Washington angler Mike Ward surpasses Del Brown’s legendary permit mark, and his compulsion for the next one won’t let him stop.

By Trey Reid

Nothing was going right for Mike Ward. He’d had more than two dozen shots at permit but couldn’t put a fly anywhere close to one. “I don’t know if I had a different fly line or what,” Ward says, “but something was majorly off.” Time was slipping away on the third day of the 2016 March Merkin permit tournament in the Florida Keys. A few minutes before lines-out, Ward and guide Don Gable spotted a large permit tailing away from them.

His first cast fell wide. The next wasn’t much better. The third shot also missed. “I was not in a good head space,” Ward recalls. But on the next attempt, he dropped the fly in front of the fish. It ate it and sped away—around a buoy on a crab pot. The water was too shallow for the motor, so Gable had to pole the skiff over to the buoy for Ward to clear the line. Their timer buzzed to signal lines-out as the permit raced off the flat toward a channel, but tournament rules allowed fish hooked before the cutoff to be landed.

“And then this fish just starts circling,” Ward says. “Big circles.” The permit came to the surface with a big hammerhead shark in pursuit. “So we start the motor and take two big circles around him,” Ward says. “The shark leaves. The fish gets to the other side of the channel and takes this blistering run, and it’s just kicking up water. This big hammerhead goes right behind him, up onto the flat.”

They ran toward the shark again to get between it and the permit. “We basically, like, bump the shark with the boat,” Ward says. Almost all of his backing was out, under the boat, and Ward frantically stripped yards and yards of it into a pile at his feet. When the line went tight, the fish was still on. Ward cleared the backing, but as soon as the fish was on the reel, the backing wrapped around his reel handle.

It had happened before, so Ward knew just what to do. “My move is just to run off the boat toward the fish, and while I’m in the air, I take my left hand and push the line over the reel handle to get it off. It worked, and I’m super stoked. But when I saw Don, his eyes looked like dinner plates. He was screaming, What are you doing? Get in the boat!

“I’ve totally lost track that we just had a hammerhead all over us.”

Ward escaped violent death, landed the fish, and made it to check-in on time. But his hands were still shaking when he turned in his scorecard and photo for the 30-inch permit, which turned out to be the tournament’s biggest fish.

Ward’s obsession with permit is legendary. He has caught more than 500 with a fly rod and, in February, surpassed the 513 permit amassed by the late fly-fishing legend Del Brown. Although there’s no actual “record” for permit caught in the way that tippet, line-class, and length records are kept, Brown’s feat of 513 permit on fly is held in the highest regard among saltwater fly anglers. It’s generally recognized that only one other angler, Alejandro “Sandflea” Vega of Holbox, Mexico, who Ward calls a friend, has caught more permit on fly. Vega lays claim to more than 600.

Ward isn’t in a permit-catching contest with Del Brown, Sandflea, or anybody else, but he aims to catch many more. Years ago, he made up his mind that he wanted to catch 1,000. He’s done the math. It’s possible. But it will require no small amount of time, energy, money, luck, good tides and moons, family support, and more—all for a fish that’s famously uncooperative.

LONG SHOTS

The essence of fishing lies in the pursuit of the possible. Using hook and line to connect to a creature from a different realm is sometimes probable, rarely certain, but always possible. “Elusive but attainable,” as John Buchan put it. There’s probably no greater proof of this concept than fly fishing for permit.

Permit lack the size and strength of tarpon and pelagic species and don’t make the electrifying runs of bonefish. Yet, saltwater fly anglers consider them one of the sport’s greatest challenges. Most anglers passionate about permit can tell you precisely how many they’ve brought to hand—and can recite the memorable and more common defeats with even greater fervor. Reverence comes from their elusiveness.

They are circumspect, equivocal, and mostly ignore artificial flies— “like trying to bait a tiger with watermelons,” wrote Thomas McGuane. But when one of the fickle bastards finally sucks in the fake, it’s a king-hell rush of fantastic energy.

“It’s trying to pick up a girl that’s out of your league,” says Captain Brandon Cyr, a Key West guide who’s been fishing permit tournaments with Ward since 2022. “Nine times out of ten, you’re going to strike out. But that one time is one of the greatest nights of your life.”

Encounters with permit are so uncommon that they touch something intangible, transcendent, and otherworldly. They are the Holy Ghost of the Grand Slam trilogy.

