experience counts for everything Capt. Joel Dickey, a no-nonsense veteran guide and one of the most knowledgable and experienced anglers on the water. He calls Georgia home but can normally be found in Big Pine Key Florida chasing tarpon, bonefish and permit. Hardcore professionals like Joel are testing our products to the limit every day and push us in our pursuit to build truly great rods. Their knowledge, expertise, and understanding are passed to our craftsmen, who strive for perfection and uncompromising performance in every rod we make. To us, Joel and his fellow professionals are our unsung heroes. We salute you.
Introducing the new T&T Avantt and Exocett Series. remarkably light. extraordinarily strong.
est
19 6 9
T H E R O D YO U W I L L E V E N T UA L LY OW N
www.thomasandthomas.com HANDMADE IN AMERICA
Enjoying another beautiful sunset while landing the last fish of day. Photograph by Glen Zinkus
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Pulling up to the dock at sunset usually means one of two things: motor troubles or an epic day on the water, this was an epic day. Photograph by Rusty Ross
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We all know gummy minnows can catch almost anything. Who knew that also applied to bait? Photograph by Marco Vigano
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Firing a cast at a tarpon. If you look closely, you can see the fly overlaying the cloud. Photograph by Nassim Joaquin
YOU LIVE FOR THIS MOMENT.
IT’S TIME TO PROTECT IT.
Conserving bonefish, tarpon, permit and their habitats. Visit btt.org/join to become a member today.
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photo by Rick DePaiva TAIL FLY FIS HI NG M AGA ZI NE 1 3
888.512.8812
www.tflats.com
reservations@tflats.com
Editor-in-Chief Joseph Ballarini Creative Director Shawn Abernathy Consulting Editor Alex Lovett-Woodsum Managing Editors Rock Dawson, Arthur Lux Senior Contributors Bob Branham Joe Brennan Pat Ford Mark Hatter Ruben Martin Peter McCleod Jonathan Olch George Roberts Greg Thomas
Creative Contributors Shawn Abernathy Bob Branham Joseph Ballarini Rock Dawson Ruben Martin Peter McCleod Jonathan Olch Brian O'Keefe George Roberts Cole Schreiber Greg Thomas Michael Thomas
On the Cover
Photographer Brian O'Keefe perfectly captures a tarpon putting on an acrobatic display.
Photography Joseph Ballarini Bob Branham Rock Dawson Nassim Joaquin Ruben Martin Peter McCleod Brian O'Keefe George Roberts Rusty Ross Cole Schreiber Greg Thomas Marco Vigano Glen Zinkus
ABOUT Initially released on September 1, 2012, Tail Fly Fishing Magazine is the bimonthly publication with an exclusive focus on fly fishing in saltwater. In certain destinations, fly fishing has become an important factor to both people and the environment. As a method of fishing imbued with values of stewardship and conservation, it continues to connect people with the marine world in significant and positive ways. Tail Fly Fishing Magazine supports creative expressions that heighten our appreciation of fly fishing and encourage us to look at it in new ways. The magazine strives to provide content that reflects our mutual fascination with all aspects of fly fishing. We are grateful for your support and we welcome photographic and written contributions.
Tail Fly Fishing Magazine is published six times annually. Subscriptions are available for $48 per year. Prices vary for international subscriptions. Please contact us with any advertising, subscription or submission questions. 2300 Alton Rd Miami Beach, FL 33140 WWW.TAILFLYFISHING.COM
I N LOV I N G M EMO RY O F JO HN C . M EL FI
24 86 36 54 58 68
76 22 24
CONTENT
VOLUME 31
28 36 42
50 54 58 68 74 76 86 96
Gear Guide: 2017 IFTD Gear Inside the Box by Cole Schreiber How Fly Fishing Survives by Greg Thomas A Fly Line Primer by George Roberts Providence Atoll: A Divine Saltwater Wilderness by Peter McCleod Beer Reviews Complications: Chittum Skiffs by Joseph Ballarini Wading the Flats for Permit by Jonathan Olch Fly Tying: Paso A Paso by Ruben Martin On the Plate by Rock Dawson Guiding by Bob Branham Photo Essay: Tarpon by Brian O'Keefe An Angler Opines by Rock Dawson
50 22 28 42 74 96
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Bass Pro Shops over 80 locations in the USA
Fishing Tackle Unlimited 12800 Gulf Freeway Houston, TX 77034
Old Towne Fly Shop & Outfitters 4009 Pontchartrain Dr Slidell, LA 70458
Fishwest 47 West 10600 South Sandy, UT 84070
Old Florida Fly Shop 6353 N Federal Hwy Boca Raton, FL 33487
Florida Keys Outfitters 81219 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL 33036
Orlando Outfitters 2814 Corrine Dr Orlando, FL 32803
Bill Jacksons’s Shop for Adventure 9501 US 19 N Pinellas Park, FL 33782
Flounder Creek Outfitters 515 Garden St Titusville, FL 32796
Sportsman's Finest 12434 Bee Cave Rd Austin, TX 78738
Black Fly Outfitters 11702 Beach Blvd #109 Jacksonville, FL 32246
Fly South 115 19th Ave South Nashville, TN 37203
Swan Point Landing Fly Shop 1723 Cherry St Suite 4 Rockport, TX 78382
Blue Ridge Fly Fishing 490 E Main St Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Forgotten Coast Fly Company 123 Commerce St Apalachicola, FL 32320
Tailwaters Fly Fishing 1933 E. Levee St Dallas, TX 75207
Charleston Angler 654 Saint Andrews Blvd Charleston, SC 29407
Front Range Anglers 2344 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80302
The Angling Company 333 Simonton St Key West, FL 33040
Charleston Angler 188 Meeting St Charleston, SC 29401
Gig Harbor Fly Shop 3115 Harborview Dr Gig Harbor, WA 98335
The Avid Angler 17171 Bothell Way NE Seattle, WA 98155
Charleston Angler 1113 Market Center Blvd Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Gordy & Sons 22 Waugh Dr Houston, TX 77007
The Bear's Den Fly Fishing Co. 34 Robert W Boyden Rd Taunton, MA 02780
Corens Rod & Reel 6001 N Nina Ave Chicago IL, 60631
Harry Goode’s Outdoor Sports 1231 E New Haven Ave Melbourne, FL 32901
The Compleat Angler 541 Boston Post Rd Darien, CT 06820
Crested Butte Angler 229 Elk Avenue Suite A Box 1777 Crested Butte CO, 81224
Lowcountry Fly Shop 626 Coleman Blvd Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
The Fish Hawk 764 Miami Cir NE #126 Atlanta, GA 30305
Mad River Outfitters 813 Bethel Rd Columbus, OH 43214
The Fly Shop 4140 Churn Creek Rd Redding, CA 96002
Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd D5 Cornelius, NC 28031
Urban Angler 381 Fifth Ave, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10016
G E T TA I L AT T H E S E R E TA I L E R S
Bay Street Outfitters 825 Bay St Beaufort, SC 29902
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Bayou City Angler 3641 Westheimer Rd, Suite A Houston, TX 77027
Field & Stream Stores over 25 locations in the USA Fish Heads Fly Shop 32 S Main St Heber City, UT 84032 Fishing Tackle Unlimited 8723 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77024 Fishing Tackle Unlimited 13831 Southwest Freeway Sugarland, TX 77478
Mossy’s Fly Shop 750 W Diamond Blvd Suite 114 Anchorage, AK 99515
West Wall Outfitters 787 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte, FL 33953
gladesdeclaration.org
Tens of thousands have signed. Add your name today and stand up for the future of Florida’s water.
Rick DePaiva ph
oto
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR There is a giant lily that makes its home high in the Himalayas that is an exceptional plant. For most of its life, it exists as an relatively inconspicuous, unassuming clump of glossy leaves. After five years, it mysteriously sprouts up to nine feet and produces beautiful white trumpetshaped flowers to announce its presence. As Tail Magazine celebrates its fifth anniversary, we are reminded that at times we too felt like an unassuming clump. With the release of Tail 31, we reflect on our tremendous growth over the past five years and definitely remember more days of standing nine feet tall above all else. It is also the most ideal time to thank our contributors, readers and advertisers for their ongoing support. We look forward to sharing many more years of salty tales with you. We would also like to remember John Melfi in this special anniversary issue. John was a lawyer, an avid angler, a good husband to Asia and an all around great guy who died tragically in 2015. His work as the Editor-in-Chief of Tail in the early days set the standard for the publication, and each issue that is assembled echoes his conviction to build something great. “Think about posterity,” he always said. Thank you brother, I know you would be proud of how our modest little publication has grown, and we are grateful for the legacy you left. We have brought you an all-star line up in this issue: Greg Thomas, former Editor-in-Chief of Fly Rod & Reel magazine, George Roberts, casting guru, Peter McCleod, a renowned expert on Giant Trevally, Jonathan Olch, a master of catching permit on the fly, Brian O’Keefe, the world-class photographer behind Catch Magazine, and Bob Branham, a legendary guide and photographer in South Florida. We also have the Chittum Skiffs factory tour and the new products for 2018 from the IFTD show in Orlando this July. I hope you like it. Cheers! J O S E P H BA L L AR IN I Editor-in-Chief
F LY F I S H I N G M A G A Z I N E
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2017 IFTD
GEAR GUIDE TyWheel The traditional wooden fly tying station have been around since the invention of the vice. TyWheel has just made those stations obsolete. The modular system provides a completely customizable experience for each tier, and the magnets used to interchange each section double as tool holders. You will never lose your scissors again. Once you get used to using this great tool, you will wonder where it was your whole life.
