’s Treasure Coast, stretching along the southeast shore of the peninsula. The lead story by SSFF Field Editor Polly Dean offers a look at fly casting in the surf for snook at Fort Pierce and we profile a local fly shop, guide and resort for helping plan a trip to the area. Also in this issue we introduce three new writers. Traveling north, June 2018
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Tony Friedrich makes his debut in SSFF with a look at the action for striped bass on Chesapeake Bay in Tangier Sound at Crisfield, Maryland. Bob Borgwat takes us down to Nicaragua for a preview of the saltwater action at the Rio Indio Lodge, while Andrew Cox profiles the Big Bend region of west coast Florida. I give you a look at chasing redfish at West Point a La Hache, Louisiana. Rounding out our coverage, we drop in at Archie’s Seabreeze Bar & Grill, that’s been serving food and libations to anglers in Fort Pierce since the mid-1940s. If you enjoy what you are seeing, shoot me an e-mail at jimmyjacobs@mindspring.com and let us know. Jimmy Jacobs Editor
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This Issue
Editor’s Letter Fly Fishing Tangier Sound
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Florida’s Big Bend CLOSE LOOK
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Featured Resort Hutchinson Island Plaza
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Featured Fly Shop 42 White's Tackle Shop A Treasure Coast Institution Beach Combing on Hutchinson Island
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Featured Guide Capt. Mike Holliday Fish Tales Guide Service
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Featured Fly Tier Hannie's Sili Shad
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Nicaragua Tarpon 82 Angling Adventure in the Jungle Featured Artist Travis Luther Immersed in Florida
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Southern Comfort Fly Fishing
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Rod Review 118 Douglas Outdoors' Sky Rod Series Great Glasses from Down Under
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Yeti Sidekick
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End of the Line 140 Archie's Seabreeze Bar and Grill
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SweetWater Brewing Company • Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com
Fly Fishing Tangier Sound
Targeting the marsh grass edges is the tactic for finding striped bass on Tangier Sound.
Tony Friedrich
All photos by Kevin Josenhans
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here's a little place on the Chesapeake Bay that you probably don't know about. It is a place where time stands still. It is where generations of locals have weathered countless storms and held their heritage with a tenacity and reverence normally reserved for Sunday services. This place is Tangier Sound.
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It is where the salt marsh meets the Chesapeake Bay and creates an ecosystem that is still holding on to a balance, while others are in stark decline. It represents the southern range for northern species and the northern range for southern species. In a single stretch of shoreline, a fly angler can catch striped bass, speckled trout, red drum, bluefish, and flounder. Each species has a preference. Striped bass hang close to the banks, while the large speckled trout usually sit off the islands in submerged stump fields. But, the opportunity to catch a variety of species exists around every turn. As the hull slides across the surface, it is hard to imagine that you are fishing Maryland. The marsh sets a scene more typical of South Carolina. Sod banks are held together by a combination of deep-rooted bay grass and mussels buried in the mud. If you listen closely on a low tide, you can hear
Often the stripers will fight over a popper tossed to the shore before one of them gets hooked. 10 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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the rumbling tones of the mussels working. It is a magical place dotted with islands, some submerged, that offer an almost endless number of targets for your fly. As osprey search for menhaden, a life and death struggle plays out under the water with every tide. Baitfish, shrimp, and crabs are washed through tidal guts, and hungry predators wait for them with deadly patience. Every little rip, point, and tail out offer a fly angler opportunity to test their skills against many different species.
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Stealth is critical in the marsh, especially for the elusive speckled trout. It may come as a surprise, but for many years, this area held the all-tackle world record for specs with a giant that topped the scales at 16 pounds. The average-sized fish is quite large compared to most standards. But, in Tangier sound, you never know what is going to be on the end of your line. The fishing is the only thing that surpasses the natural beauty. If you have a heart condition, I'd suggest not throwing a popper against a sod bank. While striped
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bass are formidable predators, they are abysmally careless at taking a topwater fly. Their continued assaults are a testament to their predatory nature, but also a great way to drive yourself to drink. The ultimate experience is when you have multiple stripers dart from cover to eat your offering. Competition overrides all caution, and the ensuing melee is something to behold. There is no shortage of stripers in the marsh. If other species aren't cooperating, you can almost always find willing striped bass holding tight to structure in the marsh.
Smaller stripers are abundant in Tangier Sound.
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Speckled trout in Tangier will smack your fly so hard your rod will almost jump out of your hand. While stripers patrol the banks, the oversized trout hang tight to submerged stumps and patrol eelgrass beds. They patiently wait in their hiding spots for helpless prey to get washed by them with the tide. Your fly will get mauled by these beautiful, merciless predators. We stopped using rattles because the strike from a large spec will break the glass no matter how much you try to protect it. Most of the speckled trout in the sound are in some stage of spawning. Always listen for the croaking noise when you catch one. If you hear a croak, that's a male and feel free to keep him for dinner. If you are lucky enough to land a giant, fat speckled trout that doesn't croak, that's a pregnant female. Be good to our resource and let her go make more little trout.
Some bigger striped bass also turn up in the sound.
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While specs and stripers dominate the fishery, there are several other species you are likely to encounter. Bluefish arrive in the early summer and proceed to chew their way through just about everything until they leave in October. They hunt in large schools and will push bait balls to the surface on a regular basis. All you have to do is find a few birds diving on bait, and you will find the blues mixed with stripers and Spanish mackerel. These pods of breaking fish can be quite large and really need be seen to be believed. Redfish and summer flounder are also visitors to the Chesapeake Bay. The clear water and abundant prey pull them into the same areas frequented by the stripers and specs. It is truly a special place when you consider the diversity of fish available for the fly angler. You just don't know what you will catch until you get them in the boat. That's what we love the most about saltwater fly fishing.
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If you want to go back in time, have a chance at landing a giant speckled trout, or absolutely hammer striped bass and bluefish, then come to Tangier Sound and experience the way the entire Chesapeake Bay used to be.
Illustrated by Zane Jacobs
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Tony Friedrich is a freelance writer, fly fisherman and founder of the annual Lefty Kreh's TieFest in Annapolis. He also has served as the Coastal Conservation Association's Maryland director.
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764 Miami Circle, Atlanta, Georgia 30324| Phone: (404) 237-3473
www.thefishhawk.com
GALVAN FLY REELS
Simple, rugged, and classically styled. www.galvanflyreels.com
Fly-Fishing Fl Big Bend By Andrew Cox
The Big Bend offers a taste of unspoiled Old Florida. Photo by Andrew Cox.
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lorida’s
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ver the course of the fishing day, I surveyed the shimmering Gulf of Mexico waters meeting the expanse of saltwater marshland. Numerous inlets and creeks snaked into the marshland with views of distant inland pine hammocks and forests. No shoreline development was in sight. Typically we think of Florida’s coastline as crowded with high-rise motel, hotel, and condominium developments. This area is Florida's Big Bend, part of the state’s Panhandle from Horseshoe Beach to St. Marks. This area certainly provides a different view from that associated with Florida. It is like going back in time to old Florida with its natural environment and limited development.
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In this relatively undeveloped section of the state, it is comprised of mixed pine/hardwood forests, marshlands bordering the Gulf of Mexico and extensive shallow grass flats extending for a considerable distance into the Gulf. There are isolated rock and oyster bar areas interspersed amongst the grass flats. Several robust blackwater rivers enter into this section, anchored by the Suwannee River to the south and Wakulla and St. Marks Rivers to the west; in between the Steinhatchee, Econfina, Fenoholloway, and Aucilla Rivers enter the Gulf. These sandy-bottomed rivers also contain rock and oyster bar areas. The small creeks, backwaters, and inlets within the marsh provide multiple shallow water areas to be targeted by anglers. The water is generally clear, with backwater areas being of blackish, tannic water quality.
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I’ve been visiting this area since the mid-1970s. Though there have been changes within the fishery, particularly relative to bag limits for those desiring to keep their catch, extensive changes to the terrain and surrounding waters have been minimal. The remoteness of the region is surprising considering the easy driving distance from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia population centers such as Montgomery, Dothan, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Albany, Columbus, and Thomasville.
This area offers miles of tidal waters bordering grass marshlands. Photo by Andrew Cox.
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As a fly angler, you will be among a fishing minority, as most area anglers employ traditional spinning and baitcasting fishing techniques using plastic, hard, and live baits. An array of saltwater flies are effective that mimic shrimp, small to medium baitfish, and small crabs. Surface poppers with a dropper fly can also be effective at times. You are generally fishing shallow water with grass extending several feet upwards, depending upon the tide height. Using a large strike indicator or float in an appropriate size for use with a flyrod will help to keep your fly above the grass. Within the creeks and rivers,
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there is less grass, allowing the use of weighted, bottom hugging flies to access deeper water areas. Six- to 9-weight rods will work in most angling situations. Land and sea breezes are common, so you need to factor in rod weights and flies that are usable in windy conditions. Targeted species are primarily speckled trout and redfish. Depending upon the season, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and pompano can be caught on the fly. I’ve even caught a few tarpon and sharks at times, though usually by accident rather than as a targeted species.