“It’s the constant challenge that keeps you wanting more,” Ward says. “For somebody who loves the creative process of problem-solving, there are so many rabbit holes you can go down with permit to try and figure it out that it’s a never-ending quest.”

Ward, 43, grew up in Mount Vernon, Washington, near Seattle, and now lives in Spokane. His first permit came on his first saltwater fly-fishing trip less than 20 years ago. A Montana fly-fishing guide at the time, he traveled to Mexico and caught a permit on his second day at Ascension Bay. “I could see the tail out there,” he recalls. “It was probably 90 feet, and at the time, I did not have a 90-foot cast in my arsenal. Somehow, I get all the momentum going, and the line shoots and keeps going, and the fly lands two feet in front of the fish. And I’m like, ‘Oh, shit!’ I was amazed, just shocked.”

The guide called for pulsing strips, and the permit coursed towards the boat just below the surface. When the guide called “stop,” Ward stopped the fly. It sank, and Ward watched the permit inhale the fly. “At that moment,” he says, “I was hooked for the rest of my life.”

Ascension Bay’s permit weren’t as cooperative the rest of the trip. “I probably had 150 shots, and I couldn’t make it happen,” Ward says. “I was like, ‘Oh, okay, now I get it.’ I think that’s what made me want it more. It was like getting high and then realizing you don’t have any more weed.”

Ward’s permit quests had a relatively slow start. He took a trip a year for the first few years, catching one here or there. He estimates catching a permit every 12 to 15 days on the water. The only thing holding him back was the cost of his pursuit. Over the years, he’s had success with his business, Adipose Boatworks, and other investments. Ultimately, he admits, catching permit “just fully consumed me.”

Ward calls his pursuit a “journey,” with the spiritual connotation carrying more weight than the act of travel. Not that Ward hasn’t piled up the frequent-flier miles. He’s caught multiple permit species in 11 countries, including Australia, Seychelles, Mauritius, Oman, and the usual permit spots around the Caribbean. “I’ve gone to a lot of other places and not been successful,” he adds.  But Ward’s definition of the journey centers on a different kind of quest: understanding an enigma.

“It took Jon Olch seven years to write A Passion for Permit,” Ward says. “The amount of information is just ridiculous. It’s never-ending.”

His permit fascination traces back to a general passion for fish that started in early childhood. When he tied Del Brown’s mark, his mother sent him a text message reminding him that, at three years old, the first thing he said upon waking up most mornings was, “Can we go fishing today?” And his final words before sleep most nights were, “Can we go fishing tomorrow?”

“I know I’ve always had a huge passion for fishing in all forms,” Ward says. “It’s a little surprising that it was this fish. I did a lot of bass fishing growing up, so I’d have thought it would’ve been tarpon or snook. And I had no idea about the permit, but there’s no other fish like them. They’re so their own thing.”

Ward’s fixation extends to the Florida Keys permit tournaments, where he has dominated the big events over the past three years. After teaming up with Cyr in 2022, Ward started an incredible run of seven wins in nine tournaments they fished together.

For Cyr, it all comes down to focus. “A lot of it is staying in the right mindset,” Cyr says. “Mike has a very positive mindset. I think that’s a key thing for him. He’s happy, and he truly loves it. You pretty much know that you will be accepting defeat almost every day. It takes a special kind of person to drive past that and dissect it and figure it out.” Cyr has heard it all when it comes to describing hardcore permit anglers. “But the first thing that comes to mind for Mike,” he says, “is ‘open-minded.’”

Cyr says guides frequently see two types of anglers: those who want or need to be entirely directed by the guide and those who know everything and don’t listen. While execution and delivery are essential, so is listening to the guide. Ward can drop a fly within a foot or two of a spot, without looking or knowing the fish’s location, simply from Cyr’s commands on direction and distance. “He knows exactly my three o’clock, 30 feet,” Cyr says.

He illustrates the point with a story about his favorite permit that Ward has caught in their tournaments together. Pushing across the first flat one morning, Cyr spotted a fish directly behind the boat, swimming into the sun—a worst-case scenario. He instructed Ward to cast 20 feet past the stern at three o’clock. Unable to see the fish, Ward flung the line above Cyr, who ducked down on the poling platform and then translated and directed the action. After a couple of strips and a pause, the fish went down on the fly. Ward stripped and came tight, forcing Cyr into wild contortions to avoid contact with the fly line—a disqualifying action in the tournaments—that was dancing alongside the platform. They landed the fish and went on to win the tournament.

