fly fishing for giant trevally - Tail Fly Fishing Magazine https://www.tailflyfishing.com The voice of saltwater fly fishing Wed, 09 Jun 2021 04:30:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://i0.wp.com/www.tailflyfishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Tail-Logo-2024-blue-circle-small.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 fly fishing for giant trevally - Tail Fly Fishing Magazine https://www.tailflyfishing.com 32 32 126576876 Saltwater Fly Fishing for GTs https://www.tailflyfishing.com/saltwater-fly-fishing-gts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=saltwater-fly-fishing-gts https://www.tailflyfishing.com/saltwater-fly-fishing-gts/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2021 05:31:00 +0000 https://www.tailflyfishing.com/?p=7045 The post Saltwater Fly Fishing for GTs appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

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Our January 2021 issue features TFFM’s Travel Editor, Peter McLeod, writing about one of his longtime passions in “For the Love of GTs.” In this companion video, Peter offers a crash course on where you can find GTs, what tackle you need, favorite fly patterns, where to target them on the flats, how to strip the fly, and how to fight them. If you have any interest in fishing for GTs, you’d do well to listen, as Peter literally wrote the book on the subject. GT: A Fly Fishers’ Guide to Giant Trevally is available through Amazon by clicking here: AMAZON.

Saltwater fly fishing for GTs

Cover spread of Peter’s Article from the January 2021 issue of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

For more information on fly fishing any international destination, you can contact Peter directly at peter@aardvarkmcleod.com or visit his website at www.aardvarkmcleod.com.

Saltwater fly fishing for GTs

Giant Trevally taken in the Seychelles on fly.


Saltwater fly fishing for GTs

Another Giant Trevally taken in the Seychelles on fly.

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Next Generation Fly Fishing

GT Behavior & Hangouts

Cosmoledo – The GT Capital of the World

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]]> https://www.tailflyfishing.com/saltwater-fly-fishing-gts/feed/ 2 7045 Giant Trevally on Kiritibati https://www.tailflyfishing.com/giant-trevally-on-kiritibati/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=giant-trevally-on-kiritibati Tue, 04 Sep 2018 05:05:31 +0000 https://www.tailflyfishing.com/?p=3891 GT are what most people consider the bullies of the reef. They will eat anything they can fit into their mouths – which is a lot. They are a very aggressive fish but shots at GT most often occur when stalking the flats with bonefish gear. They move in fast but move on just as quickly, so usually making a cast with a 12-weight a one-shot deal.

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]]> By David Radcliffe
Photos by Shawn Wampach (From Tail Fly Fishing Magazine #18)

Don’t get me wrong, I love fishing for bonefish
as much as the next angler.
I just feel a little bit like – been there and done that.
In other words, I’ve spoiled myself.