The fishing has a backdrop of pristine sub-tropical vistas in the Big Bend. Photo by Andrew Cox.
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The fishing here can be year-round. However, prime angling months are mid to late fall and early spring through middle to late May. During the summer months, the fish congregate further offshore in deeper water. You also have to compete with the scallop gatherers that inundate this area during scallop season. During the summer scallop season, lodging is at a premium and can require considerable time just to launch your boat due to the crowds. Late fall and winter can be cold, but anglers can be successful in locating fish, depending upon weather conditions. Fish such as speckled trout and redfish can be found well into the creeks and rivers during the colder months, due to warmer water temperatures found within inland waterways.
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You will need a watercraft of some type to effectively fish this area, as limited wading access is available. Powerboats, canoes, kayaks and similar watercraft can be effectively used to access fishing areas. At Round Mound, off U.S Highway 98 near Perry, an exclusive non-powerboat area is available, providing inshore backwater fishing, as well as access to the Gulf of Mexico for kayaks, canoes, and similar vessels. Boat launch areas are available at Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, and St. Marks, with other concrete launch sites at Econfina, Aucilla, St. Marks, and Wakulla Rivers.
The author testing the waters of a Big Bend bay. Photo courtesy of Andrew Cox.
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A map is a good option to have available for this area. Maps such as those provided through Florida Sportsman, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Captain Segull, and some electronic mapping systems provide information on seasons and areas to target specific fish species, the location of the region’s access points and area GPS coordinates. You can purchase a waterproof map specific for this region. Waterside or adjacent lodging and restaurant options are available at Steinhatchee, Horseshoe Beach, St. Marks, and Keaton Beach. Though further inland, additional lodging, and eating options are available at Perry, Chiefland, Cross City, and Tallahassee.
Speckled trout are one of the frequently encountered species on this coast. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
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This area is a good one for the angler desiring to experience a taste of old Florida. For those anglers desiring to use fly angling in an area predominantly targeted with traditional fishing methods, this could be an area to explore. Though these waters can be crowded with other anglers during prime angling periods, there is plenty of water where the visiting angler can find secluded spots. Whether you are a powerboat or non-powered small vessel angler, this region contains multiple areas to be explored for fly angling success. Dr. Andrew Cox, a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association, is a contributing writer to outdoor publications on angling, travel, and human interest topics. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over 40 years, as well as several international angling destinations.
The redfish of the Big Bend are always ready for a fight. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
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YO U R PL AC E TO CAST OFF O R K I C K B A C K.
The Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & Marina is the perfect place to enjoy Florida’s great outdoors. Spend the day at the beach surf fishing, jet skiing, kayaking and paddle boarding, visit our private marina or go on a fishing charter along the river or deep sea. Soak up the sun by one of our three sparkling pools, play a round on our challenging Ocean Club Golf Course, then catch up over light bites, frozen cocktails and American fare at Sandpiper and Latitudes tiki bars. Whatever your angle, you’ll find a relaxing haven on Hutchinson Island. F O R R AT E S A N D R E S E R V AT I O N S , C A LL 772 . 225. 370 0 O R V I SIT MARRIOT THUTCHINSONISL AND.COM.
HUTCHINSON ISLAND MARRIOTT BEACH RESORT & MARINA 555 NE OCEAN BOULEVARD, STUART, FL 34996 772.225.3700
© 2018 Marriott International, Inc. All rights reserved.
Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing
CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
Hutchinson Plaza Y ou might expect a good lodging for traveling fly fishers to be called a fish camp or lodge. The Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites may have a name that doesn’t fit the mold, but it offers everything a fly caster could want in accommodations.
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
Island Hotel & Suites
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
Situated on the shore where the Indian River transitions to the Fort Pierce Inlet at the north end of its namesake island in Fort Pierce, Florida, the hotel caters to a wide variety of guests. On the other hand, it has several amenities that make it ideal for a traveling angler, whether going it alone or bringing along a spouse or the whole family. The hotel has a tiki hut on a large deck surrounding a swimming pool. Additionally, there is a small white strip of sand, resplendent with beach chairs along the edge of the shore. A fitness room and gift shop are other features found here.
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
Nearby are the ocean beaches on the Atlantic side of Hutchinson Island, while boat charters, eco-tours and kayak rentals all are available in the vicinity. There also are plenty of dining options at a variety of restaurants in the area. For guests’ convenience, the hotel offers a free hot breakfast each morning on site. There are facilities that set the Plaza Hotel & Suites apart from an angler's standpoint, as well. They have a dual purpose dock where guest can make reservations to moor their personal boats. The site offers easy access to the inshore waters of the Indian River, or through the inlet eastward to the Atlantic Ocean.
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
The other use for the dock facility is for fishing. The dock is lighted for nighttime action, with lights aimed into the water. Snook of all sizes show up regularly under those dock lights. The hotel's Sabal Palm Rooms are the standard accommodation, offering either a king or two double beds, while the Majestic Palm Rooms provide the same bed setups, but with a water view. The Royal Palm Suites have the similar setups of beds and water view, but with the added space of separate sitting areas. Finally, the Executive Suite provides all the suite amenities, with a top-floor corner water view.
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
All rooms and suites come with a coffee maker, microwave, and mini-refrigerator. The suites also have a small bar area with a faucet, sink and cabinet space. For additional information, rates and reservations visit hutchinsonplazahotel.com.
Editor Jimmy Jacobs with his dock-light snook.
Under The Dock Lights
The staff of Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine used the Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites as headquarters for a trip to Fort Pierce to sample the beach fishing for snook along the Atlantic shore. However, the hotel’s dock provided an unexpected bonus. Upon returning to the hotel after dinner following a day of casting on the beach, Editor Jimmy Jacobs strolled out on the dock to discover a snook darting through the surface halo provided by a dock light. Rushing to grab a fly rod - and still dressed for dinner - he presented a chartreuse and white Clouser Minnow to the lineside. After several casts, the snook ate the fly and the fight was on. Eventually, he had to abandon the dock, climbing over the rail onto the beach to land the snook that measured more than 2 feet long. June 2018
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
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hite’s Tackle Shop in Fort Pierce has been a mainstay of the angling community in southeast Florida for almost a century. First opened as a conventional bait and tackle store in 1925 by Buck White, it was then run by the Raffensberger family from the 1960s until 2006. That’s when present owner Scott Crippen took the helm.
