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NEWSLETTER #40 - SEPTEMBER 2005

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Leland Fly Fishing Travel Newsletter - SEPTEMBER, 2005

TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE:

SPRING STEELHEAD ON THE SKEENA FEATURED ON DESTINATION DAY AT BUSH STREET SHOP, THURSDAY, SEPT 22
MY TWO MOST SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
EXOTIC WINTERTIME “GET- AWAYS” WITH A FLY ROD
2006 CLASSIC STEELHEAD WEEKS – BABINE AND DEAN RIVERS
FOR PERMIT ANGLERS ONLY – SPECIAL PUBLICATION
ROOM FOR TWO RODS FOR EARLY SEASON (APRIL) ON NORTH PLATTE
QUIPS AND QUOTES – “CAST TO THE SHARKS TAIL…..”

We are in the fourth year of publishing our monthly newsletter with updates on great fly fishing venues and insights for our traveling fly fishers. We want to help you match the right location with your fly fishing goals and objectives and properly prepare you to fully enjoy the experience. We’ve been to most locations and pride ourselves on our ability to research new sites. One of our services is to compare and contrast different lodges/outfitters. Whatever unbiased information on timing and locations we can provide comes at the same cost to you as booking direct – i.e., no extra cost.

THURSDAY, SEPT 22, BUSH STREET SHOP, DESTINATION DAY WILL FEATURE SPRING STEELHEAD ON THE SKEENA

Thursday, Sept 22, during our monthly Destination Day in the Bush Street shop, the featured topic will be spring steelhead on the Skeena system in British Columbia. Our guest presenter will be Jeff Bright who spends a lot of time fishing the Skeena watershed and will share his insights specifically on the spring steelhead opportunity. In addition to being an acknowledged steelhead addict, Jeff is an outstanding fly fishing author and photographer who captures his experiences on film. His presentations will be at both 12:30 and 5:00.

As usual, I’ll be available during the day for individual appointments to view slides and discuss many of the world’s great fly fishing destinations.

MY TWO MOST SURPRISING DISCOVERIES

Since I became involved five years ago with booking fly fishing adventures with Leland’s, there have been many surprising discoveries. However, two of those surprises stand out as the “most surprising.” The first is the great number of fly fishers who will endure whatever’s necessary to hook-up with the mighty steelhead! I’ve always been a fair weather type fly fisherman – a guy who thought those guys fishing with ice in their rod guides were absolutely crazy. I’ve come to learn that for skill level and tenacity, the steelheader may represent the greatest number of fly fishers in the world….or at least in the West.

The second surprising discovery is the number of traveling fly fishers who have quietly been making an annual pilgrimage to New Zealand in the dead of our winter and the height of NZ’s summer. Now, after exposing myself to the reasons that justify this devotion, I’ve joined their number and now understand why it’s a “must do” on my annual fly fishing travel calendar.

WINTERTIME FLY ROD “GET- AWAYS”

With the feel of fall in the air, many fly fishers begin pondering the possibilities for great adventures when the skies turn cold and gray in the good ole USA. The possibilities are numerous starting with the obvious tropical destinations. For the salt water flats, there is Belize, Christmas Island, Los Roques, Ascension Bay/Mexican Yucatan, and the Bahama’s to consider. For a unique salt water fly fishing experience for sailfish, marlin, and rooster fish, Costa Rica has a certain intrigue.

For the trout hunter, there is the allure of the Patagonian Andes or New Zealand. While it’s a little late to be planning a prime time trip to either spot, there are still good opportunities available providing you have some flexibility in your travel schedule. We have slide presentations available by appointment if you’d like to explore these possibilities without leaving the Bay Area.

‘06 CLASSIC STEELHEAD WEEKS ON THE BABINE, DEAN, and SKEENA RIVERS

Leland’s is holding space for some of the finest times on two of the world’s foremost steelhead rivers. We have openings for two weeks on the lower Dean River for their summer run. Also, we have a “prime time” early October week on the Babine at one of it’s lodges. Additionally, we have a prime late March week on the lower Skeena and it’s tributaries. Only two spots are open for next March. If you have any interest in these spots for ’06, now is the time to get on the list. Hit reply or give a call.

FOR PERMIT ANGLERS ONLY – D.O.P.A.P.

There is now a semi-annual publication devoted entirely to permit fishing. It’s published by the Distinguished Order Of Permit Angling Purists (D.O.P.A.P.). I was able to obtain several extra copies of the latest edition. If you’d like a complimentary copy, just hit reply and send me your snail mail address and we’ll mail one out to you.

ROOM FOR TWO RODS FOR EARLY SEASON ON NORTH PLATTE

Between April 9 and 14, we have room for two rods at North Platte Lodge for either three or four days of fishing. We’ve been holding this time slot for several years now and have received great reports from all our anglers who’ve made the trip. This area of the North Platte may have the finest early season fishery in the West and the North Platte Lodge may be the best value of any lodge in the Rockies.

QUIPS AND QUOTES – “Cast to the sharks tail…..”

The scene: my son, Scott, and I were on a beautiful flat in Belize pursuing tarpon and permit this August. We’d seen several small schools of permit, but weren’t able to get one to eat. A six foot black tip shark was cruising the flat and began to meander in our direction. When he got about 70 feet away, we could see two permit swimming with him, right on his tail, feeding on whatever the shark stirred up. Our guide, Martin McCord, said, “to catch one of those permit, cast right on the sharks tail.” Scott did just that and one of the permit jumped on the fly. About 20 minutes later, we were taking photos of a 12 pound permit and Scott had completed his first grand slam!

Any saltwater veteran has seen bonefish feeding on the back of a cruising ray. Last year, we saw three snook feeding on a ray and it’s not that unusual to see permit feeding on a ray. In a rare occurrence, we took a 40 pound cobia in Belize last year that was feeding on the back of a giant manatee that was stirring up the bottom. But a permit feeding on the back of a black tip????????? That’s comparable to a mouse following a cat around and eating the scraps the cat leaves in it’s wake. The black tip is a natural predator for permit.

Either phone or drop us an e-mail if you have questions or would like more information about any of our destinations.

An enthusiastic traveling fly fisherman,