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Flying-Out In Katmai National Park

Jared Zissu
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Flying-Out In Katmai National Park

Long before the programmed chime of my alarm, I am awoken by a thick cloud of cigarette smoke, Marlboro Reds to be exact. It’s 5:00 AM and the rest of the guides are still sound asleep. Captain Josh Laferty and I fight off the damp, morning chill with our propane heater as we gear up for the day. Puffy Suit, check. Waders, check. It’s now shortly after 5:30 AM and the low rumble of a strong diesel engine pierces the quiet air of camp. For some, petrol fumes signify an abrupt end to their peaceful slumbers, but for other, wiser guides, it signifies that Captain Austin Adduci is making coffee and you’ve got first dibs. Cigarettes and coffee are a staple of NakNek River Camp in the morning.

After a social breakfast shared between clients, dogs, and guides at 7 AM, all return to their respective quarters to finish gearing up for the day. Captains ready their boats and rods, fly-out guides double-check flight conditions and triple-check their packs, and clients step into their boots and ready themselves for the adventure to come. It’s 7:30 AM and I find myself back on our tent porch, bag packed, and ready for my flight. Captain Ryan White passes by, gear bag in tow, right-on-schedule. I grab my pack and throw it over shoulder, being sure to mind its weight. When flying out you must strike a balance between managing weight and managing to fit in all of the essentials. My guide pack may contain, but is not limited to: rod tubes, reels, streamer boxes, bead boxes, packs of hooks, tippet spools, fly lines, flo-tips, survival kit, bear mace, puffy jacket, rain shell, GPS with Satellite texting, first aid kit, snacks, sunglasses, camera, housing, and a few lenses.

I collect our clients at the dock and we grab our lunches from the crate. I begin discussing a plan with the accompanying guide for the day as the Captains leave the dock and jet downstream. I glance at my watch and it reads 8:00 AM. The only thing more exciting than the chorus of jet outboards humming down river is the sound of a De Havilland Beaver as it heads up–circling camp and making its grand landing in front of our dock.

I have shared planes with incredible guides such as Dan Bennett and Josh Trammell from Steelhead Alley Outfitters, Chris Cornetet from the Pere Marquette River in Baldwin Michigan, and Micah Walker from a River Through Atlanta Guide Service. And we are all blessed to be in planes piloted by guys like Rod Barrows of Branch River Air, “Best In The Bush!” We pass our gear to the pilot as he loads the cargo hatch, being sure to stash our bear mace in the float hatches, and aiding our clients as they climb into the plane. Rod taxis to line up his “runway,” drops the throttle, and we are in the air by 9:00 AM, weather permitting!

Where there is risk, there is great reward. And along the banks of Katmai’s backcountry fly-out creeks, fly fisherman can seek out the fishing opportunities of their dreams. NakNek River Camp offers a, “Best of Bristol Bay,” package that includes two days of flying out and it is seldom overlooked by our guests. This boils down to daily fly outs and ample opportunity for a guide to explore these amazing creeks. After a long flight and a short hike, 11:00 AM finds us along the banks of one of our favorite creeks.

I remember a point in late July of last season that felt like every species in the system was up in the creek and feeding. King and Chums were crushing swung streamers, while Dolly Varden, Rainbows, and Grayling were aggressively taking egg patterns, mice patterns, and beads. These were good sized fish and it seemed like each guide could have been unhooking 100 fish a day.

Before taking my position in Alaska, I had only heard and dreamed of such fishing possibilities in a U.S. Territory. And here we were, navigating the bear paths along a Katmai creek. It’s a primal feeling, for these pathways through the thick creekside brush can bring a man face to face with his worst assumed fear, as well as his greatest fishing pleasure.

I prefer it all… for one man’s fear is another man’s pleasure. I enjoy the guiding, the fishing, the hiking, the historic planes, and our daily interactions with the bears. I enjoy watching the Coastal Brown Bears as much as I love watching our clients catch these fantastically colored-up fish.

Katmai is a guide’s paradise. 4:30 PM or so brings about the end of our guide day and we get to climb back into the 1950s Beaver float plane and fly back to camp. We get to eat a home-cooked dinner at 7 PM, complete our camp tasks after 8 PM, and spend time with some amazing people until midnight. Alaska’s July certainly provides the daylight to fit it all in.