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Today it continues to serve all types of fisherman, but has taken on a new dimension as well. “Our fly-fishing business has really come on strong over the last 10 years,” Scott pointed out. “I would say in the last five years it has really increased.” Photo by Jimmy Jacobs
ACKLE SHOP
oast Institution June 2018
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
That comes as no surprise for a couple of reasons. “Fly fishing is at an all-time high in our area. Due to our ability to both sight fish, and fish endless amounts of mangrove shorelines, islands and prime habitat, fly anglers have realized what a great destination the Treasure Coast is.” The other factor has to do with who is now fly fishing. “We have seen a tremendous increase in young fly anglers,” Crippen explained. “The younger generation is stepping up, and is very involved in our area. We see a big trend in the age bracket changing. Historically fly fishing was a sport enjoyed mainly by an older crowd. With all the social media hype, we see a huge trend of younger fly anglers.” As they have become involved in the fly fishing side of the business, Scott and his staff have immersed the shop in all facets of the sport. “It is extremely important to be a full service shop. We carry full lines of top brands, and have a very knowledgeable staff,” the owner said. “Our employees spend a lot of time on the water and traveling. There is no substitute for knowledge. Being a full-service shop allows us to take care of local fishermen, as well as traveling anglers.” That kind of commitment means filling a broad variety of needs. “We carry rods by Sage, Loomis, Temple Fork and Redington,” Scott listed. “Reels by Nautilus, Tibor, Sage and Abel: soft goods by Simms, Patagonia, Fish Pond and all of our private label goods.” But, rather than just selling products, White’s Tackle steps up to the plate in all facets of the sport. “Destination fishing is an important part of our business,” Crippen said. “We cater to the travelling angler, as well as hosting several trips a year. We are also gradually becoming a targeted destination, which increases sales.” Photo by Polly Dean June 2018
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
Having traveling anglers discover the fly casting around Fort Pierce comes as no surprise. “The Treasure Coast area is an excellent fly-fishing destination due to its diversity,” Scott offered. “The area is on the famous Indian River, which provides excellent opportunity for snook, trout, redfish and tarpon year-round. We have excellent beach fishing and offshore fishing. There is never a shortage of target species at any time of the year. “We have an extensive list of guides and charter captains we recommend to customers,” Crippen added. “We have many specialists we refer customers to for different kinds of fishing and skill levels. “The entire staff at White’s are diehard anglers,” Crippen also said. “Some specialize offshore, some inshore and some both. We all eat, sleep and breathe fishing!” But just pointing the way to the area’s best fly casting isn’t the end of the shops commitment. They provide services to get you ready for that fishing, particularly for newcomers to the sport. “We have novice fly anglers in the shop all the time,” Scott noted. “Fortunately, we see new faces getting into fly fishing all year long. “We highly recommend starting new fly anglers out on the right foot. We have two certified casting instructors on the staff, as well as avid fly-fishing employees. I think any new fly angler should take several lessons to learn the fundamentals. After several lessons and getting people started off on the right track, we are always here to help. We offer courses on fly tying, knot tying and casting. We love to help customers and share our knowledge to help them succeed.” 46 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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Photo by Polly Dean
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
As he mentioned, fly tying figures prominently in the shop’s array of services. “Fly tying is a large part of our retail business,” Scott agreed. “We sell a lot of material. We keep up with all new materials as best we can. We have a large fly-tying customer base. We do some fun fly-tying event nights at the shops, as well as beginner, intermediate and advance classes.” As you may have noticed, Scott said “shops.” White’s has now branched out with stores in Stuart and Vero Beach, as well. Summing it up, how to succeed in the competitive environment of running a tackle business is no mystery to Scott Crippen. “Service, service, service: we carry all major brands and products, but pride ourselves in being extremely service oriented. We have hundreds of years of experience between us. We do lots of customer rigging and seminars. With all of the Internet sales and competition these days that is how we separate ourselves – service!” To find out more about White’s Tackle Shop, visit whitestackle.com. Photo by Polly Dean
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Beach Comb Beach Comb Hutchinson Hutchinson
CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
by Polly Dean by Polly Dean
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7KH WULFN ZDV WR GURS WKH À\ St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK EXW QRW WKH OLQH WZR RU WKUHH IHHW DKHDG RI WKH VQRRN 6LQFH , ZDV XVLQJ D ÀRDWLQJ OLQH , IRXQG WKDW , The7KH WULFN ZDV WR GURS WKH À\ trick was to drop the fly (but EXW QRW WKH OLQH WZR RU WKUHH IHHW ZDV EDWWOLQJ WKH DFWLRQ RI WKH ZDYHV not the line) two or three feet ahead of WKH IVQRRN 6LQFH , ZDV DQG QRW DEOH WR SURSHUO\ PHQG WKH theDKHDG snook.RI Since was using a floating XVLQJ D ÀRDWLQJ OLQH , IRXQG WKDW , OLQH 7KHUHIRUH ZDVQ¶W the JHWWLQJ line, I found that I was, battling action ZDV EDWWOLQJ WKH DFWLRQ RI WKH ZDYHV WKH À\ ZKHUH LW QHHGHG WR EH of the waves and not able to properly DQG QRW DEOH WR SURSHUO\ PHQG WKH $IWHU WDONLQJ ZLWK D IHOORZ À\ mend the line. Therefore, I wasn’t OLQH 7KHUHIRUH , ZDVQ¶W JHWWLQJ ¿VKHUPDQ ZH PHW RQ WKH EHDFK , getting the fly where it neededWR toEH be. WKH À\ ZKHUH LW QHHGHG GHFLGHG WR WUHN EDFN WR WKH FDU DQG After talking with aZLWK fellowD flyIHOORZ fisherman $IWHU WDONLQJ À\ FKDQJH WR D GLႇHUHQW UHHO ZLWK DQ we¿VKHUPDQ ZH PHW RQ WKH EHDFK , met on the beach, I decided to trek LQWHUPHGLDWH VLQNLQJ OLQH $ VLQNLQJ back to the car and change to a different GHFLGHG WR WUHN EDFN WR WKH FDU DQG OLQH ZLOO ZRUN WRR EXW , OHDUQHG WKDW reelFKDQJH WR D GLႇHUHQW UHHO ZLWK DQ with an intermediate sinking line. A LW FDQ EH KDUG WR PDQDJH LQ WKH VXUI sinking will work too, but I learned LQWHUPHGLDWH VLQNLQJ OLQH $ VLQNLQJ 7KDW line WXUQHG RXW WR EH WKH JDPH thatOLQH ZLOO ZRUN WRR EXW , OHDUQHG WKDW it can be hard to manage in the surf. FKDQJHU 6RRQ DIWHU FKDQJLQJ That out to be the game LW FDQ EH KDUG WR PDQDJH LQ WKH VXUI WR turned WKH LQWHUPHGLDWH OLQH changer. , ZDV 7KDW Soon after the WXUQHG RXW changing WR EH WKH to JDPH VWDQGLQJ DW WKH HGJH RI WKH ZDWHU FKDQJHU 6RRQ DIWHU FKDQJLQJ intermediate line, I was standing at FKDWWLQJ ZLWK P\ IULHQG 6HYHUDO WKH of LQWHUPHGLDWH OLQH , ZDV \DUGV RXW LQ GHHSHU ZDWHU , VSRWWHG theWR edge the water chatting with D VQRRN WKDW KDG DOUHDG\ myVWDQGLQJ DW WKH HGJH RI WKH ZDWHU friend. Several yards out inSDVVHG deeper FKDWWLQJ ZLWK P\ IULHQG E\ DQG ZDV KHDGHG DZD\ IURP PH water I spotted a snook that had6HYHUDO already \DUGV RXW LQ GHHSHU ZDWHU , VSRWWHG , PDGH D FDVW OHDGLQJ WKH from ¿VK me. E\ passed by and headed away D VQRRN WKDW KDG DOUHDG\ SDVVHG FRXSOH IHHW SXWWLQJ WKH fish À\ ZDV I made a cast leading the by a E\ DQG ZDV KHDGHG DZD\ IURP PH LQ IURQW RI WKH VQRRN EHIRUH , couple feet, putting the fly in front ofORVW the , PDGH D FDVW OHDGLQJ WKH ¿VK E\ VLJKW RI LW 7KH OLQH ZHQW WLJKW DQG snook before I lost sight of it. The line D FRXSOH IHHW SXWWLQJ WKH À\ ZDV ¿QDOO\ RႇHUHG VXFFHVV , success! ODQGHG went tight and finally, offered LQ IURQW RI WKH VQRRN EHIRUH , ORVW DQG UHOHDVHG D LQFK I landed and released a 24-inchVQRRN snook. VLJKW RI LW 7KH OLQH ZHQW WLJKW DQG 7KHUH DUH QRW PDQ\ VFHQDULRV There are not many scenarios ¿QDOO\ RႇHUHG VXFFHVV , ODQGHG LQ ¿VKLQJ WKDW DUH PRUH VDWLVI\LQJ in fishing that are more satisfying DQG UHOHDVHG D LQFK VQRRN WKDQ WKLV $QG ZKHQ LW¶V FRPELQHG than this. And when it’s combined 7KHUH DUH QRW PDQ\ VFHQDULRV ZLWK VDQG DQG VXQ RQ D EHDXWLIXO withLQ ¿VKLQJ WKDW DUH PRUH VDWLVI\LQJ sand and sunJHW onPXFK a beautiful LVODQG LW GRHVQ¶W EHWWHU island it doesn’t get much better. WKDQ WKLV $QG ZKHQ LW¶V FRPELQHG
ZLWK VDQG DQG VXQ RQ D EHDXWLIXO Polly Dean a is Field Editor forEHWWHU LVODQG LW is GRHVQ¶W PXFK Polly Dean a JHW Field Editor for Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine and fly fishes throughout 0DJD]LQH DQG À\ ¿VKHV WKURXJKRXW thePolly magazine’s coverage Dean is a coverage Fieldarea. Editor for the magazine’s area. Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing 0DJD]LQH DQG À\ ¿VKHV WKURXJKRXW magazine’s coverage area. June 2018the l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com l 57
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Beach Patrol Trips
Once home again, I swapped a few emails with friend and former guide Marcia Foosaner. Passionate about the fishery, her sport and sharing it with others, she gave this advice about chasing snook on the beach. “I’m sure you will be back to do this again one day, as I am sure you can see how captivating it can be,” she said. “There are a few things that I always mention to people who come for this, so I will enlighten you – and it might be nice for us fish heads that live here if visitors think about a few common courtesies. “Like most places the fishery is not what it used to be. The fish are tougher to catch. Population growth and beach re-nourishment that has shallowed the troughs and silted the beaches have played a part. The shallowness creates more of a break, causing the greater wave action. “Boaters come in too close when they see several folks fishing the same area,” she continued. “Anglers standing and fishing in the water too close to other anglers will ruin the fishing for everyone. “If one has the beach to himself that is ideal and allows for the perfect presentation to a fish, leading it all the way. Hands down, sinking or intermediate lines are the best, with clear or near clear lines seemingly better. With fish seeing more pressure, I keep my leader at 20- to 25-pound. Flies can run the entire list. I like Clousers and have the most luck with them, but some days the only fly that works will be a baitfish. Test the fish. A stripping basket is a must. And finally the fish can be at any and every beach on Hutchinson Island,” she concluded.
