Tarpon Flats Around Ambergris Caye

Tarpon fly fishing is always a blast. Last year Doug hooked and fought a 100 pound plus tarpon and I jumped one that was north of 60 pounds. Well we finally had the right conditions to head to the tarpon flats. When we arrived, the water was clear and the wind quite reasonable. No question we will be able to sight fish today.

Minutes after putting on a purple and black tarpon rabbit strip, a 5 footer appeared right in front of the boat. The low light made it hard to see early in the morning. I put a cast close to the tarpon and it turn and attacked my fly! I hooked the 60 plus pounder and just like that, my reel was singing as the 50 pound backing was ripping off out at an alarming rate of speed. The tarpon rocketed out of the water several times. Hilian started the boat to follow and that helped me gather line. We were able to get the tarpon right to the boat, then it took off on a 100 plus yard run! The fourth jump and out popped my fly from the tarpon's mouth. Darn! What a frantic 15 minutes right at the start to the day!

Doug then took the 12 weight rod and started to ready himself! The tarpon were definitely moving about and Doug got several excellent shots at tarpon. They followed and didn't commit!

Well late in the morning, I was back on the casting deck. Hilian and Shawn saw some tarpon moving in. I was able to cast with one of Doug's white tarpon toads. I got a grab but it did not stay. Shortly after, I hooked a 30 pounder and managed to bring it alongside the boat. We took a few pictures and sent it on its way.

Just as Doug replaced me on the casting podium, the wind shifted and the tarpon flats lost that critical visibility. Darn, we did see some tarpon but not easily.

We soon headed to a local bonefish flat and had a great time chasing the ghost of the flats.

You know we came back the next day but sadly, the wind and conflicting tide had churned up the flat, so we went looking for permit instead.

60 plus pounds of jumping tarpon-a Five Footer

Hilian and Shawn

Eagle Rays were skooting by the boat a lot while we were looking for tarpon!

 

More Permit Success

Well after the gals connected and landed five permit in one day, it was time for the guys to try to bring a few to the boat! I was out with Karen and managed to land two permit a day later. Doug over the course of our stay in San Pedro in Belize landed three permit. One of the permit he landed was right out front of our condo just before we flew home. Permit fly fishing is definitely a hunting game. There are days when you see them and get a few casts off and other days, you look everywhere and see none. That is the way it is. We used several tried and true shrimp patterns and we also used strong arm and raghead crabs. 

It gets quite exciting once you hook a permit. They give a great account of themselves. Hooking one is tough then the battle is a real challenge.

Karen thought she hooked a large permit, it turned out to be a very hard fighting jack!

Karen hook this pompano off of the dock by our condo. They can easily be miss identified as a permit. Several of us caught pompano on this trip.

 

Taryn and Karen Had An Amazing Day Permit Fly Fishing in Belize

Some days are special and not soon to be forgotten. Last week Karen and Taryn were fly fishing with Guide Hilian Martinez on the flats around Ambergris Caye in Belize. The ladies were all in looking for permit for the day. Two days prior to this memorable day, they did not see any permit! Today was different.

Hilian is a very skilled guide. He knows where to hunt permit based on tides, moon phase and wind direction. Hilian has put in 12 plus years as guide and that experience pays dividends constantly!

Most fly fishers are glad to have chances at permit and maybe hook up. Karen and Taryn landed 5 of these elusive fish often referred to as the Black Tailed Devil. They are considered the toughest fish to hook up with on the flats. A perfect shot with the right fly can still come up empty because permit are finicky at the best of times.

Taryn had not landed a permit although she did have chances at permit 5 years ago. Hilian and his apprentice Shawn had the boat set up and they got Taryn to cast to a school that was actively feeding. Taryn hooked up and she asked Hilian if she really had a permit and not a bonefish. There was a lot of laughter and then it was up to Taryn to bring the permit to the boat. Taryn is a skilled fly fisher so she knows how to fight fish. Once the permit was tailed it was time to celebrate. Pictures, hugs, big smiles helped to celebrate the moment.

Well that was just the start. Karen was up and she hooked into a permit too. Her permit decided to run into a mangrove bush. Hilian had to get out of the boat and untangle the line that the permit blasted by. Surprise, the permit was still there and Karen was able to bring her prize to the boat. Two permit? Wow!

Karen sat down and Taryn was into another. Karen did the same then Taryn completed the hat trick with her third. What a day. No, what an amazing day. 

The ladies caught two permit on backhand casts today. Being a decent caster is important. Hilian also skillfully set up the boat so the ladies had an excellent chance of getting good casts into the permit! It is not easy!

The ladies put away their fly rods and Hilian took the gals to find manatees. They were successful in that part of their adventure too.

I was waiting at the dock when Hilian, Shawn, Taryn and Karen came back to the dock. Hilian parked the boat and then everyone got out. Hmmm, that is unusual. I knew they must of had a great day. They all piled into the condo we rented to celebrate. There was lots of excitement.

Taryn had invented a drink called the Pink Gotcha after a famous bonefish fly! Well it was time to celebrate with a few pink gotchas and of course Doug and I heard all about their incredible adventure. 

What a day. I was so happy for Taryn and Karen. They will talk about this day for years to come.

...and there is photo evidence!

Hilian had permit necklaces made for Taryn and Karen!

Taryn celebrating with Hilian

 Yep those are Pink Gotchas!

Effective Fly Patterns That Are Easy to Tie with Ralf Kuntzemann

I always look forward to Ralf' Kuntzemann's fly tying sessions. That are just plain fun and his simple creativity makes me wonder why fly tying needs to be complicated. Ralf is also thrifty. His flies are not expensive to tie and they definitely catch trout. Tonight Ralf shared 4 fly patterns and the learning centre was full of keen tyers. Ralf's flies are so straight forward and at times, seem too simplistic. Imagine making a leech that has one step, tying marabou onto a hook. Done!

Ralf also showed us how to make a deer hair dubbing brush with his Norvise. I do not think that Ralf brought tying materials other than straggle string that was bought at a fly shop.

Thanks Ralf! There were a ton of laughs tonight and we all had an opportunity to think outside of the box!

Next week is our final tying session of the season! Garnet Clews is back to do another session. Garnet is an accomplished Bow River guide and he will be sharing more of his effective guide flies. Garnet asks everyone to bring:

3/0 red thread (210 denier)

6/0 black thread

3/0 brown or tan thread

Dubbing spinner

Clip for CDC fibers

Darner Dragon

Hook: TMC 200 R size 8-10

Thread: Black 6/0

Body: Deer Hair

Legs: Pheasant tail

Eyes: Foam

Chopped up deer hair that Ralf made dubbing brushes with, to make his dragon fly patterns. Just add a bit of basic dubbing (antron).

Deer Hair Caddis

Hook: Curved Caddis Size 12-10

Body: Straggle

Wing: Deer Hair

Nymphs

Hook: Curved caddis hooks

Body: Stretch material

Thorax: Ice Dub

Marabou Leeches

Bead: optional-brown glass

Body: You favourite marabou tied behind bead

Ralf buys his hooks in bulk from Temu in the 1000s. Yes they are not from a big name manufacturer, but he has had excellent experiences with these hooks!

Rick forgot his tying vice so he tied his flies by holding the hook in his fingers. I cannot tell the difference!