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NEWSLETTER #18 -
NOVEMBER 2003
If you have access
to Microsoft Word, open the attachment above to see
the information below in a more “reader friendly”
format.
Leland Fly Fishing Travel Newsletter – November ‘03
TOPICS IN THIS
ISSUE:
-
Fly Fishing
Quips and Quotes
-
Corporate
Programs and Trips
-
“The way it was
is how it is” ----- Minipi River, Labrador
-
Exceptional New
Zealand Report
-
Striped Bass -
Fantasy Day On The Delta
-
Some Space Still
Available For Early Season No. Platte Lodge
-
Fly Fishing
Travel Gift Certificates…..or just gifts
This is the
eighteenth 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.
FLY FISHING QUIPS AND QUOTES
The charm of fly
fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive
– but obtainable – a perpetual series of occasions
for hope. In most cases, that pursuit takes place
in the most spectacular natural environments on
earth.
CORPORATE PROGRAMS AND TRIPS
We have a growing
array of programs available for the corporate
world. They range from a forty-five minute slide
presentation on Fly Fishing Earth’s Pristine
Destinations (no charge) to casting/fishing clinics
which can range from a few hours up to a full day.
These programs are tailored to the audience,
depending on their level of fly fishing experience
and skills.
As far as corporate
trips go, here are examples of the type of trips
we’ve assembled. All of these trips included both
experienced and novice fly fishers and were matched
to the skill levels of the group. Great outdoor fly
fishing experiences can be structured even for those
who’ve never held a fly rod.
-
a group of 7
executives took over a small inn in Central
Oregon which caters to tight-knit groups and
families. Their agenda included a four hour
board meeting, an evening of fly fishing
(lessons for the newcomers) and a full day
guided river float trip.
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Eight executives
from throughout the US converged on Jackson
Hole, Wyoming for a great western outdoor
experience built around an overnight float trip
in the canyon of the South Fork of the Snake
River. Qualified fly fishing guides/instructors
and outstanding food and accommodations were
arranged for this event which didn’t have a
stated business purpose outside of building
relationships while having fun together in the
West. A three night event.
-
A successful fly
fishing salesman brought four of his best
clients to an upscale fly fishing lodge in
Northern California for two nights and days of
fly fishing together. Cementing relationships
for the future was the only business objective.
The centerpiece of the long weekend was having
fun with fly rods and fish.
Corporate and family
trips have some aspects in common – the most
important is that the trip must be built to
accomplish the objectives of the group/family
leader. All planning starts with understanding
those objectives.
“THE WAY IT WAS IS HOW IT IS”
In today’s world,
finding secluded and isolated destinations with
fisheries that are the equal or even superior to
what they were 20 or 30 years ago is a substantial
challenge. Conservation efforts often come too
little and to late to preserve these special
watersheds or fisheries. One place that has stood
the test of time and weathered it well is the Minipi
River in Labrador and it’s giant brook trout. While
most of the spectacular brook trout fisheries in
eastern Canada were being destroyed by overfishing
and the encroachment of man, the Minipi River has
been protected and preserved. It’s an example of
what can be accomplished in this regard by an
understanding government and effective management.
Lee Wulff started these conservation efforts in
conjunction with the Canadian government after his
discovery of this special strain of brook trout in
the late 50’s and early 60’s. It’s been carried on
by the current owners/operators of Cooper’s Minipi
Camps throughout the last 25 years. Today, veterans
such as Ken Washburn and Bob Poole (who have fished
the Minipi each year for the last 30+ years and
maintained meticulous catch records), say that today
the average brookie is a half-pound heavier than
20 years ago and more per week are caught and
released. It would be wonderful if the phrase “the
way it was is how it is” could apply to more of our
once pristine environments and fisheries.
This is the same
hardy environment that my son, Scott, and I will be
returning to for our fourth trip in early August
next year. During our previous three trips, we’ve
released 61 fish that weighed over 5 pounds with the
largest brookie of eight and a quarter pounds, near
world record size – most caught on the surface. The
lodge only takes 8 anglers per week and there are
only two spots left for our week. If you’d like to
join us or just get more information, please let me
know. As with most of our destinations, we have a
complete slide presentation available on the trip.
NEW ZEALAND REPORT
Below is an
exceptional report from the Murchison area (northern
part of the North Island) from a mid October trip.
Keep in mind that these results constitute hitting
it “just right” and were obtained by an experienced
New Zealand traveling fly fisher. In four days, 45
browns between four and eight pounds were landed and
released. About half the fish were taken on dry
flies. This is “fantasy fly fishing – New Zealand
style.” It’s great when you hit it just right and
everything works!!! Had another great early season
report (last two weeks of Oct) from a couple we sent
to New Zealand on their honeymoon. They reported
solid results also. Guess I’m going to have to
change my attitude about the early season in New
Zealand??
DELTA FANTASY DAY – STRIPED BASS
Casting streamers
for striped bass in the delta has been part of my
fly fishing calendar for the last five years. It’s
a great October, November, and December option to
wet a line that’s close to home and offers the
opportunity for big fish. A few weeks ago, I shared
a day on the delta with Paul Wilms (a delta veteran)
and one of our favorite guides. Our results were
23 fish released with most of them schoolies and two
eight-pounders the largest. Total weight for the
day was 89 pounds. Those results DO NOT earn the
“fantasy day” label – the day before provided the
fantasy description. Paul, fishing alone with a
guide, took 25 fish with six over 10 pounds and a
largest of 21 pounds – that’s a “fantasy day” of
delta striper fishing.
EARLY SEASON IN THE ROCKIES
A great early season
(late March and early April) option in the Rockies
is the North Platte Lodge in Wyoming. Solid results
have been obtained by our clients each of the last
four years during this period with a large rainbow
of nine pounds being taken by Don Nelson this
April. They have one of the most reasonably priced
packages available for a Rocky Mountain lodge and we
still have some space open for late March – early
April for those wishing to “scratch their fly
fishing itch” before most waters are fishing well.
SANTA AND FLY FISHING TRAVEL
If you’d like fly
fishing travel packages to be part of your holiday
season gift giving, we have an outstanding selection
and gift certificates to present. From father-son
type trips to couples fly fishing adventures like
Ladies Week at the famous Three Rivers Ranch in
Idaho, there is a broad range of possibilities.
Gifts like these have to be customized to meet your
personal criteria. If you have some ideas to
discuss, give a call.
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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