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Marcia Foosaner offering some advice on the beach fishing. Photo by Polly Dean
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FOUR FOR THE FLY FIN-ATIC Check Out Martin County’s Best Fly-Fishing Opportunities
By Terry Gibson
T
he first Wednesday of every month, the Stuart Fly Rodders meet to discuss what’s biting, listen to speakers about how to improve your fly-fishing skills, and learn how better to conserve and enhance fisheries. It’s the Treasure Coast’s oldest fly-fishing club, and usually the meetings are packed with friendly local and visiting fly-fishing experts and enthusiasts. That’s because Martin County offers some of the best and most diverse fly-fishing opportunities in the state. Thanks to the area’s unique confluence of estuaries, nearshore reefs and offshore reefs–all connected by currents–you can catch more saltwater species that you can shake a fly rod at. You just need a little advice about where to fish, when, and with which fly-fishing tactics and tackle to employ. Here are four of our favorite Martin County fly-fishing opportunities.
Beach-Walking for Snook Here’s a fly-fishing opportunity that involves a relaxing as a walk on a pristine beach, punctuated by some of the most exhilarating sight-fishing opportunities in saltwater fly fishing. May through early September, fly casters catch snook from the beach in the “suds.” See page 50 of this edition. Mullet Run The annual fall mullet migration is not to be missed! Yes, the mullet is one of the world’s most spectacular migrations of wildlife. It begins in early September and lasts, weather depending, until mid- to late October. It tends to peak late September and early October. It’s a wildlife migration you’ll never forget. Disco Docklight Fishing When you step on this dance floor in the dark, in this case the bow of a skiff for a night-fishing trip, you better have your moves down. Simply navigating the inshore waters of the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River at night is challenging, but with a guide, magical! False Albacore Fever In June, Martin County’s nearshore waters are invaded by huge schools of a small tuna locally called “bonito,” better known among flyfishermen as “false albacore,” and properly called “little tunny.” The fish here along southeast Florida are significantly large and they come in very close to shore—so close that they are caught from the beach during the minnow migrations of August. And fly-fishing conditions are typically perfectly windless with high sun. Moreover, nobody except for a handful of fly-fishing guides and fly rod diehards here even bother to target them. There isn’t a more comfortable and accommodating place to base yourself for a run at any of these fish than Martin County visit discovermartin.com for more information.
Reel in the memories. Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is a fisherman’s paradise. Ocean, lake and river ecosystems are home to more than 800 species of fish, from the ever-popular sailfish and snook to largemouth bass and perch. Forget your gear? Visit one of Martin’s many bait and tackle shops or outdoor retailers. Inshore, offshore, saltwater or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.
DiscoverMartin.com
CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
Capt. Mike
All photos courtesy of Captain Mike Holliday
Capt. Mike Holliday fishes both the offshore and inshore waters of the Treasure Coast.
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Holliday “S
o basically I live in paradise,” explained Capt. Mike Holliday of Stuart, Florida. Once he starts talking about fishing on the Treasure Coast, you quickly realize what motivates that assertion. His immersion in the angling along this southeast portion of the state’s peninsula includes all but six years of his life. That was during his teen years, when the family moved from Miami to New Jersey. But then Capt. Mike returned to attend Florida Institute of Technology. Since then, he’s never left the area.
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
He also was an early convert to tossing flies for saltwater species. “I started in 1984 with my first fly outfit, a G. Loomis rod and Pfluger Medalist fly reel,” Holliday said. “Caught a lot of fish on that outfit. There wasn’t a lot of information about saltwater fly fishing back then, including no Internet, so there was a huge learning curve. I think I fished every afternoon for a month before I caught my first snook on a fly.”
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Fortunately, in those early days, he had a couple of very helpful mentors for understanding the fishing in the area and applying fly casting to those fish. “I learned a lot about live-bait chumming and species habits from Butch Consta-
ble out of Jupiter, who was one the original live-chumming fishing guides on the East Coast and still is the best the I know of,” Capt. Mike offered. “Scott Deal from Maverick Boat Company taught me a lot about feeding tarpon and sight fishing redfish and seatrout in skinny water. In all of the days I fished with Scott, I never once saw him miss a cast. June 2018
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“A lot I learned through reading or trial and error on the water,” he added. Soon after taking up fly casting, fishing became more than just a passion for the captain, it became a profession. In 1986 he got his captain’s license and started guiding. “I started out guiding fly anglers to ladyfish, pompano and seatrout and within five years I was chasing tarpon and big jack crevalle.”
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
But, he didn’t stop there. He now even targets blue water species like sailfish, dolphin and little tunny with the long rod. He noted that he does guide both fly and light tackle anglers. “The key to this business is to be versatile, so you have options. Some days, you know one species or method isn’t going to work, so you have to have options.” Today he concentrates his efforts on the area from Vero Beach south to Palm Beach, but spends the bulk of this time between Hobe Sound and Jensen Beach. “Given a choice, I would rather be offshore or along the beaches, as the fish are larger and more powerful,” Capt. Holliday said. “Unfortunately, we get a lot of rough seas in the winter and spring, so I do a lot of inshore fishing on the flats, along seawalls and shorelines.” It is fishing on that inshore area that has the captain worried, which basically stems from the runoff of water from Lake Okeechobee coming into the estuary. “The Indian River and St. Lucie River, which was one of the most pristine habitats in North America, now is a big sandbar. All the seagrass is dead. It’s beyond sad,” he offered. “Lacking habitat in the middle of the river, I now fish shorelines, which means seawalls, points and mangroves for the most part. “I will fish docks on occasion, as well as bridges, typically at night,” he continued. “I do fish some of the sandbars for pompano, which is strictly a sight fishing game.”
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
The variety of habitats on the Treasure Coast provide Capt. Mike with other options, too. “On the beach, I fish rock piles and bait schools, as well as a nuclear power plant (on Hutchinson Island near Jensen Beach) outflow. Offshore, I mostly target natural reefs, but will venture to some of the shallow artificial reefs to target amberjacks and little tunny. “We are fortunate that you can be in 100 feet of water less than eight miles offshore, so it’s common to start the day tarpon fishing on the beach, run offshore to live chum sailfish and dolphin, then come back inshore and sight-cast snook,” he added.
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
As he also points out, there is no shortage, when it comes to the fish to target on the Treasure Coast. “Each season offers its own variety of migratory species,” Capt. Holliday said. “Tarpon can be caught year-round, but the big schools migrating out the Keys and up the coastline come in June and early July. Then there’s a great night fishery for them during the fall mullet run in September and October. “Permit are April to August,” he recounted. “Cobia are February and March and also June and July. Jumbo bluefish are April, pompano are November through April, jumbo jack crevalle are on the beach March through July and snook, seatrout and redfish are year-round on the inside.”
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CLOSE LOOK St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida
With such variety with which to contend, what flies should you have in the box when hitting the water on this coast? “You’ve got to have at least one popper in the mix,” Capt. Mike answered, “and it needs to have serious hooks that won’t straighten out on big cobia or snook. I fish a lot of baitfish patterns; Polar Fiber Minnows, Puglisi Baitfish and anchovy-type flies. Also shrimp, crab and sand flea patterns for reds, pompano and permit. “You need to have a good chum fly,” he noted. “I like an all-white fly with chicken feathers or marabou. And, if you are going to chase redfish, you need a weighted brown clump crab; anything brown will work.” Although he does not give casting lessons, Holliday does speak to large groups regularly. He is part of the IGFA Speaker program at major South Florida boat shows and talks to fishing clubs on the regular basis. Capt. Holliday also is the Inshore Community Manager for Costa Sunglasses, covering any inshore fishing related events, pros and conservation efforts in the continental U.S. 72 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
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Based on his long career on the water guiding anglers, Capt. Mike Holliday has formed a perspective on the fishing. “Over the years, a fishing guide sees a lot of changes in their fisheries, mostly for the worse,” he explained. “If you’re looking to bring a bunch of fish home, I’m not your guy. If you’re looking to relax, defrag, see some amazing wildlife and marine life, and get some shots at great fish, make the call. “I think a lot of people put too much pressure on their fishing trips and don’t relax and enjoy them. It’s supposed to be fun. I tell my clients, ‘you can do anything wrong today. If you make a bad cast, blow a fish or hookset, or do anything that makes you feel frustrated, blame it on me. Turn around and say, stupid guide.’” For more information or to book a day of angling with Capt. Mike Holliday, visit captainmikeholliday.com. 74 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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St. Lucie and Martin County, Florida CLOSE LOOK
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Hannie’s
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s Sili Shad By Fred G. Hannie
H
ere is a quick and simple tie; notice I didn’t say easy. Some of you will have fits working with this Sili Skin or Gummy Skin material. But the sheer number of species that can be taken with this fly will make it worth the effort. This fly will mimic both a menhaden and a peanut bunker. I have been tying and fishing this pattern for years and I have fine tuned the tying techniques to make it more durable and more enticing to the fish. The fly can be tied in just about any size you choose just by adapting your measurements to the size of the hook Fred G. Hannie is an accomplished fly tier living in Lake Charles, Louisiana. You can find out more about his flies at realisticflytying.net.