“People don’t listen,” says Cyr, who guides 280 days a year. “People never listen when I tell them what to do. That’s just part of my occupation, and I’ve accepted that. And it’s so cool to have somebody who puts blind faith in me 100 percent, trusts me, and listens. That’s a rare thing for an angler to do with a guide.”

It’s not the only thing uncommon about Ward. He may be one of the most wildly successful permit anglers in fly-fishing history, but if you met him at a fly shop or fishing show, you’d never know it unless someone else told you. If you’re expecting an insufferable prick, you’re reading the wrong story because it’s hard not to like Mike Ward.

“LIVING OFF THE VIBES”

There’s no shortage of anglers crowing about their success on social media, but Ward’s Instagram profile isn’t a place to find shameless self-promotion. He posts as much about his wife, kids, and pets as he does his permit trips. His announcement about tying Brown’s record was humble and gracious. He called it “a special day” and thanked God, his family, the guides, the many people he’d met, and the friends he’d made along the way. He took special care to call out Brown and his pioneering contributions.

Ward also paid tribute to Brown by using a Seamaster Mark III reel for the record-tying permit. It’s the same model Brown used for his International Game Fish Association world-record 41-pound, 8-ounce permit on 8-pound tippet, still the largest permit in the IGFA’s tippet-class fly tackle records. “I give him a lot of credit,” Ward says. “The arbor on that thing is so tiny. That fish was half of what Del’s was, and my hand was cramped so bad at the end.” Ward also honored tradition and leveled the playing field by using a custom bamboo rod for the historic catch.

Ward speaks at a measured, introspective pace, easy to follow, like the long, steady strip of a fly line. He seems almost uncomfortable talking about himself, although he becomes more animated and energetic when the conversation turns to the fish. He’s a fan of Barry Sanders, the NFL Hall of Fame running back known for his humility.

“He is such a down-to-earth person,” Cyr says. “His entire motto in life is living off of good vibes and getting the bad out. I’ve been around a lot of people, and Mike is one of the most genuine, loving, good dudes that I’ve ever spent some time with.”

Although Ward had fished tournaments such as the Del Brown, March Merkin, and IGFA Invitational for a decade, it wasn’t until he connected with Cyr that he started to have consistent success. They had met years earlier at Cyr’s first tournament. The young guide was in his early 20s at the time and was nervous and anxious. Other guides had cautioned him to keep his head down and stay quiet. Cyr was sitting alone at a pre-tournament meeting and dinner when Ward walked over and introduced himself. “He was the only person who talked to me,” Cyr recalls. “And it wasn’t just small talk. He wanted to know about me, about my life.”

They crossed paths over the years but didn’t get to know each other until Ward reached out to Cyr about teaming up for tournaments in 2022. Cyr wasn’t sold on the idea. The relationship between guides and anglers is a complicated alchemy. Cyr wasn’t interested in spending time with an angler he didn’t mesh with. “I was honest,” Cyr says. “I said we need to have a tryout because we might not vibe in the boat.” Cyr’s concerns were soon quelled. “We got on the boat, and the first time out, we got a permit, and we laughed the whole day,” Cyr says. They have the same taste in music—whenever Ward hooks up with a permit, Cyr turns on reggae for a relaxing vibe during the fight. “I really respect Mike a lot in that he views it as a team,” Cyr says. “It’s not just him.”

FAMILY MATTERS

There’s another kind of teamwork critical to Ward’s success. He and his wife, Kelsey, have been married for almost 22 years. With three children, his fishing trips mean Kelsey often carries a heavier load. “My wife is an absolute rock star,” Ward says. “She picks up the slack from the things I can’t do when I’m gone. And she doesn’t complain, doesn’t hold a grudge.”

Ward says fishing is in his DNA, and Kelsey knew she was marrying a fisherman. “I didn’t have much money,” Ward says, “but I told her my prenup is the fact that I fish.” But it’s a big leap from avid fisherman to the extreme commitment of time and resources needed to catch hundreds of the planet’s most elusive fish. When Ward’s pursuit of permit became “a thing,” he says, he sat down with Kelsey and explained the situation. Fly fishing for permit is physically taxing. Boat rides aren’t easy. As anglers age, balance and eyesight erode. If Ward was going to catch an unfathomable number of permit, he needed to get busy while he could. “I had to convey how passionate I am about this,” he says. “Thankfully, she’s been super supportive.”

