NEWSLETTER #13 -
JUNE 2003
TOPICS IN THIS
ISSUE:
-
The Extremes –
Elation And Loss On The Saltwater Flats Of
Belize
-
Frontiers
Associate Agent
-
Unique Summer
Getaways
-
Leland Hosted
Trip To Crocodile Bay, Costa Rica
This is the
thirteenth edition of our monthly newsletter with
updates on great fly fishing venues and insights for
our traveling fly fishers. We want to help you
match the right location with your fly fishing goals
and objectives and properly prepare you to fully
enjoy the experience. We’ve been to most
locations and pride ourselves on our ability to
research new sites. Whatever unbiased
information on timing and locations we can provide
comes at the same cost to you as booking direct –
i.e., no extra cost.
THE EXTREMES – ELATION AND LOSS ON THE FLATS OF
BELIZE
“I’m going to catch
a decent sized permit before I die” stated Gordon
Taylor to Captain Charles Westby. This was at
the outset of his trip aboard the mothership
Seaduction. After years of chasing this
elusive species with a fly rod, Gordon made that
statement a reality with two nice fish released
(largest was 17 pounds).
That’s the elation –
a goal realized, desired success attained, a
wonderful experience for Gordon!
How ‘bout the flip
side. The desired goal is to boat a
one-hundred pound tarpon on a fly for Bill Kenner.
It’s the last day of Bill’s mothership trip in
Belize, barely an hour remaining before the boat
must make the run to Belize City to put Bill on an
airplane home. His week of chasing bonefish,
snook, tarpon and permit in Belize would be at an
end. But there is still an hour left when the
monster shows himself on the flat, in just three or
four feet of water. The cast is good, the fish
charges, the hook-up is solid, the fish is in the
air and the battle begins. After an hour’s
struggle, the fish is near the boat and is certain
to meet the trophy goal. The tension always
increases when a big fish is near the boat – so many
things can go wrong when a 100 pounds of fury makes
one last effort. Bill is mentally picturing
the photo he will have to commemorate this special
moment in his fly fishing life. He lifts with
all his remaining strength to bring the fish just
another foot closer to the boat so his lip can be
secured. Bill’s own report of the last few
seconds.
“yea, I re-think
that last part of the sad fish story over and over.
If I hadn’t rushed that last minute, if I hadn’t put
too much pressure on the rod, if someone would have
grabbed the lip quicker, IF I HAD JUST LANDED THAT
FISH!!!”
What happened? The rod snapped under the
pressure, the fly fell out of the mouth, and Bill
collapsed on the floor of the skiff and said, “I’ve
had a great time, but just take me to the airport.”
ROOM FOR MORE RODS ON LELAND BELIZE TRIP 9/19/03
We have the Belize
motherships reserved for a Leland salt water fly
fishing adventure for tarpon, permit, bonefish and
snook Sept. 19 – 26. Keith Westra, our
Lafayette shop manager, will be hosting the trip.
Give a call if you have some room on your calendar
and an interest in a great saltwater adventure.
Price is $2,400 for the week which includes
basically everything except airfare, tips, and
fishing equipment (some heavy tarpon fly rods/reels
available for use).
LELAND AND FRONTIERS AGENT RELATIONSHIP INITIATED
Leland Fly Fishing
Adventures is now an authorized agent for Frontiers
International Travel. With this relationship,
we can book all the world-wide adventures available
through Frontiers, adding dramatically to the roster
of “world class” fly fishing we currently handle.
UNIQUE SUMMER GETAWAYS
Still looking for
that special fly fishing adventure for this summer?
With travel being down throughout the industry, many
of our top adventures that are normally sold out
still have space available.
In eastern Idaho, we
have Three Rivers Ranch available; a lodge that has
been selected the “North American Lodge of the Year”
by Orvis. Fish the Teton, South Fork of the
Snake, the Henry’s Fork, all the great waters of
Yellowstone from this outstanding lodge.
Outstanding food, excellent guides, a warm family
atmosphere, and great waters make this a wonderful
spot, especially for those new to fly fishing.
A unique Alaskan
adventure – a quality float trip down one of
Alaska’s secluded rivers. Fish with the bears
– a great outdoors experience!! Or for float
trips, how ‘bout the Smith River in Montana, the
Deschutes in Oregon, or the Blackwater in British
Columbia – all “top of the line” float trip fly
fishing adventures. If you just have a
few days available, there’s the extraordinary
overnight float trip through the South Fork of the
Snake River Canyon.
Want a private base
of operations for your family or corporate group?
How ‘bout a small family operated inn located in
central Oregon near some of the state’s most
productive waters. Great accommodations and
meals with the best of Oregon close at hand.
Moose Lake Lodge in
British Columbia still has some space available –
great destination with lots of action for newcomers
to fly fishing including trout and all the species
of Pacific salmon.
There are many other
parts of the wonderful world of fly fishing that
still have openings for this summer. Let us
know what your goals and budget are and together we
can find an exciting solution.
LELAND HOSTED TRIP TO CROCODILE BAY, COSTA RICA
Early December, the
week after Thanksgiving, temperatures dropping, and
the Christmas season anxiety just around the
corner….….join my wife, Marte, and me for an
exciting week at Crocodile Bay, Costa Rica.
One of the few upscale lodges in Costa Rica,
this destination on the Golfo Dulce (the Osa
Peninsula) has something for everyone.
Offshore fly fishing for sails and marlin, jungle
rivers with snook and a variety of species, and the
inshore bay for roosterfish, snappers, etc.
This is a unique and varied fishery. And for
the non-fisher, National Geographic has described
this peninsula as “the most ecologically intense
place on earth.” Eco-tour packages are a part
of the scene at Crocodile Bay, a multi-purpose
lodge. We have room for six adventurers to
join us. Call for details.
Either phone or drop
us an e-mail if you have questions or would like
more information about any of our destinations.
An enthusiastic
traveling fly fisherman,
Don Muelrath
Leland Fly Fishing Adventures
888-347-4896
flyfish@napanet.net
www.flyfishingoutfitters.com
e-mail Josh Frazier at
Josh@flyfishingoutfitters.com
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