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Materials
Sili skin: silver, clear Hook: Mustad C70S D size 2 Weight: .0256 lead wires Eyes: silver size 3/16 Thread: white 6/0 Copic Markers: black, mustard UV Resin: Diamond hard June 2018
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CHECK OUT THE ACTION I FISH
OFFSHORE, INSHORE, FRESHWATER
HUNT
DUCKS, WATERFOWL & MORE
IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH SEE
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ATTEND
PARISH EVENTS
Nicaragua Tarpon Angling Adventu By Bob Borgwat
The Rio Indio Lodge in Nicaragua. Photo courtesy of Rio Indio Lodges.
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ure In the Jungle W
hat’s the chance you can follow me for what likely will be yours — and my — most exciting fly-fishing action ever? That “chance” can also become a personal chal-
lenge. In just a few short weeks, my next fly-fishing adventure for tarpon takes place on the southeast Nicaraguan coastline, where the largest tarpon in the world cruise the beachfront, river mouths and lagoons, chasing large silver minnows, mullet, crabs, small snook and “macakelas.” I’m not going to lie. I’ll be a little bit spooked at the challenge that lies ahead when I board Delta in Atlanta for my eventual arrival at Rio Indio Lodge at Greytown, Nicaragua June 2018
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The Rio Indio Lodge sits amid a tropical forest. Photo courtesy of Rio Indio Lodges.
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With just two years of very limited tarpon-fishing experience behind me, I will travel to the remote Mosquito Coast (known as Miskito locally) of the southern Caribbean for seven days of flogging tarpon flies to fish that can not only break fishing records but also possibly break me! This lust for painful glory is what the tarpon I have seen and hooked have done to me. I haven't yet brought one boat-side. In fact, I've only hooked two while fishing two seasons on the flats of Homosassa, Florida, but I'm obsessed with the fish. It's the "take" of a fish that scales well beyond 150 pounds that has reached inside me. And when they have eaten my fly, it's been the tarpon's eye — the one you see when the fish turns on your fly just a rod's length away — that appears to look more deeply at me than I do of it. I’ve seen it just five times in my short career as a tarpon angler. Most notably, the only tarpon I’ve broken off ate that fly after following it in no rush whatsoever for 40 feet. It turned, ate, and leaped more than 10 feet out of the water when the hook stung its jaw. Moments later it was gone, parting the Bimini twist cleanly because I didn’t clear the line from my clenched fist. But we did get a picture of the twisting fish in mid-air, and it has since been etched on my shoulder in a colorful tattoo complete with a broken leader. I’m no poser. June 2018
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I’ll be chasing tarpon from the comfort of Rio Indio Lodge in the now re-established colonial city of Greytown, which has seen historical changes over several hundred years. As a trade and travel route, it experienced times of prosperity and subsequent periods of downfall before it got burned to the ground during the war in the 1980s. Only a few traces are left of its rich past. About 1,700 people live here, working as farmers, fishermen and, because of Rio Indio, hospitality/tourist services. Supported by the Nicaraguan government with the construction of an airport in 2012, anglers can travel by air to Greytown if they opt out of the adventurous 90-mile boat ride from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. I jumped my first tarpon (and four more) here in 1999, while standing on the beachfront at the mouth of the San Juan River. I had joined a party of hard-tackle fishermen for a week on the houseboat Rain Goddess, owned/ operated by Dr. Alfredo Lopez who founded Rio Indio in 2005. We arrived via the San Juan River, a timeless passageway from Lake Nicaragua to the
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Caribbean Sea, which stretches away just a few hundred yards beyond the lodge. The perimeter of Rio Indio’s grounds sits adjacent to the boundary of Indio Maíz World Heritage National Park — more than 1,600 square kilometers of unbroken and dense tropical rainforest. The park’s diversity of plant, animal and aquatic life provides attractive eco-touring options for the lodge’s non-angling visitors, including tours deep into the heart of the nature reserve on the Indio River and many other of the reserve’s hidden veins. All lodge services are operated by a friendly staff and bilingual guides. The food is excellent and made with organic products. The lodge has open WiFi in the lobby, along with an open rum bar, plus housekeeping/laundry service is available daily. Big tarpon are capable of flying high out of the water when hooked. Photo courtesy of Rio Indio Lodges.
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In the 1660s, the beachfronts and coastal lagoons and rivers of the region were roamed by the likes of the pirate Captain Henry Morgan. These days it’s Venezuelan tarpon, believed to migrate as far north as Florida, traveling through these waters that raise the neck hackles of the anglers who fish with Rio Indio Lodge. The lodge is located within minutes of the seaward passes of the Rio San Juan and Rio Indio, and fishing action takes place not more than a few miles from shore or upstream into the lagoons and tributary rivers. Seasonally, the larger numbers of tarpon arrive heading southward from March through May. More tarpon — and the largest fish, upward of 250 pounds, I'm told — arrive heading northward from mid-August through October. But tarpon are present 90 percent of the time off of the Nicaragua coastline in schools that commonly number 50 to 100 fish and reach upward of 500 to 600 fish. The inshore lagoons and rivers can be ripe with them, too. Because wave action at the rivers’ mouths is the most determining factor day to day in reaching the Caribbean or fishing inshore, at least five days angling should be planned to experience the fishing inside and outside the passes. Lighter winds and lower river flows occur from August through November, making the passes more navigable.
A big tarpon boated while fishing out of the Rio Indio Lodge. Photo courtesy of Rio Indio Lodges.
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The action between the region’s volcanic sediments and the ocean, weather and water flows means a changing bottom along the beaches, at the river mouths and in the lagoons. Sandbars and spits shift frequently. The beaches hold grey sand and feature multiple parallel troughs. The river mouth is sand and mud, 45 to 55 deep feet. Inshore, the rivers and lagoons can be as deep as 70 feet. Nearshore, the water is commonly silted and warm, 3 to 30 feet deep over a sandy bottom. A tarpon-tackling arsenal travels with me. In August 2004, a group of three anglers combined their strength and landed and released a tarpon off Rio Indio that taped 9 feet, 2 inches long, and had a girth of 48 inches. It was substantially longer, and likely heavier than the all-tackle world-record tarpon of 286 pounds, 9 ounces caught in 2003 off Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.
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Fly patterns in my boxes are tied by ScientificFly (ScientificFly.com). Most are based on patterns tied by my tarpon guide Dan Clymer of Crystal River/Homasassa, Florida (CrystalRiver-Fishing.com). Among those is a variant of a Tarpon Toad — the Oscar — that uses a thin hackle tail and brass bead-chain eyes. Those in purple/black or plain black will be used in the clear water of Nicaragua's inshore lagoons and rivers. Oceanside, the water is stained, even dirty, and deep where weighted flies tied with Flashabou often get the fish’s attention. Some of the best Whistler or Clouser patterns are tied in white/silver, orange/blue, white/yellow and blue/white combinations. Cockroach patterns with bucktail/ feather, bucktail/rabbit fur are good producers, and I’ll keep a few poppers on hand for use if the fish are feeding on the surface. Not all the visitors encountered at Rio Indio Lodge are anglers. Photo courtesy of Rio Indio Lodges.
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I'll put 12-weight rods to work matched with suitable saltwater reels such as Abel, Shilton, and Tibor, loaded with 250 to 300 yards of 50-pound gelspun backing and intermediate- or fast-sinking lines, depending on the water depth and depth of the fish. Compensated 600-grain sinking and depth-charge or straight lead-core lines and shooting heads will work well fishing at the mouth of the rivers or out in the deeper saltwater. Leader construction will be kept simple: a 40-pound butt section, with an 80-pound or heavier shock tippet. Inshore tackle includes 12-weights, as well — the fish in the rivers can easily reach weights of more than 100 pounds — and floating or intermediate lines will be cast over relatively shallower water. A couple of 9-weights will be stored on board for times when I come across snook and other species. For more details on Rio Indio Lodge, visit rioindiolodge.com. 92 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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A montage of the author’s favorite tarpon flies. Photos by Bob Borgwat.
