NEWSLETTER #55 -
DECEMBER 2006
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you have access to Microsoft word, open the
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Fly Fishing Adventures Travel Newsletter, December, 2006
TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE:
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GIFT IDEAS –“LONG WEEKEND” FLY FISHING
EXPERIENCES IN THE WEST
-
FISH FIRST SHOP IN ALBANY – DEC. 14 FOR
GIFT IDEAS AND BOOK SIGNING
-
BELIZE – THREE “LAST DAY” GRAND SLAMS
-
TRIPS YOU PLAN FAR IN ADVANCE
-
THE HUNT FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS?
-
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
We are in the fifth year of publishing our
monthly newsletter with updates on great fly fishing
venues, trip reports 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.
GIFT IDEAS –“LONG WEEKEND” FLY FISHING EXPERIENCES
IN THE WEST
Several ideas come to mind that make a four
to five night trip a great fly fishing
experience…and without flying halfway around the
globe.
EASTERN SIERRA WILDERNESS TRIP –
Forty-plus years ago, my Dad took my brother and I
on a trip into the John Muir Wilderness area of the
Eastern Sierras. We crossed Mono Pass at 12,000
feet altitude on horseback and dropped down into the
Pioneer Basin and the six lakes and streams located
there. There was great fishing for brook and golden
trout and some of the most spectacular scenery on
earth……it was a wilderness adventure we still talk
about. The fish weren’t the trophies that are
discussed most often in this newsletter, but they
were plentiful and fun. I did a little research and
found out the outfitter we used in the 60’s is still
in business and is now operated by the original
owners son. With the advent of and promotion of
exotic fly fishing travel, traffic into the Sierra
wilderness areas has actually declined over the last
30 years. The decline in customers seeking high
country getaways resulted in many Sierra
outfitters/packers going out of business. The
result has been that our outfitters of the 60’s have
expanded the areas they can pack into to include
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite
National Park and the John Muir and Ansel Adams
Wildernesses. While you can explore these areas
with a pack on your back, the “less rugged” approach
is to have a wrangler with a string of pack animals
tote your equipment and food allowing you to set up
a comfortable camping environment. They can access
the best native Golden Trout areas on earth as well
as a multitude of great fly fishing waters, far away
from the crowds. We actually did this trip three
consecutive years in the 60’s, the last of which was
with my new bride, Marte, as our first vacation.
Fortunately, I didn’t scare her away. We’ve added
this adventure to our list of destinations. Have
maps and info – let me know if you’d like to know
more.
SPRINGTIME IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES WHITE RIVER
VALLEY
– March through
mid-April is a great time to be in this country
(plus July and early Aug and Sept/early Oct). Our
outfitters here have private access to several miles
of the White River, one of the west’s finest
fisheries. Four nights and three days fishing fits
perfectly here.
ELK RIVER, FERNIE, B.C.–
Early July through Sept is the prime time for the
Elk and it’s tributaries. Fernie is a great family,
couples, or just hard core fishing destination. In
the winter, it’s a jet setter skier’s paradise – in
the summer, it’s just beautiful without the crowds
of most western US waters. The main attractions are
possibly the finest Bull Trout fishery remaining
(due to the protection the B.C. government has
provided) and lots of eager West Slope Cutthroat.
Good for new fly fishers and well as the vets. Can
be a four or five night experience.
BLACKWATER RIVER FLOAT TRIP
– if you want to rough it a little more, the wild
rainbows of the Blackwater River in B.C. can provide
numerous targets to liven up a float trip down the
Blackwater. If you’re timing is right on this
river, you can have 50 fish days, all on dry flys.
Great family outdoor experience.
OVERNIGHT FLOAT TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTH FORK OF THE
SNAKE RIVER CANYON
– a neat three or four
night experience in eastern Idaho with the
centerpiece being an overnight float trip through
the South Fork of the Snake River Canyon. For the
overnight in the canyon, our outfitters have a
comfortable, permanent tent camp – not really very
rough and great food. Lots of approaches to filling
another day or two in the area.
THREE FORKS RANCH, COLORADO – the “cat’s meow” of
private water fly fishing operations in the lower
48. Only drawbacks are it’s pricey and hard to find
space. Booked full for next summer except for
openings for two rods Aug. 3 – 7.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: CLEARWATER LODGE – California’s finest
fly fishing operation, Clearwater Lodge on the Pit
River in Northern California, has several different
programs for newcomers to fly fishing as well as
veterans……and an airplane isn’t necessary.
FISH FIRST SHOP IN ALBANY – DEC. 14 FOR GIFT IDEAS
AND BOOK SIGNING
I’ll
be in the Fish First shop in Albany (near Berkeley)
from 11:30 through the afternoon of Dec 14 to
personalize gift copies of THE HUNT. Also,
we’ll have all our slide presentations with us and
are available to view and discuss most destinations,
especially the type of trips that may fit into a
Christmas stocking. See the Fish First website for
directions -
www.fishfirst.com
BELIZE – THREE “LAST DAY” GRAND SLAMS
In a
very unusual set of coincidences, the last two
November trips on the mothership Meca in Belize
produced some exciting “last days” of the trips.
