Isla del Sabalo - 2024

 My annual trip to Isla del Sabalo was another incredible success.   50 miles of untouched mangrove shoreline, with tarpon virtually everywhere!

First things first...setting up our rods.

The long, one hour run brought us to a pod of tarpon feeding on the offshore flats, and it didn't take long to start appreciating those high flying jumps along the mangroves, too.

As usual, after the long run, we start working our way back to Isla del Sabalo, exploring estuaries, rivers, and mangrove shoreline.

In addition to the offshore flats, tarpon could be found cruising the shallow shoreline.

My partner, David McKenzie didn't take long to connect with a nice IDS tarpon!

***

After developing a small, light weight shrimp pattern for Tarpon Cay Lodge, I was anxious to fish this pattern along the shallow flats of IDS.  It was a big success!

The LT Shrimp, up close and personal!

On this trip we witnessed something amazing.  Thousands of large dragonflies were buzzing overhead, and we found tarpon actually eating them under the mangroves!  Who knew?

The guides always had shady places for lunch.  Terry and Larry did well too, and we enjoyed hearing about their success.

This tarpon put on a great high-flying show!

Hard to beat my Foxxy Griz Minnow for those big offshore tarpon!

Another beautiful sunset on an incredible fishery!

***

Yakutat Alaska - 2024

 Our annual trip started in the spring, with tragic news.  The couple, running the air service, and flying us out each day, were killed in a plane crash, and since our relationship with these folks goes back several years, it was a great loss, and as a result, we were not sure if we wanted to even make the trip.  

However, we learned that a helicopter service, from Juneau, was planning to send 2 choppers to help with logistics in the area.  

Since each of the to choppers could carry 5 people, plus gear and fish, our group of 10 guys were set to make the trip.

 

Scenes like this greeted us most mornings!  Spectacular!

Big rivers and big silver salmon!

As the tide rushed in, we were constantly moving up river with our catch!

My partner, Will Steiger, with his first Coho!

Congratulations, Will!

Another big coho male!  The size of these fish runs in cycles, and this was our year to catch bigger silvers.  Many running over 10 lbs.

Once again, my Coho Fly was very effective, and especially efficient using a 60 deg. jig hook.

...Pulling on a big coho!

Our morning catch, waiting for the chopper!

Sunset from our house, on Yakutat Bay!

We had a great trip, with everyone bringing home a box of frozen fillets! 

 Many thanks to Barry for continuing the tradition and to Jeff, for all his work in planning meals, and many other things necessary for this trip to be a reality.  Thank you!

***

Ascension Bay 2024

              I received a call mid-week, before I was to fly out to Mexico.  The weather had been horrible for 2 weeks, and our upcoming week was forecast to be the same.  I was given the option to cancel, but since my flight was booked anyway, my partner, Chris Dodge, and I, decided to go.  

It turned out that several people did cancel, but ultimately, 8 of us arrived in Punta Allen, hopeful that the weather would give us an opportunity to fish.

The last 3 years have been very unusual for Punta Allen.  Large migratory tarpon have made an appearance, for some unknown reason, and have decided to migrate inside the reef, giving flats fishermen a solid chance to see, and possibly catch, tarpon over 100 lbs.!

I have fished Ascension Bay several times, over the years, but permit have always been the species of most interest and availability.  However, with adult tarpon prowling the flats, they became the focus for our group, and we were armed with 11 and 12 wt rods, large "snake" flies, and stout 80 lb. leaders.  I never touched my permit rod, or bonefish rod, the entire week.

Flats fishing, is sight fishing, and the sun is vital to seeing fish.

Our week was a mix of sun and clouds, but enough sun to spot fish, and feed them with big flies, tied on big 2/0 and 3/0 hooks.

My new "Snake Series" flies for big tarpon.

My first fish came to a red and chartreuse "Snake" fly, and a few minutes later a bright, 60 lb. tarpon was along side.

Fighting these big fish requires maximum pressure, with the rod low, and with little flex.  A high quality reel, with a strong drag, and plenty of backing, is mandatory, to tire these powerful fish and get them back in the water.

