The Family Trevally

Terrors of the Pacific, Whatever Their Size

by E. Donnall Thomas Jr.

I was living in Alaska when Christmas Island—once known, if at all, as nothing but a remote speck of land in the mid-Pacific—began to emerge as a saltwater fly rod destination. One of the first lessons one learns upon arrival in Alaska is that going somewhere warm and sunny during the winter is more a matter of necessity than indulgence. For several years running I’d headed to the Caribbean, where I’d learned at least the basics of flats fishing for bonefish and other species. Traveling due south to Christmas by way of Hawaii sounded a lot easier than traversing the continent, and in the wake of glowing preliminary reports, a regular fishing partner and I signed up.

When the great British navigator Captain James Cook arrived at Christmas Island in 1777, he launched a skiff from HMS Resolution and sent it through the leeward gap in the reef to explore the atoll’s inner lagoon. His log reports that the crew returned with tales of abundant “crevallies”  (perhaps a clue to the origins of the name for our Atlantic jack crevalle). This was welcome news to a hungry crew eager for a break from salt pork.

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The post The Family Trevally first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post The Family Trevally appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

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.

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.

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Giant Trevally taken in the Seychelles on fly.

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

The post Saltwater Fly Fishing for GTs first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Saltwater Fly Fishing for GTs appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The Legend of Heartbreak Flat

by Joe Brennan

We were now midway through our second week. Our morning routine unfolded as it did most days: shuffling of feet, stirring of instant coffee, and checking to see if there were any scorpions in the outhouse.

The night before, Mwatanga, head guide at Fanning Island Outfitters, informed us we would be heading northeast from the lodge to Rapa Passage in order to catch the start of the flood tide. It was only a stone’s throw from the lodge to the home-built deep-V wooden skiff. Mounting the gunnel, we joked about being castaways from the S.S. Minnow: It had been more than 50 years since Fanning Atoll served as the backdrop for the opening credits of the TV show Gilligan’s Island.

Tabuaeran’s land mass is about 13 square miles with an inner lagoon of 42 square miles. We thought we had seen every fishable flat when Mwatanga exclaimed, “We have not fished here!”

I looked up from my wooden plank; to my untrained eyes it was just another flat, one of many we would pass on our daily ventures.

“In fact, we have never fished here,” said Mwatanga, as the sheen of the morning sun unfolded a finger flat spanning northeast to southwest.

Often, certain sections of the lagoon’s inner flats are obscured by wave action, discoloring the water and rendering them unfishable–but not this day.

“Do you want to try this spot?” Mwatanga asked matter-of-factly.

Jerry and I agree with a resounding “Yes!” Today, how many people can say they were the first to fish a particular spot…?

Moments later, Jerry and Abrahaim were off, walking northeast. Matt and I opted for the southwest.  Like most flats on the island, this flat was fringed by coral reef. Unlike most flats on the island, this flat’s reef was only on the eastern edge.

Roughly 50 to 75 yards in width, the flat spanned nearly the entire lagoon, a deep blue pool at either end. On the eastern side, the reef’s inner edge crawled about halfway onto the flat, effectively splitting it in half, leaving reef on one side and silky white sand on the other. As we began our patrol, it quickly became evident that we would have a 50/50 chance that a hooked fish would run in a favorable direction.

In the time we had fished the island we had become accustomed to seeing big, healthy fish. The average bonefish on Fanning is 4 to 6 pounds, but Jerry and I had been fortunate to land a number in the 7- to 9-pound range. As we walked the line where reef met sand, it was only minutes before we spotted our first bonefish. This was the fish of every angler’s dreams–a true 10-plus-pound monster. Like most bonefish you see on Fanning, it cruised slowly, deliberately, giving you plenty of time to present the fly. So I took my shot, and with two strips I was connected to my personal best bonefish…. And just like that, the fish opted for the reef. I don’t have to tell you what happen next. The coral was simply too much for my 20-pound tippet.

Reset and retie. Back on the beat, and a mere 30 yards farther down the flat we’re greeted by another double-digit bone. I present my fly and the fish greedily takes and in an instant heads east into the coral. Five seconds later I’ve lost my second personal best bonefish. While we laughed at the first encounter, the look we receive from Mwatanga declares that it’s time to get down to business.

Staying focused, we continue down the line, reef to the east, white silky sand to the west. Sure enough, here comes a third fish. We spot it a little farther out than usual, which will give us more time to get ready.

