We’re huge fans of what the team at Sea Run cases has been building the last year. We’ve taken their cases to Alaska, Canada, Russia, Belize, and all around our backyard in Colorado. These cases are bulletproof and we can’t wait to see what this new line-up will bring when they release later this fall!
The newest addition to our Expedition case series, the Norfork is designed to be light, fast, and tough as nails. Equipped to protect up to six, four-piece 9-10’ Fly Rods, 6 reels or Fly boxes, and gear, the Norfork is the latest in hard-sided ABS Fly fishing travel case technology. With over 40 years of experience in making hard-sided travel cases for outdoor gear, our latest case can handle the toughest airline baggage handlers, comes with 3 German steel TSA Compliant locks, stainless steel hinges, and padded removable inserts to customize the case as needed. When you need to get to the water now, the Norfork is there to blaze your trail. Norfork QR Includes Quick Release shoulder Strap.
Patented Rigid double-wall ABS Construction
TSA Compliant German Steel Locks
Black ABS outer with Grey Synthetic canvas trim
Storage space for up to 6 Fly Reels, Fly Boxes, or other gear
Holds up to 6 Four-piece 9.5†Fly Rods
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Norfork – retail starting at $399
Norfork QR – retail starting at $439 with QR Strap
Both will be available for sale by November 2021!
Riffle and Riffle QR
Our newest addition to the Sea Run line of Cases, the Riffle is a smaller, longer, more compact 2-3 Four Piece 11’ Fly Rod case designed for those short trips when the minimal gear is needed, or for the Fly Fisherman needing a longer rod capacity. The Riffle is designed like our Expedition case series with ABS Double-wall construction and built to withstand the rigors of heavy travel while keeping your gear in perfect shape. When you are ready to catch the big ones, throw your gear in the Riffle and be ready for a fight. Riffle QR includes a Quick Release Shoulder strap for easy portage.
Patented Rigid double-wall ABS Construction
TSA Compliant German Steel Locks
Navy ABS outer shell with Grey Neoprene padding inside
Storage space for up to 6 Fly Reels, Fly Boxes, or other gear
Holds up to 3 Four-piece 11’ Fly Rods
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Riffle – retail starting at $329
Riffle QR – retail starting at $379 with QR Strap
Redfish are one of those species that make addiction a little easier to understand. Among my circle of friends, priorities tend to shift when the reds make their appearance. Now I’m not saying neglect your health, family, or finances – but maybe that lawn could stand to get a bit taller. After all, it’s not every day the bite is on and the fans are off.
Here’s a slot red I sight-fished in the lower Chesapeake Bay earlier this year.
There’s a lot to love about redfish. They’re notoriously hard fighters, they can be sight-fished when conditions are right, and they have spots on their tail that serve as an antipredator mechanism. It’s no wonder coastal anglers from Massachusetts to Mexico are so enamored of them. In fact, redfish get anglers so riled up, we’ve developed cute little nicknames for every stage of their life. From puppies, to slots, to over-slots, to bulls, redfish are a force to be reckoned with.
Biologists believe redfish have tail spots to fool predators into striking their tail rather than their head, as predators may think the spot is actually an eye. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)
Before the pot gets stirred too much, let me just say – I know many anglers are strictly catch & release when it comes to redfish. Don’t get me wrong, I release many myself, but I also believe in the sustainable harvest of renewable resources when populations can support it. Fortunately, many states have strong management systems in place that utilize slot-limits. A slot-limit has both a minimum and maximum size-limit, meaning anglers are only allowed to keep fish within a designated length range. This helps to insure a healthy population with age diversity and a robust breeding class. Regulations vary state to state, but the slot-limit is generally in the 18-26 inch ballpark.
Redfish offer an exciting fight to anglers. An 8 weight is a popular choice when targeting them.
Let’s roll play; you just landed a Crafty Shrimp 4 feet in front of a tailing red, the fish discovers your fly and sucks it up, after a quick strip-set and a few nice runs the 20 inch red is boatside and you’ve just decided redfish is on the menu tonight – now what? Most folks would pan fry or grill the fillets, and serve them with a couple sides. While cooking the fillets fresh is a great idea, I’d like to take this opportunity to shed some light on a cut that doesn’t get the credit it deserves – collars. When I say ‘collars’, I’m referring to the meat along the bottom of the fish that extends from just behind the gills to a couple inches past the pectoral fins. It’s flavorful, fatty, and kind of a pain in the ass to remove, but well worth it in the end. Besides, you’ve already put all that time and effort into catching the fish – what’s a little more work to maximize your utilization? (Pro Tip: A pair of kitchen shears will make your life easier).
Redfish collars, seconds before going into the marinade. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)
Redfish are delicious, plain & simple, and it doesn’t stop at their fillets. Redfish collars have a rich flavor and crab-like texture, making them the perfect ingredient for this Shrimp & Grits inspired dish. If you’ve spent some time south of the Mason-Dixon, chances are you’ve run into this classic Lowcountry meal. In this version, we’re subbing out shrimp for the critter that eats ‘em. I hope this recipe will result in more anglers joining ‘team collars.’ If grits aren’t your thing, no worries. At the end of the day, I just hope the next time you’re cooking up some fillets there are a couple of collars beside them.
