|
Rinconada Ranch, Patagonia, Argentina - 22 to 29th March 2008
As you may have gathered, this trip was an outstanding success for which we have to thank you and Daniel. We had a particularly wonderful experience with Angel and Lilli Estrada, and our visit to Rinconada also worked out well for us even though it was somewhat unconventional. I managed to get a 14 pt stag, which was obviously at the top end of my expectations.
We loved the people in Argentina, the countryside was quite magnificent and we also had a couple of days of good fishing. All in all a holiday to remember.
Many Thanks for all your help.
Bobby & Angela Power, New York, USA
Las Salinas, Cuba – 1 to 12th March 2008
The trip was even better that we expected! Despite the fact, that the weather during our fishing week was not ideal, we still managed to catch bonefish in quite challenging conditions. But I think that that makes the trip more memorable compared to a situation where the weather is idealfor the whole week.
Tarpon fishing in river was fun, but I prefer flats fishing, so one day on the river was enough (as you recommended!). Guides were very professional, and I was lucky to get Gilberto, who spoke very good English. Because of that I learned a lot about
bonefishing during the week. Matti had Alfonso, who didn’t speak much English at all, but I think that he is the best guide at Las Salinas. His fish-spotting skills and knowledge about the area were excellent! The average size of bonefish was very good and we also caught a few small jacks on the flats, and tarpon and snook from the river.
The only thing that didn’t work was the breakfast at Hotel Playa Girón. They promised that we could get our breakfast at 6am, but every second day it was half hour late, so we left without eating because the guides were waiting for us at the gate at 7am. Everything else in Playa Girón worked, and it was a very good place considering its low price. Our non-fishing friends enjoyed their time also. They visited Trinidad, Cienfuegos and couple of smaller places during the week, so they didn’t get bored at all.
Havana was very a exciting place and the Hotel Park View was good. Nevertheless I think I will chose the San Miguel next time, because its location is better compared to the Park View.
Thanks again for arranging an excellent trip for us. I have already recommended you to a couple of Finnish flyfisherman, and I’m sure that this was not my last trip to Cuba!
Jussi Jurling, Helsinki, Finland
Los Laureles Shooting Lodge, Argentina – 5 to 12th February 2008
We are just surfacing from our return journey, which was fine but tiring of course. We had a most amazing time with you and loved it all – the Lodge, the shooting, your friends. We had a great time and thank you for all the arrangements which were brilliant. It was a super, super Lodge - such comfort and what lovely staff. Our whole trip was all pretty intensive, but we did see and stay in the most stunning places,starting off with you all at the Lodge. Thank you for asking us, and for arranging it all so brilliantly.
Peter & Bridget Murphy, Saffron Walden
Los Roques, Venezuela - 27th October - 3rd November 2007
We really both enjoyed ourselves immensely and the final day was one of the best days fishing I have ever had. We found a big shoal of what must have been 100+ Bonefish. It was Bonefish after Bonefish for several hours up to about 5lbs. In the end we felt exhausted by the effort and the elation. I literally lost count but between the two of us it must have been at least 40. It was a marvellous finale to the holiday.
Peter Matthison, Essex
Roatan, Honduras - 12 to 19th August 2007
This week has been a special one at Mango Creek Lodge. Be it the right winds, right tides, or simply hungry fish, the fishing has been exceptional for permit on the fly.
Steve Calaway finished up his month in Honduras by coming back to Mango Creek to spend the week chasing permit. Day after day, he was spotting and casting to giant schools but simply could not get one to take. Yet Steve was not to be dissuaded. He was constantly adjusting his tactics, retooling his trout fishing instincts to fit the requirements of a salt water assassin. And with the right combination of skill and a bit of luck, Steve made his time down here truly count. Here's Steve recounting the day's experience in his own words:
"We stalked a couple of schools of big permit and got a few chases, but no bites. Almost dark, time to go in, but we checked out one more spot on the boat ride home, one last chance as the sun threatened to disappear, leaving us to navigate the reef and mangrove system in the dark.
