The Great Escape:

It’s been a while since the last blog, but in truth with river levels remaining high for weeks now there’s been little to report.  In fact, charts (right) read as an all too familiar story of peaks and troughs that refused to drop below 0.50m on my beloved Eden.  The last time I wielded a rod in anger was December 15th…  Thankfully, my mind has been occupied elsewhere, preparing for operation New Zealand next week, which I’ve christened “The Great Escape”, because let’s face it the odds of getting your string pulled here just now are zilch!  Thankfully, time usually spent wandering river banks got put to good use at my vice.  Fingers crossed the toils of my labour will be well rewarded down under when reports will be flying in thick and fast!!!

 

 

 

A mitt full of bluebottles and blowflies should hopefully appeal to trout in New Zealand’s low country rivers

 

 

 

 

A wedge of foam finished off with rubber legs makes for a great cicada pattern.  Granted it doesn’t look up to much clamped in my fingers, but from beneath the profile screams “cicada”

A couple of flies to try in 2014:

High summer may not be prime time for dry fly fishing in the UK, says Paul Procter, but, thanks to the diminutive blue-winged olive, late evenings can herald memorable sport.

 

Fieldsports Magazine recently posted their summer 2013 issue..if you fancy a couple of B-WO patterns to dress for next season then visit http://www.fieldsportsmagazine.com/Freshwater-Fishing/high-summer-trout.html    I hope you find them as successful as I have

Tried & Tested:

~Tarpon Bunnies look the business dressed on a Partridge Stinger hook~

Prior to our annual saltwater jaunt in Ascension Bay, a small range of flies were fashioned on the new Partridge Stinger hook.  Forged from quality carbon steel, razor sharp with a nice upturned hook point, on paper the Stinger ticks all the right boxes.  However, how would it fair out in the field?  Well, having tangled with tarpon, snook, barracuda and sharks the Stinger came out well and truly on top.  It possess amazing strength and didn’t budge an inch,even when angry jack crevalle charged off to the horizon.  To avoid rust, some would argue that all saltwater hooks should be stainless steel.  Though after using carbon steel, a quick rinse under the tap prevents corrosion from setting in, so no harm done.  Besides they tend to hold their edge for longer too and any sign of bluntness is easily addressed with a stroke of a hook hone.  Problem is now, I’ll have to revise my predator box so all my favourites are dressed on the Stinger! 

When comes to battling feisty fish with, few hooks cut the mustard as well as the Stinger

Poles Apart:

50hp engines might be a great way to whizz pangas through mangrove channels en route to favourite flats.  However, when it comes to the actual fishing, a more stealthy means of propulsion is required if you’re to avoid spooking fish.  This comes in the form of a graphite poling pole of some twenty odd feet in length.  Wielding such a cumbersome thing is an art in itself that involves years of learning.  Thankfully, all Casa Viejo Chac guides are masters when poling a flat, giving them plenty of time to spot the ghostly shadows of passing fish.  Trust me, having dabbled on top of a poling platform, maximum concentration was required for maintaining balance and attempting to steer 23ft of fibreglass hull in a predetermined direction… Above: Antonio handles a pole as though it’s a mere bamboo garden cane. 

 

Ruben digs checks the skiff’s drift as he spots a shoal of feeding bonefish way off to his right

 

 

 

Senior guide William often passes the pole over his head when manoeuvring a skiff into prime position.  What’s impressive is that his pole is fashion from mahogany, which weighs considerably more than graphite.  

Trigger Happy:

Whilst hunting permit one day, we got side tracked by triggerfish tailing over turtle grass. Granted these humble fish might not be as desirable as bonefish, tarpon or permit, but they’re damn good fun on light tackle.  Triggerfish are also very tolerant, especially if you’re walking the flats, which means that numerous cast can be made without alarming them. Designed to slip into shallow water on their sides they might not match the acceleration of more torpedo shaped species like bonefish.  However, they remain tenacious beasts that never stop pulling, a bit like a freight train… Given this, we were happy to chase triggers where and when!

 

 

 

 

 

With hard mouths and crushing teeth for devouring crabs, triggers can be tricky when it comes to setting a hook.  A very firm strip strike is required if you’re to experience success.