First, Chris Coyle and Doug Pruett had a productive
week pursuing primarily bonefish (over 40 fish
released) with two days moving south for the finicky
permit (no fish released). On the morning of their
departure, they had moved their liveaboard near
Belize City and were going to get one more morning
on the water before getting to the airport. With 15
minutes to go before they had to absolutely head for
the airport to catch their flights home, both of
them had two legs of an IGFA Grand Slam and needed
just a bonefish to finish it. In one of those rare
moments when the fishing gods cooperate fully, they
found a flat nearby that was full of willing bones
and they both finished off their grand slams,
literally on the way to the airport!
And to
top things off, Julie and Dennis Smith and family
were on the Meca for Thanksgiving week. Weather was
difficult much of their week, but a similar scenario
as above played out on their last morning – an IGFA
Grand Slam for Dennis on their way to the airport.
In the
future, maybe we should just begin all Belize trips
on the last day?
TRIPS YOU PLAN FAR IN ADVANCE
The
world of exotic fly fishing travel includes
destinations that offer the chance at a fish of a
lifetime. Usually, the opportunity to get that
special fish occurs during a somewhat narrow time
frame. And, to get a reservation during that time
frame, you had better be planning far, far in
advance – sometimes over a year out. This report
will just briefly mention some of these spots and
any openings we may be familiar with – more detail
on these special fisheries can be found on the
respective destination page on our web site
www.flyfishingadventures.org
ROYAL AMAZON, BRAZIL The
world has discovered this four year old Amazon
operation. This is THE place to fish the Amazon
from if you are a fly fisher. Lots of sight fishing
in a clear water river for trophy peacock bass to 15
pounds (and larger), arrowana and a comfortable base
to headquarter. However, if you want to go in ’08,
better have your name on the list now.
NEW ZEALAND – INDEPENDENT GUIDES There are world class fly fishing lodges in New Zealand that offer
some flexibility in booking because they take in 12
– 16 anglers at a time. However, the outstanding
independent guides in NZ are “one of a kind” and
they have their own regular clients who come back to
fish with them each year. These are special guys
who have special waters and when they’re
booked…that’s it - they are not available. To be
able to include some of these top independent guides
in a NZ itinerary, you must engage in the process
usually 12 months out, especially if you have a
certain time frame you want to travel in.
GIANT BROOKIES OF THE MINIPI RIVER If
your list of dream fish includes a five pound or
larger brook trout taken on a dry fly, there is no
better place in the world for that to happen..…bar
none. My son and I just completed our fifth trip to
this wilderness destination in Labrador. There are
three lodges on the watershed and they are just
completing the construction of the new lodge at our
favorite location. Prime hatch times for 2007 were
already full when we were up there this past
July….so we reserved 16 spots over three weeks
during the prime time in 2008 at the new lodge.
Four of those spots are still open.
BELIZE VIA MOTHERSHIP – THE MECA AND SEADUCTION The
greatest variety fishery in the world of saltwater
flats fishing with bonefish, tarpon (from babies to
100+ pounders), snook, barracuda, and the finest
permit flats on the globe. Living on the shallows
inside the protection of the Belize barrier reef in
this tropical paradise is a wonderful salt water
adventure. The large number of repeat bookings also
make this one difficult to get space on – need to
get on the list early, very early, if you want to
have a chance at a choice of dates. A few weeks
still are open for ’07, but the process for 2008
begins now.
PRIME TIME IN ALASKA
Alaska may be the fishiest place on earth and a
destination that every fly fisher needs to visit at
least once. Most consider late August through
September the prime time in Alaska – the silver
salmon are in and the trophy rainbows are easiest to
get at during this period. However, if you’re going
to one of Alaska’s “A” lodges, best book 10 – 12
months out as the angling world is in touch with how
special Alaska is at this time. We can book them
all - our favorite “A” lodge is full for the end of
summer period except for 2 open spots Sept. 8 – 15.
Some openings remain for the “family week” July 28 –
Aug 4; children, regardless of age, are half price
this week.
“WORLD CLASS STEELHEAD” – BABINE AND DEAN RIVERS The
prime summer run dates on the lower Dean are full –
try getting on the list for ’08 if you have
interest. Some ’07 prime space on the Babine for
the fall run still remain…..but not much.
UNIQUE WORLD CLASS FISHERIES
like
Argenina’s Rio Grande (giant sea run browns) and the
Ponoi in Russia (Atlantic Salmon) have international
followings and high client return rates at the best
operations. Best try to plan for these a year or
more out.
THE HUNT
FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS?
If you
are making up your gift giving list for Christmas
and a new fly fishing book that has received the
following accolades would satisfy some of your
needs, see below for how to purchase a personalized
copy:
-
"THE HUNT is one of the
great fly fishing classics of all
time…...unbelievably good work."
-
“….the finest
collection of fly fishing photographs ever
assembled….”
-
“….overall,
I’d be taxed to reach for a more enjoyable
read….”
-
“….I’ve
never in all my years seen anything as
profoundly special as THE HUNT….” An absolute
masterpiece.”
(see
the website
www.ffhunt.com
for a full list of reviews and comments)
We’ve
(written by my son, Scott, and myself) been honored
by the praise and award THE HUNT has received. If
you’d like to order personalized copies for gifts,
fill out the “special instructions” section on the
order blank on the website
www.ffhunt.com.
We can meet any personalization requests you have –
call 888-347-4896 if you have specific questions.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Tammi
and I hope that your holiday season is everything
you want it to be. May the New Year present you
with the opportunity to scratch some of your
personal fantasy fish off your “wish list.”
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,
Don Muelrath
Fly Fishing Adventures
www.flyfishingadventures.org
888-347-4896
flyfish@napanet.net
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