So a while back I decided that my next trip would focus on Giant Trevally (GT). For this trip, I chose to go to Christmas Island in the Republic of Kiribati, one of the best places to find my quarry, the other being the Indian Ocean. Being from the Arctic, as I am, either location was a long trip, but Christmas Island won out; I have done two DIY trips there in the past and have a degree of familiarity with the fishery.  Christmas Island is located in the mid-Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and the country of Fiji. The island is serviced weekly by Fiji Airlines out of Honolulu with a modern 737 jet aircraft. The flight, which is a little over three hours, arrives the day after you leave due to the proximity to the dateline. The island is 90 miles north of the equator, meaning that the weather remains constant year-round. If you’re not finding the huge GT, or if you tire from catching GT in the lightweight class, there are many other species here to get your rod bent: tuna to 125 pounds; bonefish to rival the big fish in the Bahamas (up to 12 pounds); and bluefin trevally and triggerfish are also common. All are a ball to get on the end of a fly line. But this being my third DIY trip to the island, I was focused on big GT. Only having one week this trip, I was even more focused than usual. GT are what most people consider the bullies of the reef. They will eat anything they can fit into their mouths – which is a lot. They are a very aggressive fish but shots at GT most often occur when stalking the flats with bonefish gear. They move in fast but move on just as quickly, so usually making a cast with a 12-weight a one-shot deal.
tail fly fishing magazine
On this trip, because bonefish were second fiddle, I cradled my 12-weight from sunup to sunset. GT are numerous on Christmas Island, but getting one to take a fly, and especially one over 50 pounds, is not so common. My strategy was to patrol likely places where GT would cruise, meanwhile standing on the boat’s bow, my guide poling at the stern. This in itself was a feat, as standing on the bow of what is basically a large canoe is not as easy as it sounds. And falling into water infested with huge schools of barracuda and sharks was not appealing at the time, nor is it appealing when I think back on it now. We often saw schools of barracuda numbering in the hundreds. It seemed that even fish in the large schools would measure four feet. I hooked one barracuda on a fly, and although the fight did not last long, it was an interesting change from scanning the shallows for cruising GT. GT like to travel in packs, like wild dogs, when under around the 40-pound mark. The truly big GT, the ones that get well over 50 pounds, travel alone or in pairs. They are often seen hunting in the company of sharks. Anything that hangs around with sharks is not to be taken lightly. GT fight dirty, making long hard runs toward the first available coral. Getting cut off while using 100-pound leader material is commonplace, as is breaking 12-weights (as I can attest to from my first trip to Christmas Island). On day one I landed five GT up to around 40 pounds. Day two, three more GT along with a brief encounter with a huge barracuda and 20-odd bonefish. On the third day, we got into what was the perfect scenario, a cruising GT, well over 70 pounds, and had lots of time to get into position. A well-placed cast with a five-inch silver mullet fly, a quick strip, and bang, fish on. My Ross reel drag was pre-set to about 12 pounds. This seemed to be of no concern whatsoever to this GT. Line left the reel at the rate of about that of hooking a speeding Volkswagen. I took the liberty of cranking down hard on the drag as far as I dared and the line just kept running toward Fiji, 2,000 miles south. This lasted about five minutes before the GT, or small submarine took me deep into the coral and out the other side. It promptly broke my 120-pound tippet. My guide Michael suggested that this car, or GT, was likely about 80-100 pounds. It was obvious that I needed a different strategy.

tail fly fishing magazine

On day four I tied six feet of 200-pound mono directly to my Airflo GT line and stalking we went. GT prefer the outgoing tide when they’re inside the vast lagoon. They cruise on current lines, deep channels and drop-offs around flats searching out their next meal. We landed several GT in the teens and a few in the mid-30s, but no real big fish were seen until we were eating our simple lunch of tuna sandwiches and Cokes. We saw him a long way off, slowly and single-mindedly cruising just at the edge of the flat. Lunch was hastily tossed to the coconut crabs and the 12-weight was readied with a big mullet fly. A few quick false casts to get some line in the air and the fly was ungracefully dropped 10 feet in front of the fish. A couple really quick strips and he was all over it. It is important to set the hook good and hard on these fish and to try to turn them from the dark side as quickly as possible. I was using my Sea Level reel this time and the drag was well and cranked down. I finally saw the handle, and not just a black blur, after about 200 yards into the first run. Then he went deep. Having lost the last Volkswagen this way, I tried to put as much pressure on this fish as I felt was possible without blowing up any gear. After what seemed like an hour, my arms were giving out but the fish was coming closer to being at hand. After another run, another turn, and with my arms like wet noodles, the fish was ready to give in.
This is when GT turn into crying little bullies that have been put into their place. As soon as they are tailed and a hand is under the belly, they go into this defeated mode. My fish, and I know it’s a fish at this point and not a car, was right around 80 pounds according to Michael, who has seen lots of fish this size, and bigger. The following day, it was all I could do to cast a rod. My arms were spent, beaten down, in a word, defeated. This was what I had come to do, to catch really big game fish in a pristine environment with an incredible guide and friend on an exotic DIY vacation. All of my trips are DIY, as it allows far more flexibility, allows me to fish for what I want, for as long as I want and with who I want. This trip was no different and I had done what I had come to do, catch a monster GT. Who knows what’s next…?
About the author:
David Radcliffe is a retired teacher who lives in Canada’s Northwest Territories with his wife and two dogs. As you can tell, he’s a fan of DIY fishing and travel, and he can help you arrange your own exotic DIY excursions. David has trips to Scotland, New Brunswick, Uruguay, and Florida planned for the not-so-distant future. Reach him at davidradcliffe@northwestel.net.