Grilled Redfish Collars and Lowcountry Grits. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)
Lowcountry Grits Recipe:
Ingredients:
0.75 cup of coarsely ground grits
2 cups of chicken stock
0.5 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
0.25 cup half-and-half, or whole milk
0.25 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
0.5-pound andouille sausage, cut into 0.25-inch slices
1 large bell pepper, chopped
1 large white onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons flour
0.5 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon fresh chives or scallions, finely chopped
Method:
Combine 1.5 cups chicken stock, salt, and 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
Slowly stir in the grits and return to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer, cover the pan with a lid and cook for 15-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until the grits are tender and have reached the desired thickness.
Stir in the half-and-half or milk and cheddar cheese. Set aside and keep warm.
Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic to the pan and cook until the onion is translucent (6-8 minutes).
Add the cooked sausage back to the pan, stir the contents, and reduce to medium heat.
Add 1 tablespoon of butter, 0.5 cup of chicken stock, flour, and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce to desired thickness (5-8 minutes).
Serve sausage mixture over grits and top with chives or scallions to finish.
Grilled Redfish Collars Recipe:
Ingredients:
2 redfish collars, or however many you have on hand
0.25 cup olive oil
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
0.5 teaspoon onion powder
0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 lemon, freshly squeezed
Method:
Combine all ingredients in an appropriately sized freezer bag. Shake the bag to mix the contents. Allow the collars to marinate for 2-4 hours in the refrigerator.
Remove the collars from the marinade. Grill the collars (meat side down) over high heat for 5-6 minutes. Flip the collars and continuing grilling for another 5-6 minutes, or until the skin crisps and the meat flakes.
For decades, marine conservationists have sounded the alarm on offshore finish aquaculture. These salmon and steelhead genetic clones, often non-native, cause direct and indirect environmental harm. Bacterial infection and disease crossing over to wild populations, water quality pollution, and genetic dilution are just some of the ways offshore aquaculture. But, often their biggest environmental impact comes from how they feed their crop. We’ve seen how finfish aquaculture operations have plagued the Pacific Northwest and Canada: net pens have collapsed sending millions of farmed fish into these productive waters.
A couple weeks ago, an aquaculture operation off the coast of Maine experienced a large scale die-off. An estimated 100,000 salmon died at Cooke Aquaculture’s Black Island fish farm. If you follow conservation issues on the Atlantic Coast, you probably know of Cooke’s subsidiary Omega Protein and their massive, localized harvests of menhaden. According to reports, the salmon died from low dissolved-oxygen. However, one has to wonder how bad conditions need to be to kill 100,000 fish penned in the ocean–let alone the impacts on the adjacent environments and wildlife.
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation Executive Director Crystal Canney said: “Emails obtained as part of a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request indicate Cooke Aquaculture knew as early as August 16th that the die-off occurred. The Department of Environmental Protection wasn’t notified until August 27th according to the emails, 11 days after Cooke employees saw dead fish in the water.â€
Our coastal environments need to be managed and preserved for their natural productivity and contributions to coastal communities. Offshore finfish aquaculture, at this time, seems to be a risky activity that threatens our coasts.
Canney added: “This incident and the slow response brings into question the state’s relationship with industrial-scale aquaculture. At every turn, industrial-scale aquaculture is given the benefit of the doubt, whereas lobstermen and fishermen have their feet held to the fire. We need evidence that Maine’s oversight agencies are putting the health of our waters first, and not turning a blind eye to industrial-scale aquaculture damaging our oceans. This is why the answers to our questions about this die-off are so important.â€
Aquaculture is becoming quite the popular topic, and it very may well be required to feed an ever-growing world. But the upmost protections need to be taken to ensure it is not negatively affecting our natural ecosystems. For more on this die-off check out Bangor Daily News.
Washington, D.C. – The National Fish Habitat Partnership (www.fishhabitat.org) is excited to announce its list of Waters to Watch for 2021. This annual list represents a collection of strategic conservation efforts implemented on rivers, streams, estuaries, and lakes to protect, restore, or enhance fish habitat.
These voluntary, locally-driven projects represent some of the top conservation activities completed or in progress by 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships throughout the country. These projects are carried out under the goals and objectives of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. These conservation projects conserve freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats essential to many fish and wildlife species. Projects like the ones represented on this list are fundamental to the overall success of the National Fish Habitat Partnership.
Over 120 Fish Habitat Partnership Waters to Watch have been featured since 2007 and demonstrate science-based, on-the-ground conservation efforts protecting or improving fish habitat across the United States. In 2021, the National Fish Habitat Partnership is featuring one retrospective Waters to Watch project, reflecting on the continued progress of a conservation project featured in previous years. The National Fish Habitat Partnership is also proud to kick off our 2021 highlighting of our projects in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day, which was commemorated on September 25, 2021.
“These projects, which focus on the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish habitats across the country, are a great example of collaborative conservation implemented through the National Fish Habitat Partnership,†said Ed Schriever, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “The Waters to Watch campaign provides people an opportunity to learn about the on-the-ground work of our partnerships across the country.â€
Annually, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides both funding and technical assistance to the 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across the country to aid in implementing aquatic conservation projects nationwide. The work of the National Fish Habitat Partnership is also supported broadly by many federal, state, local agencies and conservation organizations.