Another medium size tarpon, 

around 50 lbs.

The second day out I was fortunate to hook and land this huge      130 lb. female.  My guides, Tino and Jerry were thrilled to have a fish over 100 lbs. "in the books".  I mention the guides because they are a vital link to a catch like this!

. 

Although my partner, Chris Dodge, had "jumped" a number of tarpon, he was not been able to stay connected to a fish all week... ...that was about to change.

Chris with very nice 75 lb. tarpon!

Yep, the hits just keep on coming!

Chris leaning on a big tarpon!

Our last day Chris was tight on a big female, and this tarpon would not jump!  This translated to a strong fish that would be able to fight for a long time.  1 hour and 20 minutes later, our guide Nestor and Alex had their hands on Chris' big 130 lb. female tarpon!  Great effort and teamwork paid off big time for Chris!

This fish came on the afternoon of our last day, with massive black clouds pressing in.  The bad weather predicted all week, was finally upon us, and although we headed in with rain blasting us, but our successful week was complete!!

*****

Many Thanks to Lilly and Jose, of Kay Fly Fishing Lodge, for hosting a great week of excellent food, and accommodation.  

***

Also, thanks to Doug Behrman for inviting me to be a part of his group, and incredible tarpon fishing!

***

Finally, thanks to Chris Dodge for putting up with me, and being a great partner!

****

Yakutat, Alaska - 2023

Our group of 10 guys was excited to get back to Alaska, and fish for coho salmon, around Yakutat.

The previous year we did not have the big 10-place Otter to shuttle us to the many rivers around Yakutat.  2024 was a new year, and a new Otter so we could all fish together, and explore rivers further from town.

The shallow lagoon, of the East River, was especially great this year, and the silvers came eagerly to Wog Gurglers.  The top water strikes were really amazing!

In addition to the gurglers, a flashy, pink fly, tied on a 60 deg. jig hook, was very effective, again, in 2023.

With the trees so close to the river, it was a bit spooky.  As you might guess, bears are everywhere at this time of year, and your never know when you might encounter a big brownie.

Fortunately, no bears came to visit, this day, but the big male cohos were there and ready to eat our flies.

God willing, Yakutat will be in my future, for 2024.

***

 

Tarpon Cay Lodge-2023

 My hosted trip to Tarpon Cay Lodge was an amazing trip.  

The coastline west of Rio Lagartos

During our week at Tarpon Cay Lodge, we experienced large schools of tarpon feeding on baitfish, and then later, small shrimp.  In my many years fishing this area I have not seen this wide open bite, and the tarpon did not disappoint.  

 Larry was excited to fish tarpon for the first time, and with tarpon chasing bait all around us, it was just a matter of time before he was pulling on a high flying tarpon.

During these feeding frenzies, the casting deck was a "revolving door".  As soon as a tarpon was hooked I would step down off the deck, and fight the fish from the center of the panga.  This gave Jeff, my partner, a chance to quickly get up and make the cast!   This particular day, Jeff and I landed 17 tarpon!  Certainly the best day for me in 20 years, at TCL.

The big gins say it all!

Larry and Wayman were into the fish as well!

There were some larger "babies" in the mix, which was a nice bonus. 

***
One of my objectives for this trip was to test a newly developed fly pattern, especially designed for the shallow, weedy flats.  During low light periods the tarpon feed on these flats but are extremely wary and difficult to catch.  

My LT Shrimp, designed to be very light, an neutrally buoyant, was an immediate success.  After 3 trips experimenting with various designs, it all came together in a big way, with many tarpon falling to this great new pattern.

One of many tarpon taken with the LT Shrimp

LT Shrimp

This fly is tied on a small, #2 hook, and is weedless...perfect for the shallow, grassy flats!!

Rio Lagartos is a beautiful area, and the sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking.  

...minutes before heading out.

The food at the lodge/hotel is very good, and the artistic features make it just that much better.  

Typical dessert:

We are already making plans to return to Tarpon Cay Lodge, in 2024!