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]]> 3891 Books by Tail Contributors https://www.tailflyfishing.com/books-by-tail-contributors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=books-by-tail-contributors https://www.tailflyfishing.com/books-by-tail-contributors/#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2018 06:03:11 +0000 https://www.tailflyfishing.com/?p=3282 The subscribers of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine are aware of the quality of our contributors and the magnitude of their presence in the fly fishing industry.  Just in case you didn't know how talented they are, we thought we would share this blog with a few great books recently released by past and current Tail contributors.

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]]> Great content from great anglers and the great books they’ve written

We pride ourselves on our high quality content and photographs.  In addition to the great stories told by our anglers and sometimes even our readers, we carefully chose content that is informative and could improve your game.  We strive to provide the highest quality content in any fly fishing magazine available.  The subscribers of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine are aware of the quality of our contributors and the magnitude of their presence in the fly fishing industry.  Just in case you didn’t know how talented they are, we thought we would share this blog with a few great books recently released by past and present Tail contributors.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO VISIT THE HOMEPAGE FOR EACH BOOK

 

Jon Olch
A Passion for Permit – Volume 1 & 2

fly fishing magazine - fly fishing for permitJonathan Olch has spent decades passionately chasing permit. He has figured out what makes the elusive species tick and how to catch them. And for afraction of the cost of a single day of guided fishing, you can learn from the vast experience of this world-class angler.

A Passion for Permit by Jonathan Olch is the latest in the “Masters on the Fly” series published by Wild River Press. Olch’s impressive two-volume book runs more than 1,100 pages.

Share in the collective knowledge of more than 20 global permit angling experts. Learn about the fascinating world of the permit—the most sought-after prize of the flats—and eight of its closely related cousin-species you may have never heard about before. Learn about the finicky nuances of the permit through its anatomy, biology, food sources and preferred habitats—highlighted by superb imagery. Indulge in the strategies, techniques, fully illustrated essential casting tips, closeup color photos of 100-plus fly patterns, detailed tying instructions for new innovative flies, and anecdotes of the author and his expert guests as you are escorted around the world’s global tropics in pursuit of permit.

In the tradition of Andy Mill’s famous A Passion for Tarpon and many other Wild River Press sporting titles, the author takes you inside the tackle rooms and aboard the skiffs of many legends of the sport. Sit in on compelling and colorful conversations you simply won’t find anywhere else with:

 

  • Aaron Adams
  • Bob Branham
  • Dustin Huff
  • Steve Huff
  • Nathaniel Linville
  • Chris McCreedy
  • Winston Moore
  • Peter Morse
  • Lincoln Westby

A Passion for Permit is by far the most thoroughly researched and thoughtfully written book ever published on the subject. Even if success with permit is a goal still on your angling horizon, the tips and tactics you will learn within these informative pages about saltwater fishing will immediately make you a better bonefish and tarpon angler. This full and complete book is nothing less than a master class in flats fishing.

Peter McLeod
GT – A Fly Fishers Guide to Giant Trevally

 

Tail fly fishing magazine - GT on the fly

    Catching a giant trevally (or ‘GT’) on a fly rod is the pinnacle of flats fishing: highly challenging, requiring skill and preparation. This is the first comprehensive guide to giant trevally fishing on the fly.
    The giant trevally is an apex predator, and the way it operates is nothing less than brutal. These ‘gangsters of the flats’ are like packs of hoodlums marauding across the atolls and shallow estuaries. Hunting for trevally in the harsh environment they inhabit needs a certain resolve. The flyfisher’s first encounter with a giant trevally will be an electrifying experience. A GT can destroy tackle and ego, leaving all in its wake.
    But once you’ve caught one, GT flyfishing is an experience that any angler will want to repeat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon Churchill
Fly Fishing the Southeast Coast

 

tail fly fishing magazine - fly fishing the southeast coastGordon Churchill has been an enthusiastic angler all of his life, ever since he was little and would go fishing with his father in the lakes of upstate New York. Churchill shares his tips, tricks, and passion for fishing in Fly Fishing the Southeast Coast. Learn that you don’t have to travel to the Bahamas or any other far exotic island to find the perfect catch. Many ideal places are right here in the United States, including Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, and St. Augustine, Florida.

