Tail Fly Fishing Magazine - Issue 45 Jan/Feb 2020

JAN/FEB 2020 $9.99 US / $10.99 CDN

DISPLAY UNTIL 03/09/20

the next generation

T&T Ambassador, visionary Flyfishing guide and Permit aficionado Justin Rea likes nothing more than spending time on the water with his son Ryan. Handing down our knowledge and passion for the outdoors to the next generation is key to the survival and growth of flyfishing. At T&T we see a world of possibilities out there and believe the next generation should too.

whatever your saltwater endeavor, we have you covered.

Exocett Series - 7 models, 9’ 6-12 weight

Exocett SS Series - 5 models, 8 ‘ 8 ‘’ 160 -450 grain

Exocett Surf Series - 2 models, 11’2’’ 10 & 12 weight

Exocett Bluewater Series - 2 models, 8’6’’ 13 & 14/16 weight

ZONE Series - 9 models, 7’6’’-10’ 3-10 weight

Sextant Series - 7 models, 8’2’’ 6-12 weight

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TH E RO D YO U WI LL E VENTUALLY OWN

www.thomasandthomas.com HANDMADE IN AMERICA

Even the forces of nature can’t keep trees from overlooking the paradise of Fanning Atoll.

Photo: Joe Brennan

Wherever you are in the Lowcountry, sunset is always something special.

Photo: Joseph Ballarini

On the Cover:

TM

The Magic Hour by David McCleaf

Proven. Performance.

David is a brilliant photographer, fly angler, and hunter from Fort Myers, Florida.

Proven. Performance.

He shares this nearly ideal shot of sunrise on the Gulf Coast hunting for redfish.

Check out his Instagram page: @davidmccleafphoto

Editor-in-Chief: Joseph J. Ballarini

Managing Editor: George V. Roberts

Creative Director: Michael Rea Thomas

Historians: Pete Barrett

Ed Mitchell

Food Editor: Kelli Prescott

Editors-at-Large: Joseph Albanese

Joe Doggett Scott Sommerlatte Mark Hatter Creative Contributors: Joseph J. Ballarini Josh Boyles Joe Brennan Alan Caolo Joel Clifton Brian J. Davis

Mitch Duesling Juan A. Garcia Carl Harris Paul King David McCleaf Ed Mitchell

Aldo Pescatore-Tardioli Kelli Prescott George V. Roberts Jamil Siddiqui Ryan Sparks Michael Rea Thomas Umpqua Feather Merchants

About Tail Fly Fishing Magazine is the voice of saltwater fly fishing in a bimonthly print and digital publication. We focus on delivering high-quality content, the very best photography, local and global destination travel, reputable commentary, and technical features from the saltwater fly fishing lifestyle. Tail Fly Fishing Magazine began as a digital publication that debuted in 2012 and has been in print since 2016.

In many places throughout the world, fly fishing has become important to both people and the environment. As a method of fishing imbued with values of stewardship and conservation, it connects people with the marine world in significant and positive ways.

We, the anglers, are the last line of defense for our outdoor spaces.

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine supports the arts and creativity, conservation, and organizations that trumpet this message. We are grateful for your support and we welcome photographic and written contributions.

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine is published six times annually, and your print subscription includes the digital version. Subscriptions are available on our website and by mail.

International subscriptions are also available for most countries. Please contact our general mailbox, admin@tailflyfishing.com, with any advertising, subscription, or submission questions.

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine 2300 Alton Road Miami Beach FL 33140 305-763-8285 tailflyfishing.com

To the thousands of anglers who put their trust in our reels, and our reels in their hands [ day after day and year after year ], WE THANK YOU!

www.3-TAND.com 203.345.7000

info@3-TAND.com

To the thousands of anglers who put their trust in our reels, and our reels in their hands [ day after day and year after year ], WE THANK YOU!

IN LOVING M E M O RY O F J O H N C. MEL FI

www.3-TAND.com 203.345.7000

info@3-TAND.com

TM

CONTENTS

14 16 18 24 30 35

EDITOR’S LETTER

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INSIDE THE BOX Umqua has some saltwater flies for chasing big fish wherever you happen to find them. Check them out—we're sure you're going to freak out!

GEAR GUIDE Take advantage of decades of fly tying expertise and update your tying bench with our staff’s selection of fly tying tools and materials.

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THE LOWCOUNTRY: PART ONE The first in a three-part series detailing the nuts and bolts of fly fishing for redfish in Hilton Head, South Carolina, courtesy of the guides and staff of Southern Drawl Outfitters.

WINTER COCKTAILS The winter days are long. The winter nights are even longer. Help forget part of them with our take on classic winter warmers, including our keto-friendly Hot Buttered Rum.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

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YOU CAN NEVER BE LOVED BY THE OCEAN

We tasked TFFM historian Ed Mitchell with researching and writing the story of the first man to target tarpon with a fly rod.

His name was A.W. Dimock and his story will be remembered.

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BONEFISH BONANZA IN THE YUCATÁN

HEARTBREAKER FLATS The long journey to Fanning Atoll reveals a pristine flat loaded with very large bonefish that have never seen flies … and leaves author Joe Brennan with a Pat Benatar soundtrack echoing in his head.

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ACQUIESCENCE Regardless of how much knowledge you've gleened about bonefish, you're likely someday to run into one that didn't read any of the books, as author Alan Caolo learned firsthand.

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Poem by Brian J. Davis.

Wading for bonefish followed by watching the sunset while dining on tacos and cerveszas.

Travel to Tulum with the So Fly Crew and you’ll get your fill.

ON THE PLATE: CUCHARA AND POZOLE Perfectly suited to follow the Tulum taco appetizer.

Charlie and Ana’s discussions of Mexico would come to fruition, and Cuchara would become an iconic restaurant whose impression on the Houston dining scene was as big as its flavors.

THE ESSENTIALS OF DISTANCE FLY CASTING: PART ONE The first of a five-part series by managing editor George Roberts designed to help you go the extra distance.

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FISHING IN THE SNOW

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PARADISE HAS FANGS

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Editor Joseph Ballarini grew up in Pennsylvania and is no stranger to cold weather. He looks at some unique winter fisheries within the United States to help get you through the next few frigid months.

Places with spectacular fishing usually exist for one of two reasons; either they’re shielded by sheer remoteness or they’re made inaccessible by civil unrest and political instability. Colombia is both.

FLY TYING: SOFT CHEW WIGGLER 2.0 A throwback to the days of fly rod lures, the Soft Chew Wiggler will ring the dinner bell for a number of saltwater gamefish. Comes complete with a template you can keep and use to build your own.

THE UNDERTOW: DEVOTION Our contributors are among the most devout saltwater fly anglers you're likely to meet.

But one of them has just a bit more skin in the game—so to speak.

R E T A I L E R S C A R R Y T A I L

Mossy’s Fly Shop 750 W. Diamond Blvd, Suite 114 Anchorage, AK 99515 907-770-2666 mossysflyshop.com

ORVIS Ocean Reef 1 Fishing Village Drive Key Largo FL 33037 305-367-2227 Orvis.com

River Bay Outfitters 980 Church St Baldwin, NY 11510 516-415-7748 riverbayoutfitters.com

Swan Point Landing 1723 Cherry Street Suite 4 Rockport, TX 78382 361-729-7926 swanpointlandingflyshop.net

CALIFORNIA

ORVIS Sandestin 625 Grand Boulevard Ste 101 Sandestin, FL 32550 850-650-2174 Orvis.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. 1933 E. Levee St Dallas, TX 75207 888-824-5420 tailwatersflyfishing.com

Bob Marriott’s Flyfishing Store 2700 W. Orangethorpe Ave Fullerton, CA 92833 714-525-1827 bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/ COLORADO Front Range Anglers 2344 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-494-1375 frontrangeanglers.com CONNECTICUT The Compleat Angler 541 Boston Post Road Darien, CT 06820 203-655-9400 compleatangleronline.com

The Angling Company 333 Simonton St Key West, FL 33040 305-292-6306 anglingcompany.com West Wall Outfitters 787 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte, FL 33953 941-875-9630 westwallflyshop.com GEORGIA

Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd D5 Cornelius, NC 28031 704-896-3660 carolinaflyfishing.com RHODE ISLAND The Saltwater Edge 1037 Aquidneck Ave Middletown, RI 02842 866-793-6733 saltwateredge.com SOUTH CAROLINA Bay Street Outfitters 825 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902 843-524-5250 baystreetoutfitters.com

FLORIDA

Cohutta Fishing Company 39 S. Public Square Cartersville, GA 30120 770-606-1100 cohuttafishingco.com

239 Flies 3431 Bonita Beach Rd SW Unit #205 Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (239) 908-3513 239flies.com

ORVIS Atlanta Buckhead Square 3255 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta GA 30305 404-841-0093 Orvis.com

Black Fly Outfitters 11702 Beach Blvd, #109 Jacksonville, FL 32246 904-997-2220 blackflyoutfitters.com

The Fish Hawk 764 Miami Cir NE #126 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-237-3473 thefishhawk.com

Bayou City Angler 3641 Westheimer Rd Suite A Houston TX 77027 832-831-3104 bayoucityangler.com

Forgotten Coast Fly Company 123 Commerce Street Apalachicola, FL 32320 850-653-1024 forgottencoastflycompany.com

LOUISIANA

Gordy & Sons Outfitters 22 Waugh Drive Houston TX 77007 713-333-3474 gordyandsons.com

Florida Keys Outfitters 81219 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL 33036 305-664-5432 floridakeysoutfitters.com Flounder Creek Outfitters 515 Garden Street Titusville, FL 32796 321-567-2931 facebook.com/ floundercreekoutfitters/ Mangrove Outfitters 4111 Tamiami Trail E Naples, FL 34112 239-793-3370 mangroveoutfitters.com Ole Florida Fly Shop 6353 N. Federal Hwy Boca Raton, FL 33487 561-995-1929 olefloridaflyshop.com Orlando Outfitters 2814 Corrine Dr Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-8220 orlandooutfitters.com

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NEW YORK

ALASKA

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

ORVIS Baton Rouge Perkins Rowe, Bldg. H 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. 140 Baton Rouge LA 70810 225-757-7286 Orvis.com MARYLAND Alltackle 2062 Somerville Rd Annapolis, MD 21401 888-810-7283 alltackle.com MASSACHUSETTS The Bear’s Den 34 Robert W. Boyden Rd Taunton, MA 02780 508-977-0700 bearsden.com MONTANA Frontier Anglers 680 N. Montana St Dillion, MT 59725 406-683-5276 frontieranglers.com

Southern Drawl Outfitters 1533 Fording Island Rd Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-705-6010 southerndrawloutfitters.com TEXAS

ORVIS Austin 10000 Research Blvd - B04B Austin TX 78759 512-795-8004 Orvis.com ORVIS Houston 5727 Westheimer - Suite A Houston TX 77057 713-783-2111 Orvis.com ORVIS Plano Preston Towne Crossing 2412 Preston Road Suite 200 Plano TX 75093 972-596-7529 Orvis.com ORVIS San Antonio 7427 San Pedro Ave. Suite 104 San Antonio, TX 78216 210-812-3017 Orvis.com Sportsman’s Finest 12434 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78738 512-263-1888 sportsmansfinest.com

UTAH Fishwest 47 West 10600 South Sandy, UT 84070 fishwest.com 801-617-1225 WASHINGTON Peninsula Outfitters 19740 7th Ave NE, Suite 110 Poulsbo, WA 98370 360-394-1599 peninsulaoutfitters.com Emerald Water Anglers 4502 42nd Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116 206-708-7250 emeraldwateranglers.com The Avid Angler 17171 Bothell Way NE #A272 Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 206-362-4030 avidangler.com WYOMING Lander Fly Shop 305 Main Street Lander, WY 82520 307-438-3439 landerflyshop.com Retail Chains: Barnes & Noble—630 retail locations in the USA Books-A-Million—260 stores in 32 states Bass Pro Shops—95 locations in the USA Dick’s Sporting Goods (select locations)—over 700 stores in the USA Field & Stream Stores—35 locations in the USA CANADA Fish Tales Fly Shop Ltd. #626, 12100 Macleod Trail SE Calgary AB T2J 7G9 Canada 866-640-1273 fishtalesflyshop.com Retail Chains: Indigo Books—over 200 stores under various banners

PREMIUM PREMIUMFLY FLYFISHING FISHINGREELS REELS

MADE MADEIN INTHE THEUSA USA NOAH NOAHROSENTHAL ROSENTHAL

WWW.HATCHOUTDOORS.COM WWW.HATCHOUTDOORS.COM

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yrassecen trap-evfi a nettirw sah ,streboR egroeG ,rotide gniganaM .ycarucca dna ,rewop ,ecnatsid redro ni syadiloh eht dekrow yltneuqerf I ,AINAVLYSNNEP NI GNIVIL SAW I ELIHW -ne si MFFT taht epoh ew elihW .eussi siht htiw snigeb taht seires gnitsac lanoitcurtsni I .yaD s’enitnelaV fo yadiloh kramllaH eht hguorht 2 yraunaJ morf ffo emit teg ot a emoceb dna egdelwonk niag dluohs uoy taht leef ew ,lufthgiled yllausiv dna gniniatret dna erusopxe nus emos rof ezileB dna ,amanaP ,aciR atsoC ekil secalp ot tej dluow yraunaJ hcae dettols won ev’ew yhw osla si sihT .tnetnoc ruo fo tluser a sa relgna retteb a ,luftiurf-naht-ssel erew serutnevda emos elihW .srehtaef kcuhc ot ytinutroppo na -cudorp ruoy ezimixam uoy pleh ot slairetam dna sloot gniyt yfl thgilhgih ot ediuG raeG nopU .kcirt eht did yllausu sliatkcoc wef a dna ,slaem taerg emos ,nus eht ni syad wef .llul retniw eht gnirud ytivit dluoc I os ,erudne ot tfel retniw fo shtnom fo elpuoc a ylno eb dluow ereht ,nruter ym ecnis yllaicepse ,ssel hcum levart I ,adirolF tsaehtuoS ot gnivom ecniS .eganam yllausu -tuo na osla s’ereht ,eussi siht ni SLLIKS LACINHCET DEZISAHPME EV’EW ELIHW -idnoc eht dnfi od ew ,revewoH .draykcab wen ym si seirehsfi tseb s’dlrow eht fo eno ni YID no ,oiratnO morf sretsacdop gnihsfi yfl ,werc ylF oS eht morf erutaef gnidnats dna wolb sdniw htron ehT .hcraM hguorht yraunaJ morf elbarised-naht-ssel eb ot snoit uoy sekat ,nannerB eoJ ,MFFT ot rotubirtnoc otohp dna dneirf emitgnoL . nátacuY eht wolb syad retniw tsoM .stafl eht ot pohc gib gnirb osla yeht tub ,hsfilias edisnaeco gnirb ,tuo sgniht dnuor ot dnA .neeb reven evah su fo tsom ecalp a si hcihw ,llotA gninnaF ot nac srelgna denosaes tsom ,ygolonhcet fo esu eht tuohtiw neve dna ,stonk 02 ot 51 tuoba adirolF detnuh ohw ,kcomiD .W.A no yrotsih gnitanicsaf emos sedivorp llehctiM dE .traeh fo tniaf eht rof ton s’tI .spacetihw eht yb noitcerid dna deeps s’dniw eht eguag .s0091 ylrae eht ni dor yfl a htiw noprat -libisiv roop ,thgil ssel ot eud detimil era seitinutroppo sa ESUACEB SIHT NOITNEM I retniw esoht gnikcik ni pets tsrfi eht ,D NIMATIV FO NOISUFNI NA SI EUSSI SIHT si gnitsac dilos elihW .tniop no eb tsum gnitsac ruoy ,serutarepmet desaerced dna ,yti .tsal eht naht retteb si eussi siht ,htnom hcae yas ew sa dna ,ti ekil uoy epoh eW .seulb seriuqer tsac ruoy yllaicepse tnemnorivne siht ni ,sgnituo lufsseccus lla rof yrassecen trap-evfi a nettirw sah ,streboR egroeG ,rotide gniganaM .ycarucca dna ,rewop ,ecnatsid -ne si MFFT taht epoh ew elihW .eussi siht htiw snigeb taht seires gnitsac lanoitcurtsni ,sreehC a emoceb dna egdelwonk niag dluohs uoy taht leef ew ,lufthgiled yllausiv dna gniniatret yraunaJ hcae dettols won ev’ew yhw osla si sihT .tnetnoc ruo fo tluser a sa relgna retteb -cudorp ruoy ezimixam uoy pleh ot slairetam dna sloot gniyt yfl thgilhgih ot ediuG raeG .llul retniw eht gnirud ytivit -tuo na osla s’ereht ,eussi siht ni SLLIKS LACINHCET DEZISAHPME EV’EW ELIHW ni YID no ,oiratnO morf sretsacdop gnihsfi yfl ,werc ylF oS eht morf erutaef gnidnats uoy sekat ,nannerB eoJ ,MFFT ot rotubirtnoc otohp dna dneirf emitgnoL . nátacuY eht ,tuo sgniht dnuor ot dnA .neeb reven evah su fo tsom ecalp a si hcihw ,llotA gninnaF ot adirolF detnuh ohw ,kcomiD .W.A no yrotsih gnitanicsaf emos sedivorp llehctiM dE .s0091 ylrae eht ni dor yfl a htiw noprat retniw esoht gnikcik ni pets tsrfi eht ,D NIMATIV FO NOISUFNI NA SI EUSSI SIHT .tsal eht naht retteb si eussi siht ,htnom hcae yas ew sa dna ,ti ekil uoy epoh eW .seulb ,sreehC

inirallaB hpesoJ

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x o e B h t In/side

If you have a box of flies you’re particularly proud of, send it to us (or a few high-resolution photos) with a description of each fly and we’ll consider it for the Inside the Box feature.

