Christmas Island Medical Help Needed

Moana Kofe, Christmas Island’s original guide, is in need of our help.  Moana’s wife Lucy has slowly been going blind over the past several years.  For much of this time the general thought was that there was nothing we could do for her.  However recent efforts by George and Sharron Maybee (Friends of Christmas Island and Carlton Smith(Pacific Island Medical Aid) have determined that there is a surgery to help her available in Hawaii.  Carlton’s group Pacific Island Medical Aid has secured funding for her operation as well has housing for he stay in Hawaii.  Right now they need help securing two round trip airline tickets at a total cost of $2000.00  George and Sharron Maybee have made a generous donation and Fly Water Travel will assist with a portion as well.

If you are interested in contributing to this cause please contact.

Brian Gies @ Fly Water Travel 800-552-2729 brian@flywatertravel.com

For more information about the work Carlton Smith is doing for the people of Kiribati please visit his web site.   http://pacificislandsaid.org

Read Full Post »

Rio Grande 2012 Openings

Despedida Lodge

For hardcore anglers who appreciate long hours on the water, short drive times, and a great value, Despedida delivers!
Capacity: 6 anglers
2012 Rate: $5,500 per person for a 7 night/6 day package

Dec 31 – Jan 7                      6 rods available
Jan 7 – 14                                6 rods
Jan 14-21                                 2 rods
Jan 21 – 28                            1 rod (hosted trip with Charles Gehr)
Jan 28 – Feb 4                        2 rods
March 10 – 17                      6 rods
March 17 – 24                      2 rods
March 24 – 31                     2 rods
March 31 – April 7           6 rods
April 7 – 14                            4 rods

Kau Tapen Lodge

Kau Tapen (“house of fishing” in the native Ona language) is the original sea-run brown trout fly fishing lodge in Tierra del Fuego and the standard of elegance by which other fly fishing lodges are measured.
Capacity: 12 anglers
2012 Rate: $7,250 per person for a 7 night / 6 day package

Jan 7 – 14                            6 rods available
Jan 14 – 21                         4 rods
Feb 25 – March 3          6 rods
March 17 – 24                  8 rods

Villa Maria Lodge

With elegant historic, overnight accommodations at the main estancia and a fabulous little riverfront facility for lunches and the mid-day siesta, this represents yet another outstanding Argentine fly fishing option on a river that knows no equal.
Capacity: 6 anglers
2012 Rate: $6,950 per person for a 7 night / 6 day package

Dec 30 – Jan 6                 4 rods available
March 9 – 16                     6 rods
March 23 – 30                 6 rods

Estancia Maria Behety

Boasting 32 miles of the lower river’s prime water, easy wading, access to both sides of the river, skilled fly fishing guides, and high catch rates, it is no wonder that dedicated anglers from around the world covet their dates at Estancia Maria Behety.
Capacity: 12 anglers
2012 Rate: $5,795 per person for a 7 night / 6 day package

Dec 28 – Jan 4            5 rods available (SPECIAL RATE of $4,050/anglers, double occupancy)
Feb 11 – 18                     2 rods
Feb 25 – March 3      2 rods
March 3 – 10                6 rods
March 10 – 17              6 rods
March 17 – 24             10 rods

La Villa Maria Behety
Capacity: 6 anglers in PRIVATE ROOMS
2012 Rate: $6,095 for a 7 night/6 day package

Dec 31 – Jan 7              6 rods available
Feb 11 – 18                      2 rods
Feb 18 – 25                     1 rod
March 10 – 17               1 rod
March 24 – 31              3 rods
March 31 – April 7    6 rods

Give us a call at 800-552-2729 to book your trip to the Rio Grande next year!

Read Full Post »

Patagonia 2012 prime availability

La Posada de los Farios, Rio Cisnes -ChileThe ultimate in homestyle Chilean hospitality and quality dry fly fishing in a peaceful rural Patagonian setting.
Available dates:  Dec. 31-Jan. 7 (prime Dragonfly action!), Jan. 14-22 (La Posada/Coyhaique River Lodge Combo), Feb. 4-11 & 11-18 (peak hopper time!)

Coyhaique River Lodge – Chile
Sets the standard for quality lodges centered in Chile’s renowned trout fishing Mecca of Coyhaique.
Available dates:  Jan. 14-22 (Coyhaique/La Posada de los Farios Combo), Feb. 12-18 & 19-25 (hopper time!)