By Austin Green Weinstein, @austingreenphoto www.austingreenphotography.com

https://theflylords.com/2019/05/09/how-to-stay-safe-fly-fishing-in-bear-country/

https://theflylords.com/2019/05/29/elfin-cove-resort-an-adventure-to-southeast-alaska/

https://theflylords.com/2019/05/20/photo-of-the-day-char-collage/

Firefighting Chemical Spill Hits Farmington River in Connecticut

Dan Zazworsky
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Firefighting Chemical Spill Hits Farmington River in Connecticut

On the 12th of June, authorities reported to an accidental spill of fire-fighting foam at a Bradley International Airport hangar belonging to a private aircraft company.

From the Hartford Courant:

“Close to 50,000 of gallons of water and foam containing PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” were released during the incident at the Signature Flight private aircraft hangar Saturday, according to state estimates.

An unknown amount of that contaminated water and foam made its way through the sewer system to the Metropolitan District’s Windsor treatment plant and from there into the Farmington River near Poquonnock Avenue, officials said.

Health and environmental authorities have issued a warning not to consume fish caught from the river or to touch areas of foam that may be in the water or along the banks. “There is no observed mortality to aquatic life in the river,” according to an initial Department of Energy and Environmental Protection report.

However, environmental groups are still very worried about the contaminants that have entered the normally beautiful river known for its wild trout and a recovering Atlantic Salmon population.

“The chemical in this firefighting foam… harms people and does not break down,” said Bill Dornbos, executive director of the Farmington River Watershed Association. “We really can’t have this again… People and wildlife depend on a clean, healthy Farmington River.”

The chemical they are most worried about is referred to as PFAS, which are perfluorinated compounds. While it makes a highly effective fire suppressant, it “has the potential to cause serious health problems in humans, animals and aquatic life,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. and studies on laboratory animals have found that the chemical can impact reproductive functions, livers, and kidneys.

We hope that the initial reports are correct and this spill does not harm the waters of the Farmington River. But concerns about PFAS are highly valid and more protections need to be put into places where they have the ability to enter waterways.

Source: Hartford Courant.

Photo: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

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Representative Huffman’s Amendment Needs Your Support

Will Poston
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Representative Huffman’s Amendment Needs Your Support

Last week, we wrote about a proposed Congressional amendment that would further delay the inadequate Pebble Mine permitting process. You can find more details and read that article, by clicking on this link. In any event, the public comment period ends in just 12 days, and Congressional support for this amendment is of the upmost importance. The House Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which would fund the required Army Corps of Engineer’s final environmental impact statement, will begin its markup stage shortly. Thankfully, Rep. Huffman has proposed an amendment, which would prohibit any funds within this appropriations bill from being used for Pebble Mine’s final environmental impact statement.

Rep. Huffman with some nice catches!

So, those of us who have shown continuous support for Bristol Bay–for what seems like years now–must continue that support by urging our Representatives to vote Yes on Rep. Huffman’s amendment. You can do this by visiting Trout Unlimited’s “Take Action” page and completing the form. The ‘Huffman amendment’ will be voted on in the House Appropriations Committee markup shortly. Time is running out, and this move by Huffman could be the most effective defense against Pebble Mine becoming a reality.

Again, visit this link to tell Representatives to vote YES on the Huffman amendment. Or, if you feel extra motivated by this development, check out the members of the House Appropriations Committee and reach out to their offices on your own.

Photo curtesy of Mike Coopman’s Guide Service.

https://theflylords.com/2019/06/12/representative-jared-huffman-works-to-protect-bristol-bay-and-block-pebble-mine/

This article was written by Conservation Editor, Will Poston.

What is The Flybrary Project?

Wills Donaldson
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What is The Flybrary Project?

Within the last few months, little foam pads have been popping up on signs, benches, and anything else with a solid surface all over the country. What’s more interesting than that is what’s on them… free flies! This week we had the pleasure of chatting with fly fisherman, pilot, and podcaster Larry Littrell to discuss his involvement with the fly fishing sensation that has been sweeping the nation: The Flybrary Project. We asked him a few questions involving the roots of the endeavor, and how a small idea has exploded into a multinational phenomenon.