In order to fly fish successfully, a fisherman must know what kind of species he or she wants, what rod and line combo works best, what flies to stock, and of course when and where to be.

For each chapter, Churchill gives advice on where to find specific species of fish, from the striped bass in the southeast region of the Roanoke River to mahimahi in the Gulf Stream, forty miles off of Morehead City, North Carolina, as well as specifics on the approach of catching each species, as they’re all quite different. While full of tips and advice, Churchill makes it clear that, if ever fishing on the coast, you must be involved in a conservation effort. The environment and fish are constantly in danger, so make sure to always be aware and put your planet first!

 

 

 

 

 

tail fly fishing magazine - top saltwater fliesDrew Chicone
Top Saltwater Flies

Top Saltwater Flies is certain take your personal fly tying to a whole new level. Drew Chicone will have you tying like a master. Top Saltwater Flies comes in three extraordinary, handsome volumes:

  • Bonefish: 296 pages
  • Tarpon: 300 pages
  • Permit: 260 pages
  • 8.5 x 11 inches on quality coated stock
  • Special laminated hardcovers for durability
  • Patented Wire-O binding open flat on your tying desk
  • Printed in the United States by American craftsmen

“Whether it’s camaraderie, creativity, art—or simply a device to catch more fish—people are passionate about tying flies for a lot of different reasons. For me, it’s all those reasons and more. Tying is an important part of my daily routine. And teaching others the art of fly tying is one of my favorite activities.”

~Drew Chicone

 

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]]> https://www.tailflyfishing.com/books-by-tail-contributors/feed/ 1 3282 Hunting Giant Trevally (GT) on the Fly https://www.tailflyfishing.com/hunting-giant-trevally-gt-fly/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hunting-giant-trevally-gt-fly Wed, 13 Dec 2017 04:04:35 +0000 https://www.tailflyfishing.com/?p=2869 Hunt Giant Trevally (GT) on the Fly What’s the next fish species you’re hunting? If you’re up for a challenge, we highly recommend the Giant Trevally. This fish has become...

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]]> Hunt Giant Trevally (GT) on the Fly
What’s the next fish species you’re hunting? If you’re up for a challenge, we highly recommend the Giant Trevally. This fish has become a premier target for fly fishing fanatics everywhere to pursue.

Here’s what an angler should know before embarking on a trip to land a GT…

An incredibly strong, ferocious and aggressive reef fish. It is a large member of the jack family and is also known as the Giant Kingfish, Pacific Jack Fish, Goyan Fish, Lowly Trevally, Barrier Trevally, Ulua in Hawaii, Mamulan in the Marianas, Rōnin-aji in Japan and just plain GT for short. The Giant Trevally is similar in shape and appearance to a number of other large jacks and trevallies, having a large profile secondary to its muscular compressed oval body. GT’s are normally a silvery color with occasional dark spots although males may be black once they mature. The fish grows relatively fast, reaching sexual maturity with a length of approximately 60 cm at three years of age. With a documented maximum length of greater than 5.5 feet (~2 meters) and a weight of 175 lbs. (80kg), fish this big (or even close to this size) are extremely rare, with the species only occasionally seen at lengths greater than 3 feet (~0.8 meters). The Hawaiian Islands seem to have the largest fish, so if you are aiming for a trophy….Aloha, GTs over 100 lbs. (45 kg) are there.

Keep in Mind: Only three GTs over 100 lbs. (45 kg) from non-Hawaiian destinations have been reported to the IGFA.
GT’s Geography: The Giant Trevally is distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. They range southward from South America in the west to Hawaii in the east, as far north as Japan and southern Australia. They range along the coasts of three continents and many hundreds of smaller islands and archipelagos in the Indian Ocean.

Tail fly fishing magazine - GT on the flyGT’s Location Preference: GT’s inhabit a wide range of ocean environments as well as some non-marine environments. They usually start as juveniles in the safety of estuaries, shallow bays and lagoons, as most species do. These juveniles are also well known to live in waters of very low salinity such as coastal lakes and upper reaches of rivers. They tend to prefer brackish waters similar to baby Tarpon and Jack Crevalles. GT’s move to deeper reefs, offshore atolls, large embayment’s, bombora or drop-off channels as they become adults and realize their speed and power.

