Sunday Classic / Guiding Tip: Set Your Client Free to Build Confidence
THIS POST IS FOR ALL THE PROFESSIONAL GUIDES OUT THERE THAT GIVE THEIR CLIENTS EVERY THING THEY’VE GOT EACH AND EVERY DAY. IT’S FOR THE PERFECTIONISTS, WHO TRULY BELIEVE FLY FISHING CAN NEVER BE 100% MASTERED AND ALWAYS SEE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL TEACHING SKILLS.
I’ve taken great pride over the years with my hands on style of trout guiding. When you take the time to explain the little details to your clients, and freely share what’s going on in your head, it really makes a big difference in them understanding the big picture. I’ve always believed catching fish should take a back seat to learning the how-tos of fly fishing. I’ve never seen much value in a client catching fish during a guide trip, if they can’t go out and replicate it on their own without me. It wasn’t until a few months ago, in fact, that I strayed away from my familiar guiding routine of holding onto the reigns.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / The Leader Man
Understanding how leaders function, and how to tie them, leads to successful fly fishing.
The leader is possibly the most important part of your fly fishing tackle. It is, after all, the part of the set up closest to the fish and the part that makes the actual presentation. If you believe, as i do, that presentation is the single most important factor in fly fishing, then you have to recognize the importance of the leader.
Still, many anglers don’t fully understand how their leaders work in the system and simply buy a tapered leader with the picture of the fish they’d like to catch on the package. In reality, you can always tie a leader that will function better than pre-made tapered leaders. Once you understand how leaders work, a world of versatile options is at your finger tips.
I will follow up soon with a more in-depth article on understanding leaders, but for now, here are three great videos from the guy who taught me, Bruce Chard. In these videos Bruce shows you how he ties leaders for bonefish, permit and tarpon. He also covers some of the fundamentals you need to understand to tie leaders that work with your fly line.
Some wisdom from the Leader man.
Read More »Bob Never Gives Up
Bob is no quitter. Look closely at this one.
See more of Bob and the angling art of Andrea Larko
Read More »Trash On The Flats
IF WE CAN FLY FISH FOR CARP, WHY NOT LADY FISH?
I was in the Bahamas last month for a little DIY bonefishing. I love DIY trips. They have a whole different vibe from a guided lodge experience. I’m sure I miss some opportunities fishing without a guide. I may not catch as many fish, or as big a fish but I fish at my own pace and am a whole lot more relaxed. I appreciate a guide who works their ass off for me but it’s nice to just walk the flats, sometimes with my wife who doesn’t fish, and just explore.
This last trip was one of those and it allowed me to do something I really enjoy. Catching a few saltwater trash fish. On a guided trip there is always this pressure to stay on task and boat as many, or as big a specimen of what ever the target species may be. I’m generally curious about all kinds of fish and when I see something different, well, I just want to put a hook in it.
Some guys get really serious about it. They wouldn’t consider casting to a barracuda, for example. I think anyone who doesn’t enjoy catching a cuda on the fly is seriously missing something awesome. I get the whole idea of sticking to the program, and nobody loves catching bonefish more than me, but at some point
Fly Fishing Fast Water Chutes for Trout
There are multiple ways for anglers to fly fish fast water chutes, but most of the time, I find it most effective to wade to the sides of the chutes, and fly fish perpendicular to them. Doing so, it gives me better control of my drifting flies and improves my line management. Positioning to the side of a chute also improves my stealth, because I’m able to present my flies in front of the trout with just my leader, keeping my fly line out of site. Check out the video below that demonstrates how I prefer to fish fast water chutes.
Read More »It’s Time To Book Bonefishing At Abaco Lodge
Bonefish dates are selling out quickly
Abaco is a unique and diverse fishery. This trip to Abaco Lodge is always a blast and I look forward to it all year. Whether it’s poling the Marls, hunting big bones on the ocean side or casting to huge permit, or just sipping cocktails by the pool, Abaco always offers something special. It’s great fishing in a great location and the perfect trip to bring a spouse, even if they don’t fish.
Price for the March 7th – 12th (5/4) is $ 5,200.00 + $ 195.00 vat tax
If you’re looking for the absolute best Bahamas experience available, you’ve found it. I can honestly say that Abaco lodge is the best fishing lodge I’ve ever visited. On every count it exceeds expectations. The facility itself is ridiculously nice. Huge single occupancy rooms with big plush beds and fine linens. Luxurious baths with every amenity. Doors that open onto decks overlooking the water. A beautiful pool and fire pit, large covered communal deck with a superb bar.