Flylords: Who is Larry Littrell?
Clyde and a Skiff
Photo courtesy of saltbum.com

Larry: I’m a raconteur of Appalachian heritage who grew up in East Tennessee before moving to Florida. I’m a dedicated fly angler that spends an inordinate amount of time chasing redfish, traveling extensively to fish for trout (New Mexico to Alaska, and everywhere in-between), as well as throughout the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos chasing bonefish. I have a small place in Oak Hill, FL where I fish, smoke meats, drink beer and host friends. I’m known by many friends to be the finest fly-fishing guide that money cannot buy.

I am also one of the founders of the Flybrary Project.
Flylords: For those who don’t Know, what is the Flybrary Project?
cndncldk
Photo courtesy of saltbum.com

Larry: The Flybrary Project is a grassroots movement to increase interaction among anglers beyond social media. The idea is simple, create a small repository in your local neighborhood where everyone is encouraged to share fly patterns by simply leaving one if you have one to spare, or to take one if you need it or want to use something that was left by another angler.  The intent being that you may discover a new pattern or develop a new friendship by being involved in the exchange.

Flylords: What inspired you to start The Flybrary Project?
Flybrary 1
Photo courtesy of saltbum.com

Larry: Stickers. We were peppering a gas pump with fly fishing related stickers and one day I saw some old foam tape on the pump so I stuck a couple of flies on the foam and posted a story on Instagram that simply said; “free to a good home”.  Within a few days, the two flies were taken, but were also replaced (still don’t know by whom). That process continued to repeat itself for a month or two until one afternoon I put a Seadek fly patch on the pump and my buddy Carl Granger and I posted another story, this time with him saying “Have one leave one, need one, take one…”

We talked about it on our next episode of Tailer Trash Fly Fishing (Larry’s Podcast) and referred to it as a Flybrary, likening it to the small free libraries that are seen in front yards in some neighborhoods.

Flylords: What is your mission with the Project?
fly fek
Photo courtesy of castawaycustoms.com

Larry: All we want out of the Flybrary Project is for it to be a catalyst for people interacting more on a personal level.  It’s our hope that it will create a place where people will bump into each other and/or see who is fishing their area and spark new or better relationships on the water. It’s an idea that should create an opportunity for building a stronger community of fly anglers wherever they are established.

Flylords: Where do you see this project eventually going? Think you’ll stick with it?
Flybrary
Photo courtesy of saltbum.com

Larry: Absolutely we’re going to stick with it! It’s already working better than ever imagined. I’ve seen a few Flybrary locations pop up in Pennsylvania where I’m headed in a couple of weeks to go trout fishing.  By commenting on the posts, I’ve already heard from a few generous souls who have extended a helping hand with offers to fish or help if I need it.  I can see this happening for anyone that takes the time to search through the posts with #flybraryproject in them. It’s not unreasonable to think that if someone is already willing to host a Flybrary, they’re also likely to be willing to share some local insight with another angler.

Flylords: What’s been your favorite part of the experience so far?
Photo courtesy of saltbum.com
Larry: Seeing parents getting their kids involved.  From doing DIY projects to create the actual Flybrary to going out to re-stock or check on the Flybrary they established, a lot of kids are getting exposed to the outdoors and the idea of sharing is being reinforced through the effort.
Flylords: If you’re going out on your local water and forgot your fly box (as unlikely as that is), what fly would you hope to see in the Flybrary?
Photo courtesy of @Genungsfishcamp
Larry: For me, that’s going to be Mosquito Lagoon, so I’m hoping to see something shrimpy or crab-like. I can tell you that I’ve seen some really tasty bugs being put on the Flybrary locations all around here and I’m fairly certain I’d be successful with any of the patterns I’ve seen!
Flylords: So, how can someone reading this article get their hands on a Flybrary Kit?
Photo courtesy of @steelhound

Larry: If you want to help encourage others to see the value of giving and sharing by becoming involved in The Flybrary Project, take a few minutes to look through our Instagram to see how others have created their own DIY Flybrary locations for inspiration.  If you’re not handy or don’t have the time, you can visit our website by following the link in the bio to request a starter kit.

Founding a Flybrary is more than just putting one up; take time to nurture it and promote it with like-minded anglers in your area and you’ll see it grow and relationships form, one fly at a time!

Make sure to check out the project and ways to get involved on Instagram @flybraryproject and be sure to order your free flybrary starter kit for your home water

Also, feel free to follow Larry’s flyfishing adventures via @saltbum.