It’s a single, but something’s off—the speed of the fish, or the movement of its tail…. “I think it’s a reef shark,” I say.

“Wait,” Matt says.

A minute later I’m casting to the largest bonefish I’ve ever seen—maybe 15 pounds. I throw my fly and with barely half a strip it smacks off the sand and into the fish’s mouth.

This is it, my time to be the hero. Visions of celebration and warm beers float before my eyes.

The fish turns west, to silky snag-free sand … runs all of 10 feet before hitting the brakes … turns 180 degrees and runs directly into a patch of fan-leaf coral … sails clean off into the eastern horizon … my fly line limp in the water….

No one utters a word.

Feeling defeated–but not broken–we continue our hike, and within a short time we land two back-to-back bonefish in the 7-pound range. For some reason, these very respectable fish are not scratching the itch.

Suddenly, Matt is frantic. He’s trying to separate my two backup rods. He screams, “G.T.! G.T. 60 feet!”

I scan the horizon and sure enough, here come two packs of G.T. motoring across the flat. We scramble, pushing toward the fish to try to intercept the angle.

Matt frees the rod, hands it to me, and we’re off to the races. Stripping off line as we slosh through the water, I manage to get off an upwind shot … short.

“Recast!”

I pick up the line and muster everything the 12-weight will give me. I present the fly right behind the lead fish’s tail–but right in front of the following fish’s head. I strip line like crazy and the G.T. explodes in pursuit, its head and back pushing water up over its dorsum, its mouth agape. I attempt one more strip and I fumble, leaving the fly motionless in the water–if you didn’t know, a baitfish just doesn’t stop fleeing—and the fish turns off my fly. I’m too slow to take another shot, and just like that another trophy fish is headed east.

“That would have been the biggest G.T. I’ve hooked on the flat,” Mwatanga proclaims solemnly.

With the adrenaline dump, my heart is racing. I know I did my best, but there are many things that have to go right in this game—and very few that can go wrong.

We decide to call it quits and walk back to the boat. Jerry and Abrahaim had beaten us there. In his usual fashion, Jerry asks, “How was it?”

“Heartbreaking,” I utter.

The sun is overhead. I remove my buff to enjoy a Spam sandwich. I share my story with Jerry, who relates a tale of losing two double-digit bones in similar fashion.

And that, my friends, is the legend of Heartbreak Flat–where the big fish roam free.

From the January 2020 issue
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The post Fanning Island Bonefish first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Fanning Island Bonefish appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

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.

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The post Giant Trevally on Kiritibati first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Giant Trevally on Kiritibati appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

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

Jonathan 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

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

Gordon 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!

Drew 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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The post Books by Tail Contributors first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

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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.

GT’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.

The 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.

Recommended 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.

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The post Hunting Giant Trevally (GT) on the Fly first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Hunting Giant Trevally (GT) on the Fly appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Way out in the Indian Ocean, roughly 1000km to the Southwest of the main Seychelles Islands and some 500km up from Madagascar lies the Aldabra Coral Island group. Aldabra is a magnificent place and a World Heritage Site; next door is Cosmoledo with Astove and Assumption completing this group of islands. Apart from a small, newly built fly fishing lodge operated by Alphonse Fishing Company, all of the islands are uninhabited. They boast fantastic scenery, clear waters, spectacular wildlife and some of the best fly fishing on earth.

Cosmoledo, an island of volcanic origin, is slightly rectangular in shape and has a 10–14 km wide lagoon that is fringed by about 10 larger coral islands with some funky coral heads in between.It is in pristine condition and is mainly filled and drained by one massive channel. The tides can vary from 0.2 to 2.4m, so huge water volumes can flow in and out multiple times each day. There are endless white sand flats interspersed with turtle grass patches and easily wadeable coral grounds. The variety of fish species is extraordinary, and Cosmoledo is well-known for big surprises. It is well managed for conservation; fly fishing is limited to eight rods per week and only happens for four to five weeks in late autumn and nine to 10 weeks in early spring. Further contributing to the pristine conditions is the fact that there isn’t any commercial fishing for hundreds of miles. Soon after my first visit in 2003, all of the outer atolls of the Seychelles were closed due to the threat from Somali pirates. They were reopened in 2014, as there had not been any piracy issues for over seven years. The combination of phenomenal giant trevally fly fishing with the remoteness, natural beauty and diverse wildlife always makes Cosmoledo a memorable and world-class experience, which is why I’ve been back a number of times.