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

The winter months provide fairly consistent fishing for redfish in South Carolina and the Gulf. There are many who think it’s the best time for reds in Texas, including our food editor, Kelli Prescott (who fishes as well as she cooks, in case you haven’t seen her Instagram posts). So we thought it might be good to show off some great redfish patterns from our friends at Umpqua to stimulate your creativity at the vise.

Some are a bit more intricate than others, but most are easy enough to tie. Or if you’re feeling lazy, just pick some up at your local shop. Many of these pattens can also double for bones, and with slight modifications in size and color they can fill more than one need.

A common piece of advice given to tiers—especially novice tiers—is “Don’t use too much flash.” The opposite is usually true of redfish flies, and oftentimes the bigger, more brightly colored flies with way too much flash seem to get all the action.

That being said, this assortment is a mix of flashiness and fishiness and was handpicked for us by Russ Miller, who is regarded as one of the fishiest guys at Umpqua. Let us know what you think.

Fly provisions by our friends at:

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

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Regal Medallion Vise The Regal Medallion is a perfect example of the old adage, "Buy once, cry once.” Just open the jaws, insert the hook, and start tying. There’s nothing to adjust. When using the Regal Medallion you don’t think about it, which is exactly how a vise should be. You can tie 8/0 streamers for arapaima down to size-22 midges for trout. The jaws are solid, and the heavy base keeps the vise firmly planted on your tying desk. The Medallion series comes with a choice of six different heads, so you can pick the one best suited to your tying style. (regalvise.com)

GEAR G $275

Petitjean Magic Heads The work of Swiss fly fishing innovator Marc Petitjean is nothing short of genius, from his cutting-edge vises to his tying tools and accessories. Magic Heads are soft, clear plastic cones that you tie just behind the eye of the hook. Pushed back, they create a soft bullet head that will push water. Flipped forward, they act as a swimming lip, zigzagging your fly through the water like a terrified baitfish. The largest size will accommodate flies sizes 1/0 to 4/0. (petitjean.com) $6.95

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Renzetti Ruby Tipped Bobbins Next to a good vise, a good fly tying bobbin is among your most important tools. And there’s nothing more frustrating than to have your thread repeatedly cut by a burr in the tube. Renzetti’s ruby tipped bobbins feature an industrial ruby inserted into the tube that will keep the thread moving smoothly and ensure that your thread never gets cut. Available in two saltwater sizes. These bobbins will last 25 years of continuous use. (renzetti.com) $22.95

GUIDE Norvise Automatic Bobbin Kit If you’ve attended a fly fishing show within the last 25 years, you’ve likely watched Norm Norlander spin out Woolly Buggers at breakneck speed on his rotary Nor-Vise. His automatic bobbin is a noteworthy contribution to fly tying as well.

The bobbin features a self-winding arbor that simplifies thread management. The bobbin retracts automatically to the proper position and then hangs suspended from the fly where released. This results in faster, better fly tying. These bobbins work particularly well with rotary vises. You can purchase the automatic bobbin separately, but first-time owners are encouraged to get the kit, which includes three extra spools (required for use with this bobbin), which hold between 50 and 500 yards of thread, depending on the thread diameter. (nor-vise.com) $95.00

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

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Wapsi German Ice Tempered Fly Tying Scissors by Wasa Good scissors are critical to good fly tying, particularly when trimming deer hair heads and synthetic materials. Scissors that can handle such work well are few and far between. These scissors, manufactured in Solingen, Germany, are 4 ½” overall with double serrated fine-tip blades of 1 ¾” that will more than get the job done. (wapsifly.net) $69.00

GEAR G ThinOptics Readers Unless you never tie a fly smaller than 4/0, you’ll eventually need a pair of readers. ThinOptics combines the world smallest readers with a number of carry options, including cases small enough to fit on your keychain, in your wallet, or on your phone. They’re inexpensive enough that you’ll want several pair, including one for your fly tying kit. We take ours fishing for when we need to tie on flies, repair leaders, or for any task that requires near vision. Readers come in four lens strengths and six frame colors. (thinoptics.com) Starting at $19.95

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Hareline Dubbin Bling Rabbit Strips Winner of the International Fly Tackle Dealer’s (IFTD) Best in Show Award for 2019 in the category of Fly Tying Materials, Bling Rabbit Strips incorporate solid and holographic colors attached to the hide.

The synthetic material gives rigidity to the strip, reducing the chance that the material will foul when casting. These strips are sure to enhance the look and performance of any saltwater pattern that calls for a zonker strip (think Tarpon Bunny). (hareline.com) $5.90

GUIDE Dr. Slick Hook File In truth, all of us here at TFFM use chemically sharpened hooks.

If we ding a hook point, we throw the fly away and get a fresh one. However, we realize not all anglers are like us and that most probably still use stainless steel hooks (as we all did at one time). If you use stainless steel hooks (or plated carbon steel hooks that are not chemically sharpened) you need to carry a hook file. This option from Dr. Slick is portable and economical. Constructed of stainless steel, it comes in two sizes, 4” and 6”. The 4” model has a medium side (300 grit) and a fine side (600 grit). The 6” model has a heavy side (150 grit) and a medium side (300 grit). (drslick.com) From $11.95

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

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ProLite Electronix Professional LED Light Kit with Magnification Lens The most versatile lighting system we’ve encountered so far. This 220 lumen CREE LED can be used with provided base, clamped to a bench, or mounted right to your vise stem. Accommodates any position because the light and magnifier (2X general/10X spot magnification) are on independent arms offering infinite combinations when tying. Available through numerous retailers. $119

Umpqua DreamStream Plus 7-Piece Tying Tool Kit Despite its freshwater name, this is a quality fly tying tool set with nice machining, etched parts for no-slip grip, great hand feel, and a cool blue color. The set includes, bobbin, bobbin threader, bodkin, whip-finish tool, hackle pliers, hair stacker, and 5” scissors. These tools are built to last a lifetime of tying, and even if they don’t, the entire set is under $80. Everything you need including a carrying case. (umpqua.com) $79.99

Just Add H2O - Fishient Fish Scale Synthetic Wing and Tail Fibers. We particularly like this product because it’s a blend of synthetic fiber with just the right amount of flash. The pearly twisted flash and crimped nylon simulates the scales of baitfish and makes your flies irresistible to the predator. (fishient.com) From $6.50

Nobody Does It Better

888.512.8812

www.tflats.com

reservations@tflats.com

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

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The “North Countrie” to which Dimock refers are his home waters of

Did Dimock and Gordon know of each other? It’s entirely possible.

the Catskills, the birthplace of fly fishing for trout in America. There,

In 1908, when Dimock’s saltwater fly fishing article appeared,

along with fellow anglers, he established the Peekamoose Fishing

Theodore Gordon lived nearby in the Catskills. At that time, Gordon

Club on the Rondout River in 1880. Dimock doubtless spent many a

was writing for magazines such as Forest and Stream, which Dimock

joyful hour in that clubhouse with his friends, sitting by the fireplace, discussing their love of trout. This helps us to understand Dimock’s dedication to freshwater fly fishing: It undoubtedly was an important part of his life. We also should keep in mind that Dimock was a man

was apt to have read. It’s also possible that Gordon would have read

Country Life in America. Gordon spent a great deal of time fishing the Neversink River, which lies just west of Dimock’s home waters on the

Rondout River. Therefore, it’s no great leap to speculate that the two

of his times. Dimock was highly educated. He attended Phillips

were at least aware of each other (though Gordan’s reclusive nature

Academy in Massachusetts and was a graduate of what is now George

diminishes the chance that they ever met).

Washington University. He was accepted as a member of the Stock Exchange before age 21, and within a few years he controlled the

Despite a lack of encouragement, Dimock declares his own

gold market on Wall Street. Dimock was well-read on many subjects,

Independence Day, concluding unequivocally that the notion of

including fly fishing.

restricting fly fishing to fresh water is nothing more than “superstition,” and that saltwater fly fishing is among his unalienable rights. There

Across the Great Pond, Frederick M. Halford, the most well-known

is no turning back. In fact, Dimock tells us he is now a “missionary,”

fly fishing author of the day, was defining the game for the fly anglers

ready to tell the world of the glories of saltwater fly fishing.

of that era—in the most dogmatic terms. In three books—Floating Flies and How to Dress Them (1886), Dry Fly Fishing in Theory and

Unfortunately, Dimock never lived to see the saltwater game take off.

Practice (1889), and The Dry-Fly Man’s Handbook (1913)—Halford

In 1908, he had only ten more years to live, and it would be nearly

staunchly proclaimed that fly fishing was the art of using dry flies cast

three decades after his passing, with the arrival of such anglers as

upstream. Casting downstream or using wet flies or nymphs was not

George Bonbright, George LaBranch, and Joe Brooks, that the game

acceptable sport.

gained even the slightest momentum.

This is not to say Dimock would have found no support for saltwater

Some will blame the lack of adequate tackle. Clearly that played some

fly fishing among his contemporaries. James Henshall, who was

role in hindering the development of saltwater fly fishing. When

perhaps the best-known American angler of his time, shared a good

Dimock snapped his fly rod in Florida, his guide had to repair it

bit in common with Dimock. Like Dimock, Henshall had fished in

with a hickory hoe handle. It wouldn’t be until the mid-1930s that

Florida, and he had taken tarpon on a fly several years prior to Dimock.

decent bamboo rods became widely available, with companies such as

(Henshall recorded his adventures in his book Camping and Cruising Montague, Leonard, and Payne offering models intended for salmon ilbufreshwater p erew srehtbass o dnathat maecould rtS & dbe leiFpressed .retteb into elttil service did senizinagthe aM salt. ylF ?in troFlorida, ps eht fopublished trap etamiin tig1884.) el a sa rClearly, etaw tlasthese tpeccatwo uoywriters, naC .80 91 they gnihsand had

os samet, edi dwould na smohave tsucswapped htiw decsome al ylhctall ir ,tales. tsap eht ni depeets si gnihsfi syawla sah gnihsfi yfl yhw sihT .elbib emoceb evah yeht detoor ylpeed

eb dlTen uow years ti tey later, ,s03’ eEdward ht sa kcvom ab rafHofe sa elc&itrCompany a retawtlasadvertised lanoisaccoa especial ht sti d“De ah gnLuxe” ihsfi yfl Tarpon retawtlasFly erofRod eb htto aedcelebrate s’kcomiDBonbright’s retfa sraey 57136-pound ylraen

fo tnsilver emecnking avdacaught eht gniin yal1933. ed rotcBut af lathe citirfirst c a scommercial aw tahT .enfly izagrod am designed nwo gniveApart ileb nfrom o tsisHenshall, ni ohw srelDimock gna ,stsimight rup fo have erahsfound sti nahatfew erom denw aps other members

evitaspecifically vonni dna stfor cafsalt hserwater f tuo wouldn’t nrut senizarrive agam until ,skoonearly b ekilnthe U .tend ropof s eWorld ht htapwould eurt enhave o ylnoffered o sah trencouragement— ops eht taht of the fly fishing community .who hcaeII, r ywhen llacipyOrvis t slacbuilt idoiresaltwater p dna ,sifly sabrods ylhtnatomthea urging no gnikofniRhode ht one of whom might have been Theodore Gordon. How is that raf aWar

a si rpossible? etaw tlaS .After tser oall, t tuisn’t p ogGordon a gnol ,sconsidered u dniheb sithe noifather tseuq tofahdry t ,yfly adofishing T

gnirein ffoAmerica? ,emag gnAnd ihsfi ywasn’t fl eht fhe o trfriends ap gnitawith nicsaHalford, f dna dethaving cepser exchanged ylhgih

Island angler Harold Gibbs.

.pihsredaer retaerg

retilscarcity dna elkof catsaltwater ni yaled fly ehfishing t ,revewliterature oh ,esle gwas nihtalso yna anproblem. aht eroM The ot evletters ila erewwith kcohim miDover fI .trthe opsyears? suodnThe emeranswer t dlrowtoehboth t dnuquestions ora srelgnis a yes. erutaThe

iht-dbook rawroon f fothe gnsubject igru ehtdidn’t etipsearrive D .dnauntil med Joe fo kBrooks’ cal ot eu1950 d saw Salt eht nHowever, ettog yllanitfi would sah retbe aw wrong tlas tahto t dpigeonhole uorp ,citatscGordon e eb dluas owstrictly eh ,ti eaestrout gniknfirst aps gniFly hsfi Fishing. yfl retaw Ittlasold s fo afew edi ecopies ht ,skoand orB never dna kcwent omiDinto ekil anesecond m ,elkcangler. at lufredInnotruth, w ruoGordon enimaxewas ot tangeneralist aw dluow eatHheart, .sevrewilling sed ti ntooichuck tnetta a fly dekrWater ram srelgFor na fothe nofirst itagesuccessful rgnoc tnatssaltwater ni on ,hsutitle r dlowe g ewould taidemwait mi onmore raeh at dnanything a ,slacidothat irepswam, dna skincluding oob ruo dabluegills, er ,seifl rpickerel, uo ees ,sdperch, or ruoand tsacpike. gnihcprinting. aert20 s deyears yats for srelLefty gna yKreh’s fl ,snoitFly pecFishing xe wef hintiSalt w ,dWater. aetsnI .drawaes repsiGordon hw dna had dnuoeven ra kocreated ol thgim kcomiD fly ,osheneused ve ,tefor y dstriped nA .selbass, at ruoso he edismthan a streamer

ylekiwouldn’t l era erehhave T :rbeen evo edismayed b ton yambynDimock’s oissim sihcall sutogthe nillecoast. t ,edisa na nwo rieht etarbelec ot tey evah ohw su gnoma gniklaw llits srelgna

.tuort devoleb rieht htiw

.yaD ecnednepednI

ot tlucfifid taht ton si tsaoc eht ot llac eht deeh ot ecnatculer sihT fo yradnauq s’kcomiD ot kcab ,elcric lluf su sgnirb ti dnA .dnatsrednu