Learn more about the National Fish Habitat Partnership, partner projects happening across the U.S., and how to get involved on our Partnerships page; by visiting the following website: http://www.fishhabitat.org/the-partnerships/.
The 2021 Waters to Watch list and associated Fish Habitat Partnerships:
Applegate Watershed, Oregon
Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative Bear Creek, Wisconsin
Driftless Area Restoration Effort (Retrospective Project – 2012)
Beaver Lake, Arkansas – Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership
Buckhorn Ranch Alum Fork River Saline River, Arkansas – Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership
Cannon River Watershed (Heath, Rice, and Wolf Creeks), Minnesota – Fishers & Farmers Partnership
Eklutna River, Alaska – Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership
Holly Creek, Georgia – Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership
Jordan Creek, Alaska – Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership
Lawrence Creek, California – California Fish Passage Forum
Monatiquot River, Massachusetts – Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership
Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has supported 1,115 projects benefiting fish habitat in all 50 states. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships.
In our latest gear review, we will be taking a detailed look into the newest line of rods to come out of Vermont, the Orvis Helios 3 Blackout series. Born of the same lineage as the coveted Helios 3D and 3F, the Blackout series was created with specialization in mind. Delivered in 3 SKU’s; the 9’5″, #5, the 8’5″, #8, and the 10′,#3, all serve vastly different purposes and are built with anglers on a mission in mind. In this review, we will be looking over the differences and similarities these rods have with not only each other, but their cousins the H3D and the H3F, as well as how all 3 rods performed in the field. Check out our personal thoughts below…
Note: In this review, we will only be going over the 9’5″,#5 Rod, and the 8’5″,#8 rod. This isn’t because the11′,#3Blackout is a euro-rod. We love euro rods. That review will come separately. Sorry. Now back to our scheduled programming.
When we first heard about the new Blackout line back in April, we were briefed on the fact that a new “specialty rod” was coming out of Orvis HQ in Vermont. We didn’t know what to expect but we were extremely intrigued considering this release was shortly following releases of the same nature from competing rod brands. Upon learning more about each rod, and actually getting to take one out for a day – we only knew one thing: we needed one (or in this case, 3).
In summation, for those who haven’t figured it out yet, the Blackout line is a complementary line of H3 rods that Orvis unveiled as specialty rods. Each rod serves a unique purpose and is built for anglers who want to take their gear to the next level. The 9’5″, #5 is for those who are looking for a little more than an average trout rod. Its main purpose is for launching long, accurate casts, as well as making big mends over testy currents. Think of it like a 9′ #5, with all the perks of a 10′ #5. Next, we have the 8’5″, #8 which, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating designs of the rod line. This rod packs a hard punch and is designed for delivering powerful, fast casts, around the clock. Finally, the 11′ #3 is, as one could easily guess, designed for Euro-nymphing. Now, in my opinion, the best euro-nymphing rod on the market (that I’ve used) was the Orvis Recon 10′ #3. Note the keyword “was”. The new Blackout euro-stick manages to deliver more sensitivity, and more control, all while boasting a whole extra foot of rod. How they even built the damn thing to work the way it does is beyond me.
When these rods finally showed up on our doorstep, they stayed in their plastic for around 30-seconds to a minute before they were reeled and lined up, en route to the river. Having played with the H3D and the H3F prior to this, we had a base to judge our comparison off of, and as we expected – these rods lived up to the family name.
After netting a few trout and having a few laughs, we reluctantly returned the rods to their tubes. In preparations for an upcoming trip to Swedish Laplands, we figured these puppies needed their beauty sleep before the long adventure. This leads us into the next segment…
Field Testing:
The real field test started the same way most do nowadays: with a long plastic prod being inserted into my nasal cavity and tickling my brain. Upon leaving the testing facility, we made our way home and stuffed our suitcases full of clothing and gear that had spent the last week sprawled across our living room floor. Finally feeling somewhat composed, all that was left to do was to catch our 6 am flight the next day. The destination: Swedish Laplands, the mission: the bend some rods.
Orvis Blackout 8’5, #8 Rod Review:
Fast forward to about a week and change into the trip. We had holstered our two-handed Spey rods, and for the most part, had relinquished our dreams of Salmon. There was a profuse scent of disappointment that floated through the air – an almost skunky smell. However, it was time to play with the new toys, and I for one couldn’t have been more excited to test out the new blackout rods. Itching to catching something of decent proportion that boasted some attitude: we unsheathed the 8’5″, #8 Blackout Rod, slapped a reel on, and went to work.
The first lake was small enough to work from the bank. Nonetheless, our Scandanavian friends insisted we give the inflatable “Fish Cat” pontoon a test drive. It wasn’t long before we were rigged and ready to go, causing the shoreline in search of something big to smash our streamer. The #8 Blackout offered a fierce punch, complemented by its short length that really allowed us to work every crevice of the weed beds we floated by. With swift and powerful casts, we slammed flies over every lily pad, and under every log we could find.