To get to Astove, we took a three-hour flight in a dual prop engine 12-seater from Mahé, the main island, with a quick pit stop for refueling on Alphonse. After landing on the grass strip of Astove, our group was swiftly moved across the island to board the magnificent catamaran, Lone Star, which we would stay on for the week of our trip. The head guide and the captain used the smooth, three-hour sail from Astove to Cosmoledo to brief us on plans and expectations for the trip. The daily routine began the next morning with a hearty breakfast and fishing beginning at 8 am. Given the challenging tides and wind directions, proper planning is crucial to approach spots in the appropriate way to target a variety of fish: primarily GTs, bonefish, milkfish, triggerfish and permit. GTs rule the area, and there is an abundance of them sitting on the rays gliding over the flats, patrolling the beaches in smaller groups or feeding in the roaring surf out near a reef. The first day started out with a big bang for me. Our guide took us ashore where we patrolled the beautiful sandy beach for a mile. Under the blue sky, the air was clear, and we had an unhindered view of a medium surf. We could not see any fish, but at one point my partner started to blindly cast with his 12-weight and bushy fly. He soon hooked a big fish but quickly lost it when his line got tangled. After the hook up, I headed another few hundred yards to a coral head where I had noticed a slight cross current. On my second cast, I hooked and landed my first GT, and then three casts later I had an even bigger fish. In the hour at that spot, I caught three GTs and a trophy Bluefin Trevally. It was the perfect way to start the trip.

Another trip highlight came on day four when the youngish Seychellois, Alex, was my guide. He had mixed up tides on the previous day, and his skiff got stuck on a sandy flat as he returned from the surf with his two guests. We had to postpone dinner because of his mishap, and the guests and fellow guides punished him with some extra drinks. On our day together, he got revenge on his fellow guides by helping me catch a grand slam on the flats, and the following day he guided two lucky guests to a double slam with milkfish.  On my grand slam day, the six-pound bonefish was the first and easiest catch. The first GT was sitting on a ray, and I managed to hook and safely land it with my 8-weight on a bonefish fly. Alex shook his head and mentioned that he had never seen a GT landed on an 8-weight before. After another GT on my 11-weight, we headed out to find a trigger. It took us a while, until I saw one in a seemingly impossible spot, tailing hard in a huge patch of deep and dense turtle grass. We maneuvered quietly towards it, and the first cast was about one meter off due to the light breeze, but the second cast landed where I wanted it. The fish noticed my fly on the second twitch, followed it for a tense half yard and then took it. I quickly set the hook, and three minutes later I was over the moon after officially completing my first grand slam ever.

The tally for the week across all eight anglers was a respectable 98 GTs, two milkfish, 10 triggers, a large dogtooth tuna, many bluefins and bonefish plus numerous other species like jobfish, groupers, and snappers. The biggest GT was caught offshore and measured 124cm! We wrecked five rods and lost many fly lines to the tough terrain and fish. The weather did not always cooperate, with afternoon high clouds and the occasional torrential tropical downpour. In a really good week, Cosmoledo often delivers 200 or more GTs. The bonefishing was relatively slow on this trip (the ones we saw were large and reached up to nine pounds), while I counted at least 500 milkfish on the flats alone.

In addition to the remarkable scenery and fishing, the wildlife is spectacular, and it is quite common that there are up to 20 green and hawksbill turtles feeding next to you. And on some of the islands, there are many bird colonies roosting or breeding. Most of the birds are boobies, but there are also greater frigates, and I even saw a pair of the very rare red-tailed tropicbird. These birds are not shy, and sometimes greater frigates will chase a booby until it regurgitates its fish so that the frigate can eat it. This part of the world is magical and provides the fishing trip of a lifetime. You won’t regret going, and you will most certainly want to return.

The post Cosmoledo – The GT Capital of the World first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Cosmoledo – The GT Capital of the World appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Bring everything you need with you to fish for a day on the plane.

