Tarpon Cay Lodge - 2024

 As always, I like to fly into Cancan a day early, and stay at the Marriott Courtyard.  This gives us a chance to unwind and prepare for the transfer to Rio Lagartos/Tarpon Cay Lodge, around noon the next day.

We settled into our clean and comfortable rooms at Yuuma Ha hotel/restaurant, and set up our rods.  The friendly staff was ready to make our week a great one, and the chef was busy cooking up a great dinner for us.

The food at Yuuma Ha was terrific...

...and the desserts were amazing!

Our host, Marco Ruz, met us and suggested that we make the best of our first fishing day, Sunday, since a hurricane was brewing in the Gulf.  No one had heard of a hurricane originating in the gulf, but this one was growing and headed east toward the Yucatan!

Fortunately, the tarpon didn't hear the weather report and were anxious to eat our flies and give us the high-flying thrill we enjoy!

As we headed out on the first day, we didn't realize this was going to be the ONLY good fishing day we would see for the week?

Ken with a nice TCL Tarpon!

"Mr. Lee" even got in on the action

We caught a number of snook, toward the end of the week!

A number of flies worked very well (most developed at Tarpon Cay Lodge!)

The first day, with clear water and tarpon feeding on shrimp, my LT Shrimp was very effective!

After the hurrcane passed, with the water very stained, my Yucatan Sunrise (Foxxy Griz Minnow) was especially successful.

My "Gang", ready to head out for the afternoon's action.

My partner, Ron, with a nice TCL tarpon!

Narrow creeks, with thick mangroves, make for some interesting casting, let alone fish-catching.

***

Only 2 days after our arrival at Tarpon Cay, we were forced to evacuate, due to hurricane Milton.  Fortunately for us, although a Catagory 5, the hurricane was relatively small, and Rio Lagartos was spared much damage.  However, to be safe,we evacuated about 1 1/2 hours away to the city of Villadolid, a beautiful city with much to see and experience.  This "detour" in our fishing plans was as pleasant as it could be.

Plaza and cathedral in Villadolid

As usual, Marco Ruz, our outfitter, took good care of us, moving us into a very nice hotel, and treating us to dinner in an old (1500's) colonial home, now restaurant.

Inside the old cathedral


***

Everyone in my group took the hurricane in stride, and enjoyed shopping the many stores and shops in Valladolid.  We all agreed that although not the best week of fishing, it was a great experience!

Many thanks to Marco Ruz, our guides, 

and the staff at Yuuma Ha!

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!

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

****