"Perfect cast," whispered Tye-Tye on my last cast of the sunset. I threw 70 feet of line, dropping the white crab pattern 7 feet in front of a pair. The giant tails moved towards the crab, then it happened, she ate. Tug, Tug, wham, my line screamed out to the sea and I was hooked up--it wasn't a dream. 20 years of fishing trout doesn't compare to this beast of the sea. Tye-Tye and I followed her, by boat, as she led us out to sea. Day turned to dusk and the fish pulled on, sometimes giving, mostly taking. Eternal moments in time. She started giving more, and I took until we were one, together under a tropical sky. Laughing, high-fives, hug, yell, "Oh my god," thank you, . . . thank you."
Steve caught this magnificent fish on a size 16 White Turneffe Crab pattern after literally casting everything else he had in his box at permit that week. He also caught the fish after Tye-Tye recommended making the leader a bit longer and using 12lb tippet instead of 15lb.
After getting back to the lodge, Steve was so excited he could barely sit still. He just kept repeating, "In 20 years of fishing, man, that was the best fish I've ever caught..."
Not to be outdone, our Guide Perry set off the following morning with Carlo Gobetti. Carlo was over from Italy and spent a few days of his trip to Roatan day-fishing with us. In similar fashion, Carlo made the right cast at the right time and luck graced yet another fisherman with a nice permit - the second one to be landed in 24 hours.
Congratulations to both fisherman on two great fish.
One final note: Thankfully, we were hardly touched by vicious Hurricane Dean which passed about 100 miles north of us early in the morning on August 21st. Despite the 160mph sustained winds and torrential rain near the center of the category five storm, we were hardly shaken down here on Roatan. In fact, we saw little more than gusty winds and an above average tides. Looks like our lucky streak continues!
Lodge Staff
Los Roques, Venezuela - 12 to 19th May 2007
Los Roques was fantastic. We both absolutely loved it. As you know we had eight days fishing and we caught about 90 bone fish plus a mixture of about 20 other fish which were jacks, snapper. needle fish, blue runners etc.
I did very briefly have a tarpon on of about 60lbs but it broke my fly line and that was the end of it.
We did not manage to catch a permit, but we saw 11 and cast to 3. The first half of the week was more prolific as far as bonefish were concerned as the tides were better, but we did not have a blank day and always saw plenty.
The Posada was basic but fabulous. The food was superb and the staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. We loved the gentle, laid back atmosphere of the whole island and can see why a friend of ours has been eight times.
In all a wonderful trip. Many thanks for all your help in sorting it out.
David and Gilly Bate, Petersfield
Los Roques, Venezuela - 21 to 26th April 2007
Trip was a success. Fishing was very good - spectacular location. Bonefishing excellent and caught my first barracuda at 20lbs - on the spinner but still great. Friendly people at the Posada. Good boats. Some of the guides were truly excellent. Although only with him for one half day, Pedro was outstanding in his dedication and communication. Like dry fly fishing on the flats! Daniel very friendly and helpful.
Laurence Elliott, London
Los Roques, Venezuela - 10 to 17th March 2007
What can I say about the trip to Los Roques? The trip was great! Great weather, great guides, great fishing, great food and of course great company. I just wanted to say thanks to you Alexander for organising the whole thing and sharing the boat with me and translating Guareke's instructions and of course my numerous questions to him.The trip exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to go again!
Colin Radcliffe, London
Las Salinas, Cuba - 8th to 13th February 2007
We had no problems - slight blip at Playa Larga about the single accommodation, but that sorted itself out. That aside the transport you organised to Playa Larga and back to the airport, was the best we had out there. Good cars and drivers who spoke English.
The fishing was out of this world - my legs are still shaking. Score this one up as a big plus for you.Thanks for you help and assistance.
Nigel Lusby, Aberdeen
Las Salinas, Cuba – 31 December 2006 to 6th January 2007
Good to talk to you last week. In essence it was a great holiday. Everyone said how good the fishing was in Las Salinas and they were right! Thank youfor your excellent personal service; I always had the feeling that you were on top of every aspect and kept in constant contact beforehand to make sure that we had everything that we needed. You were also a lot more reasonable (and friendly) than other operators.