26

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

nI .elbissop yleritne s’tI ?rehto hcae fo wonk nodroG dna kcomiD diD

fo sretaw emoh sih era srefer kcomiD hcihw ot ”eirtnuoC htroN“ ehT

erodoehT ,deraeppa elcitra gnihsfi yfl retawtlas s’kcomiD nehw ,8091

,erehT .aciremA ni tuort rof gnihsfi yfl fo ecalphtrib eht ,sllikstaC eht

gnitirw saw nodroG ,emit taht tA .sllikstaC eht ni ybraen devil nodroG

gnihsiF esoomakeeP eht dehsilbatse eh ,srelgna wollef htiw gnola

evah ot tpa saw kcomiD hcihw ,maertS dna tseroF sa hcus senizagam rof

a ynam tneps sseltbuod kcomiD .0881 ni reviR tuodnoR eht no bulC

ni efiL yrtnuoC daer evah dluow nodroG taht elbissop osla s’tI .daer

,ecalperfi eht yb gnittis ,sdneirf sih htiw esuohbulc taht ni ruoh lufyoj

,reviR knisreveN eht gnihsfi emit fo laed taerg a tneps nodroG .aciremA

s’kcomiD dnatsrednu ot su spleh sihT .tuort fo evol rieht gnissucsid

.reviR tuodnoR eht no sretaw emoh s’kcomiD fo tsew tsuj seil hcihw

tnatropmi na saw yldetbuodnu tI :gnihsfi yfl retawhserf ot noitacided

erawa tsael ta erew owt eht taht etaluceps ot pael taerg on s’ti ,eroferehT

fo nam a saw kcomiD taht dnim ni peek dluohs osla eW .efil sih fo trap

ecnahc eht sehsinimid erutan evisulcer s’nadroG hguoht( rehto hcae fo

ymedacA spillihP dednetta eH .detacude ylhgih saw kcomiD .semit sih

.)tem reve yeht taht

notgnihsaW egroeG won si tahw fo etaudarg a saw dna sttesuhcassaM ni

nwo sih seralced kcomiD ,tnemegaruocne fo kcal a etipseD

llaW no tekram dlog eht dellortnoc eh sraey wef a nihtiw dna ,12 ega

fo noiton eht taht yllacoviuqenu gnidulcnoc ,yaD ecnednepednI

.gnihsfi yfl gnidulcni ,stcejbus ynam no daer-llew saw kcomiD .teertS

erofeb egnahcxE kcotS eht fo rebmem a sa detpecca saw eH .ytisrevinU

”,noititsrepus“ naht erom gnihton si retaw hserf ot gnihsfi yfl gnitcirtser on si erehT .sthgir elbaneilanu sih gnoma si gnihsfi yfl retawtlas taht dna

nwonk-llew tsom eht ,droflaH .M kcirederF ,dnoP taerG eht ssorcA

ot ydaer ”,yranoissim“ a won si eh su sllet kcomiD ,tcaf nI .kcab gninrut

srelgna yfl eht rof emag eht gninfied saw ,yad eht fo rohtua gnihsfi yfl

.gnihsfi yfl retawtlas fo seirolg eht fo dlrow eht llet

gnitaolF—skoob eerht nI .smret citamgod tsom eht ni—are taht fo dna yroehT ni gnihsiF ylF yrD ,)6881( mehT sserD ot woH dna seilF

nI .ffo ekat emag retawtlas eht ees ot devil reven kcomiD ,yletanutrofnU

droflaH—)3191( koobdnaH s’naM ylF-yrD ehT dna ,)9881( ecitcarP

eerht ylraen eb dluow ti dna ,evil ot sraey erom net ylno dah eh ,8091

tsac seifl yrd gnisu fo tra eht saw gnihsfi yfl taht demialcorp ylhcnuats

egroeG sa srelgna hcus fo lavirra eht htiw ,gnissap sih retfa sedaced

ton saw shpmyn ro seifl tew gnisu ro maertsnwod gnitsaC .maertspu

deniag emag eht taht ,skoorB eoJ dna ,hcnarBaL egroeG ,thgirbnoB

.trops elbatpecca

.mutnemom tsethgils eht neve yfl retawtlas rof troppus on dnuof evah dluow kcomiD yas ot ton si sihT deyalp taht ylraelC .elkcat etauqeda fo kcal eht emalb lliw emoS

eht spahrep saw ohw ,llahsneH semaJ .seiraropmetnoc sih gnoma gnihsfi

.gnihsfi yfl retawtlas fo tnempoleved eht gnirednih ni elor emos

nommoc ni tib doog a derahs ,emit sih fo relgna naciremA nwonk-tseb

riaper ot dah ediug sih ,adirolF ni dor yfl sih deppans kcomiD nehW

dah eh dna ,adirolF ni dehsfi dah llahsneH ,kcomiD ekiL .kcomiD htiw

taht s0391-dim eht litnu eb t’ndluow tI .eldnah eoh yrokcih a htiw ti

dedrocer llahsneH( .kcomiD ot roirp sraey lareves yfl a no noprat nekat

sa hcus seinapmoc htiw ,elbaliava ylediw emaceb sdor oobmab tneced

dehsilbup ,adirolF ni gnisiurC dna gnipmaC koob sih ni serutnevda sih

nomlas rof dednetni sledom gnireffo enyaP dna ,dranoeL ,eugatnoM

deppaws evah dluow ,tem yeht dah ,sretirw owt eseht ,ylraelC ).4881 ni

nMagazines eT .tlas ehtdid ni little ecivrbetter. es otni Field desse& rpStream eb dluoand c taothers ht ssabwere retaw hserf dna publishing ethe D“ occasional laiceps a dsaltwater esitrevda article ynapmas oCfar&back efoHasmthe ov ’30s, drawdyet E it ,rewould tal srabe ey

]?teeminrethe ve lpast, lahsnrichly eH dnlaced a kcom iD dcustoms iD[ .selaand t llatideas emos Fly fishing is steeped with

s’nearly thgirbn75 oByears etarbafter elec Dimock’s ot doR ylFdeath noprbefore aT ]gnsaltwater illeps sihtflykcfishing ehc[ ”ehad xul dits or yown fl laimagazine. cremmoc tThat srfi ehwas t tuaBcritical .3391 factor ni thgudelaying ac gnik rthe evliadvancement s dnuop-631 dof ne ethe ht ysport. lraen liUnlike tnu evirrbooks, a t’ndlumagazines ow retaw tlaturn s rof out yllacfifresh icepsfacts dengiand sed foinnovative gnigru ehthinking t ta sdoron yfla rmonthly etawtlasbasis, tliub and sivrO nehw ,II rtypically aW dlroreach W fo periodicals a far greater readership.

.sbbiG dloraH relgna dnalsI edohR

eMore hT .mthan elboranything p a osla saelse, w erhowever, utaretil gnthe ihsfidelay yfl reintaw tlas foand yticliterature racs ehT tackle rewas taWdue tlaSto05lack 91 ’sofkodemand. orB eoJ liDespite tnu evirrathe t’nurging did tcejbofusforward-thinking eht no koob tsrfi .gmen nitnilike rp dDimock noces a and otniBrooks, tnew revthe en idea dna sofeisaltwater poc wef dfly losfishing tI .gnihsparked siF ylF

so deeply rooted they have become bible. This is why fly fishing has salways rebmespawned m rehto wmore ef a dthan nuofits evashare h thgof impurists, kcomiDanglers ,llahsnewho H minsist orf traon pA — t n e m e g a r u o c n e d e r e f f o e v a h d l u o w o h w y t i n u m m o c g n i h s fi y fl e h t fo believing that the sport has only one true path. ?elbissop taht si woH .nodroG erodoehT neeb evah thgim mohw fo eno nToday, i gnihthat sfi yquestion fl yrd foisrebehind htaf ehus, t dlong eredago isnoput c notodrrest. oG tSalt ’nsi water ,lla ris etfaA shighly rettel drespected egnahcxeand gnivfascinating ah ,droflaHpart htiwofsdthe neifly rf efishing h t’nsawgame, dnA ?offering aciremA

,anglers revewoH .sey sithe snoworld itseuqtremendous htob ot rewssport. na ehTIf?sDimock raey eht were revo m ih hto tiw around alive nsee I .rit, elghe na would tuort abe yltecstatic, cirts sa nproud odroG that elohsalt noegwater ip ot has gnorfinally w eb dgotten luow ti

gthe nihattention tyna ta yfl ita kdeserves. cuhc ot gnHe illiwwould ,traehwant ta tsito lareexamine neg a sawour nodwonderful roG ,hturt dtackle, ah nodcast roG our .ekiprods, dna see ,hcreour p ,lflies, erekciread p ,sllour igeubooks lb gnidand ulcnperiodicals, i ,maws taht

retaW tlaS nfly i gnanglers ihsiF ylstayed F s’herstreamside K ytfeL rof seaward. Instead, with few .exceptions,

eand vahhear t’ndlour uowtales. eh osAnd ,ssabyet, depeven irts roso, f deDimock su eh yflmight remaelook rts a around detaerc and neve . t s a o c e h t o t l l a c s ’ k c o m i D y b d e y a m s i d n eeb whisper an aside, telling us his mission may not be over: There are

with their beloved trout.

likely anglers still walking among us who have yet to celebrate their

srno aeyimmediate 02 naht ergold om trush, iaw dlno uowinstant ew eltcongregation it retawtlas lufof sseanglers ccus tsrmarching fi eht roF

own Independence Day. This reluctance to heed the call to the coast is not that difficult to understand. And it brings us full circle, back to Dimock’s quandary of 1908. Can you accept salt water as a legitimate part of the sport?

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

27

HeartlreakerFlats

by Joe Brennan

I T TO O K TH RE E DAYS heading

romance of quaint village life. Rather

west and crossing the Pacific to get

than an alarm clock, the grunting of

here, but after a week we had settled

neighborhood pigs and the barking of

into our routine. We were the only

dogs announced that it was time for

four anglers visiting Fanning Atoll or,

us to rise each morning.

as the locals call it, Tabuaeran. With no electrical grid, no cell phones or internet, it was easy to fall into the

28

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

We were now midway through our

The night before, Mwatanga, head

the gunnel, we joked about being

second week. Our morning routine

guide at Fanning Island Outfitters,

castaways from the S.S. Minnow: It

unfolded as it did most days: shuffling

informed us we would be heading

had been more than 50 years since

of feet, stirring of instant coffee, and

northeast from the lodge to Rapa

Fanning Atoll served as the backdrop

checking to see if there were any

Passage in order to catch the start

for the opening credits of the TV show

of the flood tide. It was only a stone’s

Gilligan’s Island.

scorpions in the outhouse.

throw from the lodge to the homebuilt deep-V wooden skiff. Mounting

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

29

Tabuaeran’s land mass is about 13

Often, certain sections of the

Roughly 50 to 75 yards in width, the

square miles with an inner lagoon

lagoon’s inner flats are obscured by

flat spanned nearly the entire lagoon,

of 42 square miles. We thought we

wave action, discoloring the water

a deep blue pool at either end. On the

had seen every fishable flat when

and rendering them unfishable—but

eastern side, the reef’s inner edge

Mwatanga exclaimed, “We have not

not this day.

crawled about halfway onto the flat,

fished here!”

I looked up from my wooden plank; to

effectively splitting it in half, leaving “Do you want to try this spot?”

reef on one side and silky white

Mwatanga asked matter-of-factly.

sand on the other. As we began our

my untrained eyes it was just another

patrol, it quickly became evident

flat, one of many we would pass on

Jerry and I agree with a resounding

that we would have a 50/50 chance

our daily ventures.

“Yes!” Today, how many people can

that a hooked fish would run in

say they were the first to fish a “In fact, we have never fished here,” said Mwatanga, as the sheen of the morning sun unfolded a finger flat spanning northeast to southwest.

a favorable direction.

particular spot…?

In the time we had fished the island Moments later, Jerry and Abrahaim

we had become accustomed to

were off, walking northeast. Matt

seeing big, healthy fish. The average

and I opted for the southwest. Like

bonefish on Fanning is 4 to 6 pounds,

most flats on the island, this flat was

but Jerry and I had been fortunate to

fringed by coral reef. Unlike most

land a number in the 7- to 9-pound

flats on the island, this flat’s reef was

range. As we walked the line where

only on the eastern edge.

reef met sand, it was only minutes before we spotted our first bonefish.

This was the fish of every angler’s dreams—a true 10-plus-pound monster. Like most bonefish you see on Fanning, it cruised slowly, deliberately, giving you plenty of time to present the fly. So I took my shot,

30

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

and with two strips I was connected

It’s a single, but something’s off—

to my personal best bonefish…. And

the speed of the fish, or the

just like that, the fish opted for the

movement of its tail…. “I think it’s

reef. I don’t have to tell you what

a reef shark,” I say.

happen next. The coral was simply too much for my 20-pound tippet.

“Wait,” Matt says.

Reset and retie. Back on the beat, and

A minute later I’m casting to the

a mere 30 yards farther down the flat

largest bonefish I’ve ever seen—

we’re greeted by another double-digit

maybe 15 pounds. I throw my fly and

bone. I present my fly and the fish

with barely half a strip it smacks off

greedily takes and in an instant heads

the sand and into the fish’s mouth.

east into the coral. Five seconds later I’ve lost my second personal best

This is it, my time to be the hero.

bonefish. While we laughed at the

Visions of celebration and warm beers

first encounter, the look we receive

float before my eyes.

from Mwatanga declares that it’s time to get down to business.

The fish turns west, to silky snagfree sand … runs all of 10 feet before

Staying focused, we continue down

hitting the brakes … turns 180

the line, reef to the east, white silky

degrees and runs directly into a patch

sand to the west. Sure enough, here

of fan-leaf coral … sails clean off into

comes a third fish. We spot it a little

the eastern horizon … my fly line limp

farther out than usual, which will give

in the water….

us more time to get ready.

No one utters a word.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

31

Feeling defeated—but not broken—

I pick up the line and muster every-

We decide to call it quits and walk

we continue our hike, and within a

thing the 12-weight will give me. I

back to the boat. Jerry and Abrahaim

short time we land two back-to-back

present the fly right behind the lead

had beaten us there. In his usual

bonefish in the 7-pound range. For

fish’s tail—but right in front of the

fashion, Jerry asks, “How was it?”

some reason, these very respectable

following fish’s head. I strip line like

fish are not scratching the itch.

crazy and the GT explodes in pursuit,

“Heartbreaking,” I utter.

its head and back pushing water up Suddenly, Matt is frantic. He’s trying

over its dorsum, its mouth agape. I

The sun is overhead. I remove my buff

to separate my two backup rods. He

attempt one more strip and I fumble,

to enjoy a Spam sandwich. I share my

screams, “GT! GT 60 feet!”

leaving the fly motionless in the

story with Jerry, who relates a tale

water—if you didn’t know, a baitfish

of losing two double-digit bones in

I scan the horizon and sure enough,

doesn't just stop fleeing—and the

similar fashion.

here come two packs of GT motoring

fish turns off my fly. I’m too slow to

across the flat. We scramble, pushing

take another shot, and just like that

And that, my friends, is the legend of

toward the fish to try to intercept

another trophy fish is headed east.

Heartbreak Flat—where the big fish

the angle.

roam free.

“That would have been the biggest GT

Matt frees the rod, hands it to me,

I’ve hooked on the flat,” Mwatanga

and we’re off to the races. Stripping

proclaims solemnly.

off line as we slosh through the water, I manage to get off an upwind shot … short.

With the adrenaline dump, my heart is racing. I know I did my best, but there are many things that have to go

“Recast!”

right in this game—and very few that can go wrong.

32

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

BY ALAN CAOLO

ANYONE WHO’S PURSUED BONEFISH IN THE FLORIDA KEYS LONG ENOUGH HAS GREAT STORIES TO TELL OF THESE EXTRAORDINARY FISH, FAMOUS FOR THEIR SIZE AND FOR THE EXTREME CHALLENGE THEY PRESENT. ALL OF THESE ANECDOTES ARE AMAZING, AND AS EXAGGERATED AS SOME MAY SEEM—I WAS SKEPTICAL WHEN I FIRST HEARD THEM, ANYWAY—AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS OF FISHING THERE I’VE COME TO BELIEVE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING I HEAR OF THESE FABLED CREATURES. AS THE LATE BILLY PATE NOTED, “THE BONEFISH HERE ARE BIG, AND THEY ALL HAVE NAMES.” The Keys do have a healthy bone-

fish population; however, there are fewer fish here than in other desti-

Big Keys fish are sometimes found

90 degrees and become too warm

or late in the day when wind, tide,

able time, I reposition by leaving the

tailing in thin water, particularly early

nations, such as the Bahamas or the

and temperature conducive to that

far more preoccupied with size than

cess by far has come while working

soned bonefish anglers do not seek

fishing, the combination of added

in other destinations; instead, they

stronger light in order to see fish at a

gles and doubles (fish commonly in

I’ve spent lots of time stalking these

Toward the end of the morning’s

expectations to perhaps just six or

to perhaps thigh-high, but every so

egressed the water to reposition for

very shallow water commonly as-

to get back to deep water with what

Yucatán. Veteran Keys anglers are

they are with numbers. These sea-

the schools of fish commonly found

carefully stalk large and difficult sindouble-digit territory), calibrating their

behavior prevail, but most of my suc-

depth and darker bottom demand

a rising late-day tide and the sun off

reasonable distance for presentation.

fish in water from above the knee

hard oceanside flats is an admirable

sociated with smaller 2- to 4-pound

Nearly every bonefish I’ve taken in

these hallowed waters has been while

fishing on foot. Pursuing them from a poled skiff, however, is the best and

fish. These fish are ultra-challenging:

They demand your A-game.

I typically wade out to a strategic

position ahead of fishable light. As

one last run down the flat. Hustling little time was left, I wasn’t paying

much attention to the pockmarked

coral bottom that bordered the flat

along the water’s edge when I was

stopped dead in my tracks by a golfball-sized burst of marl that caught

The ensuing adrenaline wave that

to allow encroaching fish to swim

sense—I looked hard, but saw noth-

less (posting-up) for long periods

silently into view. The approach is

similar to what whitetail deer hunters refer to as “still hunting.” A typical

Keys’ day winds down around 1:00 p.m. as shoreline waters approach

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

fishing on a hot day on Ohio Key, I

slowly, frequently remaining motion-

who knows this fascinating archipelawading for them.

the water as sunset approaches.

the corner of my eye.

I intermittently wade down-sun very

go. But despite the challenges, I savor

ond round of activity may unfold with

visibility increases with the rising sun,

most productive approach, especially

when accompanied by a native guide

moves to alternate sites on the flat,

or a rerun of a juicy stretch without

alarming any fish in the area. A sec-

often I stumble upon a big one in

accomplishment.

water, which enables brisk, stealthy

deeper grass flats. As with permit

eight encounters per day. Managing a few fish over a week’s wading the

34

for bonefish activity. To save valu-

flushed through me sharpened every ing more….