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Rio Indio at a Glance
• Catch-and-release fly-fishing and conventional fishing offered by a professional staff for more than 15 years. Guides are trained/retrained annually by a US fly-fishing expert. • Three-, 4- and 6-day fishing trips. Rates start at $2,950 (except airfare to/ from San Jose, Costa Rica). Includes all meals, snacks, open rum and beer bar (wine and spirits extra), beverages (beer and non-alcoholic) during fishing, tackle as needed and fishing outings. • Fly-fishing accounts for about 60 percent of the sport fishing. Currently hosts about 40 fly-fishermen annually. • Four ocean boats, six jungle boats, equipped for fly-fishing. • Temple Fork Outfitters 12–weight rods/reels provided. • Other species: snook, guapote (rainbow bass), mohara, mochaca, red snapper. • Lodging: 27 private cabins (double occupancy) built with local wood by local craftsmen. Queen beds, fans, en suite bath, screened deck. • Suggested to bring: sunscreen, insect repellant, binoculars, long pants (light colors are most comfortable), boat shoes, cameras (and protective cases), flip-flops, large-brimmed hat. • A valid passport with at least six months remaining before it expires is required to travel to Costa Rica or to issue any visa. U.S. and Canadian citizens need only a valid passport. • Contact: RioIndioLodge.com; phone: +506-2296-0095 / +506-2220-3594 / +506-2220-3596; email: marketing@therioindiolodge.com.
DOGWOOD LODGE
HOPEDALE, LA
www.southernwaycharters.com
CALL (601) 466-0152 TO BOOK YOUR NEXT FISHING ADVENTURE SPORTSMANS LODGE VENICE, LA
ART BY TRAVIS immersed in florida
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LUTHER
I
t is said that you should never judge a book by its cover. In this instance, it also follows that it’s best not to judge an artist by his biography. “I like to say my claim to fame in art is, I failed art class twice in high school,â€? Travis Luther explained. “Although not proud of it, I still think it is pretty funny.â€? When listening to the artist or viewing his work, the passion and talent for his art is so obvious, that is a hard-to-believe scenario. /XWKHU LV D QDWLYH )ORULGLDQ DQG KLV KRPH VWDWH KDV EHHQ D JUHDW LQĂ€XHQFH RQ KLV painting. “Absolutely,â€? he said, “growing up in Florida near the coast and Intracoastal areas really inspired my creativity. I have been drawing and doing artwork since I was a kid, but only started painting a few years back when I met another artist who turned me RQ WR DFU\OLF SDLQWLQJ )URP WKHUH LW NLQG RI WRRN Rႇ LQWR P\ ORYH IRU )ORULGD DQG ÂżVKLQJ ´ June 2018
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His early start in drawing was partially a result of self-describing himself as a “lonerâ€? with no interest in team sports; thus he turned to artwork and doing things on his own. When it comes to subjects to paint, picking out his favorite was easy. Âł2EYLRXVO\ ÂżVK ´ /XWKHU VDLG ÂłDQG ,ÂśP DERXW WR GR PRUH )ORULGD VW\OH ODQGVFDSHV DQG a series of art based on Florida road signs, such as the Florida Scenic Highway signs.â€? June 2018
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+LV ORYH RI ÂżVKLQJ DQG SRUWUD\LQJ JDPH ÂżVK DOVR KDV RႇHUHG KLV JUHDWHVW FKDOOHQJH $V KH GHVFULEHV LW Âł7U\LQJ QRW WR SDLQW WRR PDQ\ RI WKH VDPH ÂżVK DQG WU\LQJ WR SDLQW DV PDQ\ ÂżVK VSHFLHV DV , SRVVLEO\ FDQ %XW , KDYH D KDUG WLPH VWD\LQJ away from my favorite species and species that I have already caught,â€? he said. “A lot of times I don’t like to paint things I haven’t caught yet unless it is a commission.â€? 100 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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Concerning commissions, he he is is aa bit Concerning commissions, bit leery leery of of that that kind kind of of work. work. “Commissioned work makes me feel pressured and almost makes painting “Commissioned work makes me feel pressured and almost makes painting unenjoyable,â€? Travis noted. noted. “I“I kind kind of of just just want want to to paint unenjoyable,â€? Travis paint what what II want want to to paint, unless someone brings something to me that sparks my interest.â€? paint, unless someone brings something to me that sparks my interest.â€? He’s also not particularly on D art competitions, although +HÂśV DOVR QRW SDUWLFXODUO\ NHHQ RQ DUW Fkeen RPSHWLWLRQV OWKRXJK KH KDV ZRQ D ÂżUVW SUL]H LQ he has won a first prize in the All About Water Show at the City Arts the All About Water Show at the City Arts Factory in Orlando. “Other than that, not much,â€? Factory in “I’m Orlando. than my that, not observed. “I’m he observed. not a big“Other fan of entering work into much,â€? art showshe against other artists.â€? not a big fan of entering my work into art shows against other artists.â€? June 2018
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As to medium, Luther prefers acrylics, because it gives him the ability to paint a lot in a short period of time. “I still like doing oils here and there for more realistic Luther work,â€? prefers he added, “but because never really liked detailed, As to medium, acrylics, it gives himwatercolor.â€? the ability +H toDOVR ÂżQGV WKDW KH OLNHV ÂłP\ QHZHVW SLHFHV PRUH WKDQ P\ ROGHU VWXႇ ´ paint a lot in a short period of time. “I still like doing oils here and there for As with most artists, inspiration plays a big part in how much and how often more detailed, realistic work,â€? he added, “but never really liked watercolor.â€? he produces new work. “As likes many“my as Inewest can,â€? Luther in than answer how many He also finds that he pieces said more myto older stuff.â€? SDLQWLQJV KH WXUQV RXW ÂłEXW XVXDOO\ VSRUDGLFDOO\ , KDYH ÂľRQÂś PRQWKV DQG ÂľRႇœ PRQWKV As with most artists, inspiration plays a big part in how much and how often Sometimes I cannew do work. a piece week,asother times I won’t paint for few months.â€? he produces “Asamany I can,â€? Luther said in answer to how many paintings %XW WKDWÂśV D out, SDFH KH usually ZRXOG UHFRPPHQG D ZRXOG EH RU QRYLFH DUWLVW Âł3XW he QRW turns “but sporadically.WR I have ‘on’ months and ‘off’ months. WKH PLOHV RQ WKH EUXVKHV ´ KH VXJJHVWHG Âł.HHS WU\LQJ NHHS ZRUNLQJ DW LW XQWLO \RX ÂżQG Sometimes I can do a piece a week, other times I won’t paint for few months.â€? D VW\OH WKDW XQLTXH WR \RX WKDW Luther’s \RX FDQ FUHDWH DQG IUHH Ă€RZLQJ ´ To LV see more of DQG Travis works,FRPIRUWDEO\ go to travislutherart.com. To see more of Travis Luther’s works, go to travislutherart.com. June 2018
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Southern C Fly Fishing By Jimmy Jacobs
"S
trip, strip, let it sink; strip, strip, he's got it! The words were coming from Capt. Eddie Adams up on the poling platform of his vintage Ranger 186 Phantom flats boat. On the casting deck, Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing's Field Editor Polly Dean heeded his instructions to a tee. She punctuated his advice with a solid strip-set that caused the surface to explode as the first redfish of the day thrashed violently. The action was taking place on a marsh area just off the fringe of Lake Herman at West Point a La Hache, Louisiana, roughly 40 miles south of New Orleans. The marshes stretched from here southward through Plaquemines Parish to the town of Venice, offering some of the most productive shallow water angling for red drum to be found anywhere in the world. Once Polly's fish was subdued, and in the boat, she was a bit surprised that the red was just 22 inches, because of the rugged fight it had provided. These brightly-colored, copper-hued fish are broad-shouldered and always ready for a battle.
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Comfort g Polly Dean with a redfish hook up. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
This was the first of two days of sight-casting for redfish with the guides from Woodland Plantation, a historic 1830s mansion turned guesthouse, where the bulk of the clientele is composed of fly fishermen. The fishing operation has 25-plus fly-fishing guides, and at the top of that list were the two we would be fishing with. Day one was with Capt. Adams, an accomplished redfish tournament angler and 23-year veteran of putting fly-casters on reds in these marshes. On day two we were to fish with Capt. Shane Mayfield, a native of Plaquemines Parish with 20-plus years of guiding experience, who now hails from Belle Chase. June 2018
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The author battling a redfish in the marsh. Photo by Polly Dean.
Although these waters hold seatrout, flounder, sheepshead and black drum, the year-round action for redfish is the mainstay of fly fishing in the area. These flats that average less than 3 feet deep stretch for miles, fringed by marsh grasses. The usual tactic is to pole slowly along the shoreline, watching for singles or small pods of the reds. Once sighted, the fly needs to be cast beyond and then stripped across in front of the fish. For this fishing, Capt. Adams tied on a black-and-chartreuse Clouser style fly on one rod, while the other got a toad pattern with an olive EP fiber body and an orange brush with striped bunny strip tail. Both were tied with weighted dumbbell eyes. This extra weight is good for getting the flies down quickly when they are dropped in front of the fish.