His brother, Andy, helped him find perspective and balance. “He told me that he didn’t want my kids to think I love fishing more than I love them,” Mike says. “I heard that. I totally agree that I need to make it apparent to my kids, not just through words but through actions, that they mean more to me than anything else.”

Cyr says that perspective is abundantly apparent in the Ward household. With a solid management team in place at Adipose, Ward can devote himself to the family when he’s at home. He coaches the teams and goes to the plays. Even when he’s traveling, he stays connected. He and Cyr will call Kelsey and the kids during fishing tournaments. “She’s our good luck charm,” Cyr says. “And his kids. We’ll call his kids on the way to school and say, ‘Hey, we’re on a flat. We haven’t seen much. We could really use some luck right now.’ And they have a little saying that they’ll say. Or he’ll catch one, and the first thing he does is like, ‘I gotta call Kelsey.’ He is such a family dude.”

Grounded by his family and their support, and with a positive outlook on both fishing and life, Ward hasn’t allowed the rarified air to fuel the fires of ego. If he needs more humility, the permit provide it.

“The fish constantly humbles you,” he says. “As soon as you think you’re amazing, they will show you you’re not.”

Permit fishing is a constantly changing puzzle. When you think you’ve figured it out, the pieces shape-shift in your hands. You find a tide and moon that produces on a certain flat—until it doesn’t anymore. The magic fly never works again. And then you start over.

“That’s what’s awesome, right?” Cyr says. “It keeps it exciting. The hunt never stops. It’s something we’ll never be able to master in our lives because the fishery is changing and the fish are changing. And it’s just spectacular. I don’t know what more you could possibly ask for in a gamefish than that.” The pieces so rarely fit together that, when they do, the resulting sensation is deep and primal.

“There is a certain feeling you get when you catch a permit, and once it passes, all I want to do is catch another one,” Ward says. “I’m not caught up in catching a thousand. But every time, I want the next one. I just want one. I just want it all the time. It never goes away.”

Permit guilt, creeping conflict, and fly fishing ecstasy in Belize

Wading The Flats for Permit

Last Frontiers: Exploring Scorpion Atoll, Mexico for bonefish and permit

A Passion for Permit by Jonathan Olch

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The post Preview the New Issue of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine – Issue #75 is live first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

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I quit working as a hospital physician in the emergency department and decided to spend the rest of my career with a strategic focus on being more of a caregiver and less of a bureaucrat.  I bought a small commercial property and launched an urgent care focused on the patient’s health and well being. We provide preventative medicine infusions and personalized care for each patient. You have probably seen the ads in the magazine, and I hope you’ve chuckled at the fly casting humor.

I am pleased to say that the new venture is a big hit as so many of the small physician practices on the beach closed during the pandemic.  We are providing a needed service here and it has really become the center of my focus.

As a result, I have been quietly transitioning Tail Fly Fishing Magazine to a new management and editorial team that will be taking over after the November 2024 is released. After nine years as the editor-in-chief of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine, I am stepping down in favor of someone who will devote more time and bring new energy and a new voice to the publication.

Admittedly, it has been very hard for me to keep up with the rigors of a new medical practice and the responsibilities of being a publisher and editor. While I will remain the publisher, the editorial, creative, and sales efforts will be guided by a new team. As much as I hate to admit it, Tail Fly Fishing Magazine going to be much better with this new enthusiastic crew.

The new editor is someone you may know, especially if you read magazines such as Garden & Gun, Ducks Unlimited, and Field & Stream, or peruse the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Journal.  T. Edward Nickens has been tagged as the new editor, of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine and he will carry the baton starting with the January 2025 issue. When we began discussing this opportunity in the spring of 2024, Eddie—yes, despite his fancy byline, he has a pretty un-fancy nickname—had shared many great ideas on how to improve the magazine without changing the comfortable feel of Tail. He’s won scores of writing awards, and has some 35 years of experience in the field. He’s based out of Raleigh and Morehead City, North Carolina, where he’s most proud of the pool noodle and zip-tie fly rod holder he crafted for his 24-boat. It all made it an easy choice, because Eddie is one of us.. 