I have seen people wearing their wading boots on the plane, but when you think about it, doing it makes a lot of sense.  Looking like an idiot for a few hours is worth not taking a risk on not having your wading boots with you and can also reduce your carry on or checked bag weight as well.  If you want something to get to its destination, don’t give the TSA a chance to lose it. If your boots don’t make it to the destination, you probably won’t be able to wade safely.  To get everything you need on the plane, you will need to bring a good case to carry your rods and reels, as well as a waterproof fishing backpack to carry clothes, flies and everything else. Remember not to bring anything sharp and pointy, but in our experiences nail knot tools are often overlooked. When you touch down at your location you will be glad you have everything in hand. In your checked bag, pack everything else, your extra clothes and flies. keep in mind that flights in the United States are limited to 50 pounds before you get slapped with an extra charge. 

 Split up your flies

While the TSA is supposed to allow flies on a plane, you can catch someone who woke up on the wrong side of the bed or someone who just doesn’t realize the great effort involved in tying flies. If you put all of your flies in your backpack, you risk all of them being taken away. Because of this, we like to split our flies in half, putting the other half in my checked baggage. This helps increase odds of being able to fish at said location. We also will bring extra leaders an tippet and split that in half. The few times we have have heard of this being an issue is flying into Canada and Costa Rica, where anything that can tie a slipknot is considered a weapon. Fly lines and leaders are fair game to be taken away there and therefore must be checked. 

Pack light

Especially on warm water trips, bring only what you need. It is easy to overpack and bring a bag filled with extra t-shirts and shorts. But you will spend most of your time in tech shirts and pants. So bring a few pairs of each and a few clothes to hang out in after fishing and that’s about it. Rain gear is always a great idea to throw in the mix, some of our coldest days are not winter camping in Maine, but instead rainy days in Cuba. Trips are not always sunny like in movies in pictures. Tropical places are tropical for a reason, they get a lot of rain, so be prepared for the worst. 

Bring extra sunglasses

Losing your sunglasses is hard to do, but it does happen, and if you lose them, you will struggle to see fish. Sunglasses also double as safety glasses, preventing you from catching a fly to the eye during an errant cast. If you are going to spend money on a trip, spend money on an extra pair of shades. Worst case scenario, when your current ones get too old, you use your back ups as new ones. 

Global Rescue

Say you do take a hook to an eye, get barbed by a stingray or bitten by a curious critter, global rescue will get you home. With a variety of price points to choose from, it is definitely worth the money if you are a serious traveler or even a beginner.   It is a very effective tool to set your wife at ease as well.  Basically Global Rescue specializes in getting you home in almost any situation including civil war. So if the village you are staying in is struck by a natural disaster, violence, or disease outbreak, you’re covered.  Even if you need to get home to take care of an infected toe, Global Rescue can literally be a lifesaver for one in need.

Hope this helps on your next trip.  Much of this is common sense but often the angler is so focused on the actual trip that some of the tactical planning and planning for eventualities can be overlooked.

The post Five tips for fly fishing travelers first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Five tips for fly fishing travelers appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Be prepared for anything and everything

Unlike other species that are caught on a 12 weight, GT are often caught wading, so everything must be brought with you on the flat. GT fishing is almost always catching other fish on an 8 weight rod, so bringing two rods out on the flat is a must. Fish like Milkfish, triggerfish, bluefin trevally and golden trevally are all caught on smaller rods, so an 8 to 10 weight rod is what you typically step out of the boat holding. Casting to all of these fish almost makes you forget that GT exist, and then you turn around and there is an apex predator swimming behind you and it’s game on. Say “see ya later” to your 8 weight and drop it in the water, grab your big rod and make your shots.

GT fishing is exhausting compared to tarpon fishing. Walking through flats definitely takes it out of you. Water and snacks are a must because of this. Alcoholic drinks are best kept off the boat and left on land. Landing one of these fish requires a lot of energy. Hauling around a big pack and walking for miles just to get the chance to cast at one is worth it though, these fish pull hard.

The bag

I started out with a hip bag, but I found I preferred the size and more even weight distribution that a backpack provides. A backpack also provides easier storage for my 12 weight. My pack of choice is the UMPQUA Tongass 1800 waterproof backpack. The pack has a rod carry system on each side, making it easily accessible. If you do not have this pack, a great way to hold your spare rod is to put the butt of your rod in your pocket and buckle your waist strap around it. Regardless of how you store it, make sure your rod is on the opposite side of your body than your casting arm.

Tackle

Because I have the extra room of a backpack I typically bring two fly boxes with me on the flat. While it is overkill, I enjoy being over prepared. One fly box has GT flies, the other has everything else.