 

 

 

 

 

Crabs might well be their principal prey, but triggers will just as readily gobble up shrimps which is why our homer Shrimpson scored

Predators like Storms…

Casa Viejo Chac guide Chucho clutching a spanking mangrove tarpon I winkled out on a 1/0 cockroach fly

 

The reason for coming to Ascension Bay is to avoid nasty weather back home!  Yet, against the rub of the green this season has seen unprecedented storms, which has a telling effect on fish.  Thankfully though the predators seem hungrier than ever and remained active to give us tremendous sport over the last few days.  In particular tarpon and snook have been our main focus, but plenty of barracuda and sharks latched onto our flies too.  Consequently, we’re now in a dilemma as to whether we want those lazy summer days so evocative of this part of the world to return…

Pete Eville displays a cracking snook (one of many) that we ambushed as they sidled along the edges on mangrove channels in search of sardines

 

We found plenty of cuda too which are in an aggressive mood at the moment, so much so that this beast latched onto my shrimp pattern intended for bonefish.  Heaven knows how it never sliced through the 10lb tippet with gnashers like that!

Predators on the chew:

 

Although permit and bonefish were off the menu, predatory species seemed to be enjoying the unseasonable drop in temperature. Poling the mangroves, we had rich pickings for sharks, jacks and barracuda.  There were moments of excitement too when snook flirted with us by edging out from deep within the mangroves though best of all had to be those tarpon.  Most of our group managed to tangle with one or two of these impressive creatures, even on the bleakest of days.  Pictured above is Paul Little with his very first tarpon, a cheeky grin says it all.  Admittedly, this might not equate to one of those ocean going giants, but that didn’t matter one jot to Paul…

Lemon sharks like this wandered up onto the flats, giving us plenty of opportunities to tempt them.

 

 

 

 

My baitfish flies have been taking a beating from both barracuda and sharks. So much so that the resin heads suffered damage beyond repair.  Fortunately, the fly box is full! 

A Stormy Start:

Our annual campaign got off to a stormy start in Ascension Bay.  Thunderstorms day and night pounded us and the cooling water made bonefish lethargic.  Thankfully, the predatory fish seem more tolerate and given fleeting glimpses of sunshine, we found them in abundance… Above, Paul Little ponders a waterproof jacket as we motor away from an approaching storm.

 

 

 

Guides and clients paddle through flooded fields whilst making their way to waiting skiffs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The roads round Punta Allen remain in a sorry state after days of rain…We’re still waiting for it too brighten up

Mother of all Hatches:

Our recent trip to Bosnia climaxed with an incredible couple of days when hatches of Blue-Winged Olives literally went off the scale (above).  Mark Irvine, Mita Balaban and myself found a length of water where B-WOs duns stretched from bank to bank.  Rather than guide, I invited Mita to fish, as it’s not everyday you experience such a phenomenon.  With the hatch lasting some four hours we made absolute pigs of ourselves and why not…?  Of course, it wasn’t all roses round the door, with so many naturals about the trout and grayling had a PhD in detecting any impostor. Though a little patience and perseverance usually meant you got your fish and boy, we had some thumping grayling.

 

 

 

 

 

~Good friend Mark Irvine displays a lump of a grayling, which he tempted using a #18 F Fly~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would have been unfair to ask Mita Balaban to sit this one out…he scored quickly too, again a #18 CdC pattern did the trick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…Minutes later and I’m in…Bosnian grayling are truly stunning creatures…

From Sun to Rain:

Our first group of the Fly Odyssey Bosnian adventure (right) enjoyed a warm climate, calling for shirt sleeve order.  However, week two dawned wet and miserable.  Amazingly, tumbling temperatures didn’t prevent flies from hatching.  In fact they simply encouraged them, treating us to flurries of Blue-Winged Olives that reached blizzard status.  Thousands of duns stuck to the surface for longer periods saw the water erupt into life as trout and grayling gorged themselves. Given this, the group couldn’t have asked for a better start…

 

 

Damp conditions saw hatches last for several hours, treating us to dry fly fishing like never before!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The horrible weather might have required a couple more layers, but it also prevented B-WOs from lifting off, making them an easy target for trout and grayling

 

 

 

 

 

Patience and guile reward Hilary Langan with several plump grayling on her first morning.  Pictured with head guide Mita Balaban her smile says it all

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Irvine was just as quick to get to grips with the Ribnik’s trout on a size 18 shuttlecock emerger