Soon, with a shockingly powerful take, a juvenile pike consumed our tackle and began our first play of the day. The fight wasn’t long, and soon after releasing the sprightly little fish, we packed up our gear and came to the mutual conclusion we might want to try a bigger body of water.
It wasn’t long until we were loaded into miscellaneous sections of our guide, Robin Landin’s motorboat, that we were off land, cruising towards a marshy pocket located on the south side of a much larger lake. The lake was known to hold an abundant population of Perch, and more importantly, a well-fed population of Pike. Upon closing into the suspected pike hole, voices grew quiet and rods became heavy. It was exactly what we were looking for…
Still wielding the #8 Blackout, we pounded the black water over and over again. Frogs, Game Changers, Pike Bunnies, D&D’s – you name it. It was about 20 minutes into this onslaught that the first boil appeared. If you know anything about pike fishing, you know that once that happens: it’s about to be on. With the #8 Blackout, targeting exactly where this strike was going to be was relatively effortless. The rod was easy to command and snapped casts in any direction on a dime – regardless of where the cast started.
In what felt like hours, but was realistically seconds, the water around my fly erupted in a flurry of scales and teeth. With one more adamant strip, my line was tight, and my fly was on a trip to the bottom of the lake with a pissed-off-pike attached to it. Quickly, I dug the fighting butt into my abdomen and started cranking back on the rod. While mid-cast, the Blackout delivers more of a #7 finesse, the robust backbone certainly reminds the user that they have a powerful wench at their disposal. After a few short runs, the fight was over and the fish was landed.
While there may have been larger Pike caught out of lakes before (this is up for debate amongst my colleagues and I), it was a success nonetheless. With hands trembling and smiles in abundance, we jetted back to shore to begin the next leg of our adventure.
Final Review:
Action: Fast
Flex:
Ease of Casting:
Accuracy:
Balance:
Weight:
Durability:
Looks:
Price:
 (MSRP: $998.00 USD)
Orvis 9’5″, #5 Rod Review:
After the helicopter blades had ceased spinning and the whine of the engine had been drowned out by the howling wind, we stepped out of the aircraft to be treated by a refreshing chill in the air. Surrounded by snowcapped hills and mossy cliffs, there in front of us was our lake. This lake was where we would be spending the next 5 days camping as we hunted for the elusive char said to occupy the depths of this and adjacent bodies of water. Immediately upon setting up camp (which was not an easy task in a torrent of highland wind), we headed towards the water with the 5’9″, #5 Blackout in hand, hopeful for even a glimpse of Arctic Char.
While unfortunately, that evening was unsuccessful, we drowned our sorrows with a healthy splash of boxed wine and got ready for the days ahead. The next morning, it didn’t take long before we awoke to the sound of our guide, Jacob Eliason, screaming with excitement as the first Arctic Char of the trip zipped towards the center of the lake, bringing Jacob into his backing. In a bewildered state, we slipped into our clothes as quickly as possible, and sprinted towards the figure dancing around the lake – rod still in hand.
The fish was beautiful. It had always been a dream of mine to catch a lake-bound Arctic Char, and just to be in the mere presence of one was exhilarating. Immediately upon the fish’s release, a moment of glory and gratitude was held by all – quickly interrupted by the fervent scramble to get more flies in the water.
Over the next few days, we fished hard. In the pursuit of these Char, we had a great deal of time to observe the 9’5″ #5 Blackout rod in action. One of the most noticeable elements of the rod was its ability to throw extremely tight loops over impressively long distances. The additional 5″ contributed a massive amount of torque from the rods load to release. However, the low weight still allowed for these powerful casts to be laid gently onto the placid lake when presenting small dry flies.
Our targeting method was to cast only to actively feeding fish, which could pop up anywhere, at any point of the lake. So, the rod needed to be able to make quick, minor adjustments with each cast, without compromising presentation. It did just that. While following the rings left by rising fish, each cast was kept precise and maintained consistent with the last – largely due to lack of angler fatigue as the rod was doing almost all of the work.
Throughout the few days we had at the lake, we caught our fair share of fish. Some were big, some were small, all were memorable. However, none were as memorable as the fish caught on the last day. No, this fish slayed by the Blackout #5 seared itself into our memories for all time to come…
The wake-up call was similar to the last. From the lake, a panicked scream echoed through the hills and into the confines of our tent. It was 5 am, and most of us were trying to secure a couple of hours of sleep. However, Jared Zissu had snuck off with the Blackout and had put in about 2 hours of work on a fish he had targeted.
Such as we had before, we sprinted from our shelter towards him, as the cries of nervous excitement continued. The fish had taken Jared into his backing already and was in the process of doing it again. He was measuring extreme caution as to not let the fish break his light tippet, and utilizing the Blackout’s flexibility in bending to accommodate for the light line. The amount of strength and fragility that this rod possessed was ratioed perfectly to play this fish.
As the reel screamed, Jared finally through on the brakes and began to horse the fish back into shore. No luck, the fish ran again. Yet again, Jared began working the fish back in – this time practically dragging it. As the beast finally drew closer to the bank, we all fell quiet at its immense size. We hadn’t seen anything like it in this lake before… or anywhere else for that matter.