Our commitment to saltwater fly fishing remains steadfast and true. We do provide the only creditable and reliable publication dedicated to saltwater fly fishing, and with these new changes it will only get better and more comprehensive. Eddie will introduce new features and bring a higher level of quality to Tail Fly Fishing Magazine though his decades of experience in publishing and his industry contacts. While this decision is a very emotional one for me, I take solace knowing that someone so capable and competent as Nickens will be at the helm.

On that note, I want everyone to know that while I will not be directly involved in the magazine as I have been in the past, I will still be around. Still fishing, tying flies, and perhaps, when the medical practice becomes more automated, I could be convinced to  host a trip or two to our favorite places again.

I sincerely thank you for your support and friendship over the last 12 years. It is a somber time as I write this letter, but I know that it is the best thing for you—my readers and friends—and the future of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Enjoy  Tail 2.0 and please keep in touch!

Tight Lines.

Joseph Ballarini

Former Editor-in-Chief of Tail

Our Editors and Contributors

Tarpon Cockroach – One of the Best Tarpon Flies of All-Time

Addiction

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The 59th Annual Gold Cup Invitational Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament, one of the most revered fly fishing tournaments in the world, is known wherever anglers pursue the Silver King with a fly. It has been referred to as the “World Series” of tarpon fishing and consists of 5 days of honorable competition. This year was especially exciting as fishing far exceeded previous year’s numbers as well as provided some real suspense each day.

Talented Fly-Anglers were able to pull in a total of 103 fish during the five-day stretch, consisting of 70 Release and 33 Weight Fish, the best tarpon fishing during this prestigious tournament in some time. Teams of Anglers and Guides compete for various trophy and sponsor-donated items. The real honor is for the overall winning team to have their names added to the 59-year-old perpetual trophy. The historic GCTT trophy is showcased locally at The Florida Keys Outfitters.

Second time Grand Champion Angler, Dave Preston from Miami, FL, and Guide to Grand Champion, Capt. Luis Cortes, earned their Grand Championship title with 6850 points, consisting of 7 Release Fish and 5 Weight Fish for the week. Preston and Cortes’s Weight Fish weighed in at 99.7, 132.5 96.8, 74.5, and 71.5 pounds. Dave Preston’s never failing positive attitude and passion for conservation has been evident over the 10 years that he has fished the tournament. Preston says, “It’s humbling to even be invited to fish the Gold Cup, and Capt. Luis and I consider it a great honor just to be in the room, trying to follow in the footsteps of giants. To come out on top in 2021 was the experience of a lifetime, and to be able to repeat and carry this feeling on for the next 365 days is everything we could dream of and then some. We’re extremely grateful to our fellow competitors, the tournament organizers, and the anglers and guides who have come before us to make the event what it is today.”

First Runner Up Angler, Mike Criscola from Fair Haven, NJ, and Guide, Capt. Eric Herstedt, earned 5295 points. They are one of one of the rare teams to catch the 5 weight fish limit by day 4, allowing the last day of fishing to consist of chasing release fish that are at least 4 feet long, instead of chasing the biggest fish that would count as weight fish. They also caught fish every day, which is an oddity during the Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament.

Second Runner Up Angler, Nathaniel Linville, from Key West, FL, and his Guide, Capt. Ian Slater, earned Second Runner-Up with 3226 points. This reputable team caught 5 Release Fish and 2 Weight Fish weighing 94.5 and 78.1 pounds.

The Largest Tarpon Award was earned by Angler Ned Johnson from Charleston, SC and his Guide, Capt. Craig Brewer with a fish weighing approximately 139 pounds.

The 60^th Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament will take place June 19-23, 2023. For additional information, including current results and sponsors, please visit the website at www.GoldCupTT.com.

Homosassa:  A Reminiscence of The Greatest Tarpon Fishery

Tarpon training: offseason work with retrievers

How to Catch Big Fish by Andy Mill

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Gary Merriman’s Tarpon Toad – “Toad Rules”

Lefty Kreh – Well Done

Our Editors and Contributors

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Delafield, Wis. – April 6, 2020 – Fish For Each Other, a website and subsequent social media campaign (#fishforeachother) aimed to support the fishing industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, launched today. Fishforeachother.com serves as a centralized hub, providing a way for people to support members of the fishing industry affected by COVID-19 and deliver ongoing fishing-related news and content. The unprecedented circumstances surrounding the pandemic have endangered the livelihoods of thousands working in the recreational fishing industry, along with many other sectors of the economy.