For leaders and tippet I bring everything I need to build a leader from scratch. From 80 pound test down to 40. My backing is 60 pound test, so my leader must have a section weaker than that. I will also bring tapered leaders ranging from 10 pound test to 20 for the other fish on the flats. It is common to go days without touching your GT rod so don’t expect to need a full fly box worth of flies.

GT are known for blowing up rods, reels and fly lines. Because of this I pack an extra fly line.

Tools

I use my pliers for everything. Pulling out flies, tightening knots, cutting line and opening beer bottles. Because of this, my pliers are always on my belt rather than in my bag. I also carry a separate pair of nippers as well as a knot tension tool, just in case.

Other tools people bring out include knot assistant tools such as blood knot and nail knot tools. If you struggle with these knots or simply like assistance with them, find room for them. Don’t let not being able to tie a knot keep you from a day of fishing.

Although I often forget it’s there and forget to use it, I bring a GoPro with me. The cameras are waterproof and durable. Perfect for capturing the perfect underwater release shot.

Hydration and sun protection

I bring a Nalgene with me on every flat. Plastic water bottles will find their way back to a dump, or worse, a beach. I also pack a tube of hydration tablets and put two in each liter of water. Long days in the sun require hydration, don’t forget to drink.

I pack an extra pair of polarized sun glasses in case my primary pair goes overboard as well as a cloth to clean them. A cloth that is specifically for cleaning glasses does a far better job than a t-shirt or a buff.

I also pack and extra hat, a sun gator and sunscreen. 

Not pictured

If there is any chance of rain, I pack a rain jacket. Thin jackets like the Patagonia Houdini jacket work great. I also bring a hook sharpener, it’s an old school piece of gear, but many anglers still swear by them. 

GT are some of the most rewarding fish to target. Landing one is just as rewarding as having your rod explode into pieces after hooking one.

The post Inside the pack: Cole’s GT bag first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Inside the pack: Cole’s GT bag appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

No matter how great of an angler you are, there will come a time where you will struggle to select a fly. It is the ultimate equalizer. And as the old saying goes, you can not catch fish if your line is not in the water. Staring into your fly box as if it is a black hole is not a good place to start. The problem is that if you ask ten different anglers what fly you should use, you are likely to get ten different answers. And this blog will not give you a definitive answers, but it can help to point you in the right direction.

The key to answering this question is done the night before. There are no certainties in fishing, so bring more than the fly you are confident will catch fish. Even the hungriest trevally can snuff the wrong fly. Cover your colors as well as patterns. The first thing I do is start with the pattern and color that I think will work. If blind casting I give myself 15 to 20 minutes of fishing. If this fly does not work I put on a fly with the opposite color. So if I am fishing a white fly, I put on a black fly. Keep in mind, this is what I do when I have no clue what fly to pick. If you see fish feeding on a certain color baitfish, it is probably a good idea to put a fly with similar colors on.

I brought extra orange flies on a trip to Cuba after hearing from reliable sources that the fish like this color. If all else failed, I would put on an orange fly and then cycle through patterns opposed to colors. It worked. I put all of my faith into these orange flies because it was all I had to go off of at times. My boat partner joked about this decision making. I told him I like to put on the fly I am the most confident with because I will cast and retrieve it with confidence. Again he joked about this decision. 

We approached some tarpon crushing baitfish along the beach. We took turns throwing a variety of flies at them. The Cuban guide eventually shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know what they eat.”

My boat partner said I know exactly what they want, and pulled out his favorite fly. I watched his cast improve. He retrieved his fly with joy rather than desperation. The fish did not eat and we moved on. Hours later we encountered the same situation, and my boat partner chose his same white fly. A huge flash of silver came up from the dark. “I told you this was the fly.”

It could have been any fly that day. We had no idea what the fish were feeding on. But if you do not have an educated opinion in what fly to throw, trust your gut. At some point in time we will all end up in this situation. Fishing new places brings us down a few rungs on the ladder for this reason. Trust your gut and tie on what looks and feels good. If that does not work, work your way through the box. At the end of the day, it is just fishing, you have done this before and will likely do it again.

For more resources on fly tying visit:  

239 Flies, Flyfishbonehead, Frankenfly, In the Riffle, DronsWorld

The post The Fly You Are Confident In first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post The Fly You Are Confident In appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.