 

How to Hunt the Flats King:

Keep in Mind: You have a GT on the line? Prepare yourself, it’s time for battle against the ferocious beast. They know their domain, are incredibly strong and they will do anything to get off your line, except jump.
Most of the time, you will be chasing solitary GT’s on the flats. They are not difficult to locate since they aren’t quiet as they are pushing a lot of water. Solitary hunters have an advantage over pack hunters when you throw a fly at them because they are the only hunter there to attack. They will aggressively assault your fly and you will know that there is a GT at the end of your line. Some larger and bolder GT have been seen eating a lobster head first while it’s in a defensive stance. So you can image what they would do to a fleeing fly.

Tail fly fishing magazine - GT on the flyThe name of the game is creating the illusion of distress. If you cast a fly into the range of a GT, strip it effectively making lots of noise thus creating the impression that it is a desperate baitfish fleeing for its life, you will probably be successful. They are there to eat and you should be able to entice one to attack. That being said, they aren’t injudicious so it might take some convincing for them to come on to the flat which is why many anglers will just chum for them..
Once hooked it is absolutely essential to high stick, which means holding your fly rod straight up in the air allowing maximum clearance of line since you have just pissed off one tough fish. The run of a GT is not like the run of a bonefish. They move in a zigzag motion and frequently turn around to come straight toward you which is pretty much the opposite of the blistering straight line sprint of the bonefish away from you.
GT is no doubt the strongest flats fish on the planet. If you get to fish for and land it, reminisce and treasure the experience.

It’s a difficult species on many levels.

Tail fly fishing magazine - GT on the flyRecommended Flies for GT:

Baitfish imitators, but our friends in Australia really like poppers.Depending on size of fish you can tie them on hooks from a 1-0 to a 5-0.

Most Big Poppers (Yellow/green Blue/White & Pink/White)

 

Trey Comb’s Sea Habit (for almost any big salt water fish)
Enrico Puglisi’s Peanut Butter (Black/White, gray/White)
Any Glass Minnow

Some recommended reading is the latest book from Peter McLeod on fishing for GT.  It is a very well written book and has probably already become “the” book to read on fly fishing for giant Trevally.

fly fishing magazine - GT on the fly

 

 

 

 

 

 

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]]> 2869 GT’s on Christmas Island https://www.tailflyfishing.com/gt-on-fly-christmas-island/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gt-on-fly-christmas-island Mon, 03 Oct 2016 12:06:39 +0000 https://www.tailflyfishing.com/?p=1120 Don’t get me wrong, I love fishing for bonefish as much as the next fly fisher. I just feel a little bit like I have been there and done that. In...

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]]>

Don’t get me wrong, I love fishing for bonefish as much as the next fly fisher. I just feel a little bit like I have been there and done that. In other words, I’ve spoiled myself. So a while back I decided that my next trip would focus on big fat Giant Trevally (GT). For this trip I chose to go to Christmas Island in the Republic of Kiribati, one of the best places to find my quarry. Christmas Island is located in the mid-Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and the country of Fiji. The island is serviced weekly by Fiji Airlines out of Honolulu with a modern 737 jet aircraft. The flight, which is a little over three hours, arrives the day after you leave due to the proximity to the date line. The island is only 90 miles north of the equator, meaning that the weather remains constant year-round.