Abel SDS Abel fly reels may just be some of the best looking reels you can buy, and the SDS is no different. But behind the beauty is a workhorse. This reel puts down 20-plus pounds of drag, capable of stopping the largest of fish, thanks to their multi-disk drag system. The drag knob is ergonomically designed for quick drag adjustments. With even their 11/12 reel weighing in at under 10 oz., this reel will not wear you down during a day of casting. If you want a reel to look good while stopping a tarpon, look no further.
Sage Salt HD The winner of the IFTD best new saltwater rod, the Sage Salt HD is a line chucking machine. If you were a fan of the original Sage Salt and its fast action feel, this rod is for you. Every rod can cast well in an indoor casting pond, but when it’s time to throw a fly into the wind at rolling tarpon, you will want this cannon in your corner.
Yeti Panga
Blackstrap Hood
Lamson Cobalt
The dual layered hood from Blackstrap is a must for fishing in cold weather. If you are targeting species like striped bass, add this to your collection. The hinged facemask portion provides for easy adjustments, and it’s available in over 50 colors and patterns, so being able so standing out from the crowd is easy.
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Yeti’s first noninsulated product is the new Panga waterproof duffle bag. With Yeti’s durability, there is no need to worry about the TSA beating up your luggage anymore, and the waterproof zipper means waves crashing over the skiff are no match for this bag. The new Cobalt from Lamson has changed the inner workings of a fly reel. Two center points on the C&C machine offer a sturdier connection to the rod, providing a more efficient transfer of power and helping you beat up on large predatory fish. The asymmetrical design of the reel provides a balanced feel without the need for counterweights. If you are looking to hunt down big tarpon or GT, look no further. Certified waterproof up to 100 feet, this reel is designed to survive even the worst mishaps.
Fishpond Thunderhead
Hatch Finatic Second Generation
Hatch’s second generation of Finatic reels are even tougher. They added two more windows to their spool and improved the drag seal, creating a truly fantastic reel. In addition to the traditional black and silver, new colors are also available, with more coming soon.
It is not often a reel can impress an angler without lining it up and having a fish pull on it, but the new GTX from Nautilus does just that. The drag can be set wide open and with approximately one and a half turns, it is at full strength. This can be helpful when making quick drag adjustments on the fly while fighting fish. If a fish dives off the flat, it allows you to easily dump your drag and rush to the edge of the flat, before quickly hammering down on the fish again. This reel is a game changer, all thanks to two brake disks with a pressure spring between them. Holding up to 500 yards of 60 pound braided backing, this reel is capable of applying 25 pounds of drag. If you are chasing large predatory fish, look no further than the GTX.
Orvis Helios 3
Ross Reels Evolution R Salt
Nautilus GTX
The Thunderhead submersible backpack is the ultimate tool for traveling and fishing, with the bonus of an XL tippet holder that keeps even your largest tippet spools readily accessible. The pack is fully waterproof in case you get too excited and walk off the flat. The quickshot rod holder is a great accessory to the pack, keeping your spare rod readily available.
Don’t let the clean aesthetics and beautiful design fool you, the Evolution R Salt from Ross reels is designed to stop the angriest of fish. This is all thanks to the carbon fiber and stainless steel disc drag drag that has been implemented. This is all completely sealed off to the elements, making this reel durable and strong. In fact, the Evolution R Salt has the largest power to weight ratio on the market.
Ben and Jerry must be putting something in the ice cream because there is some serious witchcraft going on in Vermont. This rod is as accurate as a laser-guided missile, and when it’s time to throw for the fences you can count on the new Helios 3. The rod doesn't feel that out of the ordinary when you are casting, but when it is time to throw your final cast you get pure perfection. It comes in two options, a “D” for distance and an “F” for finesse.
Thomas and Thomas Exocett SS The grip of the new Exocett SS rod from Thomas and Thomas is the first thing that stands out—it’s split in half, and the top half has a denser cork to prevent wear and tear. These 8’8” rods are designed to throw heavy fly lines with shorter shooting heads. The durable blank allows the angler to put the wood to even the most aggressive of fish. TAIL FLY FISHI NG M AGA ZI NE 23
McCrab It is hard to believe that one of the most famed permit flies of all time was conceived in Montana. This spun deer hair pattern has lead putty and dumbbell eyes, allowing it to sink fast enough to fool even the ficklest of fish.
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Merkin Unlike its namesake, this fly has stood the test of time. It’s still one of the most trusted permit flies you can tie. Don’t leave home without this mega classic or at least your version of it.
THE BOX
Bauer Crab The Bauer Crab is similar to the McCrab but doesn't sink as fast, making it an ideal option for slightly shallower water. It is a staple in Belize in tan with brown legs and is sometimes overlooked in other destinations where it can also work well.
BY COLE SCHREIBER
INSIDE Three hours off the southwest coast of Cuba are the famed tarpon flats of Jardines de la Reina. Palometa, or permit as they are commonly called in the United States, are found swimming the same flats. Angler Adrian French brought a large variety of crab patterns—ranging from unnamed flies to the famed Merkin—to the pristine flats of Cuba, in hopes of getting a shot at the holy grail.
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G IN SH
HO W
FL Y
FI
RV IV ES SU
by Greg Thomas
I became a flyfisher 30-some years ago while stomping around north Seattle fishing stocked lakes for hatchery raised rainbows.
I approached this opportunity with the zeal Lee Wulff might have demonstrated while prospecting Labrador, with his floatplane, for wild brook trout. Those hatchery ‘bows gave me a target in a densely populated urban environment, and at the time it felt like big sport. I probably didn’t even notice those missing fins. I released those fish with the kind of care the last steelhead or tarpon on earth might deserve.
During high school I worked summers in Alaska where my fly fishing focus moved to the Great Land’s king salmon and steelhead. But on a trip to Montana I fell in love with Big Sky Country—with its unique towns, beautiful valleys, towering mountains, and broad rivers—and decided to fish as many of its waters as possible. For 10 years I spent a couple hundred days a year doing so and never became completely satiated. Eventually, I visited the southern salt flats for tarpon and bonefish. And, after spending a month in the Florida Keys I was ready to cash in my northern existence for the Caribbean life. Unfortunately, my appendix blew up and wasn’t removed until 12 days later. After a week in Fisherman’s Hospital battling peritonitis I was nearly 30 pounds lighter and my guide aspirations drifted away with the anesthesia. What didn’t leave was a passion to fish, a true desire to be on the water where I feel most comfortable and earn my memories. Part of the equation, for me, is sharing my experiences with others, which made the recent demise of Fly Rod & Reel magazine such a bitter pill.
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Industry high-ups have actually walked up to me and said, Thomas, the thing we need is another River Runs Through It. Write that thing or we're all gone. FRR existed for 39 years while relying almost solely on revenue from print advertising. But circulation dropped over the years from somewhere in the range of 60,000 copies to half or a little less than that. We all know how video was supposed to kill the radio, and we’ve all heard how digital is killing print, but I still listen to sports talk on my AM station and the last time I inspected Barnes & Noble there were a thousand titles on the magazine rack, one of them being FRR’s last issue. It’s been said that Fly Rod & Reel died because it didn’t get enough industry support, i.e. not enough manufacturers and related businesses consistently purchasing ad space. But I walk away from the helm believing we had strong support—from a wide swath of the industry—and merely needed to complement our print efforts with a solid business plan that would include a heavy and super-creative digital presence. I envisioned us as being lean and agile, and able to morph with digital’s rapid-change environment.
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Change is tough, no matter how it arrives. And it’s scary. When we’re used to a certain way—and especially when we believe we do things the best way— we resit. Or, in some cases, we simply don't have the manpower to achieve a new goal, often the result of acting too late. FRR is not the first publication to succumb, and it won’t be the last. But does this mean the entire fly fishing industry is melting down? Like the banter about radio and magazine, I hear a lot of squawking about how fly fishing is going to die, people saying it is too old, that the industry can’t survive an onslaught of fishermen being buried in their 20-pocket vests and Red Ball waders.
They say we have to bring young anglers into the sport, in spades, or we’re dead. Industry high-ups have actually walked up to me and said, Thomas, the thing we need is another River Runs Through It. Write that thing or we’re all gone. I’m not worried. Getting excited about a day on a local river or a weeklong sojourn for steelhead or tarpon still carries the weight it did when I decided that fishing was a total lifestyle, complete with characters and hangouts, a language of its own, the lowly, yet admired subcultures and, of course, the top brass. More than 30 years into it, this lifestyle has allowed me to know the Rocky
Mountain trout waters better than the back of my hand, and I’ve traveled to all sorts of compelling places, domestic and abroad, to chase the best species. And yet, some years ago I realized there wouldn’t be enough time in this single life to fish all the places I want to. I keep thinking, How many more days can I get on the water before it’s all over? If I’m any indication, once you get the fly fishing bug, it doesn’t go away. Seriously, how many dedicated anglers do you know who suddenly gave up the sport and sold off all their gear? That’s where we have it made over so many other activities that the next generations currently embrace. Take for instance youth sports. I can recall when
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I see this happening everyday in Montana; when I’m floating a river, or casting on a lake, or hitting a restaurant or pub after fishing, a healthy dose of young is mixed in with the rest.