With a fell swoop, Jacob jumped into the lake and slammed his net into the water. In a moment of sheer terror, we waited for the contents to be revealed behind the veil of water. Sure enough, the fish had been landed. As Jared stepped into the water to examine his catch, we were all awestruck. The pristine colors glistened off of this prehistoric monster as the summer sun illuminated its scales. High fives and hugs were shared by all, and the fish was quickly released back into the lake…
The trip concluded the next day. We packed our things and brought in a few more fish before the helicopter lifted us back to civilization. All of us were content. The mission was accomplished.
Final Review:Â
Action: Medium-Fast
Flex:
Ease of Casting:
Accuracy:
Balance:
Weight:
Durability:
Looks:
Price:
 (MSRP: $998.00 USD)
What’s different about the H3D, the H3F, and the H3 Blackout?
Well, the answer is: not much. However, that’s not out of apathy or marketing gimmicks. No, it’s more along the line of the, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. Instead of trying to be something wildly different, this rod is a refreshing redesign of what we love about the Helios 3 line. It’s accurate, it’s dependable, and lives up to the Orvis name. Instead of going and trying to reinvent the wheel, Orvis has delivered what many anglers have been clamoring for: a rod specifically designed to their situational needs. From a personal standpoint, I would say the two rods reviewed above, the 8’5″, #8 rod, and the 9’5″,#5 rod, are a perfect blend between the H3D and the H3F. Each capitalizing on the designs of the previous rods but adjusting in the departments where anglers in certain situations could use an extra touch of customizability. Whether that’s reach, power, or a combination of the 2.
The 11′,#3, while not mentioned in this particular review, is a rod well ahead of its class. Consider it the taller, smarter, more muscly version of its cousin: the 10’6″,#3 H3F. This rod boasts an extremely sensitive approach and provides a balanced feel with a reach unseen by many fly-rods in its weight class. Be on the lookout for a review surrounding this rod soon.
Conclusion:
Putting some bend in the #5 Blackout on a high alpine lake.
In conclusion, were here to answer the most commonly asked question surrounding this rod. “Is it something you need”? Well, no. Food, water, shelter, and a comfortable pair of waders is stuff you need. However, upon exploring these rods and their capabilities, we can comfortably say they’re something you want to have in your arsenal. Once you have your #3, #5, and #7/8 trout rods checked off – you’re in the market to specialize. And while these rods aren’t cheap, remember that neither are sportscars. With the way these rods perform and considering they’re made in America, the price tag is more than justified if you’re looking to take your rod arsenal to the next level. Needless to say, these rods will remain in our starting lineup for quite some time.
In this episode of Video of the Week, we catch up with Ben Sittig on his most recent video where he, Mike Rutter, and their buddy Troy have an epic day catching tons of fish on one of the last floats of the summer. From streamers in the morning to dry dropper rigs and even a chubby eat the boys have an epic day laughing, drinking some beverages, and catching fish. They even catch some fish of the native variety, a bluehead sucker on a streamer, and a multitude of roundtail chubs on nymphs. So sit down and enjoy some fun boat banter, sweet fish, and an all-around epic trip to commemorate the end of summer. And remember Stay Huge!
As always you can follow along with Ben’s adventures here: @hugeflyfisherman
Make sure to check out these other rad articles as well!
Meet the Umpqua XC210 a.k.a. the “MEGA GAP PERDIGON HOOK”. Reacting to the popular perdigon nymph patterns, the CO-based hook, feather, and fly merchant has stepped up their game with this latest addition to their catalog.
The all-new XC210 was designed specifically for tyers and anglers wanting a better hook for perdition style flies or for oversized bead flies. It features a downturned eye to roll the bead downwards to the eye, exposing more of the hook shank which gives oversized beaded flies more realistic proportions. The mega gap allows the hook point to find the fish regardless of what you tie onto the shank.
The mega gap allows the hook point to find the fish regardless of what you tie onto the shank.
The XC210 pairs especially well with Umpqua’s Jig Bomb beads, but also works with standard slotted or even a countersunk bead.
Barbless
1X Heavy
1X Short
Wide Gape
Extended De/Mirco jig
Forged Bend
BN5X Finish
The new XC210 is available in sizes 12-20 at your local fly shop!
Sometimes getting a solid drift with a dry fly isn’t enough to intrigue a fish. These tips on skating and twitching dry flies will add a new trick to your arsenal that will result in more strikes (period). Thanks to Red’s Fly Shop for the great tips!
Over the past decade and a half, Jako Lucas has become a household name in the realm of fly fishing. Ever since he burst onto the public stage with his film “Gangsters of the Flats”, the South African has had a lasting impact on destination angling, fly fishing filmmaking, and social media. He’s even created a trend on social media named after him called “Jakoing“. He’s spent the majority of his career guiding around the world, most notably in the Seychelles, Norway, and Mongolia. While working as a 3-season guide, Jako managed to produce some of the most influential fly fishing films in the past several years.
Recently, he moved across the pond from his home country and has gotten to work building a name for himself guiding the Texas Coast and preaching the good word about an undersung species, the Jack Crevalle. We popped down to Texas with Jako shortly after Hurricane Ida hit Lousiana to experience his fishery and spend some time with the legend himself.