Stuart Tootal, Colchester
Los Roques, Venezuela – 15th to 23rd September 2006
Plenty of fish and a good variey. Guides very good and always seemed able to find fish, though we had one ' poor ' day i.e. only 8 or 10 Bones!! But the day before we had 25+. Better fishing than I had on Long Island in the Bahamas last year; although the guide there was good too. Posada clearly selected for good food and convenience to the boats, and very attentive staff. "Thank you for your organisation" .
Tim Brown, Edinburgh
Isla de la Juventud, Cuba – 13 to 20th May 2006
Thank you very much for organising one of my best fishing trips. As always,
it's a shame it was so short, by the end of the week, not only was the
weather improving but I was getting into the swing of it.
The tarpon were what I had hoped for: there were plenty of big fish and I
felt that there was the chance of catching them to keep me excited.
Jon Pepper, London
Isla de la Juventud, Cuba – 6 to 13th May 2006
Please find attached a few photos from our trip to IDJ. Many thanks once again for arranging what turned out to be a fantastic weeks fishing trip. The guide showed us a lot of fish but my casting let me down on the bone fish, although I still managed to catch a few. Fortunately the tarpon are not so easily spooked and I had a great time with these acrobatic silver projectiles. I also caught a few other species as well including snook, snapper - and was bitten off by a baby barracuda.
Dale Robertson, Aberdeen
Los Roques, Venezuela – 5 to 12th May 2006
On Wednesday the 10th of May, the penultimate day of our "Castaway" guided fishing trip to Los Roques, the most extraordinary event occurred whilst out on the flats stalking bonefish with the head guide Guareke and one other of the party, an American fellow called Mike.
We were wading on fairy loose sandy coral with Mangroves to our left. The flat was probably no more than 60 yards wide but possibly up to a mile long.
I was on the far left hand side towards the edge of the flat trying to avoid the frequent attacks from mosquitoes and Mike was in the middle stalking with the aid of Guareke.
Every now and then Guareke would attract my attention and whisper excitedly, 40yds straight ahead. I would cast and he'd say "strip, strip, Stop Strip ahhhh". This happened a lot and usually I would not be able to see what I was casting at, and was pleasantly surprised after landing my fly to learn that the fish was still interested and that I must therefore be somewhere near where I am supposed to have cast.
So on this occasion I cast my fly, Guareke starts with his instruction "stop...strip...YOU GODDIT!!! BIG FISH".
The fish started to run and immediately I knew I was in trouble. Earlier when we got out of the boat I had slackened off the clutch on my reel to strip line off as I cast and I had forgotten to turn it up again. The fish ran with a pace that I had not experienced before. I looked down at my reel and in a split second the line had gone and I was into the backing. I knew the reel was spinning too fast and as I looked into my helpless hands at the reel the fish stopped running but the spool kept spinning and the thin luminescent backing was tangling up everywhere.... One millisecond later the fish pulled again and PING...... the line snapped and the backing recoiled back at me through the rod eyes.
I stood shell shocked and looked at the water expecting to see the line trailing off through the water, but it had already disappeared. I looked over at Mike and Guareke and was puzzled to see Guareke squat down, obviously concentrating on something ahead of him, then suddenly he launched himself off after the line in the most extraordinary sprint which involved lifting each foot out of the thigh high water.
After a short distance he grabbed hold of the line, the fish started pulling again and he was forced to continue running after the fish whilst yelling instructions to me to re-thread the backing through the rod eyes and get the backing end to him to be re-attached to the line.
So now we are both pelting through the water after this fish for what seems like minutes while Guareke is trying to tie the backing back onto the line.
During this time Mike was stupified, unable to believe what was unfolding before his eyes.
Eventually, the knot was completed and I fought the fish for a further quarter of an hour or so before Mike helped me bring it in. According to Guareke the fish probably weighed five or six kilos, which made it the largest bonefish caught by a member of our group that week.
Ben Richardson, London
|