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Someone, at some point, gave these young people a shot at the water and the lifestyle that fishing provides. That gives me comfort, makes me believe that fly fishing is going to be alright, even if the same couldn't be said for Fly Rod & Reel.
type of all-or-nothing approach to sports, which begins in third or fourth grade, is causing major injuries at the high school level. He believes many of these one sport/all year athletes won’t be able to walk by the time they’re 30. And then what will they do?
schools ran youth sports programs. Now it’s dominated by AAU and the competition is fierce. I know firsthand: I coach girls basketball and have watched, several times, bush-league coaches make idiots of themselves just to win a fifth or sixth-grade level basketball game. Even in Montana, which isn’t exactly a hoops bastion, some coaches demand girls and boys practice four or five times a week. They also may be required to train with former college or pro players— at least twice a week (and at a pretty penny to their parents)—to ensure their spot on a team. Recently I talked to a former Division One men’s basketball coach who said this
There are other activities to keep kids and young adults away from the water and these also cause our industry pause. The kids are just playing video games, they say. They spend all their time indoors and online. They don’t have time to fish.
or pub after fishing, a healthy dose of young is mixed in with the rest. Just look online and you’ll see websites and message boards filled by the voices of youthful hardcore anglers. Right now I’m working with a small army of these sorts who live in the Pacific Northwest, helping them build a major web presence where they detail experiences and expertise. These people—all a decade or more younger than me—are very creative and junkies for bass, pike, muskie, trout, steelhead and salmon, and they know how to play the game, i.e., they know how to catch fish.
And maybe the naysayers are right. But most kids are done with competitive sports by the time they hit college. And at some point those addicted to digital—I have to believe—will look out the window and see a blank canvas to explore.
And how did they learn? Someone, at some point, gave them a shot at the water and the lifestyle that fishing provides. That gives me comfort, makes me believe that fly fishing is going to be alright, even if the same couldn’t be said for Fly Rod & Reel.
I see this happening every day in Montana; when I’m floating a river, or casting on a lake, or hitting a restaurant
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Make sure your fly box is filled with all the right flies.
C U S T O M F L Y T Y I N G is an art. Each is specifically crafted for your adventure, so you’ll be properly outfitted for any destination in the world. That’s our approach to everything we do. We feature custom flies by Harris Dudley. Visit us at 22 Waugh in Houston, or at gordyandsons.com.
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The finest fly shop to be found.
A Fly Line
PRIMER by George Roberts A modern fly line is a length of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or similar plastic applied as a coating over a material core—most commonly braided multifilament nylon. Every weight-forward line consists of two primary sections: the head section and the running line. The head contains all of the effective weight of the fly line and comprises four sections: the tip, front taper, belly, and rear taper. The tip is the relatively short section (usually no more than 12 inches) of small-diameter line to which you attach your leader. Each time a new leader is attached, a bit of the tip is sacrificed. Should you wish, you could remove the entire tip of the fly line without significantly altering the line’s performance. The front taper of the line joins the belly to the tip, and is the section of line that determines how a fly will be delivered. In general, the more necessary it will be for the angler to make a delicate presentation, the longer the front taper will be—six feet or longer on some lines designed primarily for bonefish.
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Line Density Your targeted species, and where you’ll fish for them, will determine your choice of line density. Line densities fall into three broad categories: low density (floating lines), intermediate density (intermediate lines), and high density (sinking lines, including sink-tip lines and some of the faster-sinking intermediate lines may fall into this category as well). Floating lines are best suited to use either in fairly short water columns (inches to 10 or so feet), or to fish for game that are feeding at or near the surface, regardless of the depth. I do the vast majority of my saltwater fishing with floating lines—much to the consternation of a number of guides with whom I’ve fished, as well as other anglers, many of whom have convinced themselves that a fish won’t move through several feet of water to feed (if this were actually true, the fish would starve). Floating lines cast and handle better than either intermediate or sinking lines, they are the best lines for learning how to cast, and the best choice to fish surface flies such as popping bugs, sliders, and hair-heads. Intermediate lines have a density greater than water and sink at relatively slow rates, starting at about one inch per second. Keep in mind that sink rates are determined under
laboratory conditions in still water. The sink rate of an intermediate line might differ significantly in actual use, particularly when you figure current and retrieve into the calculation. In practical terms, intermediate lines are perhaps best used to get the line just beneath the water's surface, where it will be less affected by wind and wave action, giving you a better connection to the fly than would a floating line in the same environment. If you must reach fish that are holding deep you'll need to use a high-density line. Many sinking lines on the market today are configured as integrated shooting heads—that is, a high-density head of 20 to 30 feet that transitions to a floating or intermediate running line (e.g., the Teeny lines first marketed in the early 1980s). Cortland's Quick Descent series of lines are true sink-tips, with 15 feet of fast-sinking tip that transitions to a floating head and running line. Depending on their density, sinking lines will sink at a rate of three inches per second to eight inches or more per second—your selection being determined by water column, current, and conditions. Some boat anglers choose sinking lines even when targeting surface-feeding fish. For example, in the Northeast and MidAtlantic states many striped bass anglers will opt for sinking lines when casting to breaking schools with the idea of getting down beneath the more aggressive schoolies to get a shot at larger fish that may be holding below.
Cold vs. Warm Fly lines that perform well in coldwater fisheries may not fare well in tropical climates. Take your favorite striped bass line on your bonefish trip to the Caribbean and you'll likely find it quickly turns limp and gummy in the heat, making it much more difficult to cast. In general, fly lines suited to warm climates are made with stiffer cores and
harder coatings. Such specialty lines nearly always identify themselves by name—Tropic Plus, Bermuda Triangle, Flats Taper, to name only a few. These lines don't really come into their own until you turn up the heat and they limber up a bit. I've yet to fish a tropical line that performs well in the colder waters of the Northeast—even in the dead of summer.
Line Weight Line weight is arguably the most controversial aspect of fly fishing equipment—and also the most confusing. Fly lines are rated by weight according to specifications set in 1961 by the now-defunct American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association (AFTMA). A fly line is rated according to the weight, in grains, of the first 30 feet of fly line, minus the level tip. (Table 1 shows the weight ranges for the most common saltwater fly lines.) For example, you can see that an 8-weight line should weigh between 202 and 218 grains in its first 30 feet. Where the confusion occurs is that few fly lines are exactly 30 feet long. In fact, there's no consistency in head length from one manufacturer to the next—which means there's no consistency regarding the entire weight package. An 8-weight line could conceivably weigh anything greater than 202 grains. Some fly line manufacturers have begun to include in their specifications the weight, in grains, of the entire head. This is a much more useful piece of information than the AFTMA rating; if you know what grain weight works well with your particular rod, you can approximate this with any fly line you purchase (provided you know the head weight in grains), regardless of the length of the head. Line Weight (AFTMA Rating)
Weight Range in Grains
7
177-193
8
202-218
9
230-250
10
270-290
11
318-342
12
368-392
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Head Length
Casting
As with line weights, there is no consistency within the industry regarding the head lengths of various fly lines. Heads may be as short as 20 feet (as on some integrated shooting heads) or they may exceed 60 feet as in some specialty tapers.
To make a long cast with any weightforward fly line you need to have the entire head of the fly line, along with a couple to a few feet of running line, outside the rod tip before you make your delivery. This is why it's so important to choose a line whose head you can handle comfortably. For if you try to deliver your long cast with any of the head section still inside the rod tip your delivery will, to some extent, be impeded.
It's been my experience that few fly anglers know the head length of any of their fly lines, but this is perhaps the most important piece of information you can possess. Regarding head length, let me offer this piece of advice: never use a fly line unless you can false cast the entire head comfortably. If you cannot, you will not be able to make the line achieve its distance potential. If you cannot carry the entire head comfortably, I strongly suggest you choose a line with a shorter head. The longest fly line head I fish with is 43 feet. Frankly, it takes a fairly accomplished caster to make this fly line cast to its potential, and I see no reason for the head of a fishing fly line to be longer than this. At a casting seminar I conducted recently, a student showed up with a fly line whose head measured 62 feet. If the student had been able to handle a fly line with a 62-foot head he would not have needed to attend my seminar. If you take the average caster and hand him a fly line with a 62-foot head, you have, in effect, handed him a single-tapered line.
Color Fly line color runs the gamut, from clear (as with some floaters and intermediates), to drab (purportedly for stealth), to bold, including fluorescent chartreuse and orange. The heads of most fast-sinking fly lines are dark in color, usually brown. Whether fly line color matters to the fish is hotly debated, even among top guides. Having caught my share of trout using orange fly lines, I'm of the mind that the fish don't care. I prefer a line I can see easily both on the water and in the air— orange being my first choice.
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After you stop the rod on your delivery and your loop forms, you’ll release the running line that’s trapped in your line hand. The momentum of the unrolling head will pull a number of yards of running line with it, allowing you to make your long cast. (To see a video demonstration of this, visit my website, the address is in the byline at the end of the article.) The amount of running line between the rod tip and the end of the rear taper is called overhang. If you try to overhang too much running line, your cast will fall apart, as you're requiring a very thin line to turn over a very thick head section. It's simply an inefficient transfer of energy. (This is more pronounced with shooting heads than it is with conventional weightforward lines—but the same holds true for both.) As a rule of thumb, two or three feet of overhang should be ideal to make your long cast.
and flawless delivery. Some talk about this as if it's a mystical thing that happens only occasionally when the moon and stars align. However, now that you know how a long cast works, you automatically know where the sweet spot is. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced caster, marking the head of your fly line will make your long casts more consistent. Some models of fly line will differentiate the head section from the running line by using a different color (for example, Cortland's Compact Float sports a green head section followed by a bright yellow running line). If your line is a solid color, you can use a Sharpie laundry marker to draw a six-inch long black band at the end of the head section. When casting, simply get this band outside the rod tip two or three feet before you make your delivery. If, for some reason, you don't know the head length of your fly line you can find it easily using a dial caliper. Simply take readings along the running line forward towards the tip and note the point at which the line becomes measurably thicker.
Tweaking Lines for Enhanced Performance You certainly can fish a fly line right out of the box with no alterations, but there are a number of enhancements you can make to improve their function and performance.