The website will highlight programs from across the U.S. specifically aimed at supporting captains, guides, tackle shops and other small businesses who are now looking for alternative ways to generate income. With a severe dip in travel, guides and captains are particularly hard hit, as uncertainty around COVID-19 has led to a dramatic increase in canceled bookings. And without any indication as to when stay at home orders will be lifted, many trips are simply not being rebooked. Another area of the sportfishing industry equally hard hit are tackle shops, who rely heavily on consistent traffic from anglers. While services such as online sales and curbside pickup of tackle have helped, it is not enough to replace sales lost by the decreased activity and travel.

Fish for Each Other is the creation of Wisconsin-based active lifestyle marketing agency Gunpowder, who counts a number of the top outdoors and fishing brands among its clients.

“Our culture, and our livelihood, is rooted in the outdoors and fishing industry,” said Gunpowder founder Ryan Chuckel. “They’re our clients, our friends and our family. We created Fish for Each Other to provide a centralized location for people, like us, to find ways to help our fishing brothers and sisters. So many folks are already doing amazing things to support the industry we love. This is simply our way of connecting the dots between those doing good and those who want to help. While the future is uncertain, there’s no doubt in our minds that, with all of our help, the fishing community will bounce back, stronger and more unified than ever.”

To get involved, visit fishforeachother.com to see ways to contribute to the cause, check in on the latest fishing-related news surrounding the pandemic, and inspirational, entertaining content to pass the time during quarantine. There is also a growing list of local, independent tackle shops who are finding ways to serve their customers while still abiding by local and state restrictions. The organizers behind the site are also asking people in the fishing industry to bring forward other support efforts, funds, news or interesting ideas, which can be submitted directly on the site. 

About Gunpowder Inc.

Since 2015, Gunpowder has been driving dynamic communications programs for some of the world’s most influential enthusiast brands including GoPro, Under Armour, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Mercury Marine, Costa Sunglasses and Pure Fishing. The agency is built on a commitment to driving earned media coverage and social engagement with brand communities through a nimble, creative approach and by understanding how strong strategy and blue-collar work ethic can drive positive business results. The people of Gunpowder live, work and play with its clients’ products and services at the center of their lives. More information is available at www.gunpowderinc.com.

Gunpowder Media Contacts:
Ryan Chuckel, (414) 698-7132, ryanc@gunpowderinc.com
Carie Breunig, (414) 412-9155, carieb@gunpowderinc.com

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Long before he was TFFM’s managing editor, George Roberts taught fly casting around the country to fly anglers of all levels. In the late 1990s, he produced the first instructional video casting program focused on the saltwater game: Salt Water Fly Casting: 10 Steps to Distance and Power. In 2002 he published a book on how to build a fundamental casting stroke, Master the Cast: Fly Casting in Seven Lessons (McGraw-Hill). Both of these works are still available today.

These days, George’s time is at a premium. In addition to editing and writing for TFFM, George works full-time in healthcare and is enrolled in a graduate nursing program. However, he still occasionally makes time to help fly anglers with their casting stroke. On April 4th, George met with the members of the Cape Cod Fly Rodders in the gymnasium of the Chatham Community Center, where he conducted a two-hour casting clinic focused on the back cast.

“The average fly angler greatly underestimates the importance of the backcast to the entire casting sequence,” George says. “Everyone focuses on the delivery, because that’s what puts the fly in front of the fish. What they don’t understand is that the back cast and the forward cast are really two halves of the same coin. Any flaw in the backcast is going to manifest in the forward cast. If you have a troubled back cast—and the vast majority of fly anglers do have troubles in their back cast—you’ll be trying to work out those troubles in the forward cast. And you’ll never be able to work them out completely. However, if your backcast is solid, it makes your delivering a solid, consistent forward cast much more likely.

“I’ll never get the chance to prove this,” George says, “but if I could simply work with a fly angler on his back cast—get him to master it—I’m convinced that all the other parts of his cast would fall into place, and I’d never have to show him another thing about fly casting. The back cast is that important.”

After the clinic, which saw 20-plus members of the CCFR in attendance, George gave a Keynote presentation on video fly casting analysis using the Hudl Technique app.