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

35

A minute later a second puff ap-

peared—about 10 feet uptide of the

first—but still I could not decipher

a bonefish. The white coral was

dusted with bright marl that filled

the coarsely pockmarked bottom

like confectioner’s sugar, creating

flicked a quick backcast and with a

line from a light drag (I fish bones loose at the start and gradually

tighten down as the fish burns out).

wide-open delivery I gently lobbed

At the end of that run, it shook its

about 10 feet in front of the fish and

ground, much like a spring-run strip-

the tiny crab silently into the water

head some more and simply held its

a foot inside its path.

er. Then—much to my surprise—it

in the blazing midday sun. Not so

The ensuing moments demand firm

me, as if surrendering without a bat-

the surface. I hunched low and

responsive … regardless how many

a numbing reflection off the bottom much as the tip of a tail scratched cautiously moved up the shoreline

to stay abreast of this phantom fish.

mental effort to remain calm and

big bonefish you’ve taken. My heart

pounded as this fish approached.

suddenly turned and swam right to

tle. The bonefish casually circled in

front of me before submitting to my

legs on its side, mouth agape. With-

out removing the fish from the water,

Finally, about 30 feet uptide of the

When it was a foot from where I

I cradled him upside down, wiggled

tion, a vapid ghost materialized as it

coral, I inched the crab with a single

on its way.

speed, the bonefish veered ever so

He lunged 10 feet and then resumed

marl that initially captured my atten-

worked its way like molasses over a

patch of sparse brown grass. It was

a very long bonefish.

sensed my fly had settled on the

delicate nudge. With no change in

the fly loose and set this strange fish

slightly in my direction and paused …

casually feeding. I was bewildered.

Crouched low at the water’s edge, I

that long gray body.

This was a very old bonefish—its

weighted fly to make the most of this

This is a dicey moment with sophis-

tral fins, and reddened belly made

quickly changed to a tiny, pale, un-

opportunity and not spook this fish. I

was fishing a 12-foot straight shot of

10-pound-test fluorocarbon and an 8-weight floating line.

Catlike, I continued up the shoreline, keeping my profile below the mixed-

up vegetation immediately behind

but not so much as a tap or twitch of

ticated bonefish and it was now my

move. Rather than risking a brisk

strip strike that would surely send

this fish to Cuba if it hadn’t eaten, I

opted for a slow, careful draw … and we were tight.

Hooking up with powerful fish at such

shrunken lower tail lobe, worn venthat clear. But even old bonefish are

capable of fireworks when hooked.

Its behavior was baffling—almost

as though this wizened fish knew

the routine, perhaps having been hooked, landed, and released

many times during its tenure on that

oceanside flat. Though this hefty

me, and I gingerly reentered the wa-

short range often ends with a broken

my focus riveted on this barely visi-

le has little inherent stretch. A bone-

ever encountered … a fascinating

too quickly for human reflex; anglers

an ancient species.

coral to get my shot—it was nasty.

ence of mind to ensure quick, soft

Bio: Rhode Island writer and pho-

Head-on distances can be difficult

make it to the reel. I was prepared for

of two books on saltwater fly fishing

ter well ahead of the big bone. With

ble fish, I dropped to my knees about

20 feet off the beach and maneu-

vered from that position over jagged

tippet the instant it begins, as fly tack-

fish’s explosive response ignites far must anticipate and maintain preshands prevail that allow the fish to

bone never showed me my backing,

it’s one of the most intriguing fish I’ve interlude with a very old specimen of

tographer Alan Caolo is the author

to judge from such a low position.

a Category 5 response from this fish.

and has published in many of the

ing shot that allowed me a better

The bonefish’s reaction was imme-

erman and American Angler. We’re

tioned in the intense shimmer and

followed by a short, tempered run

pages of TFFM. You can visit Alan’s

Instead, I waited for a close crossfeel for where my fly was posi-

gave me my best view of the fish’s

response to my presentation. When the fish closed to within three rod

36

lengths, I rolled out with a choked-

up hold of the rod ahead of the grip,

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

diately strange—a few headshakes that got it onto the reel … then a few

more minor-league shakes. A second modest run drew just 40 feet of fly

major magazines, including Fly Fishhonored to welcome him to the

website at alancaolo.com.

THE WORLD’S FINEST

SHALLOW WATER SKIFFS

TOURISM IS NOT NEW to the Hilton

media outlet on Earth. And rightfully

high on your list of priorities! Telling

Head area. Visitors have been flocking

so. It’s an amazing spectacle and a

your significant other that you want

to our beaches, restaurants, and golf

fishery that should be on everyone’s

to leave her—or him—with the kids

courses for decades. However, one

bucket list. And now that it’s on

for a week to spend thousands of

can’t help but notice how hip and

your bucket list, let me explain how

dollars scratching a personal itch is

trendy our corner of the Lowcountry

it’ll probably be the easiest entry to

a shaky conversation. Talking to your

has become lately. Hell, Justin Beiber

scratch off.

significant other about taking the

got married in Bluffton a few months ago, so you know “we fancy.”

family on a beach vacation, on the In case you didn’t see the movie of

other hand, is much more positive.

the same name, a bucket list is a list Along with the growing popularity of

of indulgences that you would like

Let’s not get bogged down in the

the Lowcountry in general, our fishery

to engage in before you die. These

details of how to sell the trip to

has been gaining more exposure as

items are typically spoken about and

your significant other. You’ll know

well. Photos of vibrant redfish tails

dreamed about, but they’re rarely

best how to pitch it. This is a world-

amongst a backdrop of spartina grass

acted upon due to their low rank

class vacation destination that has

have made their way into every fly

on your list of priorities. However,

something for everyone, so it should

fishing magazine, blog, and social

family vacations generally rank very

be an easy sell.

the low 38

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

I do, however, want to talk about

Tide is everything. Redfish tailing

How lunar cycles impact tide

scheduling your fishing trip—er, I

on flood-tide flats is not something

fluctuation is generally consistent

mean family vacation. When you

that’s available every day. Quite to the

throughout the Lowcountry, but

come can greatly affect the fishing. I

contrary, it’s an anomaly, happening

how they’ll affect a specific flat is

realize that sometimes you can only

only a few dozen days per year during

far more individual and is based on

go when you can get the time—work

the warmer months. Fortunately,

the flat’s elevation above sea level.

schedules, school schedules, etc. Four

flood tides are very predictable, based

Different flats will be at different

randomly picked hours to try to make

on lunar cycles, with only a degree of

elevations, so knowing what stage

it happen for the client is often all we

deviation in long-range predictions.

of the tide a particular flat will be

get as guides, and we can appreciate

I make my fishing plans according

ideally flooded to hunt redfish is the

your struggle between family time

to the lunar cycle and then adjust

result of local knowledge—that is,

and personal time. I’ve run last-

according to the actual tide levels as

trial and error—and is something

minute trips on off tides and had

the date approaches.

that cannot be Googled.

great results many times, but having a little flexibility in your schedule can really set you up for a much greater chance of success.

country

by Josh Boyles photos by Paul King

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

39

Below I’ve shared with you my list of flood-tide dates for 2020, which I’ve compiled to help clients schedule their trips—that is, their family vacations.

Potential Flood Tides for Hilton Head / Bluffton 2020 May: 4th (p.m.), 5th (p.m.), 6th (a.m.), 7th (a.m.)

June: 2nd (p.m.), 3rd (p.m.), 4th (p.m.), 20th (p.m.), 30th (p.m.)

July: 1st ( p.m.), 2nd (p.m.), 3rd (p.m.), 4th (p.m.), 18th (p.m.), 19th (p.m.), 29th( p.m.), 30th (p.m.), 31st (p.m.)

August: 1st (p.m.), 2nd (p.m.), 16th (p.m.), 17th (p.m.), 18th (p.m.), 20th (a.m.), 21st (a.m.), 27th (p.m.), 28th (p.m.), 29th (p.m.), 30th (p.m.), 31st (p.m.)

September: 13th (p.m.), 14th (p.m.), 15th (p.m.), 16th (a.m. and p.m.), 17th (a.m.), 18th (a.m.), 19th (a.m.), 20th (a.m.), 21st (p.m.), 22nd (p.m.), 23rd (p.m.), 24th (p.m.)

October: 12th (p.m.), 13th( pm), 14th (a.m. and p.m.), 15th (a.m.), 16th (a.m.), 17 (a.m.), 18th (a.m.), 19th (a.m.), 20th (a.m.), 21st (p.m.), 22nd (p.m.)

Now that you have some potential dates for your family vacation, I suggest you check availability. There are a number of good guides in the area, but prime dates book quickly. so don’t wait too long.

40

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

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41

42

Be realistic in your expectations. I

be able to fish the flat that we want

Bio: Josh Boyles was born and

always suggest booking as much time

to fish due to the wind, but with all

raised in the Lowcountry. When

as you can (but this is subject to your

of our barrier islands we can always

he’s not guiding around the Hilton

financial and marital considerations).

find a leeward side. Also, overcast

Head/Bluffton area, he’s hosting

A single half-day trip may not be

conditions don’t really matter when

destination trips throughout the

enough time for you to experience

tails are sticking out of the water.

Caribbean. You can contact Josh

success. The good thing about fishing

So if all you have is one morning or

through Southern Drawl Outfitters

for tailing redfish in the Lowcountry

one afternoon to sneak out, do it and

(southerndrawloutfitters.com)

is that cloudy, windy conditions don’t

have fun. At the very least, you’ll get

kill your chances as they would in

to spend some time on the water in

some other fisheries. We might not

an amazingly beautiful place.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

WINTER COCKTAILS

by TFFM Staff

44

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

BULLETPROOF HOT BUTTERED RUM The traditional Hot Buttered Rum

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

our editor-in-chief is a doctor, his

8 tbsp (4 oz) of Bulletproof Ghee

In a mixing bowl, combine the ghee,

version is ostensibly healthier. He

4 tbsp (2 oz) of Bulletproof

Brain Octane Oil, vanilla extract, sugar

is cocktail comfort food. Since

incorporates ghee, a clarified butter from grass-fed cows, and Brain Octane

Brain Octane Oil ½ cup light brown sugar

(or substitute), spices, and salt. Beat until well-combined. In a heatproof

Oil (medium-chain triglycerides)

(or sugar-free substitute

glass or mug, combine aged rum with

from a company called Bulletproof.

such as Sukrin Gold)

1 oz (2 tbsp) spiced butter mixture.

This recipe takes advantage of the

1 tsp vanilla extract

Place remaining mixture in an airtight

goodness of omega 3 fatty acids,

1 tsp ground cinnamon

container and store in the refrigerator

making it paleo- and keto-friendly

1 tsp ground cloves

for future use. Top the rum and

when made with straight spirits and a

1 tsp ground nutmeg

butter with hot water and stir until

brown sugar alternative). You can also

1 tsp ground allspice

the ingredients are well-mixed.

make it with your favorite cordial.

dash of salt

Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

3 oz dark or aged rum 6 oz hot water Cinnamon sticks, for garnish TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

45

HOT TODDY If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.The Hot

MULLED WINE I NGREDIENTS:

Toddy is a cocktail of mystery and intrigue. It’s a classic drink, still a standard among warm cocktails,

dating back to the second century 1½ ounces brown liquor such as

BC in Rome. And it couldn’t be easier

brandy, whiskey, or rum

to make. Simply combine a bottle of

but what’s actually in it…? The basic

1 tbsp honey

red wine with the other ingredients

recipe is pretty flexible, allowing

½ oz fresh lemon juice

and let it simmer for ten minutes.

for whatever brown spirit the

1 cup hot water

Nothing more to it. Drier varietals like

bartender has on hand. Even though

lemon wedge, cinnamon stick,

zinfendel, merlot, malbec, or cabrenet

our editor-in-chief is a doctor, we

and star anise, for garnish

can’t attest to, or deny, the possible medicinal benefits of honey and anise. a wonderful winter warmer.

to dominate. The brandy is optional, but if you choose one, go with a dark

Combine the brown liquor of choice,

berry brandy or something that will

honey, lemon juice, and water into a

blend with the other ingredients.

warmed mug. Garnish with the lemon, cinnamon stick, or star anise.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

seem to work best, but any wine will work as the other ingredients tend

DIRECTIONS:

Regardless, here’s a simple version for

46

Mulled wine is a timeless concoction

PENICILLIN INGREDIENTS:

It may not have the healing

INGREDIENTS:

properties of the antibiotic it's named 1 bottle red wine (750 mL)

for, but the Penicillin Cocktail is a

2 oz blended scotch

1 large orange, sliced into wheels

sure cure for a chilly winter night.

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

Created by New York bartender Sam

1 oz honey-ginger simple syrup

6 cloves (whole)

Ross, the Penicillin Cocktail uses the

¼ oz single malt scotch

3 cinnamon sticks

soothing flavors of honey, lemon

(save some for garnish)

3 star anise

juice, and fresh ginger, and fortifies

1/4 cup honey

them with a healthy dose of blended

1/2 cup brandy (optional)

scotch. It’s then topped off with a

Shake the blended scotch, lemon

thin pour of single malt, which gives

juice, and syrups with ice and strain

the drink a fragrance as alluring as

into a double old fashioned glass with

any woodsmoke-laced winter breeze.

a single large ice cube. Pour single

In a medium saucepan over medium

Others have made it with tequila, gin,

malt over the back of a bar spoon so

heat, combine the ingredients. Bring

and rum, all with good results, but the

that it floats atop the drink and finish

it to a simmer but do not allow it

scotch-based version is the genuine

with a lemon wheel.

to boil (if you do, you’ll burn off

article. If you don’t want to track

alcohol). Reduce the heat and simmer

down honey-ginger simple syrup for

gently for 10 minutes. Serve warm

just a few drinks, you might be better

and garnish with citrus slices and/or

served by muddling a few slices of

cinnamon sticks.

fresh ginger in the drink. The honey

DIRECTIONS:

DIRECTIONS:

syrup is a 50/50 mixture of hot water and honey. Allow it to cool before using.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

47

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Nautilus® NV-G 10 /11 Monster

While traveling, few things inspire

We’re the So Fly crew, a team of fly

We called the guide we’d be meeting

more panic than sitting at the lug-

fishing podcasters and content

to break the news to him. Although

gage carousel watching bags pass,

creators. We made our way from To-

we’d be going it alone for most of

none of them yours. The feeling is

ronto to the Yucatán to fish the Sian

the week, we were lucky enough to

much worse when said bag contains

Ka’an. This is our most exotic trip to

come into contact with Rhett Schober

every rod and reel needed for a week-

date and our first as a team to the

(mexicoflyfishing.com), who was going

long fishing trip abroad. Jealousy and

tropics—one we accomplished mostly

to take us out on our first day of fish-

rage set in as you watch others grab

DIY. Mostly DIY. If we hadn’t immedi-

ing. Rhett was a contributing author

their belongings and start their sure-

ately lost our rod bag upon arrival, it

to Rod Hamilton’s book Fly

to-be-awesome adventure. This would

would have been totally DIY.

Fishing the Yucatán, and he’s been

be the beginning of ours.

50

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

BONEFISH BONANZA IN THE YUCATÁN

by Mitch Duesling & Aldo Pescatore-Tardioli

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

51

exploring, living in, and fishing the

tomorrow. We hopped in the car and

Yucatán since the 1980s. We had been

headed out to meet him in the park-

corresponding for months and were

ing lot at the Chedraui, which can be

eager to meet and fish with Rhett, so

best described as a Mexican Walmart.

this wrench had us concerned we may miss our chance.

There are so many reasons to love fly fishing and travel. One of our favorite

“Oh, hey man, you’re not the first

things is getting the opportunity to

and definitely won’t be the last. Don’t

meet new people and personalities.

worry, I’ve got rods and reels—we’re

We pulled up beside Rhett’s SUV and

still on, brother!”

saw an already-grinning man, eager to meet. What a great first impression.

THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS TO

Instantly, Rhett put our anxiety to

Rhett is a larger-than-life personality.

LOVE FLY FISHING AND TRAVEL.

rest, and the stoke levels began to

He met us with open arms, smiles,

rise. The airport beers also helped. We

laughs, and love. We immediately felt

GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY

left the Cancun airport to go pick up

comfortable and excited to be spend-

TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

our rental car. Anyone hoping to fish

ing time with the man on his water.

AND PERSONALITIES.

the Yucatán, especially if you’re a Ca-

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS IS

nadian, will most likely be flying into

“You call that a cooler? How many

Cancun. Our base camp, so to speak,

beers do you expect to fit in that little

was to be Tulum, which is an easy

thing?” said Rhett.

enough drive south along the coast.