The whole place shines like a new penny, including the sweet new Mavric skiffs. Best of all, it offers access to the most diverse and productive fisheries in the Bahamas. Anglers can expect great numbers of bonefish as well as quality shots at permit and tarpon. Abaco offers a legitimate chance at the grand slam.
All lodging is single occupancy and the amenities are on par with any luxury hotel. Fabulous meals and a well stocked bar are included. The lodge has it’s own fly shop and a selection of fine cigars. The skiffs can be easily trailered to any part of the island, eliminating long painful boat rides. It’s an amazing 4-day, 5-night trip.
Travel to Abaco is easy, with some major airlines offering direct flights to Marsh Harbor from the US, and the lodge only 10 minutes from the airport. Half days of fishing are possible on arrival and departure days, if your flight schedule allows.
I hope you will be able to join me and the other fans of Gink and Gasoline on this amazing trip. Don’t hesitate to email me if you’d like more detailed information about any aspect of the hosted trip program. I’m happy to help in any way. If you’re not sure how hosted trips work, follow this link to learn all of the details. https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/fly-fishing/how-do-hosted-fishing-trips-work-and-is-it-right-for-me/
Drop me a line at hookups@ginkandgasoline.com to reserve you spot.
Read More »Sunday Classic / 10 Tips For Spotting Permit
PERHAPS THE LOFTIEST GOAL IN FLY FISHING IS CATCHING A PERMIT.
Maybe it’s not your thing but if there truly is a fish of ten-thousand casts, it’s the permit. There is enough to catching permit to fill a bookshelf or magazine rack. It’s a complicated game, but where it starts is simple. To catch a permit, you must find a permit. And to find a permit, the angler must know what to look for. With that in mind, here are 10 tips to help you spot a permit.
Have the right glasses
This is stupid simple but it really is the most important piece of equipment for the saltwater angler. There is no replacement for quality polarized sunglasses. Good saltwater glasses have a rosy color to the lenses. Pass on green or grey. Copper, rose or brown will offer better contrast. A lighter tint to the lens is valuable on darker days and a frame that shade your eyes is a plus. Glass lenses offer the sharpest vision and, unless you have a heavy coke-bottle prescription, that’s what I recommend.
Tails
The long, graceful forked tail of the permit is its most distinctive feature. It is black in color and stands out when the fish shows its profile. Often the permit’s broad, silver body disappears completely and it is the black double sickle tail that gives him away. This sight is never more exciting than when the tail is held up out of the water. Called ‘”tailing” this happens when the fish feeds off the bottom in shallow water. This means that the fish is actively feeding and the chances of him eating your fly are good.
Spikes
The permit’s long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin will often give him away. When the fish is
Saturday Shoutout / Enter the Dragon
Big still water trout feeding on dragonflies is every fly anglers dream.
Soaring, midair eats, crushing rises and surface skimming super sips! What not to love about that. Check out the epic dragonfly action in Patagonia from our friends at Andes Drifters.
If you’d like to experience some awesome Patagonia fly fishing for yourself, there are still a few spots available for our trout and dorado adventure Feb 2-12 2019. Email me at hookups@ginkandgasoline.com for more info.
STILLWATER SPECTACULAR IN NORTHERN PATAGONIA
Read More »Bob is Confident
THAT AQUASEAL IS JUST AWESOME!
See more of Bob and the angling art of Andrea Larko on Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/andrealarko
Read More »Speyitis
By Jeff Hickman
THE MOST COMMON FISHING PROBLEM I SEE AMONG SPEY FISHERS WHO CAN CAST WELL IS OVER CASTING.
I refer to this plague as Speyitis. Just because you can cast all the way across the river doesn’t mean that you should all the time. I know it is fun to throw a long line and its even more fun if you can get yanked way out there. For successful fishing it’s important to read the water and decide if a long cast is important there. Much of the time in many spots the fish is likely to be in the inside soft water. Casting across the seam way out into the heavy current you are wasting your time, not allowing your fly to sink and also not allowing it to effectively swing all the way in below you.
If fishing with sinktips, the question to ask yourself or your guide is
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