“The Hudl Technique app is something I’ve been working with for the past couple of years,” George says. “It’s an app that lets an instructor or coach analyze video clips. It was developed for major sports—baseball, golf, etc.—but it lends itself well to fly casting. I was introduced to it by a gentleman who came to me for instruction. He had downloaded the app onto his iPad. I’m not terribly technical, but after playing with it for about 10 minutes, I was convinced this technology was going to change the way fly casting is learned and taught.”

George has written a lengthy blog post on his personal website (LINK) about how to get up and running using the Hudl Technique app. “Even if your casting instructor doesn’t understand the first thing about the technology,” George says, “you can use it to make significant improvements in your casting.”

Visit George’s website, masterthecast.com, and continue to follow the magazine for his fishing and casting articles.

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Tail & Keepemwet Fishing Spring Photo Contest 2018

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine and Keepemwet Fishing are pleased to announce the #Keepemwet photo contest, in partnership with Nautilus Reels and Costa Sunglasses. The contest seeks to promote good fish handling practices for catch and release fishing while celebrating your awesome saltwater catches. The contest will run for two weeks from March 7- March 21.

To enter, follow Tail Fly Fishing Magazine and Keepemwet Fishing on Instagram and post your best saltwater fly fishing shots (up to three per person) to Instagram with #keepemwetfishing #tailflyfishingmag and #tailkeepemwet.

Fish handling rules: All pictured fish must be in or partially in the water, or just above the water and visibly dripping wet. No exceptions – we want to see your creativity while ensuring a healthy release. Using wet hands free of sunscreen and keeping air exposure to a minimum are both critical to making sure fish have a fighting chance post-release. You can read all the Keepemwet Principles here: https://www.keepemwet.org/principles-2.

Prizes:

First Prize: Nautilus X-series XL-Max 8/9, a one-year Tail Subscription, and Tail and Keepemwet swag

Second Prize: Your choice of Costa Sunglasses, a one-year Tail Subscription, and Tail and Keepemwet swag

Third Prize: Tail Boat Box, EP Flies, a one-year Tail Subscription, and Tail and Keepemwet swag

Selection Process: Tail and Keepemwet Fishing staff will judge photos based on originality, technical excellence, composition and adherence to Keepemwet Fishing principles. Eight finalists will be selected, and high resolution photos will be requested via email to complete the judging process. Winners will be announced late in March as the selection process comes to a close

OFFICIAL RULES AND FINE PRINT: Keepemwet® is a Registered Trademark of Keepemwet Fishing.  The photo contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers residing in the United States who are 18 years of age or older. The contest is sponsored by Tail Fly Fishing Magazine, 2300 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33140. The contest begins at 12:00 AM on March 7, 2018 and ends at 11:59 PM on March 21, 2018. Entries submitted before or after the entry period will not be eligible. Submissions should not be watermarked. If you submit a photograph to the photo contest, you grant Tail Fly Fishing Magazine and Keepemwet® Fishing a royalty-free, non-exclusive right to:

Use the photograph on the internet, on social media and in print in support of our mission/work.

Allow third-parties to share the photograph on social media.

Retain a digital copy that will be archived in the Tail Magazine and Keepemwet digital archives.

RELEASE AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
By entering, you agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, Facebook, their respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Photo Contest or receipt or use of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Photo Contest; (b) technical errors; (c) printing errors; (d) late or undelivered mail; (e) errors in the administration of the Photo Contest; or (f) injury or damage to persons or property. You waive the right to claim any attorneys’ fees and any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

The post Tail & Keepemwet Fishing Spring Photo Contest 2018 first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Tail & Keepemwet Fishing Spring Photo Contest 2018 appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The 6th annual Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Symposium took place a few days ago in Weston Florida.
The symposium is a gathering of people who like to fish and an opportunity for the BTT to explain their research and current projects, while inviting the industry to do the same.  It is a relaxed, fun environment and an excellent time to hobnob with like minded people and professionals in the field of fly fishing.  It was our first visit to the symposium and we were impressed with the amount of information available and the low cost of admission.  We sat in on the permit panel of 12 notable anglers and guides considered to be experts in the field.  There were talks about fishing for bonefish, current bonefish research, relevant legislation and of course lots of tarpon talk.