We had been instructed to fly down A wall of humidity and heat met us as

with a soft-sided cooler, an essential

we picked up the car. October is the

piece of equipment we’d later find out.

rainy season, but as rain usually goes

Obviously, ours didn’t quite meet the

in the tropics, it lasts for a very short

standard, but guides are usually a pre-

time and gives way to brilliant sunshine.

pared bunch, and he said not to worry

We made the roughly two-hour drive to

because he had two sizable coolers

our Airbnb (casaflamingotulum.com),

perfect for sandwiches and cervezas.

a wicked three-bedroom oasis in town

We made a plan to meet early the

with a massive pool and ample fridge

following morning and make the drive

space for the Tecate. We decided to

into the Sian Ka’an.

stay in the more bohemian vacation town of Tulum because of its proximity

The Sian Ka’an is a biosphere reserve

to the fishing as well as its amenities

located roughly 30 kilometers (18

like grocery stores, banks, wicked taque-

miles) south of Tulum. Founded in

rias, and a little bit of nightlife.

1986, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site the following year. It

52

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

So things were looking better. The

is located on the east coast of the

place was amazing, the beers were

Yucatán peninsula and spans roughly

cold, the sun was shining, and al-

2,800 square kilometers (about 1,100

though we didn’t have our own rods

square miles). In it you can find fresh-

and reels, we did have all of our ter-

water cenotes (natural swimming

minal tackle, flies, clothing, and boots.

holes), lagoons, wildlife, expansive

We were just getting settled when we

flats, beaches, and fish. Most famous-

got a message from Rhett. He was in

ly for fly anglers, the town of Punta

town and wanted to make a plan for

Allen is located in the Sian Ka’an. This

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

53

is where some of the more notable

right. Although bonefish, and the oc-

be patrolling the beach, walking the

lodges, like Pesca Maya, are based.

casional permit, are found on the flats,

coastline and spotting fish that were

Although some of those lodges offer

we’d be focused on fishing the beach at

coming in to feed on baitfish. High

daily guided boat outings, we were

the river mouth and oceanside cut to

sun makes spotting easier, so in the

sticking to our plan of discovering the

the left of the main road.

Sian Ka’an on foot with Rhett’s help.

morning it can be more effective to target the larger jack crevalle.

We parked on the bridge that We’d be meeting Rhett and fishing

spanned the river to get a sense of

The unique aspect of fishing Boca Paila,

the beachside cut at Boca Paila in the

our surroundings and look down into

as Rhett explained, is the opportunity

Sian Ka’an. Rhett had us prepare to

the water for the first time. Our eyes

to fish for cruising jacks. The current

encounter bonefish, beach-cruising

were promptly greeted by a 12-foot

from the river spilling into the ocean

snook, and his favorite target, the

crocodile basking in the sun.

has created a cut in the sand between

large jack crevalle that come in at high tide to smash baitfish. Although it was possible to encounter species

the beach and a large but shallow “Oh, that’s the little guy,” said Rhett with a grin.

like permit and barracuda, we’d likely

sandbar roughly 9 to 12 meters (30 to 40 feet) out from the beach. To fish it effectively, you wade out past the

be focused on the jack, snook, and

Sure enough, just at that moment, a

cut and onto the sandbar. From here,

bonefish. To be set up for success—

much larger croc swam by. Although

waves roll over the sandbar and create

yet nimble—the ideal outfits were an

moderately terrified, we couldn’t help

a surf break. Those waves are what the

8-weight for bonefish and a 10-weight

but think that if you told us years ago

jacks ride like surfers over the shallows

for snook and jack.

We awoke at 5 a.m. to chirping birds,

we’d be fly fishing the salt in Mexico

and into the river mouth to destroy

and observing wild crocodiles, we’d

any snack that gets in front of them.

have called you crazy.

What makes things more exciting is

rain-soaked palms, and heat. We

that you can target the surfing jacks

made sure to ice up the coolers at the

The bridge is a good place to see

with large poppers. The whole thing

gas station on our way. The road to

wildlife, but we also spotted cruising

is a very visual experience. All this is

the Sian Ka’an meanders through the

bonefish. Never having seen, let

being explained to us at seven a.m. as

main hotel drag in Tulum. For those

alone caught a bonefish, thoughts

the sun rises over Boca Paila on our

looking to shave more time off the

quickly changed from croc paranoia

first day, over what Rhett refers to as

commute to the Sian Ka’an, picking

to landing fish.

a “adult breakfast beverage.”

of staying right in Tulum may be a

It was a short walk through the man-

Our conversation was cut short as we started to see nervous water, baitfish

up a beachside hotel or hostel instead more convenient, albeit pricier, option.

groves along a worn path to the mouth

We passed the “Jurassic Park”-style

of the river where it opened onto the

breaking the surface, and bonefish tails

gate to the Sian Ka’an and paid the

beach. We came out from the man-

not 5 meters (15 feet) from where we

entry fee and were off down the

groves and made our way to the beach

stood at the edge of the beach. Rods

palm-lined dirt road headed south to

to set up our base camp for the day.

were rigged, knots were tied, and we

Boca Paila.

Although not entirely necessary, it’s

took our first steps into the ocean.

recommended to have a shady spot to

After walking through the mangroves,

Boca Paila is essentially a lagoon con-

take breaks from the sun and heat. It’s

wading out into the water, with the

nected to the ocean by a river system.

an enjoyable day, but you do walk a lot,

warm salt-stained wind blowing in

Fresh water is driven from the cenotes

so have a spot to chill out. We put our

our faces, we were met with an

toward the coast and eventually meets

coolers down as Rhett explained how

immersive fishing experience that’s

the salt water to form brackish lagoons

the fishing would go.

impossible to forget.

Boca Paila narrow into a river system

There are two ways to approach

The light was at an angle where we

that pushes water toward the ocean. As

fishing the beach at Boca Paila. For

couldn’t exactly spot fish, especially

we drive in, we can see the flats to our

the snook and larger bonefish we’d

with rookie saltwater eyes, but we

and mangrove-lined flats. The flats at

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55

56

did see shadows in the water close to

As the sun climbed, we saw that we

By the end of the day we had landed

shore. Rhett instructed us to get our

weren’t casting to a few random

somewhere north of 30 bonefish, all

lines going. Yilma, one of the So Fly

bonefish but rather a sizeable school

in the 1- to 4-pound range, and all

podcast hosts, took the first cast at

that moved in to crash baitfish be-

within about 10 meters (30 feet) of

the edge of the nervous water and—

ing forced out by the current. They

our cooler. To say this was “one of

boom!—was into a bonefish. Moments

pushed in, fed, and pushed out in a

those days” is an understatement.

later, my fly hit the water and was

methodical circular pattern. We deci-

We laughed like kids, we chatted with

massacred by my very first bonefish.

phered the school’s feeding pattern

Rhett and learned more about his life,

Within moments, these two Cana-

and made casts every time the school

we landed fish, and I almost—almost—

dians hooked and landed a species

moved into the river mouth. This

completely forget about our luggage.

they’ve spent years dreaming about.

happened at 20-minute intervals.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

BY THE END OF THE DAY WE HAD LANDED SOMEWHERE NORTH OF 30 BONEFISH

We ended our day and walked back through the mangroves to the cars

forward to the week ahead in the

and decide to celebrate over tacos. As

southern Yucatán.

we drove back to Tulum, we received word that our luggage had arrived—it had been held up in Toronto by Cus-

To learn more about So Fly’s

toms—and all was well. But our trou-

trip to the Sian Ka’an and

bles, preoccupied minds, and anxiety @thesoflycrew

company, we laughed and looked

Boca Paila head to:

had melted away long before that.

www.sofly.ca/podcasts for a full

Surrounded by good food and great

podcast recap of their trip.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

57

Text: Kelli Prescott Photos: Kelli Prescott & Juan A. Garcia

ON THE PLATE:

A CELEBRATION OF MEXICO A Highlight of Cuchara + My Very Own Smoked Pork Pozole

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

IN INNER-CITY HOUSTON, MUCH AUTHENTICITY IS LOST. MANY MEXICAN RESTAURANTS HAVE TAKEN FUSION INTO THE EQUATION AND CURATED MENUS FROM ACCLAIMED CHEFS, FOCUSING ON WAYS TO ELEVATE AND INSPIRE A CUISINE THAT IS ALREADY FULL OF RICH FLAVOR AND HISTORY. IN THE CULINARY MECCA THAT IS HOUSTON, WHERE DOES ONE GO TO FIND SOMETHING THAT IS SIMPLY AUTHENTIC?

Many fly anglers have become

Mexico might be a top fly fishing

East Houston, my quiet little

accustom to Mexico’s year-round

destination, but it offers much more

neighborhood has forever been

welcoming vibes and the simplicity

to savor than hours on the casting

home to a predominantly Mexican

of its people and cuisine. Utilizing

deck. It is the culture, the way of life,

community. Like much of less-

what’s abundant and inexpensive,

and the vivid flavors that keep many

developed Houston, its corners

Mexican cuisine develops its flavor

of us coming back time and again.

are studded with panaderias,

from time, plentiful crops native to

michoacanas, refresquerias, and

the area, and generations of passed-

In my quest to understand Mexican

down recipes and techniques that

cuisine, I began first in my small

only abuelas know so well.

hometown. On the outskirts of

authentic taquerias.

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My first encounter with true Mexican

Houston, where does one go to find

cuisine was only two blocks from

something that is simply authentic?

home, in a corner breakfast and lunch joint: 900 square feet of dining space,

The only answer is Cuchara

a flat top for handmade tortillas,

(cuchararestaurant.com). Located at

and a steam table. There was no air

the corner of Fairview and Taft, in

conditioning, yet a line perpetually

the heart of Houston, Cuchara was

wrapped around the building, even

developed by Charlie McDaniel and

in the heat of summer. There was no

Ana Beaven. Its doors opened on the

trace of melty American cheese, no

anniversary of Mexican Independence

chili-gravy-covered enchiladas—only

Day, September 15, 2012. At first

queso fresco, beans cooked fresh

glance, Cuchara appears to be a no-

each day, and grandmothers behind

frills establishment. Its large patio

the scenes, using weathered hands

is inviting and opens up to a modern

to transform simple ingredients into

aesthetic juxtaposed with jolts of

unbelievable flavors.

color and texture that reference the menu’s Mexico City origins.

I vividly remember my first plate of

Upon crossing its threshold, you’re

huevos rancheros there. Delicately

transported to a celebration featuring

steamed eggs covered in a simple

old-world music and a staff who

tomato and jalapeño salsa, paired

welcomes you in Spanish.

with the creamiest refried beans and side of chilaquiles verde … all topped

Ana and Charlie first crossed paths as

generously with shredded queso fresco

neighbors. Charlie was retired then,

and crema. It was unlike any Tex-Mex,

his days spent golfing and fly fishing.

and unlike anything I had ever had

In getting to know Charlie, Ana spoke

before. I didn’t know it then, but that

of her love for her home country of

breakfast plate would change the way

Mexico, and she confided her dream

I perceived and cooked Mexican food

of opening an authentic Mexican

from there on out.

restaurant, which Houston was so dearly lacking.

CUCHARA HAS RECEIVED RECOGNITION NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING PRAISE FROM POPULAR TV HOST GUY FIERI.

From its humble beginnings, my beloved little breakfast shack, Nopalitos Dona

Charlie had always wanted to open a

Maria, would nearly triple in size,

restaurant, but he’d never had what

revamp its interior with brightly colored

he thought was a good concept.

walls and central A/C—and still its

Although he’s an avid fly angler, his

clientele would exceed its capacity.

love for Mexican food came first.

Over the years he’s spent much

As I continued to enjoy its authenticity,

time exploring Mexico, especially his

I struggled to find other restaurants

favorite places of Campeche and

doing the same. In inner-city Houston,

Punta Allen. “Fly fishing enhanced my

much authenticity is lost. Many

love for the Mexican culture,” Charlie

Mexican restaurants have taken fusion

explained, “because I’ve been able to

into the equation and curated menus

meet so many great people.”

from acclaimed chefs, focusing on

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

ways to elevate and inspire a cuisine

Charlie and Ana’s discussions of

that is already full of rich flavor and

Mexico would soon come to fruition,

history. In the culinary mecca that is

and Cuchara would become an iconic

restaurant whose impression on

side dish. I had never seen corn puree,

the Houston dining scene was as

or anything like it, featured on a

big as its flavors.

Mexican menu before. It’s suggestive of polenta or grits, but with a much

Cuchara has received recognition

silkier texture and a flavor you won’t

nationwide, including praise from

find anywhere else.

popular TV host Guy Fieri. To quote the Food Network website: “Guy

Cuchara’s brunch is the best in

wasn’t prepared for the depth of

Houston, focusing on Mexican classics

authenticity he would experience

rather than gimmicky Americanized

at Cuchara. The real-deal Mexican

brunch items. The salpicon de res is a

flavors and attention to detail

treat of shredded stewed beef served

permeated every dish. He raved about

with crunchy tostaditos.

the four-color handmade tortillas and the tacos chelo, potato-stuffed

Cuchara is bringing authentic Mexican

tacos topped with tangy green salsa,

cuisine to the people of Houston and

calling them ‘one of the top 10 tacos’

the fly fishing world alike by hosting a

he has ever had. He left calling it ‘an

monthly fly tying night. Because Mexico

outrageous experience.’”

is such a huge part of the fly fishing world, Charlie explained, he wanted to

When I first sat down to enjoy a

give fly anglers the opportunity to tie

meal at Cuchara, I followed the

flies and socialize while experiencing

recommendations Ana made to me. I

authentic Mexican food.

wasn’t disappointed. A dish as simple as stuffed potato tacos were as full of

If you find yourself in Houston,

flavor as any tacos I’ve had. The fluffy

Cuchara is a must-visit. Its flavors

potato stuffing was perfectly seasoned,

and vibes are sure to transport you

wrapped in handmade tortillas and

to the heart of Mexico and keep you

fried until crispy, then smothered in a

coming back for more.

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN HOUSTON, CUCHARA IS A MUST-VISIT. ITS FLAVORS AND VIBES ARE SURE TO TRANSPORT YOU TO THE HEART OF MEXICO.

very spicy green salsa, a phenomenon of both flavor and texture that make

In honor of the spirit and people of

them the perfect starter.

Mexico, I’ve created my very own pozole rojo recipe. Pozole is a popular

Next was the mole verde: tender cuts

soup, in both green and red vartietes,

of pork loin stewed in a green sauce

often served weekends only alongside

and served with tortillas, rice, black

menudo (it’s a brunch-only item at

beans, and corn puree. Although this

Cuchara). Pozole is a simple soup

green sauce is the same color as many

whose flavors come from dried chili

other sauces and salsas on Cuchara’s

peppers and a pork broth, served

menu, the flavor is extraordinarily

with fresh garnishes and a squeeze

different. Moles are the most complex

of lime. Being the Texan I am, I had

stewing sauces in Mexican cuisine,

to put a smoky twist on this classic.

ranging in color from green to golden

If you can’t make it to Cuchara—or

brown to dark chocolate. This green

Mexico—anytime soon, try making

mole was a perfect complement to

this pozole to bring all the comforts

the pork. The rice and beans were

of Mexico to your own kitchen.

perfectly cooked and seasoned, but the corn puree had to be my favorite

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61

ROJO ********* SMOKED PORK POZOLE ********* ‘GRINGO’

INGREDIENTS: pork shoulder 41/2 lbs boneless chunks) (cubed into 5" miny 30-oz can white ho

1

) ed in ra /d ed (rins cloves garlic 8 n, diced large yellow onio 1 li chi dried guajillo 6 stems d an s eed (s peppers removed) peppers dried ancho chili oved) 2 rem (seeds and stems s (seeds dried chili pequin 10

) and stems removed

tsp kosher salt 1

no tsp Mexican orega 1 ey hon bsp

t 1 tbsp butter 4

RK: SEASONING FOR PO lt sa r he tbsp kos 1 wder po lic r ga bsp t 1 er wd po tbsp onion 1 ed black pepper ack cr esh fr tsp 2 no ega or n tsp Mexica 2 in cum p ts 1/2 1 er 1/2 tsp chili powd 1 er pp pe e enn 1 tsp cay ing) chunks (for smok charcoal + mesquite ARNISHES: G wedges limes, cut into

thin ed ic sl radishes,

ely shredded in f ge, bba ca green

antro cil ed avocado, cub

s rip st a ill rt to fried

Although this recipe wasn’t developed

pork first to give the broth a depth of

adding mesquite chunks as needed

by sweet Mexican grandmothers, it’s

flavor and smokiness that pairs well

and smoke the pork for about 2 hours

certainly a winner. I put my own little

with the dried chili peppers.

at 250 to 325 degrees (anywhere in

Texas twist on this Mexican classic by

62

that range will work).

using mesquite-smoked pork to give

First, season the cubed pork shoulder

depth of flavor to this heart- and soul-

with the listed seasonings. You’ll then

After the pork is done, it’s ready

warming soup. My smoked pork pozole

want to get your smoker ready. I use

to be boiled for the broth. Take 4

is the perfect winter meal.

a grilling barbecue pit with a side fire

tbsp butter and melt it in a large

box. Start a big handful of charcoal

Dutch oven. Add diced yellow

This soup comes together in about 4

in the side box and let it fire up until

onion, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1 tsp

to 5 hours, so plan accordingly. Take a

its white hot, then add chunks of

Mexican oregano. Sweat the onions

chilly, lazy Sunday to dedicate to this

mesquite around the edges of the

over medium-low heat for about 5

Mexican favorite.

charcoal. Put a piece of parchment

minutes, and then add 8 smashed

paper down in the main grilling

garlic cloves. Cook for a few minutes

Typically pozole broth starts by boiling

chamber and place seasoned pork

longer before adding the smoked

pork shoulder in water. I smoke the

on the parchment paper. Continue

pork and about 1 gallon of water (or

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

enough to cover the pork and nearly

them frequently. This should only take

of the bitter qualities of the toasted

fill your pot). Cover and boil over

a few minutes. You want the peppers

chili peppers. Continue to season

medium heat for about 2 hours, or

to start releasing oils and aroma.

and taste until the broth is perfectly

until the pork is fork-tender.