Capt. Adams pointed out that regardless of the specific pattern, your fly should mimic a crab. He has found that more than 90 percent of the stomach contents of redfish harvested in this region are composed of crabs. Quite often this fishing is not classic long-distance casting action. The redfish may suddenly show up in the range of just 5 to 20 feet from the boat. “When they are close, you have to get right in their faces to get a reaction strike,” Capt. Adams noted. “They are used to having a crab or shrimp jump up off the bottom right in front of them.” That’s another reason for having a weighted fly that sinks quickly.
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The reds here regularly run up to 12-pounds, but fish in the 25- to 30-pound range occasionally show up in the shallows. Regardless of their size, weather conditions dictate how good the fishing will be. The marsh waters are a dark tannic color, but actually are quite clear, making the fish easily spotted. However, cloudy days or excessive wind that puts a chop on the water can make the fishing difficult to impossible. Our first day was a bit breezy but mostly sunny. After a slow start, by late morning we were regularly spotting reds and getting hookups, though a number of the fish were small puppy drum. Then as the afternoon began to heat up, Capt. Adams located a school 60 to 70 larger fish on an open flat. By the end of the fishing, we had put a couple of reds in the boat that pushed double-digit weights. Day two on the water with Capt. Shane
Mayfield was a textbook example of dealing with the vagaries of the weather. Water levels were already high, because of an incoming tide during the full moon phase. Then when a 15- to 20-mile-perhour wind from the south pushed even more water in, seeing fish in the now deeper and choppy water became a problem. Finally, clouds rolled in blocking the sun. The situation was a perfect storm of poor sight-casting conditions. Capt. Mayfield used his knowledge of the region to find some protection from the wind. Still, visibility extended only 15 feet or less in front of the 18-foot Boston East Cape flats boat. As we maneuvered, he offered a very timely tip. "Keep just 4 feet of line out," he said. "With this type fishing, you want to be ready to make short casts." Sure enough, a big red appeared virtually under the front of the boat. Most
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The tannic waters of the Louisiana marshes actually are quite clear. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
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Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing Editor Jimmy Jacobs with a 13-pound redfish. Photo by Polly Dean.
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anglers would likely not have cast, figuring our presences would spook the fish. But, following the captain's advice, I made a quick 5-foot flip cast in front of the fish. With a vicious, wallowing strike the big red took the fly and sped away from the boat. Three times the fish took the 9-weight rig into the backing before it finally came to the gunnel. On the Boga Grip, the redfish tipped the scales at 13 pounds. Overall, the trip proved that fishing is fine on the good days with the crew from Woodland Plantation, but can even be productive on those days when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
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Woodland Plantation and Spirit House Woodland Plantation was founded in the 1830s and today is located on a 50-acre tract of land on the banks of the Mississippi River at West Point a La Hache, Louisiana. The plantation’s big house was constructed in 1834 by Capt. William Johnson, a prominent riverboat pilot, slave trader and occasional pirate. Among his business associates was the notorious Jean Lafitte. Johnson and his four sons developed the property into a successful sugar plantation.
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The Johnson family continued to own the property until 1897, when it was purchased by the Wilkerson family. In 1934 a Currier & Ives drawing of the mansion was added to the label of Southern Comfort whiskey bottles, where it was prominently displayed until 2009. Since then it has moved to the back of the bottle in a much reduced size. In 1997 the then dilapidated house and land were purchased by Claire and Jacque Creppel
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and their son Foster. Over a two-year period the mansion was totally renovated and in 1999 opened as a guesthouse. Under Foster Creppel’s management, Woodland has added both newer buildings, as well as relocating historic structures to the property. One of those was a deconsecrated Catholic church that was remodeled into the “Spirit House.” Today it is home to the resort’s dining hall and bar. Its present use as a place of good spirits and pleasant eve-
nings is meant as a counter balance to the locations historic misery. Up until Hurricane Betsy destroyed it in the 1960s, the spot on which the Spirit House stands was occupied by a four-story building used for holding slaves in transit in the 19th century. Foster Creppel, himself an avid fly angler, quickly recognized the property’s location amid great fishing opportunities as a way to promote Woodland. Today around 70 percent of the guests are fly fishers.
Woodland can accommodate up to 60 guests in eight buildings on the property. The plantation also offers a meal plan that includes gourmet regional dinners, full southern breakfasts and box lunches for carrying on the boat. For angling, Woodland has more than 20 fly-fishing guides on call, along with up to 40 light tackle captains as well. For more details, reservations and rates, visit woodlandplantation.com.
LOUISIANA REDFISH CONTACTS Capt. Eddie Adams louisianaredfishmaster.com 504-975-7902 captaineddie@louisianaredfishmaster.com Capt. Shane Mayfield louisianafishingtrip.com 505-382-2711 Shanemay2010@gmail.com June 2018
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Woodland Punch
Due to Woodland Plantations historic association with Southern Comfort, it is only natural the resort developed a signature drink with that beverage. Created by Foster Creppel and his staff through some late night “research,� Woodland Punch provides a perfect flavorful and refreshing end to a day of fly casting. 1 part Southern Comfort 2 parts unsweetened pineapple juice 1/2 part club soda Dash of cherry juice Squeeze of lime (optional) Mix and pour over rocks in a tall glass. 116 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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21997 Highway 23
504.656.9990 800.231.1514
West Point a La Hache LA 70083
woodlandplantation.com
F
OUTDOORS’ New K
or most saltwater fly casters, the SKY Rod Series probably draws a blank when mentioned. For that matter, Douglas Outdoors that manufactures them also most likely is an unknown quantity. The company was only recently founded and the SKY Rod Series is even newer. But, that will change as more anglers get the chance to put the rods to the test on the brine.
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SKY ROD SERIES Kid on the Block
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These ground-breaking, high-performance rods are constructed with the next generation of nano carbon matrix materials. The SKY has a unique weight-to-strength action that produces amazing power and distance for anglers of all skill levels. The Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing staff recently put the SKY to the test on the waters around Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle region. The 7-weight SKY proved extremely light to the touch, yet, under blustery wind conditions, it was more than adequate for punching casts into the breeze. While targeting seatrout with very clear water conditions, the ability to power longer casts also was a great benefit. The rods feature elegant glare-resistant matte platinum-colored rod blanks with alignment dots for quick set up. The components of the rod also are top of the line. Fuji Torzite Titanium guides and AAAA floorgrade cork are matched with burled blackwood reel seats and double uplocking rings with nylon bushings for good looks. But the SKY is not just about appearance, these rods also are all about performance. 120 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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Multi-modulus blank construction using proprietary nano carbon materials deliver unbeatable strength, light weight and sensitivity. A unique taper is employed to produce a fast action and fast recovery for ease of casting. All of the saltwater SKY rods feature full well grips. The rods come packaged in premium plush, moisture wicking rod socks and powder-coated, lightweight aluminum tubes. Along with four-piece set up, that makes the SKY a great option for travel to the salt waters by automobile or airplane. Additionally the SKY Series comes with a lifetime warranty. Douglas Outdoors is based in upstate New York and was founded by the Barclay family in 2014. The owners are prominent conservationists with a goal of bringing together the most innovated rod and reel designers. The result has been award-winning products from the very start up. The bottom line is Douglas Outdoors and SKY Rods may not be household names in the saltwater angling community yet, but expect that to change. SKY rods for saltwater come in 9-foot length and weights of 7 through 12. The MSRP for the SKY Rod Series saltwater rods is $695.00 for all weights. For more details on the SKY Rod Series, visit douglasoutdoors.com. June 2018
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THE NEW LIGHT WEIGHT JAPANESE POLARISED GLASS LENS BY TONIC EYEWEAR ARE TECHNICALLY ADVANCED, GROUND DECENTERED GLASS PHOTOCHROMIC POLARISED LENSES, PROVIDING YOU WITH A TRUE DEPTH DISTANCE, CLARITY AND TOTALLY DISTORTION FREE.
Tonic Glass Photochromic Polarised lens adjusts from dark tint to light tint to adapt with changing weather conditions.
New Phase Inc 149 S. Emerson, Shelley ID 83274 P 208-523-2565 E dan@newphaseinc.com www.newphaseinc.com
Great Gla
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asses
Bob Mallard
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Under June 2018
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first came across Tonic Polarized Eyewear as an indirect result of writing an installment of my Gearhead column in Southern Trout called “Best in Class, it’s Still Glass.” The article talked about high-end polarized glass lens sunglasses and featured products from most major United States manufacturers. Soon after the piece came out I was contacted by some folks from down south, south of the Equator that is, who offered a line of high-end fishing sunglasses out of Australia. While they had yet to establish a presence in the United States they offered to send me a few pair of glasses to try out. With no expectations on either of our parts I accepted, and I was glad I did.