Marking Lines for Length and Weight Many fly anglers talk about the "sweet spot" in their fly line—that perfect amount of carry with which they can make a long
[Figure 2. You can find the end of the head section on any fly line using a dial caliper. Use a Sharpie laundry marker to mark the end of the head with a six-inch band around the circumference of the fly line.]
[Figure 3. The Hudl Technique app helps pinpoint the mark on the fly line that signifies the end of the head section. With only a couple of feet of overhang, the author is positioned to make a long delivery.]
If you fish at night, you can still find the “sweet spot” by equipping your line with a tactile mark. Simply locate the point at which you hold the running line when you're positioned to make your delivery (again, the entire head of the fly line is two or three feet outside the rod tip). Use a small coffee stirrer or other tool to tie a five or six-turn nail knot around the circumference of the running line using six-pound monofilament. Tighten the knot so that it bites into the running line’s coating and trim the ends of the knot close. This will allow you to locate the ideal amount of carry even in the dead of night, and the monofilament knot will shoot unimpeded through the guides.
If you pursue the game seriously, you'll eventually end up owning many fly lines of various weights. On the storage spool, they all pretty much look alike. Because of this, I use the laundry marker to mark all of my fly lines at each end in a sort of semaphore code to designate the weight. I use a dash to indicate the number five and a dot to indicate the number one. So an 8-weight line would be marked with a single dash and three dots, a 10-weight line would be marked with two dashes, etc.
Trimming to Length Fly lines come in a variety of lengths, from about 82 feet to 110 feet or more. If I buy a fly line that's longer than 90 feet, I'll trim the running line to make it 90 feet. This will fit on the reel much better than a 100-foot line, and it will allow me the longest cast I would ever need in a fishing situation—even off the deck of a boat. If you need to cast more than 90 feet, I suggest you first try moving closer to the fish. In practical terms, any fly cast over 100 feet is a parlor trick.
Loops at Each End A loop at each end of your fly line will allow you to change leaders quickly and also change the entire fly line quickly, if needed. Some fly lines come pre-looped at each end, but if yours doesn't you can quickly make your own. Use a nail knot to attach six inches or so of heavy butt-section to the fly line's tip and tie a perfection loop in the end. To put a loop at the end of the running line, fold the running line back on itself and secure it using two nail knots tied with six-pound monofilament (trim the tag close so it won’t catch in your guides on a run). A Bimini twist or spider hitch tied in your backing will allow you to join the fly line with a loop-to-loop connection.
[Figure 4. Use a laundry marker to mark your lines for weight. This line is coded as an 8-weight.]
[Figure 5. A loop at the tail end of your fly line will allow you to change the entire line quickly.]
Bio: A fly casting instructor for nearly 25 years, George Roberts produced the first video fly casting program devoted exclusively to salt water: Saltwater Fly Casting: 10 Steps to Distance and Power. He’s also the author of Master the Cast: Fly Casting in Seven Lessons (McGraw-Hill, 2002). For more information on fly casting and fly angling you can visit George’s website: www.masterthecast.com
It's my hope that this article has done something to demystify your choosing a fly line and has given you some tips and tricks you can use to get the most out of yours.
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A Divine Saltwater Wilderness
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by Peter McCleod
T
he first thing that crosses my mind as MV Mayas Dugong makes its way up the west side of Providence Atoll is the sheer size of the place; much bigger than the other atolls in the Seychelles. At 44 km long and 12 km in width, it covers a huge piscatorial playground, much of it still unexplored. As Cerf Island on the southern tip finally comes into view on our six hour crossing from Farquhar Atoll, excitement and disbelief course through us; feelings that only come from looking forward to something for so long. Tackle spews from below decks, morphing into
rods and reels in the hanging racks— reminiscent of closely packed sailors in hammocks in days of yore. Our week was planned to give us a full spectrum of tides, beginning with neaps and finishing on springs. Hopefully we would see all that Providence had to offer. The first day on the flats passes in a blur of turtle grass flats, GTs on rays and the battles we had yearned for for so long. The first chance comes swiftly as we wade line abreast on the turtle grass expanse. From the right, a large ray slides down the flat on the dropping tide, perpendicular to us with a lone
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rider on his back. The fish drops into my zone. Being out on the left of it with the wind over my right shoulder, I fire out a long backhand cast that drops some two feet in front of it. I give the Gym Sock fly one slow pull and the fish instantly tears off the ray and hammers it, a wild battle ensuing. The 11-weight rod soaks up the fight beautifully. It's the perfect setup for GT fishing on the flats: light, yet powerful. Every time I see a GT attack a fly, I am stunned by their speed, eyes often out of the water focused on their fleeing prey. I quickly find the pump and wind rhythm and in short order have a hand around the wrist of a lovely 91 cm GT. It is amazing to be in a place where the fish do what comes naturally to them. One morning, we head to a huge white sand flat on the east side of Providence Island that spans from the inner lagoon all the way out to the surf on the eastern edge. As we approach the apex of the flat, we hit the depth just right and the first bone cruises into view. And what a fish! It is simply massive, and we duck down to elude it. The fish is nearly on us as Brummy almost casually flicks a rolling bead crab several feet ahead of it. It immediately accelerates like a cat chasing down a mouse, but shies away at the last second. By now the fish is no more than ten feet away and as it moves off, I encourage him to make another cast. The fly lands, he gives it one twitch and the bonefish attacks, tearing off across the flats, the line ripping through the surface film as the fish disappears in a puff of sandy water. Fly line vanishes in a few seconds, closely followed by a considerable amount of backing. We both grin as we see the fish splashing way off in the distance up the flat. Slowly, Brummy begins to regain some line and a sense of control. The fish measures 65 cm in length with a 33 cm girth which we reckon is about eight pounds; a superb specimen. We release it to play another day and another fish almost immediately comes into view as the first swims off. A few days later, bright blue skies are replaced with an overcast grey. Many fishermen despair in these conditions, but I embrace them. When covering huge areas such as Providence with practically
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no land marks, many of the fish you spot are not by looking into the water, but rather AT the water. As I sip coffee from my flats flask, we cruise up the west side from Midway to a channel that gives access to the lagoon within. Outside the lagoon, I already see trigger tails waving in the morning air. Ahhhh, time to dance with my nemesis. Like many, I have a love/hate relationship with these Jack Russells of the flats. What transpires is one of the most fun but frustrating frustrating sessions I have ever had. All three of us are surrounded by tailing triggers, and at one point I count no less than seven tails waving at the same time.
After countless bites, follows, chases and even a couple of hook-ups, the three of us are unable to land a single one, but it is great fun and completely engrossing. Then the GTs show up. It starts with a single fish sliding across the flats on the dropping tide. Then it becomes a near constant stream. The turtle grass flat we are wading across is interspersed with small depressions and we can see the bow waves of GTs coming off the flats from miles away. Just in front is a deep hole and on the other side a GT sitting on a ray that had just come up the side. I cover the fish, dropping the fly about two
By now the fish is no more than ten feet away. The fly lands, he gives it one twitch and the bonefish attacks, tearing off across the flats, the line ripping through the surface film.
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The fish foams the sea and planes on the surface, its whole mouth visible as it stares at me and chows the fly. It's a spectacle that leaves me slightly stunned as it careens off in the opposite direction before the reel violently hammers my hand and springs me back into the moment.
feet from its nose and giving it one long slow strip. The fish foams the sea and planes on the surface, its whole mouth visible as it stares at me and chows the fly. It’s a spectacle that leaves me slightly stunned as the fish careens off in the opposite direction, before the reel violently hammers my hand and springs me back into the moment. Three of us land eleven GTs in the afternoon. On the return home, we take a crack at the huge schools of milkfish hanging around the edge of the atoll; schools of thousands. Casting in the receding orange light, Tim hooks one that comes unbuttoned after some spectacular jumps. That night, all boats have similar tales. It has been a red letter day of note. One morning, no less than seven bow
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waves lazily cruise towards us. As they draw closer, Brummy lines up his shot and casts. As he strips frantically with no reaction, it suddenly dawns on us that those fins are not dark or white speckled but golden: the Indo-Pacific permit. They don’t spook as they sail by, so I grab the boat and watch as Brummy and Tim make their way over to where the fish are now contentedly tailing, their golden tails flashing in the improving morning light. No one speaks, hearts in our mouths, as Brummy makes the cast. One of the tails drops and the fish flies over to munch the fly. Brummy tightens, a big splash follows, and both he and Tim crouch over. He had lost the fish and the disappointment was tangible, but that is the essence of permit fishing, and it marked another spectacular moment on the flats of Providence Atoll.
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Trip Preparation Kitting yourself up for a trip of this nature is an experience in itself. It is an expedition with no tackle shops for thousands of miles, but weight restrictions on charter flights require succinct packing. It is almost a science. As the majority of your day is spent up to your thighs in water, you need to streamline your kit to what you can carry. A ‘GT rig’ and an ‘everything else rig’ are the order of the day. This either takes the form of an 11-weight or 12-weight set up for GTs and a 9-weight set up for triggers, permit, milkfish and bumphead parrotfish. I like to use an 11-weight for the flats as it’s just a more pleasant fishing experience, but a 12-weight is good along the edges in case the fish heads for the ocean. Use a rod that suits you, as casting one of these with a 6/0 brush fly on the end takes some getting used to.