Once they’re toasted, add about 2

balanced.

cups of your broth to the skillet and Check on the pork and broth about an

blend until smooth. Add this toasted

Serve this pozole with fresh garnishes,

hour into the cooking process. As the

chili puree to your broth.

crispy tortilla strips, a squeeze of

water evaporates you’ll want to add more, keeping the pot nearly full.

lime, and enjoy.

Return the shredded pork to the red chili broth and add the drained, rinsed

Once the pork is tender, remove it

hominy. Continue to cook for about 15

from broth and let it cool. Once it’s

minutes. Taste the pozole broth and

cool, shred it.

add salt as needed. (it’s likely you’ll need to add at least 1 or 2 tsp more).

Use a dry skillet over medium heat to

Add honey. The honey doesn’t add

toast the dried chili peppers, turning

sweetness, but instead balances some

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

63

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Casting requirements in salt water differ according

bonefish requires you to present the fly quietly

to species and location. Simply put, in terms of

and very accurately out to about 60 feet—again,

casting, there’s fairly easy saltwater fishing and

you’ll likely have to deal with wind. I consider

very difficult saltwater fishing. For example, with

fishing for tailing bonefish to be among the

certain exceptions, fly fishing for striped bass is

most challenging casting games in saltwater

at the easier end of the spectrum—particularly

fly fishing.

when you find yourself in the middle of breaking fish. In such situations, success is simply a matter

Wherever you fish, there are only advantages

of getting your fly in the water. When you’re not

to your being able to make a long cast—and

surrounded by actively feeding fish, striper fishing

no

is primarily a game of covering water: The more

anglers refuse to acknowledge this. I recall a

water your fly swims through, the more fish it will

group of Atlantic salmon anglers scoffing at

pass, and the better your chances of hooking up.

my instructional video at a banquet I attended.

In such situations, a 70-foot cast will cover more

“He must not like to catch fish,” one of them

than twice the water of a 30-foot cast.

commented, “because he’s casting past all of

disadvantages.

Unfortunately,

some

fly

them.” Whether this gentleman Casting

to

bonefish

on

the flats tends to be more difficult,

though

there’s

fairly easy bonefishing as well. I’ve known some poor casters

who’ve

caught

bonefish only from muds.

Mudding is a phenomenon in

which

thousands

hundreds of

or

bonefish

THE SUBJECT OF DISTANCE FLY CASTING IS MUDDLED WITH MISINFORMATION, TO WHICH THE INTERNET HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY. PERHAPS THE GREATEST PIECE OF CASTING MISINFORMATION IS THAT THE “SECRET” TO MAKING A LONG CAST IS LEARNING TO DOUBLE HAUL.

move onto a flat and feed

was making excuses for his own mediocre casting, or he was simply missing the point, let me be clear: The reason you should develop your casting stroke to be able to make an 80-plus-foot cast consistently is not so that you can present your fly to fish at great distances, as this is rarely required. If you can deliver

so prolifically that the water in the entire area

a

becomes discolored—sometimes acres of it. These

much better able to make the long casts

fish are not spooky; the guide can get the boat in

required in realistic saltwater conditions—50

amongst the school with no trouble. You simply

to 70 feet.

fly

80-plus

feet

consistently,

you’ll

be

need to get the fly in the water, and virtually every cast is rewarded with a hookup. While

The subject of distance fly casting is muddled

on guided trips I’ve taken a couple of bonefish

with misinformation, to which the internet has

out of muds myself, because the guide wanted

contributed significantly. Perhaps the greatest

to show us the experience; however, fishing

piece of casting misinformation is that the

muds is not to be confused with sight fishing

“secret” to making a long cast is learning

for bonefish.

to double haul. Without question, the double haul is an invaluable casting tool, and it will add a bit of

66

Legitimate bonefishing often requires you to

distance to your cast, but not the kind of distance

deliver a fly 50 or 60 feet quickly and fairly

that many fly anglers believe. The double haul

accurately to intercept a moving target, and

won’t transform a 40-foot caster into an 80-foot

usually with some wind. Sight fishing to tailing

caster. More realistically, hauling might turn a 40-

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

THE ESSENTIALS OF DISTANCE FLY CASTING: PART ONE photos by JAMIL SIDDIQUI

WITHOUT QUESTION, THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FACED BY SALTWATER FLY ANGLERS IS THE CASTING. EVEN LONGTIME FRESHWATER ANGLERS, WHO MAY HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FISHING FOR TROUT AND WARMWATER SPECIES, OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES AT A SERIOUS DISADVANTAGE WHEN THEY TRY TO TRANSITION TO THE SALTWATER GAME. ALTHOUGH A POORLY DELIVERED 30-FOOT CAST MAY ALLOW YOU TO CATCH YOUR SHARE OF FISH IN MANY FRESHWATER FISHERIES, IF YOUR BEST CAST IS 30 FEET UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS AND YOU TAKE THIS ON A GUIDED FLATS TRIP, YOU’RE GOING TO BE SORELY DISAPPOINTED.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

67

foot caster into a 45-foot caster (and that, I think,

In this series of articles we’re going to take a look

is being optimistic). Furthermore, hauling does

at the essentials of distance fly casting and how

not improve poor casting. A poor cast without a

they work together to deliver a long line. In Part

haul will still be a poor cast when a haul is added.

Five we’ll take a close look at the double haul—

Hauling will only improve upon a cast that is solid

what it is, what it isn’t, and how it enhances a

to begin with.

solid fly cast. It’s my hope that by reading these articles you’ll gain a better understanding of what

The “secret” to making a long cast is so straight-

makes a good fly cast and that you ultimately can

forward that most fly anglers refuse to believe

use this information to become a more successful

it: The ability to cast a long line is the result

saltwater fly angler by becoming a more effective

of a solid fundamental casting stroke—nothing

distance fly caster.

more. Once you refine your fundamental stroke— that is, your rod-arm mechanics—you’ll be able

I should preface these articles by stating that

to make casts in excess of 70 feet with a very

the picture of fly rod mechanics I draw is not

modest effort, and you’ll be able to do this

based in physics, but rather in commonsensical

without hauling.

I’ve been a fairly serious student of fly casting for over 30 years. In that time I’ve worked with a great many casters of all levels of proficiency—from rank beginners to some of the best fly casting instructors in the world. Along the way, I’ve formed some very definite ideas about what constitutes exceptional fly casting. Although I do not

experience.

I’M CONVINCED THAT ALL GOOD DISTANCE FLY CASTERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR “STYLE,” ADHERE TO THREE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES WHEN MAKING A LONG CAST. FIRST, ALL GOOD DISTANCE CASTERS LOAD AND UNLOAD THE ROD PROPERLY. SECOND, THEY ALL FORM TIGHT LOOPS. AND THIRD, ALL GOOD DISTANCE CASTERS LENGTHEN THE CASTING STROKE WHEN THEY NEED TO MAKE A LONG DELIVERY.

Having

no

background in engineering, I cannot tell you with any certainty how a fly rod works in mechanical terms—I do not know if a fly rod is a spring, a lever, or something else—nor do I think this is important to learn how to cast one. A number of fly casting

instructors

today

insist that the language of fly casting should sound scientific—as

if

that

in

itself will produce better

claim to possess a model or ideal cast, I believe I

fly casters. I’m not convinced. I’ve yet to read

know the ingredients that go into one.

an article on fly casting in a scientific journal that offered any practical advice on becoming

I’m convinced that all good distance fly casters,

a better caster. As someone who has taught

regardless of their “style,” adhere to three

fly casting, I can tell you it helps to have a

fundamental principles when making a long cast.

number of terms, phrases, and analogies at

First, all good distance casters load and unload

your fingertips, for you never know what word

And third, all good distance casters lengthen the

student. At the end of the day, I don’t really

the rod properly. Second, they all form tight loops.

or phrase might trigger understanding in a

casting stroke when they need to make a long

care whether you can explain fly casting to an

delivery. Individual mechanics may vary (we’ll

engineer’s satisfaction. I want only to help you

address this in a later article), but these three

to become a better caster.

fundamentals are constants.

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

LOADING AND UNLOADING THE ROD

have to use the weight and inertia of the fly

Without question, the most important aspect of

do this is by accelerating the rod throughout the

distance fly casting is loading and unloading the

casting stroke.

line to draw the rod into a bend. The way you

rod. All the power you’re ever going to put into a cast is determined by how well you do this.

Whether it’s lying on the ground or on the water,

Loading and unloading the rod properly is also the

whether it’s in a straight line in the air behind you

most difficult thing to learn in fly casting, so let’s

or in front of you, the fly line, for all intents and

take a close look at it.

purposes, is at rest. Newton’s law of inertia states that objects at rest tend to remain at rest—that

In their simplest terms, loading the rod entails

is, they resist our attempts to move them. When

pulling the rod into a bend, and unloading the rod

you use the rod to try to move the stationary

entails stopping the rod abruptly to force it out of

fly line, the inertia of the fly line resists. This

a bend. Loading the rod is how we apply power to

resistance pulls the rod into a slight bend. Now

a cast: Pulling the rod into a bend stores potential

you’ve started the fly line moving toward the rod

energy along the length of the

tip. To continue to pull the PERHAPS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

rod into a bend you have to

a bow into a bend to store

I SEE AMONG CASTERS TRYING

continue to use the line’s

potential energy along the

TO GAIN MORE DISTANCE IS THAT

inertia and move the rod tip

length of the bow. Unloading

THEY APPLY TOO MUCH SPEED

faster than the speed of the

the rod—that is, stopping it

AND POWER TO THEIR CASTING

following fly line. To continue

abruptly—is how we release

STROKE. MOST CASTERS I SEE

to load the rod, you have to

all the power stored in the

USE MORE THAN ENOUGH SPEED

constantly move it faster—

bent rod. Let’s get a clear idea

AND POWER TO DELIVER A FLY 80

you have to accelerate the

OR MORE FEET. THE PROBLEM IS

rod tip throughout the entire

THAT THEY APPLY IT WILDLY OR

casting stroke.

rod, just as an archer draws

of how we do this.

As I’ve said, the fly rod works

INDISCRIMINATELY.

similarly to a bow and arrow.

If you move the rod tip

A drawn bow has energy stored along its length.

through the casting stroke at a constant speed,

When you release the bowstring, the bow springs

the rod won’t bend. And if you hesitate even the

back into position and its energy is transferred

slightest bit at any point in your stroke, the line

into the arrow to propel it. To cast a fly line you

will catch up with the rod and the rod will unload

pull the rod into a bend; i.e., loading the rod. To

prematurely.

unload the rod you stop it abruptly. The energy stored in the bent rod is transferred into the fly

Perhaps the biggest problem I see among casters

line, propelling it either forward or backward.

trying to gain more distance is that they apply

(In terms of fly rod mechanics, the forward cast

too much speed and power to their casting

and back cast are identical casts delivered in

stroke. Most casters I see use more than enough

opposite directions.)

speed and power to deliver a fly 80 or more feet. The problem is that they apply it wildly or

Unlike the archer, however, the fly caster has no

indiscriminately. In fact, I’ve never once had to tell

fixed point to draw against to load the rod. You

a casting student to use more speed or power in

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70

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

THE FLY CASTING STROKE IS A SMOOTH, CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION THAT USES THE WEIGHT AND INERTIA OF THE FLY LINE TO PULL THE ROD INTO A BEND (I.E., LOADING THE ROD). TO UNLOAD THE ROD PROPERLY YOU MUST STOP THE ROD ABRUPTLY.

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71

their stroke—I’ve always had to tell them to use

distance. I probably don’t have to tell you that

less. This is difficult to comprehend at first, but

how quickly you draw the bow is irrelevant;

you need to understand that speed alone does

drawing the bow quickly doesn’t determine how

virtually nothing to load a rod. Imagine a fly rod

much potential power you put into it. How much

with 40 feet of line outside the tip. Imagine also

power you put into the bow is determined by

that you could move this rod (through a vacuum)

how deeply you draw the bow. The same principle

at a constant speed of 500 miles per hour.

applies to fly casting. The potential power of a

Because the rod and line are both traveling at the

cast is determined not by how quickly you draw

same speed, the rod will not bend. For the rod to

the rod into a bend, but by how deeply.

bend, the rod tip must always be moving slightly faster than the speed of the following fly line. It’s

My most powerful fly casts don’t feel particularly

not speed itself that loads a rod, it’s the gradual

fast–my most powerful casts feel as if I’ve

increase in speed: the acceleration.

loaded the rod deeply. Remember: The objective of the casting stroke is not

Fly casters who equate a fast casting stroke with a powerful casting stroke usually begin their stroke much too quickly. Using

FEELING THE ROD BENDING UNDER THE FLY LINE’S INERTIA IS FAIRLY SUBTLE. ONE REASON I TRY TO GET STUDENTS TO SLOW DOWN THEIR CASTING STROKE

too much speed at the beginning of the casting stroke will overpower the rod, sending shock waves into the line and destroying

IS BECAUSE IF YOU SWING TOO FAST YOU WON’T FEEL THE ROD LOADING. YOU CAN CAST A GOOD AMOUNT OF LINE WITH A FAIRLY

your cast. Instead, a good casting

stroke

begins

slowly. What’s important is

that

it

SLOW RATE OF ACCELERATION, PROVIDED YOU LOAD THE ROD EFFICIENTLY.

to get the rod or line moving quickly. The only objective of any casting stroke is to pull the rod into a bend.

Feeling

the

rod

bending

under the fly line’s inertia is fairly subtle. One reason I try to get students to slow down their casting stroke is because if you swing too fast you won’t feel the rod loading. You can cast a good amount of line with a fairly slow rate of acceleration,

gradually,

continually gains speed throughout the entire

provided you load the rod efficiently. And being

stroke. The most efficient casting stroke begins

able to feel the rod loading is critical to your

to pull the rod into a bend as soon as the rod

developing a good casting stroke.

tip moves, and it gradually continues to pull the rod deeper into that bend throughout the entire

In working with video fly casting analysis over

stroke. It’s a smooth, continuous acceleration. The

the past few years using the Hudl Technique

rod tip travels relatively slowly during much of the

app (hudl.com), it’s become clear to me that my

casting stroke (though it’s actually moving a bit

casting stroke is significantly slower than any of

faster all the time) and moves quickly only during

my students’.

the final portion of the stroke, just before you stop the rod abruptly to unload it.

Once you’ve loaded the rod, unloading it properly will ensure that you transfer all of the energy

72

Think again of the bow and arrow. Imagine

from the bent rod into the fly line. The proper way

that you want to achieve maximum power and

to unload the rod is to stop the rod abruptly.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Think once more of the bow and arrow. If you

outset; your fist would bolt forward like a spring.

want to achieve maximum distance and power,

Nor would you stop your fist at the bag: You’d

you wouldn’t let the bowstring creep forward

reach beyond that and try to punch through the

before releasing it. Rather, you’d release it at full

other side of the bag.

draw, and all at once. The same holds true for the fly rod. For maximum power, you need to unload

And this is exactly what I see many fly casters

the rod when it’s fully bent, and you need to

doing when they try to gain distance. Rather

unload it all at once. The only way you can do this

than stopping the rod abruptly, they reach

is by stopping the rod abruptly. If you bring the

through the point where they should be stopping.

rod to a gradual stop, it’s going to start unloading

Regardless of how much power they may think

while you’re slowing down. If you decelerate

they’re putting into the cast, they’re actually

the rod tip before coming to a stop, you won’t get

decelerating the rod. By failing to stop the rod

the full potential out of the rod. To get maximum

abruptly you drain energy from the cast.

potential out of the rod you have to stop it dead.