Chucao Lodges – Chile
An authentic Chilean experience where outstanding local guides and rustic comfort are delivered at an unbeatable price.
Available dates:  Dec. 31-Jan. 7 & Jan. 7-14 (prime Dragonfly action!),  Feb. 11-18

Northern Rivers – Argentina
Just now being brought online by the talented team at Untamed Angling, we have every reason to believe that this newest Patagonia venue will soon become a coveted classic.  Northern River’s fishing program focuses primarily on the exciting sight fishing on the area’s many secret off-the-radar rivers, spring creeks and private streams.
Available dates: Dec. 3-10 (special discounted early season rate), Jan 8-15, Feb. 4-12 (dry fly sight fishing peak!)

Spring Creek Lodge – San Martin Area, Argentina
Combination of world-class angling and tasteful accommodations in the heart of Argentina’s most productive waters and attractively priced.
Available dates: Jan 15-22 and 22-29, Feb. 26 – March 3 (all prime dry fly dates!)

Give us a call to book any of these Patagonia destinations 1-800-552-2729

Read Full Post »

4UR Ranch – Mid Season Report

This just in from guide extraordinaire Jesse Robbins at 4UR Ranch in Colorado:

“I’ve attached some pics from the past several weeks. Some nice fish in there. We had an epic drake hatch this season, lasting for two solid weeks. It was pretty much clockwork every day, around 930 or 10 they’d come out and the fish would go nuts. Then right around 11:30 the hatch would stop and we wouldn’t see fish rising anymore. So we’d switch over to PMDs and the bite would continue. Run off was pretty easy compared to other reports around the west. Our water levels are great right now, if maybe a bit low. We’ve got lots of caddis around now as well as PMDs still. Hopper and hopper-dropper rigs are also catching fish on a consistent basis. Multiple 20″ fish are being caught every week, with some pushing the 25″ mark. Streamer fishing in our ponds and Lost Lakes continues to be very effective.”

Thanks Jesse!

TWO FOR ONE KIDS SPECIAL
One child stays for free with one paid child
Offer good for children 9 and under

August 13-20, 2011

We still have some great late-season availability at 4UR Ranch. Give Charles Gehr a call at 800-552-2729 to book your trip to 4UR this year!

 

Read Full Post »

Smithers Update – Fishing With Ray

Smithers Region Day Trip Add Ons!

We just received great news for BC steelheaders that guiding legend Ray Makowichuk will be offering day trips on the Morice and upper Bulkley. His calendar is fairly open at this time but it will likely fill fast.

About Ray: Ray is guiding legend who has worked the Morice for more than 40 years. Ray was one of the regions earliest proponents for catch and release and spends all of his personal fishing time swinging dries on cane rods. Some believe that he may have tailed more dry fly caught steelhead than any other angler. Ray is a true expert on the dry and gentleman to fish.

Rates: $650 for one, $850 for two, or $1000 for three anglers. HST and accommodations at Pleasant Valley in Houston not included.

Please call Ken Morrish for details 800-552-2729

 

Read Full Post »

Big Ku Trip Report

“I wanted to thank you for your conversations and encouragement. I don’t know if I would have taken the opportunity to go if I hadn’t received your email regarding the Big Ku Lodge. As you suspected, the weather did not impact the fishing much at all and we had some great days. I fished the 7136 Z-axis for the majority of the trip – all of the Big Ku water and some of Battle Creek water. Shane Kohlbeck and Jordan Mortimore were very patient and got me casting farther that I could ever have anticipated. I think that in the end, I caught more rainbows over 20″ than under and my daughter did not catch any that were less than 20″.

I tend to have the “stay-at-home” sort of personality and found that I did not wish for fly-outs at all – there was far more than enough water and fishing in range of the Big Ku lodge. My daughter just adored the staff of Big Ku Lodge and, was crying as the float plane lifted off Kukaklek Lake. No doubt, it will be a week that she and I cherish for the rest of our lives. Thank you again for helping to arrange it. Sincerely, Kean”

Give us a call at 800-552-2729 to book your trip to Big Ku Lodge!

Read Full Post »

Henry’s Fork – A Report From The River

Nelson Ishiyama loves the Henry’s Fork. As owner of Henry’s Fork Lodge, Nelson’s deep affection for and knowledge of the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River knows no bounds. We often use the phrase “they really have their finger on the pulse of that fishery.” Well, Nelson is the pulse of the Henry’s Fork.