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For GTs it is essential to have a reel that is up to the task, preferably one that can lock the drag in one rotation of the handle and is also sealed. Reels should have 80 lbs spinning braid as backing with a big bimini twist loop on the back that the whole reel can fit through. This allows you to swap out line quickly if you cut one. When it comes to lines, take spares, as you will likely cut some on the coral. For 12-weights, you want lines with 50 lb cores for abrasion resistance. I cut off all welded loops and replace with 50 lb braided loops nail knotted to the ends and covered in stormsure liquid rubber. This not only protects the braid but also welds it to the fly line. I use Omnispool Switchboxes to store all my spare lines. Their cheap modular storage system makes packing easy, and the fact that they can be operated by one person means you can change a line quickly in a
pitching boat or on a flat. Leaders are simple, level 130 lb mono for GTs, 20 lb tapered leaders for bones and triggers and 40 lbs for bumpies. For GTs, my go to flies are 6/0 Gym Sock, black and purple brushys, Flaming Lamborghinis and tan and white Clousers. For triggers, bones and smaller GTs I use rolling bead crabs, Gumby crabs, sand prawns and spawning shrimps. I store them in a wallet containing zip lock waterproof bags and I have 150 patterns in the space of one bonefish box. As for the rest of the kit, decent flats boots of the walking boot variety are a must. Neoprene flats booties will not suffice. Wading socks and gravel guard combos are a lifesaver. A decent waterproof backpack is also a necessity, preferably with a hydration bladder for
Providence Atoll is a true saltwater wilderness, with areas on its flats that have never been walked on by humans.
water. Most of us rig them up to carry another rod on the side so we can switch between one and the other. An extremely important element of any trip like this are the guides who make it possible. Without their in-depth knowledge of the area, tides and species, we would never have done so well. We still only managed to fish 2/3 of the atoll and heaven knows what treasures are still to be found. Providence Atoll is a true saltwater wilderness, with areas on its flats that have never been walked on by humans. That in itself is exciting, although the sheer variety of species to be caught on a fly is even more so. As you wade across those giant flats, there is no telling what adventures you might have. Like they say in the Boy Scouts, be prepared.
Bio: Peter McLeod has worked in fly fishing travel for over 20 years and founded fly fishing specialists Aardvark McLeod International in 2005. He has visited over 60 fishing locations in 20 different countries, some of them as many as nine times. He has travelled widely in his quest to find the finest fly fishing experiences in the world. His fascination with the trevally species is bordering on the obsessive and he is constantly scouring the globe for that next mindblowing hotspot to target these bulldogs of the flats. To find out more about this extraordinary destination please contact Peter McLeod at www.aardvarkmcleod.com or call +44 (0)1980 847389.
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BEER! LAND, SEA OR
FOAM Here at Tail, we are out to help you keep your whistle wet with an appealing array of brews. In this issue, we have selected some of our favorite beers that we have discovered in our hometowns as well as new discoveries from fishing trips. One of our favorite things to do at Tail is to always try the local beer when visiting a new destination, and we thought we'd share some of our current favorites.
Tuna Brewery Name: Half Acre Beer Co. Website: www.halfacrebeer.com Location: Chicago, Illinois Beer Type: Extra Pale Ale Appearance: Hazy straw/tangerine colored with a frothy ivory head Aroma: orange and bitter grapefruit with a touch of tropical pine Flavor: zesty citrus, pineapple, nutty and a touch of yeast ABV: 4.7% Final Thoughts: Nice citrusy flavors that dominate but don’t overwhelm. Very refreshing, and the reasonable ABV makes them go down quickly and easily. Great summer beer or year-round beer in much of the South. Half Acre Beer Co. first opened its doors in Chicago in 2008 and after considerable success opened its second brewery in 2015. Although Half Acre is located a good way from the salt water, Tuna is a fine reminder that we are all called by the magic of the ocean.
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BEER REVIEW
NOLA Brown Brewery Name: New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Co. Website: www.nolabrewing.com Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Beer Type: Brown Ale Appearance: Muddy dark brown in appearance with a nice offwhite head Aroma: Earthy with some sweet citrus and chocolaty malt Flavor: Slightly roasted nutty flavor but not too heavy ABV: 3.9% Final Thoughts: This is a smooth-drinking brown ale with deceivingly light body but surprisingly fuller taste. Good sessionable, drinkable brown ale. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, NOLA Brewing Co. certainly has a fine spot for beer drinking and as a base for getting after quite a few different species of saltwater fish. Born out of the true postHurricane Katrina, New Orleans can-do spirit, NOLA brought beer brewing back to New Orleans. Whether you’re there for a layover before you hit the salt or to see the sights and listen to the sounds of the Big Easy, it’s certainly worth making sure you check out one of NOLA’s tasty brews before you leave.
Gold Leaf Lager Brewery Name: Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company Website: www. dbbrewingcompany.com Location: Roseland, Virginia Beer Type: Golden Lager Appearance: pale golden color with a large, short lived, white head Aroma: lightly yeasty and malty with a hint of lemon Flavor: fresh bready notes with light citrusy zest ABV: 4.5% Final Thoughts: A crisp, clean-finishing beer with bready notes and a somewhat sharp carbonation finish. A refreshing way to finish a day on the water or light enough to be the one you crack after that first fish. The Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co. was born in 2008 in Roseland, Virginia as a way to bring community together over good beer and good food in an environmentally-friendly brewpub type setting. The beer was a big success and led to the idea of bottling the beer that had become a regional stalwart. Both the Devil’s Backbone and Gold Leaf names represent some of the region’s most recognizable icons, and we suggest that you give one a try before, during or after your next trip to the region.
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BEER REVIEW
Sea Quench Ale
Later Days
Brewery Name: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Website: www.dogfish.com Location: Milton, Delaware Beer Type: Session Sour Appearance: Hazy orange tinged with a fairly nice white head Aroma: A wheaty, sweet lime, tart citrusy smell Flavor: Lots of tart lime with a briny coriander and Munich malt backdrop
Brewery Name: Twisted X Brewing Co. Website: www.twistedxbrewing.com Location: Dripping Springs, Texas Beer Type: Session IPA Appearance: Light gold amber with a nice white foam head Aroma: Citrusy, floral, pine, hops Flavor: Recalls the aroma with a refreshing medium body and nice malt with light sweetness ABV: 5.5% Final Thoughts: Very nice beer for warm summer days or evenings (this means 9-12 months a year in Texas). Sit back and enjoy as you cool off after a long fight or after a day on the water.
ABV: 4.9% Final Thoughts: Definitely a sour, so if you’re not a fan, this one probably won’t be in your wheelhouse. If you enjoy a surprisingly robust, citrus refresher, this one definitely fits the bill. Great for a hot day on the water or a tying session. Dogfish Head first opened its doors in 1995 as Delaware’s first brew pub with the idea of bringing original beer, food and music to the area. Over the years, Dogfish Head has continued to pursue non-conformity, spontaneity and experimentation. Sea Quench Ale is just one of the innovative ideas that they have come up with, and the addition of Atlantic Ocean sea salt has endeared this brew to those of us who like to comb the Atlantic for new adventures on the fly.
Carolina Blonde Brewery Name: Foothills Brewing Co. Website: foothillsbrewing.com Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina Beer Type: Cream Ale Appearance: hazy straw yellow with a lasting creamy head Aroma: bready, citrusy lager type aroma Flavor: light clean malty, yeasty flavor with a touch of citrus ABV: 4.3% Final Thoughts: Very clean and refreshing. Good carbonation. Satisfying and thirst quenching without being watery and sporting a crisp, dry finish. Foothills has been brewing beer in Winston-Salem since 2005, and from the looks of things, they haven’t looked back since. Carolina Blonde is certainly a testament to their dedication. It’s a great overall beer that goes down easy, pairs well with a wide array of food and is a great beer to have at the beach, on the river or wherever you might be spending your time outdoors on a hot day.
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Located in Dripping Springs, Texas in the Texas Hill Country, Twisted X Brewing Co. was introduced to me after a long day of work by a good friend from Dripping Springs. I had to have a second one. Twisted X is truly a craft brewery, and having been around the area for a good portion of my life, I love the “Tex Mex beer” these guys brew. You may not be able to find a Twisted X beer everywhere, but I would highly suggest that you grab a can or a pint (or three) of one of their offerings the next time you’re in the area.
WHY COMPROMISE? BOOK WITH YELLOW DOG AND MAKE EVERY TRIP GREAT. …SAME PRICE OR LESS THAN BOOKING IT YOURSELF.
complete trip preparedness, travel logistics, excellent customer service, experienced technical support and incredibly relevant information for every destination we work with...again, all for the same price or less than booking it yourself. WWW.YELLOWDOGFLYFISHING.COM •TOLL FREE: 888.777.5060 Africa Alaska Argentina Bahamas Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Guatemala Iceland Kamchatka Seychelles St. Brandon’s Venezuela Yucatan United States MORE TAIL FLY FISHI NG & M AGA ZI NE 5 3
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CHITTUM SKIFFS FACTORY TOUR by Joseph Ballarini Simple Movement. In horology, the science of time, a complication refers to any feature in a mechanical timepiece beyond the simple display of hours and minutes. Other features can include day of the week, a second time zone and even a calendar that can accurately correct for a leap year. A timepiece indicating only hours and minutes is otherwise known as a simple movement. Despite the nomenclature, a simple movement still requires the utmost precision to function and maintain time accurately. Oftentimes, the simplification of an overly complicated item allows us to get to the essence of what makes it work or work better. Simple movement is exactly what the crew at Chittum Skiffs has made their priority. “Lighter, stronger and quieter. These are the things that we constantly try to achieve with each new concept and design,” quipped owner Hal Chittum as he found me bending a piece of carbon fiber in an impromptu test of strength in the foyer of his factory. Walking into the factory, you are greeted by the strong odor of polymer and solvents. A sketch of a futuristic 52-foot yacht that drafts only 24-inches of water hangs on the wall. Scattered around are complete consoles, several styles of decals and random pieces of fiberglass and carbon fiber sheets fused with epoxy. It would appear that I somehow walked into the concept department, but that’s not the case. These are the proof of theory items, reminders that the many dollars spent on engineering challenges is not in vain.