To think about it another way, imagine a Many fly anglers have trouble with this concept because

it

goes

car traveling 50 miles per hour when the

against

driver hits the brakes. The

common sense. If you were

YOU’LL OFTEN HEAR FLY

car comes to a gradual stop

trying to drive a golf ball

ANGLERS TALK ABOUT THE NEED

over a number of yards, but

200 yards or if you were

TO “HIT” OR “PUNCH” A LONG,

everything inside the car

trying to throw a baseball a

POWERFUL CAST. THESE TERMS

remains intact. Now imagine

long distance, you wouldn’t

CREATE EXACTLY THE WRONG

this same car hitting a brick

stop

Rather,

IMPRESSION, AND I SUGGEST

wall. The car stops dead.

you’d follow through with

YOU DROP THEM FROM YOUR

Every object inside the car

maximum power. However,

VOCABULARY. A GOOD FLY CAST

that is not secured becomes

the fly casting stroke is

IS NOTHING LIKE A PUNCH.

a projectile. This is what

the

stroke.

different from almost every

happens during a good fly

other sports stroke you can think of in that the

cast. The rod stops abruptly—as if hitting a wall—

fly casting stroke must stop abruptly. One of the

and the fly line becomes a projectile.

main problems I see with fly anglers trying to cast distance is that they follow through with

One of the more important things I’ve learned in

maximum power rather than stopping the rod.

working with video analysis is that many of my

They’re trying to throw that fastball.

students are able to load or bend the rod as deeply as I do. What separates us is that I am able to stop

You’ll often hear fly anglers talk about the need

the rod more abruptly. In other words, they’re

to “hit” or “punch” a long, powerful cast. These

putting as much into the rod as I am, but I’m able

terms create exactly the wrong impression, and

to get more out of the rod.

I suggest you drop them from your vocabulary. A good fly cast is nothing like a punch. If you were

Fly anglers who use a great deal of speed or power

throwing a punch at a punching bag, you wouldn’t

to make a long cast have not really learned to

start slowly and accelerate gradually. You’d apply

load and unload the rod properly. Rather, they’re

as much speed and power as you could from the

bypassing the rod and are simply hurling fly line

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

73

back and forth with their rod arm. In truth, you can bypass the rod and throw a fair amount of fly line with your arm, but such a stroke doesn’t hold together when any real pressure is put on it. In short, you will never be able to throw as much line with your arm, or do it as effectively or as powerfully or as easily, as you will by learning to cast it.

When you learn to load the rod smoothly and gradually and to unload it abruptly, when you learn to stop throwing line with your arm and let the rod sling it, I assure you that delivering a fly 70

ANALYZING YOUR CAST

or more feet will be as effortless

If you’re learning to fly cast,

colored fly line. Here I’m using

as the top casters make it look.

being able to watch yourself

orange, but yellow, chartreuse,

on video is invaluable. Today,

or white will work well also.

quality

available

The rod will show up best on

owns

a

video if the blank is a lighter

smartphone. Even the older

color that will contrast with

iPhones will shoot video at

the background. The people at

120 frames per second, which

the Diamondback Corporation

is more than fast enough for

(diamondbackfishingrods.com)

high-quality slow-motion video

were nice enough to build me

(my iPhone XR shoots at 240

an instructor’s rod on a white

fps). When you pair the iPhone

blank in order to illustrate this

with

app

series. A light-colored blank is a

such as Hudl Technique (hudl.

nice convenience, but it’s not a

com), you have a powerful

necessity—video whatever rod

learning and teaching tool.

you fish with. If this technology

The basic Hudl app is free.

had been available when I was

A tripod that will hold your

learning to cast, I’m convinced

phone will allow you to work

I could have cut years off my

alone. Shoot video against a

learning curve.

to

George Roberts produced the first instructional video casting program aimed at the saltwater fly

angler:

Saltwater

Fly

Casting: 10 Steps to Distance and Power, which is available through a number of retailers as well as the TFFM shop.

74

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

video

anyone

a

is

who

sports-analysis

solid background (the canopy of trees at my town’s athletic field is perfect) using a brightly

WADING SYSTEM

PRO WADERS

PRO WADING JACKETS

PRO WADING BOOTS

PRO INSULATION

FISHING IN THE SNOW

by Joseph Ballarini

76

While much of the country is shoveling

Florida’s Panhandle. These are false

that could be delayed. The albacore

snow and avoiding black ice on the

albacore that come inshore along the

prefer the water a bit cooler. They’ll

roadways, I’d like to point out there

Panhandle’s beaches to feed on small

be somewhat predictable for about

are great opportunities for memorable

baitfish that form schools close to

three to four weeks as long as the

fishing in January and February.

shore. This is sight fishing at its best,

temperature doesn’t fluctuate much.

A few specific fisheries come to

but unfortunately this fishery is very

mind, and while many may know of

dependent on both conditions and

Unlike some other forms sight fishing,

them, some specifics might come in

timing. False albacore typically arrive on

you need calm water to see these silver

handy when planning a trip. Take,

the Panhandle in early to mid-January,

missiles moving along the beaches.

for example, “redneck bonefish” of

but depending on the temperature,

A little chop or dirty water can mean

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

YOU NEED CALM WATER TO SEE THESE SILVER MISSILES MOVING ALONG THE BEACHES.

the difference between seeing them

phenomenon, so it might be a good

Small baitfish patterns are the

and not. An offshore wind or no

idea to bring additional gear for other

ticket in this fishery: white bodies

wind is ideal.

species. Many of the local guides who

with subtle blue, green, and brown

fish for the albies run bay boats.

backs. I’ve had great success with

While you can walk the shoreline

While not ideal for skinny water, bay

green and blue gummy minnows,

looking for the silvery flashes of blue

boats allow the option of running to

which is why we offer them in our

and green, ideally you’ll find a guide

deeper water if the inshore conditions

online shop, but any pattern that

with whom you can run the beaches.

aren’t cooperating.

approximates the size and color of

There are only a handful of guides

the bait should be successful.

who actually target this seasonal

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

77

SMALL BAITFISH PATTERNS ARE THE TICKET IN THIS FISHERY, WHITE BODIES WITH SUBTLE BLUE, GREEN, AND BROWN BACKS.

Another great winter angling

Just outside Corpus Christi, Texas,

opportunity in South Florida is its

Rockport and Port O’Connor boast

snook fishery. From Fort Lauderdale

spectacular redfishing all year round,

down to the Keys, you can take

but our friends there believe that the

snook from the surf during the

winter months are actually better. As

winter months. In winter, the water

the sunlight levels decrease and the

is warmest close to shore, which

temperature drops, the water quality

attracts the small baitfish that

improves as the algae fades away and

snook love to feed on. Snook are

the bigger tides move more water.

ambush predators, so unlike the clear, smooth water of the Panhandle,

If you didn’t get to Texas or Louisiana

turbulent and discolored water is

this past fall, maybe you should kick

best for this fishery. This is similar

off the New Year with some redfish.

to striper fishing in the Northeast

We’ve actually covered these places

(albeit warmer), and it’s one of the

extensively in previous issues, so

few instances when I’ll actually use

there’s no need to go into great detail

a Spey rod. The Spey rod works best

here. Again, the visibility isn’t great,

here because it enables you to cast

so big, dark, or even loud or brightly

farther. An intermediate or sinking

colored flies seems to do the trick.

line will improve your success, but I’ve used floating shooting heads as

Although I haven’t fished for bonefish

well. Having fished for snook each

in southern California, there are

winter for the past 18 years, I’ve had

opportunities there to catch schoolies.

the most success working the lower

This is not the sight fishing we know

portion of the middle water column.

from the Bahamas, but is perhaps more like the experience in Los

I use small streamer patterns, very

Roques, where you can cast to huge

often a Haystack, which is a bulky

schools of fish. I encourage readers

blob of craft fur that requires little

who’ve caught California bonefish to

tying skill to make. Following the logic

write us if you can offer additional

behind the Tarpon Toad—that is, black

insight.

or purple in low light--on overcast days I often use a solid black Haystack. This

The real winter thrill in California is

pushes a lot of water and is easily

offshore. The California mako fishery

spotted in turbulent water. In brighter

is year round. Many purists have no

light, the magic color combination for

interest in taking shark on the fly, but

snook is red and white.

even a small mako would be thrilling to watch launch itself through the air,

Another reason I prefer to fish for snook

not to mention a challenge to land

in the winter is because the season is

on fly tackle. To be tethered to such

closed then to taking, so the anglers

a creature, even for a few moments,

who target them to eat don’t even

would be an experience to remember.

bother. I fish catch-and-release only, so

There are a number of guides who

the winter months provide a pressure-

make this a daily practice, and with

free environment in which to catch this

a little effort you can locate one and

magnificent species in the surf. It’s a

have a great day on the water.

great experience and one of the best parts of living in South Florida.

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79

WATCHING A 100-POUND SHARK EAT THE FLY, AND THEN SETTING THE HOOK INTO A JAW FILLED WITH RAZOR-SHARP SHARP TEETH, IS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE.

This takes us to the final winter

to 100 pounds. It’s possible to land

thrill for this issue: the spinner shark

a few in a half-day charter, but we

migration in Jupiter, Florida. From

recommend you book a whole day to

late winter through early spring,

get the full experience.

spinner sharks migrate the coast of eastern Florida. There are literally

For those who will email and ask …

thousands of sharks just beyond the

yes, I fish the Florida flats in the

breakers. This can be terrifying if

winter, and there are opportunities

you’re a beachgoer taking a dip, but

then for bonefish, permit, and tarpon.

for the relatively few fly anglers who

The upper Florida Keys is a year-round

enjoy fishing for sharks, it’s a blast.

fishery. There are some caveats,

To catch a spinner on fly in Florida,

though. The bonefish are usually solo

the guides use a kite with a lead as a

and very hard to see. Although it’s

teaser to get them following. Once a

very rewarding to get a 10-pound

shark becomes interested in the bait,

January bone when it’s blowing 20

the mate reels the teaser in, and as

knots, it’s not a daily event. When a

it goes straight up toward the kite,

cold front rolls through, the permit

the angler tosses the fly to replace it.

tend to go offshore, and it’s difficult

Watching a 100-pound shark eat the

to estimate when they’ll return or

fly, and then setting the hook into a

where they’ll be. The tarpon are

jaw filled with razor-sharp teeth, is

mostly juveniles or the resident

quite an experience. What happens

tarpon, which have seen every fly in

next most people are unprepared

my box at least twice. The residents

for. The spinner shark gets its name

are pretty selective when they do

by leaping out of the water and

eat. This is, in part, why I thought it

completing six to ten rotations while

would be helpful to share some other

airborne. Unless you play it correctly,

options with you and encourage you

this leaves your line coiled around

to try something new.

the fish. For this reason, we highly encourage you to bring along an extra reel and several extra lines on this adventure. Spinner sharks average 50

80

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

by Ryan Sparks 82

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

PARADISE HAS FANGS: PAYARA AND PEACOCK BASS IN THE COLOMBIAN JUNGLE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

83

PLACES WITH SPECTACULAR FISHING USUALLY EXIST FOR ONE OF TWO REASONS; EITHER THEY’RE SHIELDED

BY SHEER REMOTENESS (THINK ALASKA OR MONGOLIA) OR THEY’RE MADE INACCESSIBLE BY CIVIL UNREST AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY (E.G., KAMCHATKA AND CUBA).

COLOMBIA, WITH ITS LONG HISTORY OF VIOLENCE AND VAST, IMPENETRABLE JUNGLES, IS BOTH.

Just the word Colombia conjures

In 2012, strengthening government

up images of gun-wielding narcos,

forces drove the FARC from Colombia

exploding passenger jets, and square

to neighboring Venezuela, where

white bundles of tightly wrapped

around 1,000 FARC dissidents remain

cocaine—a lawless nation barely

today. This purge, along with recent

keeping a lid on rising anarchy.

peace agreements, has brought

Despite years of relative peace,

stability to the once-volatile nation,

Colombia still holds a reputation as

opening regions and rivers that have

a place where kidnappings, extortion,

seen more firearms than fly rods. In

and killings are a part of daily life.

2013, Tucunare Lodge, a partnership

Fly fishing is not something that

between the indigenous Sikuani

immediately jumps to mind.

people of the Vichada River and

Until recently, news coming out of

with assistance from the Travel and

Colombia wasn’t good. The FARC, a

Tourism Board of Colombia, began

hostile Marxist guerilla group working

operating with the intent of showcas-

lodge operator Alejandro Diaz, along

hand in glove with drug cartels, ter-

ing the incredible peacock bass and

rorized the country with kidnappings

payara fishing in the region. When

and assassinations for decades. For

my friend (and partner in the lodge)

nearly 40 years, clashes between

Javier Guevara invited me to see it for

the FARC and the Colombian military

myself, I couldn’t say no.

made international headlines as the country careened into chaos. These

ORINOCO FLOW

skirmishes often occurred on jungle rivers where massive peacock bass

After a brief layover in Florida, I

and brutish payara swam below,

landed in Bogota, Colombia’s capital

protected by the firestorm overhead.

and largest city. Bogota sits 2 miles

That is, until recently.

above sea level, framed by lush green mountains to the east. In the 1990s,

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Bogota was a dangerous place to be,

Guainía translates to “land of many

As we continued, small villages and

but now it’s a lively metropolis and

waters” and Inírida, appropriately

riverside homes became less frequent

the economic heart of the country. As

situated at the confluence of the Gua-

until the bank was dominated by

my taxi driver wove through Bogo-

viare, Atabapo, Inírida, and Orinoco

thick jungle. The Orinoco serves as

ta’s vibrant neighborhoods, the city

Rivers, is the sleepy gateway to more

the natural border dividing Colombia

hummed with energy. This wasn’t the

remote parts of the country. There

and Venezuela. Depending on the

Colombia I had seen in movies and

are no roads or airstrips connecting

river channel, sometimes we were in

television dramas—just regular people

the indigenous villages within the

Colombia and other times we swerved

interior. Cut off from the rest of the

into Venezuela. It was normally a fluid

going about their daily lives.

country, the only way in is by boat.

Guevara welcomed me when I arrived.

border, but recent conflicts involving Venezuelans fleeing the human rights

He has been exploring the jungles of

From the airstrip we made our way to

and humanitarian crisis in their home

Colombia since 2016 and specializes

the river, picking up supplies along the

country and an unreceptive Colombi-

in taking people to uncharted fish-

way: several bags of potatoes, ten doz-

an government had increased tension

eries all over the world through his

en eggs, purified water, some Colom-

in the area. Violent confrontations

companies Ecuador Fly Fishing Tours

bian lager, and a few bottles of a local

involving civilians, armed groups, the

and In the Loop Outfitters. Guevara

anise-flavored hooch called aguardi-

Venezuelan army, and Colombian

and I sat outside watching the life of

ente, which roughly translates to “fire

immigration authorities had recently

the city streets, drinking beer, and

water.” Cumbia, a distinctly Colombian

dominated the news, although we

talking about the days to come.

music, blared from the bar across the

saw no sign of this unrest.

street, where locals drank and watched The next morning, we flew to Inírida,

us haul our gear to the covered long-

in the eastern Guainía region of the

boat waiting to take us over 100 miles

Orinoco basin. When we landed, there

upriver. Once we had made the proper

were around 100 soldiers packed into

arrangements with local military

the tiny airport. The heavy military

officials and the boat was loaded, we

presence is the result of Inírida’s stra-

motored upriver toward the Orinoco.

tegic location and troubled history as a region of cocaine production.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

85

WE SIPHONED GAS OUT OF A PLASTIC DRUM AND CONTINUED UPRIVER.

Through pockets of rain forest, we

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

tered-down it was were topics of con-

twisted against the current, stop-

versation. When we finally came to

ping once to haggle over fuel. With

an agreement, we siphoned gasoline

only a rudimentary understanding of

out of a plastic drum and continued

Spanish, I couldn’t make out exactly

upriver. When we met the confluence

what they discussed, but it seemed

with the Vichada, the muddy water

both the price of fuel and how wa-

turned to a dark tannic stain.

TUCU GRANDE When we arrived at the village, the

captive population of baitfish and

entire community was waiting to

grow to enormous sizes. Furthering

greet us. Children waved from the

this growth, members of the commu-

bank, older men and women stood

nity have realized that peacock bass

watching from a bluff high above

and payara are more valuable for

the river, and dogs barked and paced

sport than food, and they’ve stopped

anxiously along the shore. Tucunare

netting the lagoons, increasing both

Lodge exists because of a unique

the size and number of fish.

partnership with the Sikuani people.