While we’ve all been battling tough conditions on our favorite trout streams, or just not fishing at all and waiting for better conditions, anglers in the Island Park area have been enjoying some great fishing on the Henry’s Fork. Following is the official report from the river’s pulse, Nelson Ishiyama:

Some great news from the Henry’s Fork!

• The water is clear and the dry fly fishing is on fire
• This year’s record snowpack means the prime fishing will last much longer than usual
• Henry’s Fork Lodge has some great dates available in July and August

Though most of the northern Rockies are in runoff with high and murky water, the Henry’s Fork is in great shape. Spring fed and buffered further by a dam, the Henry’s Fork is virtually weatherproof, so you are assured of good conditions in this and other years.

Tremendous golden stone hatches, multiple mayfly hatches, including the famed green drakes, pale morning duns and clouds of gray drakes and many species of caddis have the fish rising to a smorgasbord of insects.

Many anglers have reported career days and personal best fish on dry flies in the past weeks, and photos verify their tales. Most fish are in the 16-18” range, but many fish of 20-23” have been caught by happy anglers. One guide who recorded 32 fish of a measured 20” or better last year reports that one client has caught 10 fish of that size so far in four days of fishing this season.

The usual hatch schedule has been delayed into the season, so the coming weeks and months should offer extended excellent fishing. Once other rivers in the Yellowstone area come into shape, the choices will expand even more.

Henry’s Fork Lodge has some prime dates in July and August, so it’s not too late to book a trip for what promises to be an especially great season in this abundant water year.

Jim and Jim Lenardson, father and son, team up with a gorgeous cutthroat on a small stream near Island Park, Idaho

Russ Graham with a set of healthy browns from the lower Henry's Fork.

John Ellis with another big brown trout caught below Mesa Falls on the Henry's Fork.

Give us a call at 800-552-2729 to get your dry fly fix on the Henry’s Fork!

Read Full Post »

Tsimane Lodge Spring 2011 Report

I have been incredibly fortunate to fish many of the world’s most exotic and productive fisheries. I have fished Kola’s finest Atlantic salmon rivers, Kamchatka’s best trout and steelhead systems, I have fished darn near everything in BC and Alaska, chased 250 pound tarpon in West Africa, enjoyed the Amazon, explored northern Australia and visited more exotic saltwater spots than I can count. I don’t mention this to brag but rather to calibrate a bold statement that doesn’t slip easily from my lips: That being that my recent trip to Tsimane in Bolivia was the single most interesting and rewarding trip of my fishing career. For me, it had all the elements: True virgin wilderness; noble non-westernized indigenous people; ridiculous biomass/diversity; challenging and at times spectacular fishing; wonderful food, accommodations, guides and service; and just enough risk and rigor to place it outside of the average angler’s comfort zone. After all, the most remote reaches of the Bolivian Amazon are somewhat dangerous by definition!

Ever since seeing my first image of northern Bolivia’s jungle freestone rivers, I have been dying to make the trip. It was four years ago when owner of Untamed Angling Marcelo Perez showed me the images on his laptop in a Buenos Aires café. I have been blubbering excitedly about the green boulder strewn rivers, lush native jungle and fierce acrobatic golden fish ever since and biding my time until I would be wheels down on the jungle airstrip that marks the starting point of the Tsimane adventure.

Before this trip I had never caught a golden dorado. After this trip, I have a deep affinity for the species and consider it one of the world’s greatest game-fish. They are brutal hyper aggressive fish but in the same breath they are wary and well attuned to their surroundings. If I had to make one from scratch, I would use one part salmon/steelhead for where they hold, one part tarpon for how they leap, and one part barracuda for their teeth and attack speed. Then I would stir that up with some gold spray paint, steroids, Red Bull and a sprinkle of methamphetamine for good measure. Just one look in their eye and you can tell they are crazy…not the kind of fish that make good neighbors.

I give them the “Uber-Gamefish” award for a number of reasons. First off, they are the right size and typically range from 3-35 pounds with larger specimens possible. Second, they absolutely crush flies and if one wants it, you cannot strip the fly too fast for them. Third, each and every fish jumps wildly a minimum of three times irrespective of its size, and fourth, they don’t fight forever and they are well behaved for hero shots. I also like the fact that when an angler is playing a smaller member of the species (say under 8 pounds) that larger dorado often maim, kill or devour the smaller fish in the process. And last but certainly not least, they absolutely crush fast moving top water flies under the right conditions.