Check out our Behind the Guides Interview with Jako below!
Flylords: In the last few years, you’ve settled into a more permanent fishery along the Texas coast. How does your current situation compare to your previous experiences?
Jako:So, I mean, there are definitely pros and cons. Because if you travel a lot, you’re fortunate enough to see some amazing locations, and you always kind of miss all those places. I mean, I miss Mongolia and Norway and this would be the first year that I haven’t been to Seychelles. There’s absolutely a part of me that misses it, but having spent so much time on the road, it’s kind of refreshing being able to guide where I’m able to spend time with my family, my wife, and the dogs (Bella and Sinatra). I can be close to them and can still focus on the fishing and clients. Being home in Austin, I’m able to get the best of both worlds. I can spend time with my wife and I can still be on the water for as much as possible.
I’ve also enjoyed discovering a new-to-me fishery. I mean, it’s still going to take me a hell of a long time to get to know the spot, which is kind of exciting. It’s a very exciting, big, expansive piece of water that I’m guiding on. And it’s just nice figuring it out, meeting some of the people, and investing in a community. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved all the locations that I’ve guided at. But it’s nice to finally own my own skiff and my own outfitting business where I can book my clients and run my own operation. It’s been an awesome adventure. I mean, I can’t say that I don’t miss the other places, but definitely love what I’m doing now.
Flylords: Why Texas? What brought you down to the Lone Star State?
Jako:Several years ago, my wife and I moved to Massachusetts to do some consulting work at Thomas & Thomas and spent a couple of months there. But the cold weather hit and the first snow fell, we were decided to bounce the heck out of it. Luckily, I got invited by some good friends to come to one of the Fly Fishing Film Tour showings in Austin, TX. Joe Cooley and the folks from YETI asked me to come to one of their film tour events. We had a great time and I really liked Austin. When I got home, I told my wife, so, I mean, if we’ve to buy a house and move to the US, Austin is really the place that I think we’ll have a great time settling down.Â
My next move was definitely to find out how I could spend time in the water and guide and do what I do for a living, even in Austin. Then I met some of the Austin crew, like spoke to JT Van Zandt and all those guys. And after speaking to JT and Alvin Dedeaux, I very quickly realized that there are opportunities to guide the Texas Coast.
I still had to go through all the usual stuff involved with becoming a captain in US waters. I had to redo all my USCG captain’s licenses and go through all the legal hoops to work in the US, buy a skiff, and get my business set up.
But I worked hard at it, and it’s all been well worth it. That’s how I ended up here. I explored a few different spots along the TX coast and I just found this little spot that I really liked that offers not only the general redfishing, but also offer some bigger fish stuff, which is like my definitely an attractive point for me.
Flylords: What’s been the reaction of locals and local Texas guides been to your presence on the coast?
Jako:It’s kind of been funny. I definitely think there were a few guys that probably felt a little bit threatened, but not from a guiding perspective because the guides out here are amazing and some of them have been out here for 20-plus years.
After speaking to JT and Alvin and other guides, I sent a message to the local guides that I knew were spending a lot of time in this area and just introduced myself, told them that I’m a fishing guide and that I was planning on making a living out here, out of respect.Â
I know I’ll earn my respect here, and I don’t expect anybody to be completely happy about it. Because I know they’ve been out there for a long time and grinding it out longer than I have. But, I tried to enter the fiery the right way. And it seems like everybody’s been pretty happy. In fact, one of the guides still, from the very first day, has assumed I’m from Australia and I’ll probably let him think that forever.
But all in all, everybody’s been awesome. I really tried to do it the right way. And not just burst in and start making movies and going crazy over this place. I think it’s a very special fishery and we need to look after it.
Flylords: What does it take to learn this new fishery? Have you had local mentors that have shown you how things work here or has it been more of a “bootstrapping” experience?
Jako:90% of it was definitely just grinding it out, figuring out the maps, looking at tides, discovering how the whole system works, because it’s a vast piece of water. I did have some good help. Some good insight and help from a buddy of mine, Noah Thompson, which was kind enough to show me around a little bit and give me some inside info and tips, as he’s been fishing out here for a long time. Other than that it’s been mostly hard work and determination.
Starting out, I was quietly scouting with my skiff, riding around, trying to just look at where the water comes in on the pushing tide. How this place looks like on the falling tide or like just riding around trying to figure out the puzzle.
The majority of the time, even when we guiding, we’re still spending time looking for fishing and not catching. So, that’s kind of part of the process. But if you put together all the pieces of the places I’ve guided, start working really hard, and think about how a specific fishery works. It’s not super hard, but you’ve always got to learn. I mean, we mentioned it on the boat. You never going to have that point where you think, “Okay. I know it all.”
That’s what really excites me about the fishery because there’s a heck of a lot to learn.
Flylords: We’ve been targeting black drum, redfish, bull reds, and jack crevalle with you. Which of those is your favorite, and why?