In fact, the lodge could be viewed as

The next morning, we loaded our

an extension of the village. It employs

rods and gear into 15-foot aluminum

nearly every one of the 35 adults who

boats outfitted with 40-horsepower

live there as cooks, guides, handymen,

engines. I fished with Leo Cardella, a

and housekeepers. Besides employing

partner in Tucunare Lodge. After a

the village, a portion of the lodge’s

brief discussion with our guide, we

profits go to support the community.

sped downriver, stopping at a point

Several years ago, Tucunare Lodge

where a trickle of water poured from

helped build a school and employ a

the jungle. Approaching the source,

teacher. Since the school’s construc-

a narrow opening appeared. Cardel-

tion, the village has sent several of its

la moved to the bow of the boat,

youth to universities in Bogota.

paddling at times and getting out to

As the boat slid onto shore, several

at others. At one point, we used a

pull the boat through the shallows men helped us lug our gear up the

machete to cut away a tangle of

50-foot bank. The steep banks that

vines that blocked our passage. Later,

line the river result from chang-

we had to lay prone in the boat to

ing water levels. In part, it’s these

squeeze under a fallen tree. Cardella

drastic fluctuations that make the

made a note to bring a chainsaw the

fishing here so good. During the rainy

next time he returned.

season, water can rise up to 50 feet, flooding vast swaths of jungle and

After a half hour of bushwhacking up

making it possible for peacock bass

the narrow rivulet, it opened into a

to push into normally inaccessible

long, slender lagoon. Everywhere the

lagoons. When the water recedes,

splashy rises of baitfish dimpled the

predatory species are left with a

water, and in the distance the sound

TUCANARE LODGE EXISTS BECAUSE OF A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SIKUANI PEOPLE.

of howler monkeys resembled wind

separation, these mutual ancestors

careening through a tunnel. We slowly

evolved independently, forming the

worked our way down the shoreline,

fish we know today.

making long casts that put our flies as close to the bank as possible. After

The next few days continued along

30 minutes with no results, I changed

the same lines. Each day we explored

to a floating line and an 8-inch articu-

a new lagoon, catching many nice

lated popper.

fish in the process. We fished until the overhead sun became too much

TO KEEP FISHING PRESSURE LOW, TUCUNARE LODGE ACCEPTS ONLY EIGHT ANGLERS AT A TIME.

Within a few casts, a large peacock

to handle, and then retreated to the

exploded on the fly. The take sounded

shade for lunch and a short hammock

like someone dropped a bowling ball

siesta. Back in the boat, we fished

into the water off a ladder. The fish

until sunset, returning to the lodge

made several powerful runs that left

for dinner, a shower, and to share the

my hands striped with line burns. I

day’s stories.

thought I was gaining line when the fish turned and bolted into open wa-

MUSCLE AND TEETH

ter. I heard a loud clunk as the spool separated from my reel and clattered

To keep fishing pressure low, Tucunare

to the bottom of the boat. I somehow

Lodge accepts only eight anglers at

hand lined the fish to the boat, but

a time. Week-long trips are divided

when we got the BogaGrip around its

into five days of peacock bass fishing

lower jaw, it surged and took off on

in the system of lagoons and bays

another run, grip in tow. After another

off the Vichada River. Anglers rotate,

five minutes of coaxing the fish back

making longer runs up the Orinoco

to the boat, the guide grabbed the

in search of payara the additional

Boga and hoisted the fish into the

two days. Sometimes called vampire

boat. We were rolling with laughter at

fish, payara are as aggressive as

this comedy of errors when he handed

peacock bass, but they differ greatly

me the fish. The scale on the Boga

in their fondness for current. Where

measured an even 19 pounds—one

peacocks prefer to loaf and hunt

hell of a peacock bass.

in still water, payara are drawn to current for the conveyor belt of food

That fish happened to be the variety

it provides. Spending much of their

of peacock bass from which the lodge

time in strong-flowing water, they are

takes its name. Cichla temensis, com-

streamlined, brutish fighters.

monly called tucunare, is the largest

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

variety of four recognized species

We started our payara fishing by tar-

of peacock bass. Peacocks aren’t

geting side channels with swift cur-

related to the largemouth or small-

rent off the main river. This style of

mouth bass of North America but

fishing resembled drift boat streamer

comprise a genus within the Family

fishing for trout. We floated with the

Cichlidae. Cichlids are an ancient line

current, making repeated casts into

of fish established nearly 60 million

eddies, behind boulders, and around

years ago when South America, Africa,

logjams. Once we had floated past a

Australia, and southern Asia were a

productive stretch of water, we would

single continent. Upon the continents’

motor upstream and start again.

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89

WHEN HOOKED, THEY FIGHT AS HARD AS CHINOOK SALMON FRESH FROM THE SALT.

Fishing this way, we caught several

of the day when you’ve been cast-

small- to medium-size payara, often

ing nonstop since daybreak. Making

pulling fish from the same eddy on

things more challenging, payara have

multiple passes.

a mouth of teeth and bone, with not

Payara require repetitive casting.

they fight as hard as chinook salmon

You’ll often work the same water

fresh from the salt. With the combi-

over and over until you present the

nation of their bony mouths, scrappy

fly just right. In such fast current,

disposition, and the strong current

even weighted flies and sinking lines

where they live, we lost at least half

have trouble getting down before the

of the fish we hooked.

much else to hold onto. When hooked,

fly begins to swing. The demands of

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

casting result in aching elbows, wrists,

After lunch we decided to focus

and shoulders. It can also be mentally

on deeper holes and chutes where

challenging, especially in the heat

Cardella and the guide had found big

payara in the past. In these places, we

When I saw backing, I tightened the

attached the boat to gigantic slabs of

drag and the fish slowed, seeming to

volcanic rock and hopped out to fish on

calculate its next move. For ten minutes

foot. From time to time we would see

it was a stalemate: I would gain a small

large boils in the white water, occasion-

amount of line only to have the fish

ally catching a glimpse of a silver flank

pull it back off the reel moments later.

as baitfish exploded from the water. Our

I fully expected the hook to come loose

efforts proved to be in vain, though, and

at any moment. When the payara was

after two hours of working the same

15 feet away, it hurdled out of the water

water again and again we had nothing

and made us fully aware of its size. The

to show for our efforts.

guide said something in his native language that I couldn’t directly translate,

There are certain fish that stand as

but I understood it to mean something

signposts for those who measure their

like, “Holy shit!”

life in fish. Some of them come after months of planning and hard work,

Pulling the fish to the bank, I grabbed its

but most come when you least expect

tail and held tight as it made its last sul-

it. This one was no different. On a cast

len headshakes. That moment will forever

indistinguishable from the previous

be seared in my memory. Later, when our

hundred I had made, I sensed that dis-

guide recounted the story back at the

tinct nothingness at the end of my line

lodge, Diaz told me he thought it was the

that comes the instant before you feel

largest payara they had caught that year.

the weight of a fish, that brief moment

Remembering my peacock from earlier in

when the fly is in a fish’s mouth and

the week, I reflected that most anglers

neither of you knows the other is there

are lucky to find one fish of that caliber

yet. I strip-set hard and an enormous

in a decade, let alone two in a single week.

payara simultaneously tugged in the

Either by fate or by luck I had managed

other direction, pulling the line from my

to connect with two extraordinary fish in

hand and jumping as it tore downriver.

the jungles of Colombia.

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

A WORLD DIVIDED Being in such a remote location, 115

Despite all this, Colombia has changed

river miles from the nearest town, it’s

immensely over the past ten years

easy to romanticize life in the Colom-

and is still changing for the better.

bian jungle. The Sikuani seem to live

Despite its reputation, there was

in another world, not one any better

never a single moment when I felt

or worse than our own, but still a

in danger. This isn’t Miami Vice. The

world apart. Albeit, their world grows

people of Colombia, from the indig-

more connected with the outside

enous people to cab drivers, wait-

every day.

resses, and even people I passed on

Women washed clothes in the river,

and welcoming communities I have

the street, are one of the friendliest beating them against a plank with

ever met. They are striving to show

a wooden club while their husbands

the richness of their culture and the

simultaneously carried 50-horsepower

beauty of their country. The locals

outboards down to the water on their

navigate between these two worlds,

shoulders. We encountered people

and such a juxtaposition makes you

from neighboring villages navigat-

realize how complex and intertwined

ing the river in dugout canoes as

the world has become. It would have

frequently as we saw military patrols

been worth the trip just to experience

zoom by with .30-caliber machine

their way of life. Throw in peacock bass

guns mounted to the bow.

and payara in an incredibly beautiful setting and you have a truly unique

Despite how it feels, this place isn’t

experience. Every night I stood atop

frozen in history. Colombia’s legacy of

a high bank overlooking the verdant

violence has left vast swaths of the

jungle skyline. I could feel the energy

country unknown, even to its own

of the place and looked up at a moon

citizens. The first few days of the

I could seemingly reach out and touch,

trip I was frustrated that I couldn’t

and at the stars that remained con-

keep the guides’ names straight. Just

stants across civilizations, colonization,

when I was certain I knew a name,

war, and violence, which hang still in

I would hear them addressed by a

an eternal sky.

different name. Later I learned most of the men have three names: their indigenous name, their Spanish name, and the remnant nicknames pressed upon them by members of the drug cartel when they operated in the area.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

93

IF I HAD A NICKEL for every time someone as ked me, “What sort of wizardry is this?”

I’d be a ri ch man.

Although th e Soft Chew Wiggle r story is a relati vely short one, it’s evolved ov er six years and has gone throug h many revisions: from a solid full body, to a segmente d flexible body, to ev entually just a head section.

After the pattern was finali zed to just th e head section, I added glass bead s as a ballast to keep the fly from ly ing on its side an d to slow its ascent between strips, al lowing it to suspend in the water colu mn. The glass bead s also produce a chattering effect when the fly wobble s. As I learned mo re about angling, I became a great obse rver, and I started to look at things three-

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

dimensiona lly. As you may kn ow, fish don’t alwa ys hunt by sight an d smell alone. They can also use th eir lateral li ne to feel movement an d changes in pressure . So, the synapse in my brain finally ma de the connection and the light bulb lit. I decided th is design was going to be less about a ma tching the hatch and more about givi ng off the vibration and sound of a baitfi sh in distress an d running for its li fe.

When it co mes to flies, I’ve always had an inno vative attitude th at I believe is due to my occupati onal background . As an AutoCad dr aftsman for the be tter part of 20 year s, I’ve been able to use my everyday co mputer skills at home on my hobbies.

When I sleep, I gu ess you could say that I’m haunted by fishshaped foam .

MATERIALS Hook: Mustad 3407DT O’Shaughnessy (or equivalent), Size 2/0 Thread: Danville 210 Denier Flat Waxed Nylon

R 2.0 E L G G I W W SOFT CHE RIS (CGH CUSTOM TACKLE) CARL HAR

Head: 2mm Craft Foam Sheet (craft store or fly shop) Adhesive: Super Glue Loops: 20- to 30-pound monofilament or fluorocarbon, 12 inches Beads: Glass Beads – 3/16” to 1/4” diameter (Typical for 2) (craft store) Body: Letera’s 4” Magnum Dubbing by American Tied Flies (or equivalent) Eyes: Prism, self-adhesive, 3/16” to 1/4” diameter Body Art: Paint Markers, Airbrush, etc.

Finish Coat: Flex Seal Liquid (Clear) or UV Flex Epoxy

M.” “… I’M HAUNTED BY FISH-SHAPED FOA

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

95

STEP 1.

Starting at the hook eye, wrap a base of thread toward the bend a little less than half way. Wrap thread back to the eye before beginning step 2.

STEP 2.

Fold a 12-inch length of mono or fluoro in half, leaving a loop at one end. With the loop end, starting behind the hook eye, use the thread to tie in the mono, keeping both 6-inch lengths side by side on the top of the shank and down the bend, matching the wraps from step 1.

STEP 3.

Starting with the bobbin hanging near the hook point, place one glass bead on either tag end of the mono.

Keeping both tag ends as even as possible, roll the mono forward, creating bead loops. Make about six wraps and adjust the length of the mono loops before continuing to tie in the remainder of the mono.

STEP 4.

Cut the remaining tag ends of mono behind the hook eye and wrap in completely. When completed, the loops should still be loose enough to allow the beads some freedom of movement.

STEP 6.

STEP 5.

Starting with the bobbin hanging just ahead of the hook bend, tie in the first layer of body hair (belly color). Leave approximately 3 inches of hair exte nding beyond the bend.

Finish wrapping any remaining hair along the hook shank.

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

tie Matching the start point and length of the first layer, pull time, This color). (back hair in second layer of body the forward portion of remaining hair backward to be a used as filler. When pulling the hair back, be sure to add few wraps ahead of the hair to lock it in. Whip finish and prepare the foam head using the provided pattern.

STEP 7.

Once you have the foam head cut out and pre-glued into a tubular shape, rotate the fly 180 degrees and take a moment to test fit the foam head and see how you would like it to sit. Once satisfied with where the head will be positioned, put the head aside and add a few dabs of Super Glue along the bottom of the hook shank. Using a bodkin or toothpick, spread the glue evenly along the bottom and sides of the shank.

STEP 8.

Once the glue is sp read evenly along the thread, slide the foam head over th e hook, being careful not to let the foam to uch the glue until it’s in th e correct position . Let the glue set to the foa m for about 15 se conds.

STEP 10.

STEP 9.

Add prism eyes and any other body art, if desired.

I’ve found both paint markers and airbrush paints hold up well when using a finish coat.

Flip the fly right-side up. If you have not already done so, use a bodkin and poke a hole in the foam lip where it will be pushed over the hook eye. The hole should be approximately 5/16 of an inch up from the end of the lip. Carefully stretch the foam down and over the eye.

To learn more about Car l Harris’ innovative fly patterns, you can visit his website, Instagram , or Facebook page: https://www.cghcustomt ackle.com https://www.instagram .com/cghcustomtackle/ https://www.facebook. com/cghcustomtackle/

R 2.0 SOFT CHEW WIGGLE

STEP 11.

Put a finish coat on the entire surface of the foam head. I prefer Flex Seal clear liquid, but it requires 4 to 6 hours of drying time. Use UV Flex Epoxy for faster drying times.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

97

THE U NDERTOW DEVOTION

by George Roberts

We at the magazine expect all of

I was at home one weekend afternoon

our contributors, when they get an

in August when I got a text from

Nate, had been planning to get a

assignment, to devote themselves

Mark. It was a photo of a man’s bare

tattoo together for a while, but he

to the project. When I assigned Mark

back with a tattoo of a Dwight Hwang

wasn’t sure what he should get. Then

White the task of writing a feature

print: The Boil, a tuna chasing a

the article came out. That cinched

article on gyotaku artist Dwight

flying fish out of the water. It was

it. One Saturday morning found

Hwang (Issue #41), I knew he’d devote

one of the prints we had used to

them at Ruby Red Ink in Acushnet,

himself to it. I’d known Mark for a

illustrate the feature. The tattoo was

Massachusetts. Nate got a tattoo

couple of years before I was involved

beautifully rendered, but it was fresh;

of a hibiscus in memory of Mark’s

with the magazine, so I knew he was

it had that raw, painful look.

enamored with all things Japanese.

Mark had trained in the martial art

“Holy crap!” I texted back. “Who is

of aikido for the better part of 30

that?” It still hadn’t dawned on me.

years and spent several years running

In that moment I was thinking that

his own dojo (which is how we met).

maybe Dwight had shared the photo

He had done sumi-e painting as well

with Mark, that one of Dwight’s

as nature printing, and he liked to

fans had paid him the ultimate

drink expensive sake—so I knew this

compliment.

alley. And I knew Mark was itching to

cost,” I said.

“Put it this way,” Mark replied. “For what I paid for this tattoo, I probably

Although there’ll never be any “Are you serious?”

question that Mark will devote himself to his work, I’m going to have

“As a heart attack.”

Frankly, I wasn’t really surprised when

to be careful about what projects I assign him in the future.

I called him.

I wasn’t even that surprised when Dwight Hwang produced our most

“Can’t imagine what that must’ve

“It’s me,” Mark wrote.

about giving him the project.

Mark turned in an excellent feature.

longer—over three-and-a-half hours.

could have bought the original print.”

publish a feature article in a national magazine. In all, I felt pretty confident

deceased mother, who had loved the flower. Mark was in the chair a bit

assignment would be right up his

Tattoo: The Boil, rendered by Jared “What on Earth possessed you to do

Ponte of Ruby Red Ink in Acushnet,

striking cover to date (black and

this?” I refrained from adding, At your

Massachusetts, from an original

white—who knew?).

age. After all, there can’t be many

gyotaku print by Dwight Hwang.

people who decide, at age 62, to get

98

Mark explained that he and his son,

But what happened next, I never

their first tattoo—especially if they

saw coming.

work in healthcare, as Mark does.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

photo: Paul King

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DAVID MANGUM GUIDE/ FILMMAKER/ ARTIST