Topics in this issue of the Leland Fly Fishing
Adventures newsletter:
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Peacock Bass Trip Report
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Tierra Del Fuego update
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Permit news
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Early reports – new Nicaragua lodge
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Why New Zealand is such a special destination
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Marin Fly Fishing Show and Leland FFO
This is the second of our monthly newsletters with
updates on great fly fishing venues and insight for
our traveling fly fishers. We want to help you in
your research for your next fly fishing destination
– we’ve been most places and pride ourselves in the
ability to research new locations. For the same
cost as booking direct we get you unbiased
information on timing and locations.
BRAZIL PEACOCK BASS ADVENTURE:
Wayne Henry and Tom Flood were joined by their
“regular” group of traveling fly fisherman for a
jungle river experience this month with peacock bass
as the primary target. Wayne reports they had
excellent fishing, both in numbers (over 500 peacock
bass caught) and size (everyone caught at least one
double digit fish led by Tom’s 22 pounder). In
spite of lots of travel time, Wayne said it was a
good experience.
TIERRA DEL FUEGO UPDATE:
John Gallo and Barney Osher visited the tip of
South America in search of the famous giant sea-run
browns. This is a story of what happens when you
hit it just right at a "world class" destination as
well as the flip side. First, the "just right"
portion - John reports the Rio Grande was
experiencing a very low water year and the guide was
attempting to manage their expectations on their
first trip to the river. The water was low, almost
like fishing pocket water, and the winds were very
high - result: they released 35 fish in four days,
most in
the 15 pound range, with a largest of 19 #. Next a
two day stop at the Rio Gallegos, another famous
sea-run brown trout river about an hour flight north
of the Rio Grande. The water height was just right
and the winds were calm - result: no sea-run fish,
just some natives to about 18 inches;
but they killed them the week before they arrived!
More proof why they call it fishing and not
catching.
PERMIT NEWS:
The elusive permit, generally recognized as the
ultimate challenge to take on a fly, provided an
opportunity for celebration this January when
Charles Stern released his first permit. It was
caught on a shrimp pattern during the Leland hosted
Belize mothership trip Josh was in the same skiff to
verify and photograph the catch. Permit veteran,
Mike Scheele, had a great permit trip to Ascension
Bay in January that resulted in three fish to 15
pounds – all caught on crab imitations. Next week,
I’ll be on a dedicated permit trip aboard the Meca
in Belize with two other guys who have high
thresholds of frustration tolerance. The name of the
permit game is number of shots. Don’t know how many
we’ll catch, but we will get lots of shots in the
waters we’ll fish – I’d be happy with 3 or 4 fish
for the group, but want a dozen. Report in next
months newsletter.
NEW NICARAGUA LODGE – EARLY REPORTS:
Many have asked about the new salt water fly fishing
lodge in Nicaragua. I’ve spoken with fly fishermen
who were there for the first two trips. One was
there in January before the lodge officially opened
and the other was on the first “official trip” in
February. Both reports were the same – the location
of the lodge is beautiful and the fishing potential
“appears” great for tarpon, snook, and possibly
permit. However, according to the guys who briefed
me, both trips were ambushed by unseasonable heavy
winds. The massive lagoon (larger than Ascension
Bay) was so churned up it couldn’t be fished. Also,
while the new guides speak English, they are on a
learning curve. I’m still going, leaving directly
from Belize to check it out. Report in next
newsletter.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT NEW ZEALAND THAT IS SO SPECIAL:
Many of you know how excited Josh and I are about
our experiences in New Zealand this past year and
the trips we’re planning for 2003. I recently read
an article published in The Angling Report that
highlighted the reasons why NZ is so special. It
was written by Mark Kelly who just returned from his
sixth NZ trip. On his trip last year, he caught two
monsters of 29 and 33 inches. This year he didn’t
match that size, but did release 20 fish in seven
days (and hooked and lost many others) to eight
pounds. Highlights from his article include the
following:
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The anticipation of sight-casting to large trout
with light fly rods and then waiting for the
take – cast after cast.
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Testing and developing your fly fishing skills
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Beauty of New Zealand’s rivers, creeks, valleys,
forests and mountains.
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New Zealanders are great people to visit and
associate with.
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Currently a great value with a favorable
exchange rate of $2.33 NZ dollar to $1 US
dollar.
MARIN FLY FISHING SHOW:
The Leland shops will have a booth at the new “fly
fishing only” show in San Rafael on March 2 and 3.
Of special interest to those that have trips booked
on the Smith River in Montana and the Minipi River
in Canada will be two slide presentations on those
destinations. Mike Geary (our outfitter on the
Smith River and friendly face in Leland’s over
Christmas) will be covering the Smith River trip on
Sunday at 2:00. My son, Scott, will be filling in
for me while I’m in Central America and presenting
the show on the giant brookies of the Minipi on
Saturday at 3:00.
An Enthusiastic Traveling Fly Fisherman,
Don Muelrath
Leland Fly Fishing Adventures
888-347-4896
flyfish@napanet.net
www.flyfishingoutfitters.com