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While my common pedigree doesn’t justify it, I am admittedly a sunglass snob. For years I have worn nothing but high-end glass lens products from the big dogs in the industry such as Costa Del Mar, Hobie, Maui Jim and Smith Optics. My relationship with glasses I could barely afford, but always felt I needed, goes back to Specialized Optics who was bought by Action Optics who was in turn bought by Smith Optics. While neighboring New Zealand is a world-renowned mecca for trout fishing, Australia is not a place that comes to mind when I think of fly fishing – or even fishing, or fish. In fact, when I think of Australia I think of kangaroos, koala’s, dingo’s, wombat’s, Crocodile Dundee and Nicole Kidman. So, to say my expectations were somewhat low would be fair. Upon receiving my care package from Down Under, I couldn’t help but notice the quality of the packaging. While I have seen some great products that were poorly packaged, and a few poor products that had great packaging, as a rule good packaging means good product, so I took this as a good sign. As I sifted through the box I found that the cases were equally impressive and arguably the best made I have seen. I also noticed that while “designed” in Australia, Tonic’s products are made in Japan. While it was not always the case, Japan is now known for quality workmanship and materials. Unlike many other countries that manufacture consumer products, Japan is not a country that puts out sub-par products. In fact, their products are often on a par with US made items. 128 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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Made from TR90 optical grade plastic, Tonic’s frames are rugged and light. The arms are strong, and the glasses lack the pads that many products have which can fall off and get lost. Hinges are located on the inside and components are made of nickel or stainless steel to prevent rusting. Most frames provide great coverage and protection from indirect light, blowing sand and errant flies. And while more “function” than “fashion”, the frames also look good. What stands out most on Tonic’s glasses is the lenses. I was immediately taken by the clarity, color, contrast, and glare-cutting ability of the glasses I sampled. My go-to for most applications, their photochromic copper lenses are as good as any I have ever worn with a great light-penetration rate in the 14-19 percent range. And their copper neon is by far the finest low-light lens I have ever used, and the glasses I reach for in all but the brightest conditions. Tonic is clearly a “lens first” glass-maker. Unlike most manufacturers who lead with their frames, Tonic leads with their lenses. They make both glass and polycarbonate lenses. Their glass lenses are made from Crystalite Glass, the clearest glass available. Their Gen2 glasses use SLICELENS, which at just 1.7 millimeter are thinner and lighter than most glass lenses on the market today. June 2018
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Tonic uses technical terms like “decentered”, or “decentred” as they say in Australian, referring to how they are able to achieve maximum depth-perception and distance trueness. Their four-color polarizing filter is sandwiched between glass for maximum effectiveness, and they apply an anti-reflective coating to the back of their lenses to reduce glare and bounce-back. Tonic’s lenses are also highly scratch-resistant. In addition to the lenses mentioned above, Tonic offers photochromic grey; and blue, green, red and silver mirror glass lenses. Polycarbonate Lenses come in copper and grey, and while I am admittedly a glass guy they are as good as anyone else’s non-glass lenses. And of course, all lenses are polarized. There are eleven frames to choose from. Frames come in matte black, gloss black and tortoise, with most models coming in multiple colors. My personal favorites are the Rise, Shimmer, Trakker and YouRanium. And if you want to look like a rock star, try the Bono, named after the lead singer of Irish rockers U-2. While I am not sure if the pun was intended, there are the Mo and Jo as well, the latter of which is a pilot style glass which helps keep them fog free. Most frames also come in various lens options, with over forty combinations in total.
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Glass lens models run from $269 to $289 while polycarbonates cost $189. These prices are in line with United States high-end sunglass manufacturers and when you consider the performance and packaging, a fair price for what you get. You can learn more about Tonic sunglasses at toniceyewear.com.au . Or contact them at usa@toniceyewear.com.au or 800-2456752. Tonic sunglasses are also available online from Cabela’s at cabelas. com. As a guy who has written several articles about fly fishing eyewear and sold numerous brands of sunglasses during the 15 years I had my shop, I pride myself on being somewhat of an expert on the subject. While the United States sunglass market will not be an easy nut to crack due to what is a very crowded playing field, Tonic absolutely has the products and technology to do it. BOB MALLARD has fly fished for over 40 years. He is a former fly shop owner, Registered Maine Guide, blogger, writer, author, fly designer and native fish advocate. Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout (Stonefly Press). He can be reached at bobmallard.com, info@bobmallard. com or 207-399-6270. He is a regular writer for Southern Trout and Southern Kayak. June 2018
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setatS 9 sretawliaT 64 59.91$
setatS 5 smetsyS reviR 83 59.12$
skoobediuG gnihsiF tuorT htuoS ehT roF sbocaJ ymmiJ yB
sdehsretaW 08 dnaL cilbuP nO 59.51$
.elbaliava seipoc dehpargotuA
5 States 38 River Systems $21.95
9 States 46 Tailwaters $19.95
Trout Fishing Guidebooks For The South By Jimmy Jacobs
80 Watersheds On Public Land $15.95
Autographed copies available.
YETI SIDEKIC
Maximum Security
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CK DRY
y From Moisture I
t’s a scenario any saltwater angler that fishes from a boat or kayak has faced at some point. Water invariably finds a way to get into the vessel and drowns something that you are trying to keep dry. Of course, you can stow the item in a dry compartment, but what if it’s something you want to be able to get to in hurry? Yeti, the maker of coolers that revolutionized keeping drinks and other item cold for boaters and anglers, has introduced a convenient solution to the problem. The Yeti Sidekick Dry is a water-proof dry bag that connects to the HitchPoint grid on the company’s Hopper family of portable coolers and their Camino Carryall. Now when you load the cooler onto your vessel, you have dry storage readily at hand. The Sidekick has a Dryhide Shell constructed of high-performance materials used in whitewater rafts, featuring RF-Welded seams that keep out all moisture. This tough-as-nails construction is resistant to puncture and harmful UV rays of sunlight. Additionally, the Hydroshield Closure uses powerful magnets and a hook-and-loop closure to insure water stays out. In fact, the Sidekick has been tested by submerging it 3 feet below the surface for up to 30 minutes with no leakage. Inside, a mesh pocket makes it easy to keep things organize while stowed. The SideKick measures 11 3/4 by 7 1/8 by 3 ¼ inches, providing plenty of space for keys, wallet, cell phone and other items that must remain dry. With occasional cleaning of the shell with mild dish soap and water, plus keeping the magnets and hook-and-loop closure free of debris, the Sidekick can provide years of dry-storage performance.
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Anglers who like to get out of the boat for some wade fishing also will appreciate the Sidekick Dry. Besides the items noted earlier, the Sidekick is great for storing a box of spare flies or other accessories. When you have to wade across a deeper cut or accidentally step off into a deeper hole, you won’t find your fly box full of water and the flies drenched in the brine. Two pass-through slots on the back of the Sidekick offer the option of threading through a belt of up to 2 inches thick. That keeps any items within safely dry, but very easy to reach. Being able to wade with confidence, rather than constantly worrying about your next step, can make wading across a flat more carefree and enjoyable. The MSRP for the Yeti Sidekick Dry is $49.99. For more details and to locate the nearest dealer, visit yeti.com.
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H I C E R
’S
A
End of the Line
Seabreeze Bar & Grill Article and photos by Polly Dean
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stablished in 1947 as a military shack that served beer to soldiers, Archie's is the perfect “stop-asyou-are” beach bar and grill to grab a “cold one” and a bite to eat following a day on the water. Conveniently located on A1A at the north end of Hutchinson Island, this casual watering hole and restaurant has a large outdoor patio that is ideal for telling fish tales and lies.
Archie’s Seabreeze Bar & Grill on AIA in Fort Pierce, Florida.
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End of the Line
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Following the formation of the Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) School in Fort Pierce in 1943, Archie’s was built to serve the men who trained year-round at the facility. Called frogmen in their day, they are now known as Navy Seals. Present owner Patty McGee purchased Archie's nearly 25 years ago, after working for the bar and grill. Today she continues to pour her heart and soul into making it the “feel at home” place that it is – a place to put your feet up, relax and feel the Atlantic breeze, while enjoying live entertainment, delicious food and a refreshing beverage.
The front deck at Archie’s.
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End of the Line There are several bars and seating areas throughout Archie’s. Trees and umbrellas provide shade and pirates provide atmosphere. From the “Out House” area in the back to the street side bar, you will find a spot for you and your friends to kick back. This place is everything, and more one would expect in a welcoming casual beach community bar and grill. Archie’s menu includes tantalizing appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads and seafood baskets. Their hefty Archie burgers are made fresh, never frozen. Children are welcome as well as dogs. Archie’s even serves the best breakfast on the beach from 8:00 to 11:00, seven days a week. Live entertainment is almost nightly. Stop in for a cold brew or a glass of wine and be sure to say hello to Patty! For more details visit archiesftpierce.com. 144 l www.sosaltwaterflyfishing.com
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h a nd cr a f t ed t o pe rf ec t i o n
est
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T H E R O D YO U W I L L E V E N T UA L LY OW N Our craftsmen’s hands may not win any beauty contests but the rods they produce sure as hell should. Beautifully handcrafted, we strive for perfection and uncompromising performance in every rod we make.
www.thomasandthomas.com HANDMADE IN AMERICA