There was a long list of notable anglers, industry professionals, guides and manufactures in a relaxed social setting and accessible to all attendees.  Andy Mill was hanging out telling some of the great stories he is known for just before he did his talk in the auditorium.  Andy Mill is a legend both on and off the skiff and it was a real treat to spend some time with him.

Drew Chicone was tying flies and had a preview of his new three part book called Top Saltwater Flies.  Three books in the series, one for permit, one for bonefish and one for tarpon.  We got to check them out and were impressed by the quality of the publication and thoughtfulness.  It’s actually a ring bound book that can lay flat or sit on a stand while tying….definitely designed by a true fly tyer.  Strong work Drew!

Enrico Puglisi has still got it.  He was tying flies and impressing attendees as he has for decades, aside from his salt and pepper hair becoming a little more salt than pepper, he is as creative and talented as ever.

Tom Rosenbauer & Shawn Combs of Orvis were there with demo models of the new Helios 3 for everyone to try out.  This was a big hit as so many anglers wanted to try the most accurate rod on the planet (their words, not ours).  They presented their research and development process for the new rod during the first day and packed in the day one participants.

We highly recommend getting involved next year.

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The post Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Symposium 2017 first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Symposium 2017 appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The information below is from the main Orvis website and contains links to take you there. 

Hope this is helpful.
This is a rare opportunity to spend some time traveling with Tom.

FLY FISHING IN CUBA

Expansive, rarely-fished saltwater flats. World-class bonefishing with shots at tarpon and permit. Delicious, home-cooked meals. Vibrant culture. Warm, welcoming people. Illuminating conversation. You’ll discover all this and so much more on our one-of-a-kind fly-fishing adventure in Cuba. During this trip, you’ll get to know Cuba through a diverse selection of activities, from a private musical performance to one of the most interesting fly shops we’ve ever found—and of course, world-class bonefishing. A wealth of natural wonders and interesting people make Cuba one of the most enriching destinations you’ll ever visit.

No visit to Cuba would be complete without a stay in Havana. You will have opportunities to explore this vibrant city through visiting markets and historic sites during the day, while enjoying music and authentic Cuban cuisine in the evening. A peaceful fishing town will be your home during four days of fishing on pristine flats and a coastal river. You’re sure to leave with a deeper understanding of Cuba and its people—as well as some tall tales from one of fly fishing’s best-preserved fisheries.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Wild landscapes and saltwater flats that have been protected for decades, creating a haven for bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook, and snapper, as well as hundreds of species of migrating birds and marine creatures.

Four days of fishing near Ciénaga de Zapata National Park with local guides, some of whom are park naturalists, working to preserve this important ecosystem.

Authentic interactions with Cuban entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and conservationists where you’ll have many opportunities to speak one-on-one, exchange ideas and learn about life in this unique island nation.

Delicious meals in privately-owned paladares, featuring homemade,
local dishes.

Walking tours and studio visits in Old Havana, where you’ll be swept up in the vibrant culture and arts scene; including a visit to a classic car restoration garage and a private musical performance.

A visit to Finca Vigía, the home of Ernest Hemingway from 1939-1960. Now a museum, it contains many of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s personal belongings, including his storied fishing boat Pilar.

This adventure fully complies with all Cuban and American government regulations.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

CUBAN VISA:

We’ll help arrange your Cuban visa. The cost of your visa is included in the price of your trip.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• 2 nights at one of the top historic hotels in Havana
• 5 nights at Enridan Lodge at Playa Larga Hotel
• 4 full days of guided fly fishing in Cienaga de Zapata National Park
• All breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners
• An Orvis trip leader who will be with you throughout the trip to handle behind-the-scenes logistics and help you with anything from rigging your rods and providing casting instruction to buying cigars and finding local music
• Full-time, professional bilingual guide while in Havana
• All local ground transportation, including land transfers between Havana and Playa Larga
• Admissions to all museums and activities as noted in the detailed daily itinerary
• Cuban visa

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Airfare to/from Havana
• Airline baggage fees
• Meals and activities other than those listed in the itinerary
• Alcoholic beverages in excess of what is included with each dinner
• Gratuities for fishing guide (60–80 CUC per boat per day)
• Gratuities for local Cuban guide and driver in Havana ($15–25 per person per day)
• Housekeeping gratuity at each hotel (1 CUC per person per day)
• Personal expenses
• Airport Transfers

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The post Hosted trip to Cuba with Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Hosted trip to Cuba with Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.