"Lighter, stronger and quieter. These are the things that we constantly try to achieve with each new concept and design."
Chittum Skiffs are designed and manufactured by founder Hal Chittum and co-founder George Sawley in Palm City, Florida. In 1996, Hal Chittum and Chris Morejohn designed a boat with shallow draft that could go where no other boat could go. They presented it at the boat show of the time, and Hell’s Bay Boatworks was soon founded. After several years, Hell’s Bay was sold and not sharing the vision of the new ownership, Hal Chittum broke ties in 2002 to begin anew with George Sawley. They are descendants of a team at Hell’s Bay that many years ago thought that they could explore new concepts and ideas in an attempt to build a better boat. Chittum Skiffs sought to solve the problems associated with the current shallow water crafts being manufactured and to reduce noise, increase performance and comfort while improving fishability. It was not an easy task and not one that could be tackled alone. The team consisted of the two founders, several boat makers, guides and engineers. After months of design and dozens of prototypes, people began to ask if they were ever going to build a boat. They tested hull designs in pools and used plywood for decking at times, just trying to get it right. It was an onerous task that required perfection. After all, the hull is what the entire boat is riding on, and if the hull misses the mark, the boat would be a failure. Nine months into the project, they unofficially placed the nautical engineer on suicide watch for the next six months. He survived. Chittum’s first boat was tested by some 20 guides in the Florida Keys and ultimately given a unanimous thumbs up by all. It was named the Islamorada 18 after the legendary fishing town where many of Chittum’s skiffs can be found today.
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The essence of function. If simplicity is the essence of function, why are there so many complications with shallow water crafts? A skiff ultimately needs to accomplish few basic tasks in order to be considered functional. It should be able to cut through the water comfortably when running and stay relatively dry. It needs to get into skinny water, pole effortlessly, and it needs to be quiet. Chittum and Sawley had a vision: they wanted to make a skiff that would address all of these things. They stripped away the complications and made a boat that would overperform and impress the consumers that use them most; the guides. If you want a sound system, special lighting or funky custom colors, they don’t travel that road. Chittum does a great deal of custom work, but flash is
not their focus. The finish is a choice of a simple array of gel coat colors tested for durability and impregnated into the deck so the boat will never require paint. The Snake Bight edition offers great performance for a person with average poling ability. The boat is just over 600 lbs with a 50 hp Tohatsu motor and is very easy to move from a stop position, turn and keep straight. While poling the Snake Bight in our test run, Hal asked me to turn the boat. After a light push to the left that nearly threw Hal off the bow, the craft almost completed a 360 degree turn in very skinny water without making a sound. By stripping away things like stainless steel flush mount push pole cleats, standard fiberglass center consoles, adding lightweight aluminum for platforms and decks and more carbon
fiber in the hull and 30 percent less of the traditional heavy substrate used to fuse hull materials, they reduced the weight of the boat. The redesign of the deck and storage also allows for a 10 percent increase in buoyancy. All of this lends itself to a lighter, stronger, and more maneuverable boat. We talk about complication and simplification but this stuff is not complicated. A skiff should perform as well as the fisherman on the casting deck or his rod and reel. When push comes to another push, then another push, and another, the skiff you are using to chase down fish can make or break the day, just as any of your other gear can. Go straight, go fast, go quietly—and don’t run out of gas.
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PERMIT
Wading the Flats for Jonathan Olch
T
he liberation of walking the flats can be a euphoric experience. Freedom of movement and kaleidoscopic colors energize your body and mind. After frying your feet and stoically enduring the stagnation of standing on a casting deck all day, it’s a pleasure to slip into the water. Be mindful, however, of aimless jaunts down a long flat that will rob you of the prime, precious tidal flows. When it comes to permit, wading is a distinctly different game than bonefish. Unless chasing specific pushes or tails, leave interminable wandering to the bonefisher.
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There are many different scenarios on the flats where wading becomes the best option for stalking permit. The most obvious wading situation occurs when permit are consistently tailing while feeding on shallow flats. Stalking the wily permit on foot can be an absolute joy and represents the quietest technique to approach them. Go for it. At other times, skiff approaches can be problematic. If the flat is composed of coral rubble, limestone or volcanic rock, a skiff hull might scrape bottom, or the push pole might clank at exactly the wrong moment. In Bocas del Toro, Panama the permit are found on the ocean side, inside coral barriers with waves breaking toward shore. Tailing fish or not, there is no practical way to approach these fish except on foot. Even if the flats bottom substrate is mostly sand, the brightness of the sun alone may make a skiff approach too risky. If your profile is too high while standing on the skiff, either get lower
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or get in the water. Sometimes these diabolical permit can even sense your presence just from the water displacement or bow wake of your skiff. Better to get out and wade. Wading allows you to cast a much lower profile, probably by as much as four feet. On calm days when there is little or no wind, permit are more wary and Snell’s “Window” may give the permit a visual portal to your presence if you are poised high up in a skiff. If you are fixated on a catching a beast of a permit, wading presents several challenges. With few exceptions, large permit on the flats are swimming in a minimum of 36 inches of water—likely 40 inches or more. Submerged up to your ribs, it becomes difficult to manage your fly line. More important, unless your target is tailing routinely, you may have a hard time seeing it in the water from your low vantage point. Yes, your guide can give you hand signals, but you probably never aspired to be a Labrador retriever
participating in field trials. This is how the game is often played in Mexico’s Ascension Bay, though, and it can pay dividends. Frequently, there are those windy days and choppy conditions when your skiff produces excessive hull slap. When you are unable to take a different approach angle, this recurrent noise can ruin your chances of sliding within casting range. Also, on those days when it is blowing too hard for your guide to pole constantly into the wind, you often find yourself sailing downwind over the flats. When permit tails appear, it is time to at least consider slipping into the water— assuming the guide can stop the skiff before bumping into the permit. Standing in choppy water with low visibility, you must become that Labrador retriever and glance behind you for hand signals. It is tough sledding for sure, but preferable to no shot at all riding atop a runaway skiff.
Stalking the wily permit on foot can be an absolute joy and represents the quietest technique to approach them. Go for it.
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Eventually I remembered the mantra of Steve Huff: a flat is not flat. There were entry points and feeding lanes around this flat—and every flat. Pick the right setup and stay put.
Formulate a wading plan ahead of time. It can be quite challenging or it may involve a gamble. If there are enough permit around, your highest chance at success will occur if you wait, motionless, for the fish to come to you. But you can manipulate this plan. If you spot permit feeding steadily in one direction down the flat, consider a combined stalk with your partner or guide. There may be enough time to plan a setup where you can pole off of the flat and quietly sneak away on the skiff to a point far enough ahead where you can position yourself on foot for the permit to come to you. Before you go, though, you might as well come up with Plan B to implement when those fickle sickletails arbitrarily decide later to turn around and start feeding back the other way. Fishing a long flat on the southern end of Antigua recently posed a dilemma. Again, use of a skiff was impossible due to some coral heads near the shore along with shoreline breakers. Wading steadily in search of tails was tranquilizing, yet
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invariably the tails appeared behind me or too far in the distance. Eventually, I remembered the mantra of Steve Huff: a flat is not flat. There were entry points and feeding lanes along this flat—and every flat. Pick the right setup and stay put. Sometimes the decision to wade comes down to basic principles. If you can wade silently, you can get closer to the permit and deliver a shorter, more accurate cast. Or, if an acute sun angle favors the permit and you are sure of being detected, get out of the skiff and wade if the bottom is secure. Concentrate on watching your target and making silent steps, timed to correlate with the movements of one or more permit. When pertinent and possible, position yourself upwind and up-tide. Conceal your fly rod from detection by keeping it low and parallel to the water as you walk. Maintain that advantage by making a low, sidearm presentation when the time is right. Always analyze first how you can best achieve a silent, unseen approach to the fish.