This article was written by Flylords team member Wills Donaldson.

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Tarpon Fly Fishing with My Son

Patrick Perry
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Tarpon Fly Fishing with My Son

The only thing better than having one of your best friends be a top tier saltwater guide is getting to share the boat with your 12-year-old son.

Greg Dini @flywater_expeditions has taught me and my son River a lot about catching tarpon on fly. Like always he put us in position to have quality shots.

This trip, in particular, was special for many reasons. Not only did River and I get to fish in one of our favorite tarpon spots, but River got to grab his first tarpon face, which he ended up doing several times!!!

But it was really special because spending time sharing my passion for fishing with my son is always time well spent. Has it always been easy? No. Greg and I have had him in the boat with us since he was about 6 years old.

We’ve had our share of bad father moments, tears, untimely naps, untimely poop attacks (anyone who has fly fished for tarpon knows they will undoubtedly swim to the boat when you or your child is taking care of business), lack of snacks, lack of action, broken leaders, broken rods, etc. We’ve left primo action to let him roam the beach chasing ghost crabs and lizards only to be called back over 15 min.

But, I wouldn’t trade a single moment we’ve shared for anything though. The best Father’s Day gift I can imagine is having a son & daughter that grow up knowing how much I love them, and the memories we have been blessed to create with great friends like Greg.

Article by Glendon Paulk.

https://theflylords.com/2019/06/15/flats-fishing-with-toddlers-a-guide-to-a-successful-day-on-the-water/

https://theflylords.com/2019/06/12/15-fly-fishing-gifts-your-dad-will-love-this-fathers-day/

Help BTT Save Florida’s Fish Habitat

Dan Zazworsky
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Help BTT Save Florida’s Fish Habitat

From Bonefish Tarpon Trust:

Florida has lost a vast amount of coastal habitat to development, altered water flows, and pollution from nutrient runoff and contaminants entering the watershed. The only way to protect and improve our fisheries is by conserving and restoring the habitat that remains. To do this, we must include Habitat in Marine Fisheries Management Plans.

Florida’s recreational and commercial fisheries generate more than $27 billion annually for Florida’s economy. These fisheries rely on healthy habitats.

Habitat is not part of current fisheries management approaches, and fish populations can only be regulated using seasonal closures, slot limits and bag limits. Regulation alone cannot prevent further decline to our fisheries caused by habitat loss and degradation; a new approach is needed, one that makes habitat a central part of fisheries management.

By signing this petition, I express my support for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to collaborate with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust to create a new way to manage our fisheries that focuses on habitat. This includes habitat identification, habitat protection, habitat restoration, and incorporating habitat into fisheries management plans.”

If you have ever fished in Florida, have a dream of fishing in Florida or just plain care about our world’s fish habitats, please take a minute and make your voice heard. Anyone can sign the petition and every signature counts! You can find the petition, here. 

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A Guide to Flats Fishing with Toddlers

Patrick Perry
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A Guide to Flats Fishing with Toddlers

Disclaimer: This article is not about teaching toddlers how to fly fish on the flats… that comes later in life. It’s hard enough taking a toddler spin fishing on the flats for bonefish and redfish. The question is: Can you accept the fact that you will have to give up fly fishing for a little bit in order to create and educate your lifelong fishing companion?

Before my wife and I got proficient at it, the sound of those four words—Flats Fishing with Toddlers—made fishing sound more like a punishment.  Like running a skiff in skinny water, you’ve just got to throttle down, trim her up, and ride the lightning. Luckily for you, there’s water ahead to keep you afloat. With some toy dinosaurs and a lot of snacks, I mean a lot of snacks, it can be done and it can be done effectively. The way I have been able to keep my sanity on my skiff is by creating an adventurous environment and culture.

Critical to this is to also keep an open mind while flats fishing, seek out toddler-friendly fish, use any and all equipment necessary to ease my day on the water with the kids, and the embrace the most important word in fishing: patience. All of these are paramount to catching fish and equally keeping the kids happy on the skiff. Understand, this process does not happen overnight and certain fishing styles will have to be sacrificed for a little bit. If your three-year-old has the discipline to keep watch for fins and shadows and can double haul to a tailing permit this article will be of no use to you.   