GT on fly

If you’re not finding the huge GT, or if you tire from catching GT in the lightweight class, there are many other species here to get your rod bent: tuna to 125 pounds; bonefish to rival the big fish in the Bahamas (up to 12 pounds); and blue fin trevally and triggerfish are also common. All are a ball to get on the end of a fly line. But this being my third DIY trip to the island, I was focused on big GT. Only having one week this trip, I was even more focused than usual. GT are what most people consider the bullies of the reef. They will eat anything they can fit into their mouths – which is a lot. They are a very aggressive fish but shots at GT most often occur when stalking the flats with bonefish gear. They move in fast but move on just as quickly, so usually making a cast with a 12-weight a one-shot deal. On this trip, because bonefish were second fiddle, I cradled my 12-weight Sage from sunup to sunset. GT are numerous on Christmas Island, but getting one to take a fly, and especially one over 50 pounds, is not so common. My strategy was to patrol likely places where GT would cruise, meanwhile standing on the boat’s bow, my guide poling at the stern. This in itself was a feat, as standing on the bow of what is basically a large canoe is not as easy as it sounds. And falling into water infested with huge schools of barracuda and sharks was not appealing at the time, nor is it appealing when I think back on it now.We often saw schools of barracuda numbering in the hundreds. It seemed that even fish in the large schools would measure four feet. I hooked one barracuda on a fly, and although the fight did not last long, it was an interesting change from scanning the shallows for cruising GT. GT like to travel in packs, like wild dogs, when under around the 40-pound mark. The truly big GT, the ones that get well over 50 pounds, travel alone or in pairs. They are often seen hunting in the company of sharks. Anything that hangs around with sharks is not to be taken lightly. GT fight dirty, making long hard runs toward the first available coral. Getting cut off while using 100-pound leader material is commonplace, as is breaking 12-weights (as I can attest to from my first trip to Christmas Island). On day one I landed five GT up to around 40 pounds. Day two, three more GT along with a brief encounter with a huge barracuda and 20-odd bonefish. On the third day, we got into what was the perfect scenario, a cruising GT, well over 70 pounds, and had lots of time to get into position. A well-placed cast with a five-inch silver mullet fly, a quick strip and bang, fish on. My Ross reel drag was pre-set to about 12 pounds. This seemed to be of no concern whatsoever to this GT.

GT on fly -christmas island

 

Line left the reel at the rate of about that of hooking a speeding Volkswagen. I took the liberty of cranking down hard on the drag as far as I dared and the line just kept running toward Fiji, 2,000 miles south. This lasted about five minutes before the GT, or small car (I never did see it so I cannot confirm that it was not a car), took me deep into the coral and out the other side. It promptly broke my 120-pound tippet. My guide Michael suggested that this car, or GT, was likely about 80-100 pounds. It was obvious that I needed a different strategy. On day four I tied six feet of 200-pound mono directly to my Airflo GT line and stalking we went. GT prefer the outgoing tide when they’re inside the vast lagoon. They cruise on current lines, deep channels and drop offs around flats searching out their next meal. We landed several GT in the teens and a few in the mid-30s, but no real big fish were seen until we were eating our simple lunch of tuna sandwiches and Cokes. We saw him a long way off, slowly and single-mindedly cruising just at the edge of the flat. Lunch was hastily tossed to the coconut crabs and the 12-weight was readied with a big mullet fly. A few quick false casts to get some line in the air and the fly was ungracefully dropped 10 feet in front of the fish. A couple really quick strips and he was all over it. It is important to set the hook good and hard on these fish and to try to turn them from the dark side as quickly as possible. I was using my Sea Level reel this time and the drag was well and cranked down. I finally saw the handle, and not just a black blur, after about 200 yards into the first run. Then he went deep. Having lost the last Volkswagen this way, I tried to put as much pressure on this fish as I felt was possible without blowing up any gear. After what seemed like an hour, my arms were giving out but the fish was coming closer to being at hand. After another run, another turn, and with my arms like wet noodles, the fish was ready to give in. This is when GT turn into crying little bullies that have been put into their place. As soon as they are tailed and a hand is under the belly, they go into this defeated mode. My fish, and I know it’s a fish at this point and not a car, was right around 80 pounds according to Michael, who has seen lots of fish this size, and bigger. The following day, it was all I could do to cast a rod. My arms were spent, beaten down, in a word, defeated. This was what I had come to do, to catch really big game fish in a pristine environment with an incredible guide and friend on an exotic DIY vacation. All of my trips are DIY, as it allows far more flexibility, allows me to fish for what I want, for as long as I want and with who I want. This trip was no different and I had done what I had come to do, catch a monster GT. Who knows what’s next…?

 

 

(David Radcliffe is a retired teacher. He lives in Canada’s Northwest Territories — close to the Arctic Circle — with his wife and two dogs. As you can tell, he’s a fan of DIY fishing and travel, and he can help you arrange your own exotic DIY excursions. David has trips to Scotland, New Brunswick, Uruguay, and Florida planned for the not-so-distant future. Reach him at davidradcliffe@northwestel.net. Fish and dolphin photos by the author. (Note that we’re printing the fish pictures even though they violate our no-rod-in-the-mouth photo policy, because the photos are so good)

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