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86
YEAR OLD GRAND SLAM
Ray and Alice Hallberg have been
fishing with Martin McCord for over 20 years and
were his first clients upon completion of the
construction of his Belize mothership, the Meca.
What makes them so unique in the world of salt water
fly fishing is that Alice is 81 years old and Ray is
86. They’ve been taking a 12 day trip with McCord
aboard his Meca live aboard each year and this year
turned out to be extra special. While fishing a
shallow tarpon flat at dusk (a tarpon flat they had
fished many times over the years and never before
seen a permit there) Martin spotted a school of
permit with their fins just breaking the water.
Ray’s eyesight has not allowed him to see fish in
the water for some years and he casts by Martin’s
instructions – i.e., “get your line in the air, more
to the left, longer, etc.,etc.” Ray made the cast
and the result was a permit released at the boat
after dark that was in the 30# range – literally too
big for the net. This was Ray’s sixth permit, but
the largest by far and special for more than just
his size – this fish completed Ray’s first SALTWATER
GRAND SLAM!!!!!!!!! I believe this is an “age
class” world record for Grand Slams – does anyone
know of a fly fisher over 86 who’s taken a Grand
Slam?
ENJOYING THE SALT WATER FLATS AT 86 (by Ray Hallberg)
(We asked Ray if he would share
some of his thoughts regarding why he is still able
to enjoy the salt water flats at his age and what
follows was his response)
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 above)
is a great example of how good things happen if you
relax and let things come to you.
Ray Hallberg
TRIP REPORT
Fly Fishing Adventures
888-347-4896
flyfish@napanet.net
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