So I hope that sheds some light on why I think Tsimane is such an outrageous experience. At the end of one particularly impressive day of fishing, world traveler and fly fishing rep extraordinaire Van Rollo Please, announced to the crew that he had just had the single best day of fishing in his life.

See Ken Morrish’s Entire Photo Album

Read a full trip report by:  Brian Sohl

Read Full Post »

El Rancho Pinoso Prime Availability!!

We have just heard of a prime week opening up at El Rancho Pinoso. El Rancho Pinoso sets the bar for private water venues. Accommodations are two fully-furnished cabins in the mountains of southern Colorado. Staying here you’ll have the entire ranch to yourself with a party of 4 or more. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular .The fishing is on 3 miles of beautiful private water that is within easy walking distance of your accommodations. You will also fish another private Ranch with over 7 miles of exceptional private water. Horses are on-site and rides with the wrangler are included. In terms of relaxation, solitude and great fishing nothing compares to El Rancho Pinoso.

Available Dates: July 24 – 31

Give us a call at 800-552-2729 to book El Rancho Pinoso!

Read Full Post »

Spring 2011 Christmas Island Reports

Below you will see a few of the reports we have received from clients returning from Christmas Island Outfitters.  As you can see the GT fishing as been exceptional as of late!

I just got back from Xmas Island and I wanted to let you know that the trip was excellent. It can’t be described as luxurious, but the people there are some of the best I’ve fished with anywhere and that’s most important. The room was clean, the food was good and the service always outstanding. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was worth the 25 hours in transit it took to get home. If only it weren’t so far away, but then it wouldn’t be what it is. I hooked 22 GTs up to 100 lbs and landed 16. Thanks for the help making it happen. SP

This may sound like an advertisement, but WOW!!, what a great trip. The staff at The Shark Place was friendly, helpful, and went out of their way to make sure we had everything that we needed and were comfortable. The food was outstanding every day. Best of all of course was the fishing. I can not say enough good things about the guides. They all worked hard putting us on the fish. Working with Moana was a treat and his willingness to share his knowledge was a once in a lifetime experience. I would like to especially thank Peter, for his patience, kindness, friendship, and teaching me not only how to catch fish, but how to be a fisherman. Thanks to everyone for making my trip one of the most memorable and greatest fishing adventures ever.  MG

While I am not quite “home”. I am stateside about to board my plane back to Portland.  As you have heard from the hard core trevally group, the fishing was fantastic and the service by Jim and the guides was over the top!
For the hard core bone fisherman like myself, the fishing was equally impressive although I was glad to catch 4 large trevally in the 2 stints out for the giants.  The largest I landed was around 80 pounds according to Moana.  I paid a high price in my efforts to land the eight fish I had on.  I lost 3 fly lines and one of my reels froze up!
Cheryl and want to again express our deep thanks to all of the crew for your terrific efforts on our behalf.   Pass our gratitude on to  all of the staff.
DM

Great trip. Thanks again for all of the Fly water Travel crews help in making it happen.
We have a ton of photos. Mike & Doug  get back today and have bunch of photos. I also have a ton but will be in Maui until next Tuesday with my wife who flew in to meet me. It is tough to stay away from work for another week but someone has to do it  🙂  So save some room for my pics and I will send them over next week.

Thanks again for all your help. You guys have my fly fishing travel plans for life!

R

As you can see from the pictures, fishing was absolutely phenomenal. I only landed 5 bonefish (mainly because I didn’t go bonefishing 🙂  but 33 trevally, plus wahoo & yellowfin, and a reef fishing galore.

Jim & Peter (along with Moana, Baia, and TJ) took great care of us.  Jim really rolled out the red carpet for us.  We went shark fishing on the reef at night, hand lining Kiribas style around Cook Island at midnight.  Kata made amazing food, Taka took care of us at the bar.  Truly amazing.

The GT below was estimated by Moana as being over 100 and shy of 110 lbs 🙂  We have pooled our photos, and put together some promo videos (guerilla youtube style).  We will send you links, as well as DVD’s of the photos so you can use them in your promotions if you so choose.

Thank you for everything you did.  Brian (and the Fly Water crew) and Jad, both of you bent over backwards to make this trip happen despite the hardships we had out of the gate.  You both exemplify

professionalism, comradely, and truly understand what it means to be a part of our fly fishing community.

Thank you,

MP & The CI Cell

Read Full Post »