Early and late in the day, around the fringes of daylight, large permit may appear in unusually shallow depths and feed in places they would not venture onto at any other time. Boat traffic and concern for their safety keep them away. In such instances, the time of day may be more important than tidal flow. These educated and experienced permit are best approached by stealthy wading. Equally important, recognize those times when wading is a fool’s errand. In adverse conditions where poor sunlight, poor visibility, colder flats temperatures and erratic feeding habits prevail, wading is not an effective means of stalking permit. There are fewer fish around and you can’t see them. You will wind up stumbling upon them only to see them scatter— assuming permit are even on the flats. When few permit are around, it may make sense to stay on the skiff. The Caribbean island of Guadeloupe has some immense permit, but they are few and far between. Out on the flats there is as much boat traffic on weekends as Key West. These
permit work the deep sloping contours of pancake flats. Period. In quieter circumstances, noisy coral rubble along a flats bottom that crunches underfoot may doom your stalk on a tailing permit. You risk alerting cruising fish to your presence right away. This is particularly true when the weather is overcast and unsettled. Under these conditions most permit experts believe that permit demonstrate enhanced sensory perception, particularly hearing. Oh, and sound travels farther and 4.5 times faster under water than in the air. Tall coral and volcanic rocks require sturdy, protective footwear. Besides being crunchy and noisy, coral has sharp surfaces and edges that can cut you badly. Urchins favor this kind of habitat. This type of terrain is not for everyone. But there are advantages. When wading along a roaring barrier or back reef, extreme footwear does not automatically telegraph your intrusive presence to the fish. Footfalls that would immediately
telegraph sensory warnings in a calm lagoon are masked by the crashing sounds of water passing over and through the reef. Most permit you encounter here are tailing fish, allowing you a few moments to plan your approach. In lagoons or flats with seemingly hard mud bottoms, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise the farther you patrol the flat from the solid edge. Many are intermittently laced with pockets of soft mud, waiting to gobble up your wading sandal—and not give it back. Exposed mud flat bottoms tend to be firmer around the edges, where tides and winds are more forceful. Stick to these areas. Testing the bottom with the poke of a push pole is always a good idea before blindly jumping in to wade. In areas with extreme tidal fluctuations, it may be possible to wade only early on an incoming tide or late on a falling tide. Unless your idea of adventure is swift immersion in water that rises up to your chest or higher! Know your tide tables
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well before venturing onto flats. Don’t go swimming unless it is a byproduct of your game plan. I speak from personal experience gained notably on the insanely high tides along the Indo Pacific permit-laden west coast of Australia. Even if the predicted height of the high tide is scheduled to be modest, think carefully before you walk several hundred yards onto a flat at low tide out to the edge of deeper water. When the water fills in, there may be aggressive sharks hunting for a meal between you and the shore. It is an unsettling feeling. More than ever before, permit these days know you are on a flat. In heavily pressured areas such as the lower Florida Keys, permit have become acutely sensitive to boat traffic, and intimately know the sight and sound of a skiff being poled along a flat. Wading may not always be practical due to stronger current flows and softer bottoms, but these permit encounter wading anglers far less often. Laid-up permit as well as permit feeding on floating crabs funneling out of a channel are often more effectively approached on foot. On the shallow coral flats of Belize, wading is often the only way to approach the permit. Seasonally, there can be a great deal of pressure on these flats. Although smaller, school-size permit are the norm here, even these little professors can make a fool out of anyone when they are pressured. They may not flee but these fish know you are in the water.
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When venturing out on a flat, if you haven’t located a tail to chase, walk in the direction of the current, ideally with the sun at your back. Typically permit feed and face into the current. The stronger the current, the more likely the premise is true. You will also have more success in approaching the permit from behind because you have a greater chance of spotting the fish first. Alas, nearly as often, permit pay no attention to this tenet. On flats that I wade regularly, I have come to expect the permit to change direction for no apparent reason and feed down the flat, instead. Tailing fish are apt to move to feed in any direction after you spot the
first flicker of a tail. If the permit senses your presence, most assuredly it will head in the opposite direction, at varying speeds and distance, depending on its perceived level of concern. If a permit senses that the angler is walking toward it, you face an uphill battle. To be stealthy and gain headway, wade toward a tailing permit while its head is down and feeding. That is your time to narrow your distance from it. If you stop while the fish is tailing, the cessation of noise will be transmitted in the water through pressure waves, easily detected by the permit’s lateral line. This makes the
More than ever before, permit these days know you are on a flat. Laidup permit as well as permit feeding on floating crabs funneling out of a channel are often more effectively approached on foot.
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fish nervous and it will drift farther ahead of you. Conversely, stop walking while a permit is cruising. Regarding cadence, walk at a steady pace. If you accelerate, so will it. The permit will always feed out ahead of you—unless it is part of a group where the leader decides to change direction. Try to wade around any coral to avoid noisy crunching. Sometimes there may be a sandy or grassy trough where you can walk more secretively while the permit feed on top of the flat. Wear the quietest shoe you can get away with. Make each step by landing on your heel first, the ball of your foot next, and then place your toes on the bottom. Permit can use their lateral line like sonar, sending pulses outward. When the pulses return, the permit knows how far away you are from it. As often as not, the permit
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will then employ the maddening tactic of establishing and maintaining a fixed “buffer” distance between you while it continues to feed. This is great fun for the permit and an exercise in futility for you. Don’t take the bait. Back away in the hope you can find a quieter alternate path that ultimately narrows the distance between you and the fish—and back into casting range. Very smart, these black-tailed devils!
Bio: Innovative saltwater fly designer, Jonathan Olch, has been an avid fly fisher for 50 years, nearly 40 of which has been spent traveling the tropical world in the pursuit of permit. His new book, A Passion For Permit, was published in January 2017. For a preview of his book go to www.apassionforpermit.com or order from Wild River Press at (425) 486-3638.
the most complete book about catching permit on the fly is now shipping—order yours today!
a passion for permit by jonathan olch
two big gorgeous volumes, more than 1,100 pages, $150 per set “Olch has succeeded in capturing what it takes to consistently catch permit, along the way polishing all the gazillion little pieces that add up to becoming a world-class angler. Now his incredibly hard-won knowledge is all yours. Congratulations, Jon—this is a masterpiece.” From the Introduction by Andy Mill, Multi-Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament Winner, Olympic Downhill Skier, and Author of the Award-Winning A Passion for Tarpon. Order your copy of the two-volume A Passion for Permit online at www.wildriverpress.com or telephone Wild River Press at 425-486-3638. SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: Order a Conservation Edition and we will donate $500 to Bonefish and Tarpon Trust’s Project Permit. For a sneak preview go to www.apassionforpermit.com
PASO
A
PASO
FLY TYING by Ruben Martin
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FLY TYING
1
PASO A PASO
MATERIALS
Hook: AHREX NS 122 Light Stinger or NS 172 Curved Gammarus. Thread: UNI 8/0 or Veevus 8/0 (Medium Orange) Weight: Bead chains Antennas: 0X monofilament Rostrum: Rabbit hair Eyes: Monofilament or similar Claws and legs: Vernille or ultra chenille Shell: Hard plastic material curved Markers: Black, brown and red Epoxy (Poxipol) Super Glue Glaze or lacquer with glitter
2
3 1. Tie in pair of bead chain eyes. 2. Tie in a second pair of bead chain eyes. 3. Attach two pieces of monofilament as antennas, paint them with brown permanent marker and black dots. This step can be skipped if you don’t want antennas.
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FLY TYING
4
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9
4. Tie in a small tuft of tan colored rabbit hair.
simple knot, cut to the desired length and carefully burn tips with a lighter.
5. Make two monofilament eyes, burning the tips with a lighter. 6. Cut off excess monofilament and secure with thread wraps.
8. Prepare a little quick-drying epoxy glue and place carefully on the body (I use Poxipol because it has the ability to remain in place because of its consistency).
7. Use two pieces of tan Ultra Chenille or Vernille to build the claws. Make a
9. With the same tan Vernille or Ultra Chenille, prepare the legs, cutting six
small pieces and burning a tip of each piece with the lighter.
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FLY TYING
10
11
12
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14 10. Put glue on the bottom of the hook. 11. Add the shell—a small piece of semicurvoid plastic shaped with scissors. I use plastic spangles that are available in craft stores. 12. Once the glue is dry and the parts are affixed, paint the shell and the top parts of the claws red.
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13. On the bottom, paint the glue with some glaze or lacquer with glitter. 14. Go out and fish!
TROPICAL CLEAR TIP LINES
Av a i l a b le i n 1 2 ’ a n d 3 0 ’ c le a r t i p m o d e ls. AIRFLO IS DISTRIBUTED IN NORTH AMERICA BY RAJEFF SPORTS | h t t p: / / w w w. a i r fl o u s a . co m | h t t p: / / w w w. r a j e ffs p o r t s. co m | TAIL FLY FIS HI NG M AGA ZI NE 73
N O
T
E H
PLATE
74 TAI L FLY F I S H I N G M AGA Z I NE Photograph by Bobby Altman
Ingredients
IMP
thw
este
rn S
law
1.5 lbs. raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/3 cup olive oil 1 tsp. garlic salt Lemon pepper, to taste 2 tsp. chili powder (pick your own spice level) 2 cups shredded purple cabbage 2 ripe avocados Juice of 5 limes 1 cup fresh corn 1 large tomato 2 tsp. honey 2 tbsp. minced red onion 2 tsp. minced jalapeno 2 tsp. chopped cilantro ½ cup Mexican Crema ½ tsp. grated lime peel 2 tsp. lime juice 8 corn tortillas
and
Cre
ma
Mex
ican
a
S
LLE GRI
A long hot summer days call for something satisfying but not too heavy after the day activities. We’ve got the ticket with these shrimp tacos. Pair with your favorite ice-cold beverage and enjoy!
Sou
TAC O
D
SHR with
Directions Fire up your grill and wait for the coals to grey. You want the grill hot but not too hot. After you start the grill, start preparing everything so it's ready to cook when the grill is hot. Place your shrimp in a medium sized bowl and cover with olive oil and juice from one lime. Mix and let them sit while you prepare the rest. For your Southwestern slaw, grate your purple cabbage into a medium bowl and add the juice of three limes, minced red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and honey. Mix and set aside. Make a simple guacamole by chopping avocados and tomatoes and placing in a bowl. Add the fresh corn. Mix together and squeeze one lime on top. Add a touch of salt.
For the Crema Mexicana, put the ½ cup of Mexican cream into a small bowl and add the lime zest and 2 tsp. of lime juice. Mix the cream well and set aside. Remove your shrimp from the oil and place them side by side on a plate or cutting board for seasoning. Very lightly dust the shrimp with the garlic salt and then repeat the process with the lemon pepper and the chili powder. Flip the shrimp and repeat.
are done, put them back on your cutting board or plate and slice into thirds if you want or keep them whole. Grill the tortillas for about 30 seconds per side. Remove them from the grill and add the shrimp, Southwestern slaw, and a drizzle of the Crema Mexicana. You can eat them as they come off the grill or stack them in a dish until they're all done. Serve them hot with a good cold beverage and your favorite hot sauce. Enjoy!