Jako:I suppose it varies based on the part of the season. I love seeing a tailing red with his back up out of the water and casting a fly at him. All that visual stimulation that you get and the pure excitement of sight fishing. Although, it’s hard for me to say that, as I’m absolutely addicted to GT fishing. But when I discovered a place where I could target a similar species, the Jack Crevalle, and still be very close to home I was in. I mean, we get some incredible fish out here, but that ferociousness of these fish just really gets me charged up. I mean, I get overly excited when I see those things bust on bait piles, and I go crazy when it really starts going nuts while we’re running-and-gunning and witnessing those fish being so savage.
All the fish here have their unique traits. If my clients are happy to catch it and I’m happy to go for it. Mostly if it eats a fly, we are happy to go for it.
We’re lucky to have a year-round red fishery. So even when it’s cold outside, you’ve got the opportunity to fish for reds in crystal-clear water. So, that’s cool. There’s a lot of fish diversity on the Texas Coast.
Flylords: You mentioned your love for Jacks and you’ve been teasing us a little bit about this upcoming Jack film you’re working on. What can you tell us about it?
Jako: It’s been coming for quite a long time… About two years in the making now. But we finally are getting to the point where we hopefully will have the movie out next year. I’m hoping this film brings the Jack Crevalle onto the same pedestal as the GT. I was very happy to introduce the fly fishing world to Giant Trevally. We really want people to see what Jacks can do all around the world. I mean, anglers in the US are not always able to travel to all these places and people might not have the same amount of money to go to Seychelles. But they’ve neglected this one species that’s on their doorstep that does exactly what a GT does. Maybe they don’t grow as big, but I think they’re very similar in strength. I mean, I think a Jack on a good day can show a GT a thing or two. And they right here. For some reason, from the first day I started guiding here, people just kept on saying to me now they’re trash fish and how they don’t want to fish for them. I just couldn’t understand that because, from the first time a client cast at one of them, it became immediately apparent that Jacks are an insane game fish.
With this movie, we just want to kind of bring it out to people and just show them these fish are cool. The movie will show it, we’re going to put GTs and jack side-by-side and show people that you get that same fix in the US or on the west coast of Africa, or in Costa Rica, hell you can catch them everywhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the list goes on and on. The opportunities are everywhere to fish for them, and I just don’t think they’ve had the spotlight that they deserve.
Flylords: Tell us more about your love affair with the Jack Crevalle? Do they act similar to the GTs you pursued in Seychelles?
Jako: I think the appealing thing with GTs is that you can get them on pure white sand flats. I wouldn’t say that I can find Jack’s doing what they do in Seychelles on flats here, with their fins out, hunting fish and seeing them in pretty shallow water. But for the most part, what we’re looking for is specific areas where they feed and kind of gang up on baitfish. And you’ll have these big boiling blitzes.
If GTs are the gangsters of the flat, Jacks are like gangsters of the deep.
When you see a jack chasing a baitfish, it’s a savage experience. I mean, that baitfish has very little to no chance of escaping, and that’s kind of a cool thing. It’s weird how that when we watch a predatory fish like a Jack, we’re never really on the side of the weaker baitfish. We always want to see that fish eaten. Here, everything about them is just adrenaline-packed. That’s the thing I love about Jacks and hopefully, we can get that across in the film. Jacks are definitely one of my biggest day savers. Because if I can start the day with Jack fishing, we’ve started off on a good foot.Â
Flylords: So what’s next for Jako Lucas after this film is wrapped?
Jako:Honestly, through everything I still do, being on the water, here, guiding people into fish is still, 100% my favorite thing to do. I’m quite busy proving and developing my outfitting business here on the Texas coast. I’m building a place here so I can host the clients and create some sort of a little bit of a community here in town and just be a little bit more involved.
I’m starting to do more destination trips with clients, some of which are high on my personal bucket list. I have a trip at Untamed Xingu Lodge, coming up in a few weeks along with a few other jungle trips in South America. Then I’m heading to try and catch a Striped Marlin on the fly in Mag Bay, then I’ll be chasing an Afrikaans permit.
I’m still trying to push myself to go and see some cool places around the world. But I have to say I’m very comfortable having my own little business here and being close to my wife so we can spend more time together.
I think that people forget sometimes when destination guides like myself are out at these exotic locations. As much fun as it is, you’re very lonely. The only people you communicate with is your fellow guides and clients. And you’re very far removed from the world. You don’t know what’s going on in the news. Most guys don’t have really technically have girlfriends. I was very lucky that my wife stuck around, and I’m very blessed to be with her.
Our fly fishing industry has grown quite a bit actually during this strange time, especially in North America. And there are pros and cons to it because there’s definitely a lot of pressure on fisheries. But I think we need to give people the opportunity to enjoy the sport.
On a more personal note, I’d really like to learn how I can help improve and look after this fishery here on the Texas Coast. Like I said, still I’m cutting my teeth in this fishery. So I don’t want to start flexing to other people that I’m this legendary guide here in Texas. I still want to earn people’s respect before I start working. We’ve been talking with Capt. Benny Blanco about coming into this area with Captains For Clean Water to see what improvements we can do over here. So that will be pretty cool. Other than that I’ll be here growing my little Fly Religion business and keeping on truckin’!
Flylords: What are your go-to Costa frames these days?
