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NEWSLETTER #25 -
JUNE 2004
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 – June, ‘04
TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE (lots of salt water info in
this one):
-
Leland’s First Saltwater Fly Fishing School – a
report
-
’05 Saltwater School Plans
-
Fly Fishing The World At 86 Years Young
-
This Issue’s “Fantasy Stuff”
-
Quips and Quotes
This is the twenty-fifth 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.
Leland’s First Saltwater Fly Fishing School – Report
Our first saltwater fly fishing school started with
two sessions in Northern California which included
casting lessons and other “how to prepare for a salt
water trip” information. The major portion of the
program was a “sampler” five night trip to Belize
for six guys to fish for bonefish, tarpon, permit,
etc.
Summary: The first Leland Salt Water Fly Fishing
“School” in Belize dealt with very difficult
conditions in which to learn to fish a fly on the
flats. With high winds daily, the three guys (Rich
Hosley, Tony Brookfield, and Gary Neal) who were
fishing the flats for the first time came through
and provided results that far exceeded expectations
considering the challenging circumstances.
Collectively, they released several bonefish (Rich
had the top bonefish day with three fish released)
and all three were demonstrably more proficient in
all the technical skills by the third day. The
major highlight was that each of them hooked and
fought a silver king for at least 25 minutes
experiencing the electrifying thrill of a tarpon in
the air. Additionally, Rich hooked two tarpon on
the same cast – the first a 40# fish who shook the
hook, then an 80# fish picked it up while Rich was
retrieving the line. Each of the “first timers”
were able to cast a fly to fifty-plus pound tarpon
in shallow water over white sand. Tony and Gary
were able to watch the fish eat their fly with Tony
actually landing the first tarpon (a 50+ pound fish)
he’d ever seen - this on his first day ever fishing
the salt water flats. Tony is now a member of a
very small “club” that landed the first tarpon they
ever saw.
Salt water veterans on the trip who provided
inspiration and encouragement were Damian Hedley and
Richard Montgomery.
This group set a standard for subsequent “school”
trips that will be hard to match.
SALT WATER SCHOOL – PLANS FOR ’05
We are definitely going to have at least one salt
water fly fishing school in 2005. Over the next few
weeks, the Belize mothership trip schedule will be
set for ’05 as our repeat clients will be selecting
their dates. If the interest is there, we are
considering hosting more than one fly fishing school
in ’05. There has even been discussion about having
three – one in each third of the calendar year.
I’ve heard from several of you interested in this
program. In the next week, please let me know if
you would like more information about the program
and/or if you are a serious candidate for the
“school” for next year.
FLY FISHING THE WORLD AT 86 YEARS YOUNG
In last months newsletter, we reported a fly fishing
fantasy experienced by Ray Hallberg who captured his
first salt water flats GRAND SLAM – made special by
the fact that Ray is 86 years old. We asked Ray if
he could share some of his thoughts about enjoying
the sport of fly fishing at his age. Here’s what he
reported:
“Occasionally, I think the end of my favorite sport
is near, but the older I get the more fun it is to
plan the next trip and the trip after that. I’ve
fished in nine countries and caught more than 30
species of fish on the fly. It is different at 86 –
there’s no fly fishing Viagra. The 90 foot casts
which were once so regular just don’t seem to get
there anymore.
The eyes now seldom spot the target fish. Still,
there are some things that help make salt water fly
fishing a great sport for all ages. Stay in good
physical shape. Do some strength training with
weights, walk a lot, and practice casting so the
muscles don’t forget.
Take a laid back approach to the adventure. Let
your guide do the worrying. Make sure you
communicate with your guide so he knows what you can
do and especially what you can’t do. You are a team
and he’s the coach/captain so listen to what he
suggests. We have fished with many fine and
talented guides around the world and, in our
opinion, Martin McCord is the finest of them all.
Take a nice nap at noon and have your first beer
just after you’ve stowed your rods for the day.
Marry well, as I have, and your wife can be your
favorite fishing companion.
My first grand slam (related in last months Leland
Fly Fishing Travel Newsletter) is a great example of
how good things happen if you relax and let things
come to you.”
Ray Hallberg
“FANTASY STUFF” FOR THIS ISSUE
For a fly fishing fantasy, it’s hard to top:
casting to the first tarpon you’ve ever seen on your
first day ever fly fishing the salt water flats,
hooking it, then releasing it as was referenced
above. But, this one comes close. The setting is
also Belize, but the fish are permit. In 2003,
Jason Lozano took his first permit (as well as
tarpon and bonefish) on a Belize mothership trip.
On this years trip, Jason had a fantasy morning that
included casting to ten different permit before
lunch. Four of those permit ate his fly and three
of them made the landing net - 10, 12, and 14
pounds. Congrats to Jason on a morning that will be
remembered.
QUIPS AND QUOTES
fly fishermen value most the fish that are hard to
take and value least those that are offered to
everybody on a fishmonger’s slab.
Rod and Line, 1929
LELAND-FRONTIERS AGENT AGREEMENT
In addition to the many great destinations that we
represent, Leland Fly Fishing Adventures also has an
agreement with Frontiers to represent all their
properties (many of which we already book
independently). If you are considering any of the
destinations that Frontiers offers, please give us a
call as it’s virtually the same process as booking
through Frontiers, and we need the “bonus points.”
And, we may have some personal experiences that can
add to your knowledge and preparations.
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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list, just hit “reply” and let us know – you’ll be
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