At this point your fire should be close to ready. When it's the right temperature, place your shrimp on the grill one by one and watch as they begin to become slightly opaque on the side you can see, flip them and cook the other side for roughly the same time (shrimp cook fast so try not to overcook. It should take around 5 minutes total). When the shrimp
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by Bob Branham
I
started guiding as a way to spend more time on the water. I loved fishing the flats and would do anything to spend more time out there—even watching someone else catch my fish while I pushed them around. I came to realize that getting someone into the fish of a lifetime was very satisfying. This all started around 40 years ago when the bonefishing was spectacular and even a beginner guide like myself could expect reasonable success with a little hard work and lots of practice. Captain Bill Curtis took me under his wing and gave me overflow charters. Soon I was steadily booked and had overflow of my own to share.
My favorite trips involve folks who can appreciate the sheer beauty of what's out there: the birds fishing and calling, the turtles and dolphins, the colors of the water—it's all pretty special to me and I'm happy to share it.
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Most of my early customers were bait fisherman, using shrimp and crabs on spinning tackle to catch bonefish, permit, and tarpon. Many of them slowly transitioned into fly fishing and soon I was specializing in the long rod. I learned the waters from Key Biscayne to Key West and Flamingo, and fishing more than 250 days a year was the norm. My car logged 30,000 miles a year and I often put 800 hours a year on my outboard. I soon learned that guiding was less a romantic endeavor and more a very long day. It wasn’t long before I was fishing bonefish and tarpon tournaments in the Keys. I quickly learned that my sports (anglers) seldom possessed the skills needed
to achieve consistent success. This often led to spirited discussions about the meaning of left and right, short and long. We often use the clock system to direct the cast. 12 o’clock means straight in front of the boat, 9 o’clock means 90 degrees left, 3 o’clock means 90 degrees right. Simple right? I often wish I had painted a clock on the front deck as a reminder. Guides are often labeled as ill-tempered, but I think we just get excited and want our anglers to catch the fish, and maybe a little bit resent that they have the rod and we have to work. I sometimes remind myself that my angler is depending on me for guidance, and the less skillful he is, the more skillful I have to be. Success is measured by the results, but catching isn’t everything. My favorite trips involve folks who can appreciate the sheer beauty of what’s out there: the birds fishing and calling, the turtles and dolphin, the colors of the water—it’s all pretty special to me and I’m happy to share it. Most of my fishing now is done vicariously through my anglers.
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A few years ago I got into bird photography in a BIG way. When not stalking bonefish, I can now be found chasing and photographing critters in the Northern Everglades.
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The 80's and 90's were the golden years of flats fishing here in Florida. We had new graphite rods, highend, high-tech reels, lighter, faster boats and a growing population of avid, skillful anglers.
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The 80’s and 90’s were the golden years of flats fishing here in Florida. We had new high-end graphite rods, high tech reels, lighter, faster boats and a growing population of avid, skillful anglers. We had lots of fish, not too many guides and jet skis were only just getting popular. I was much younger and life as a guide was good. The new millennium brought with it changes. The flats became more crowded as flats fishing became more popular. More guides and more private fisherman became the norm. Jet skis were running all
over the flats and kite boarding caught on and for lots of reasons, the fishing became harder. Even my commute to the ramp became more arduous. Sitting in traffic for an hour each way became less and less fun. It felt like I was paying dues for the years of idyllic existence I had enjoyed. I still spend around 200 days in my skiff poling folks around for bonefish, permit and tarpon. A few years ago I got into bird photography in a BIG way. When not stalking bonefish, I can be found chasing
and photographing critters in the Northern Everglades. Birds are my specialty and raptors are my favorite targets. To me it’s a little like fly fishing—it’s easy to see different bird species but to go that step further and capture them in flight or with prey challenging. I now take folks on Everglades photo tours so I can share that part of my passion. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to share my world and make a living at what I love.
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O T O Y PH SSA E
I s, n wa lde h o fis , g ir te rfish w, I vo ste No r e . fa y roo etc t ov m of s, u t o a s wn d th wh te e ribu bro prea Sou on; m tt k , s p ed e a cree are rica tar k s h e a t at y g a e ing rin he l Am like Wh l sp l. T ra p h? y op rib t pe esc mit, it al ent jum hig tel no n e a r o t C r r d n e e d ca, ca fee ibe n a wh nd , p s, rou ead hey eri fish six del rpo too r a lh .” T Am at ng le , ta re the ea r y bled stee on rth Wh goi eop ely at a get , o p . F m o, g, t p nat , th for ers ar No a stu rad y “t ea; Afric ttlin tha rtu ok n’t ad o do t sa e ar nd r, ra ere ? Fo sn do s, le st s e h s e a t le p t g nd ne u k e r j la rica wa out l on e, li d. A s, li coo stri a l e ing is al d e o e b Am ow fish sm e ta n go al ro s, th e th it r t th her the n th ow eci oa g lik hen ot rget ar o heir s, sp nd b thin g w ta pul for t reel s. A t no kin po od the not jus the go ar; nd k re's g to ! e ge s a Th win ing . o e i s fl at d b ump bo t an off j se kes ta
TAIL FLY FISHI NG M AGA ZI NE 8 7
Previous Page. Guadeloupe tarpon guide Alex motors to a new spot with Rick Hartman. Above. Angler Bruce McNea, from Fall City, Washington, landed this 35-pounder while fishing from the Avalon II in the Jardines de la Reina, Cuba. Top Right. Brian Jarvis with a nice tarpon from a murky lagoon near Cayo Largo, Cuba. Bottom Right. A large tarpon tries to shake the fly, and does! July at Turneffe Atoll, Belize can be hot for big tarpon.
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Previous Pages. Turneffe Flats guide Pops, revives a big tarpon caught by Joe Bankofier of Bend, Oregon. Above. Rick Hartman, from Harlingen, Texas, is one of the finest fly casters in the world. Tarpon, from 30 to 70 pounds were rolling in this river in Guadeloupe. Top Right. 60 pounds of fun launches at Jardines de la Reina, Cuba. Angler John Langston from Snohomish, Washington. Guide Coki. Bottom Right. Brian Jarvis of Bend, Oregon about to release a mid-sized tarpon that was cruising the reef at Cayo Largo, Cuba.
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Left. A brackish lagoon in Guadeloupe was loaded with 30 to 60 pound tarpon. Angler Rick Hartman. Top Right. A baby tarpon gets air while angler and guide try not to flip the canoe. This is in the backcountry of Espiritu Santo Bay, just south of Ascension Bay, Yucatan, Mexico. Angler Rick Hartman. Bottom Right. This Guadeloupe tarpon jumps with its mouth shut. Only about 10% of tarpon jump with a closed mouth.
Bio: I live in the small ranching community of Powell Butte, Oregon and venture to fishing destinations from Alaska to Tonga. I contribute to quite a few fishing publications and websites. A camera is a constant companion whether I am wading a flat or fishing a local bass pond. When I am not wandering around with a fly rod, by myself or with a couple buddies, I host fly fishing trips with The Fly Shop. For more info, I can be reached at brianokeefe54@gmail.com and there are more photos at www.brianokeefephotography.com.
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by Rock Dawson
An Angler Opines 9 6 TAI L FLY F I S H I N G M AGA Z I NE
While we are in a fight to regulate industry, we also need to educate the public about the consequences of our day to day actions at home and get people to make changes for the better.
A
s we glided out across the slick, beautiful water of the Indian River Lagoon, I was busy taking in the sights and sounds when I began to notice a cloudiness building in the water. The brown haze built and built until the water was no longer beautifully transparent but rather an opaque, off color brown. It was a color I would normally associate with the silty waters near a river mouth, but this was different. As the boat slowed to a stop, I asked our guide and friend Rick Worman about it and he explained firsthand much of what I had heard about the problems in the Indian River Lagoon. Fertilizer, increased biomass, algae blooms and dead sea grass were a brutal combination for any estuary, but even more so for one with a very limited ability to refresh its water. Before you think that this is a problem that doesn’t affect you or your favorite waters, think again. Unfortunately, the problem that Rick explained to me is much much bigger than one estuary.
In Florida, water issues affect much of the state, including the Everglades and Florida Bay, and different issues plague bodies of water and natural resources around the country. While we are in a fight to regulate industry, we also need to educate the public about the consequences of our day to day actions at home and get people to make changes for the better. Each one of us that ignores our own little piece of the pie is responsible for a part of the demise of our important water resources. The fertilizer that we sprinkle on our lawns that subsequently washes into the drainage ditch and out to sea contributes to algae blooms. Things like our desire for and mass consumption of more and cheaper cash crops (Big Sugar ring any bells?) contributes to the problem too, as does our overuse of water, and overdependence on plastic, and the many human-caused impacts of climate change. The list goes on and on. Supporting groups that are working on
these issues is not enough. We all need to take a hard look at what we are doing at home and make changes. We need to think hard before sacrificing the future of our natural resources for things like the excessive consumption of sugar that’s killing us, the convenience of plastic, bug-free, weed-free green grass on our lawns and a few more flowers on our plants. The truly unfortunate thing is that much of the public is unaware of the damage they cause or how they can do better. We must be active in educating our children, friends and neighbors. We must take responsibility for the things that each and every one of us does each day, and make a conscious effort to avoid the things that will continue to propagate this downward spiral of events, even it means causing ourselves some inconvenience or changing our lifestyles. It’s not always easy. I took months of ribbing from my wife when we first made the decision to forego fertilizing our lawn over three years ago, but our lawn is doing just fine without it. If everyone made some changes and sacrifices, our natural world would be much better off.
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TAIL FLY FI S HI NG M AGA ZI NE 3
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