Jako: I have been wearing the Santiago’s from Costa’s Untangled collection. Not only are they great frames for long days on the water, but they’re made from recycled fishing nets!
Ever since our Northern Natives trip 2 years ago (NORTHERN NATIVES | EPIC Canadian Fly Fishing Adventure ) We have been dreaming about Bull Trout. Questions like “Do Bull Trout think about me as much as I think about them?†and “I wonder what Bull Trout are doing right now†kept creeping into our minds and wouldn’t leave.
In our Short Bus Diaries Volume 2 series, we were supposed to go find some Bull Trout. I was ready to scratch the Bull Trout itch that I had since developed. Well, that didn’t go as planned and the itch continued. We needed some Benadryl or a Therapist for what was turning into a full-blown obsession after Covid messed up another Bull Trout trip. We were determined to head to Bull Trout Country for some Psychotherapy so we piled in the truck and headed to ID.
The main goal of the trip was simple. Find Bull Trout in an area where there isn’t much information readily available. For months I poured over Scientific Journal publications trying to find the intel on what they were up to. Having made a game plan, we were ready to load up for 5 days of camping/fishing in the Backcountry.
With a quick trip to the store to load up on some MRE’s, we headed to Idaho. As we rolled into the nearest town, there was some concern over whether the road to get to the area we planned to fish would be open, due to wildfires. We decided to run over to a nearby camp–where some firefighters had set up basecamp–to get some intel on the roads. These fellas were extremely accommodating and radioed to another group of firefighters, assigned to the fire, in question. They said it was open and we were good to go so we cruised off into the backcountry with a 2 and a half-hour drive ahead of us.
This is where I would point out that you don’t need someone to tell you where to go fish. I’d asked dozens of sources that I know about this area and nobody could tell me anything. Even though we couldn’t get a fishing report, I was confident with my research and curious enough to want to see what was back there. It only reinforced the fact that you don’t need someone to tell you there is good fishing somewhere to go try it. Be friendly to the locals and you’ll get all the intel you need.
We did a few floats, the first 2 days, trying to locate bulls with no luck. With the low water levels and higher temps, the main stem was much warmer than expected. The cutthroat fishing was amazing though. And that is one of the best things about Bull Trout fishing to me, if you miss the bulls you generally will find some of the coolest cutthroat fishing there is. After speaking with a warden and putting the pieces together, we figured going upstream to where the tributaries were would be our best bet to find the bull trout.
Further up the stream the next day, we decided to get our cutthroat fix in. We spent the majority of the day fishing dries which ended up being one of the best days of dry fly fishing we’ve ever had. We also brought a streamer rod along that day to swing in the deep holes. No luck. We finished off the day by driving an hour and a half upstream to one of the tributaries.
We decided to walk the banks to just look and see if we could spot any. Generally, they are pretty easy to find. Their white tips on their fins and not-so-small nature mean that you can usually spot them holding in a pool. Finally, we spotted about 4-5 of them hanging out in a hole and we knew it was on. We scoped out a float for the next day then set up camp and went to sleep.
It was our last day. We were up before sunrise and on the river right as the sun was coming up. Floating this section was more of a float/wade as the water was skinny and many spots required us to get out and push the boat. For the deep holes, we would anchor the boat upstream, get out and fish the run on foot. We did this hole after hole until we saw our takeout point. No luck. Again.
At this point, the morale was low. It had rained and been in the 40s the last 2 days so we were exhausted and cold. I remember the sun peeking out at one point and all 3 of us just laying in the road soaking it in. It seemed that the elusive bull trout had won again.
We had traveled too far to come home empty-handed, so we decided to give the river one last shot. There was one more hole we wanted to fish that we had spotted bull trout the day before. We hiked into the spot and since Bryant had never caught a Bull Trout, we gave him the first shot. The first cast, he had a big follow but a refusal. We swapped flies and the next cast he came tight on a great Bull Trout. We celebrated, snapped a few shots, and sent the fish back on his way. The itching had ceased and we were happy to have found some amazing fish off the grid. It was what we needed to reset.
If you want to hear more about the trip, we recorded an in-depth podcast going over the entire trip from start to finish. We talked about planning, scouting, and how each day unfolded. Plus, an inside look into the behind-the-scenes of the trip that didn’t make the film.
Bull Trout are protected under the Endangered Species Act in the US. They are an indicator species for water quality and temps. They require the cleanest and coldest water out there to live in. This also generally means they live in very remote places. Due to this, Bull Trout must be released if caught and spend as little time out of the water as possible. Before going to fish for them, make sure you check your local and state regulations as every area has different regulations. And in Montana, there are only a handful of places where you can target them.
If you find a spot that has Bulls and you’re able to fish for them, always ensure you’re using barbless single hook flies. We like to use heavy rods and tippet so that we can quickly land the fish and release them in a timely manner. It would be irresponsible to take a 5wt with light tippet after bulls as you wouldn’t want to fight them for longer than needed. Go holler at your local shop if you need the right gear and hop on over to Bluelineflies.com to buy a few flies, namely the MeeMaw that we designed to trigger bulls. It’s been about 2 weeks since I got back and I can feel my itch coming back… I guess we’re gonna have to start planning our next trip.