I’m Scott Brown, father to a three-year-old boy named Grayton, who is obsessed with dinosaurs and fishing. I also have a three-month-old girl named Chandler, who at the moment just lies in the bottom of the skiff in her life jacket either smiling or scream crying. Luckily, when I’m on the verge of throwing in the towel because a green triceratops is tangled in my fly line I have my wife, who is equally invested in the culture, to help control the chaos and educate my kids properly.

Recently people have taken notice of my son, who just turned three in April, casting a spinning rod very accurately onto the edge of the mangroves and pulling out mangrove snapper. What’s interesting to us is we never taught him how to cast. What we did do is saturate his world with nothing but rods, reels, lures, flies, and just the angling culture in general.

My kids are involved in the entire angling process from scouting for new spots on maps to tying flies, leaders, and even maintaining our skiff. Currently, my son is obsessed with filling his empty tackle box that my friend Nicholas Calabro gave him. All of this feeds into fostering a new and exciting environment for kids that gets the stoke level skyrocketing and leaves them with the mindset to want to learn.

Dress them like they are pro angler. You don’t have to go to your local outfitters and start raining cash on clothes he’s going to grow out of in the next 6 months but remember they want to look and be like you, so if your wearing your SPF 50 long sleeve with board shorts and your favorite Orvis hat then you best believe little man is rocking it also because in their eyes you are the pro. 

Let’s talk tactics… In order to take toddlers flats fishing, you must keep them occupied.  Say goodbye to poling your boat around like a ninja while scanning for shadows on the sand because if there’s a toddler on the boat it’s the equivalent to a “screaming hurricane.” Every kid’s attention span is different, but luckily for me I’ve found that if I have live mullet in the bait well or any type of live bait, my three year old will stay out there all day long with an unlimited amount of snacks, of course, as he goes back and forth between fishing and playing with the baitfish. We naturally break out the umbrella and take a break at our favorite sandbar for lunch and let Grayton play and swim. Unfortunately, that means little to no fly-fishing.  

Every once in a while, Grayton has the patience to let my wife stand up on the casting platform while I pole the flats. This, however, becomes boring for a toddler who would rather tangle up your fly line or stand right underneath you asking if you can get closer to the mangroves because he has learned it equals easy catching mangrove snapper. You have to pick your battles.

I try to use visual fishing techniques; I love using popping corks with mullet. The popping cork gives your kid something to focus on and it blows their mind when some sort of sea monster drags it to the depths. The mullet tends to stay on top of the water and makes for a spectacular show when they try to evade giant redfish and tarpon.

Target fish that are easily caught. You may not be able to sight fish as effectively for bonefish with a toddler in your boat making a racket so instead change it up and chum those fish in with shrimp and use a 2/0 circle hook with a piece of dead shrimp on a knocker rig. It’s easy for a toddler to cast, they can set the pole down in the rod holder, watch the tip of the rod dance and listen to that drag start screaming! They will absolutely never forget the experience. If your exclusively a fly fisher, you may not like or typically use these tactics but remember it’s not about you, it’s about getting your kid stoked on fishing.

What to bring? Let’s talk toddler packing list and flats fishing equipment. In order to sustain some sort of peace and quite, bring an Ungodly amount of snacks. I’m not talking a bag of chips and some cookies. You need every type of bar, chip, fruit…if it’s edible bring it, because like a tarpon cruising the flats in the keys you never know what fly is going to make or break it. With toddlers it’s the exact same thing, you can never have enough snacks or enough variety of snacks.  Yeah, they have their “go-tos,” but sometimes that’s not enough. Sometimes your kid is having a mental break down over you not opening the live well so he can see the mullet you pulled in with the cast net, so play it safe and break out that ice cream bar out of the cooler… chances are it could save the day. Speaking of saving the day, no body outranks officer safety.

First thing I thought about when I started taking Grayton on the skiff is how can I make my skiff safer. Wear your emergency shut off leash; you may survive the fall out of the boat but your toddler will not if the vessel continues underway with no one at the helm and crashes. Invest in a comfortable life jacket and make sure your toddler is wearing it properly when underway or fishing in deeper low visibility waters with a current. When we fish the crystal clear flats in the keys, my three-year-old does not wear a life jacket. My wife and I are usually right near him and it’s typically crystal clear and only 1-2 ft deep. He will be doing more walking than swimming if he decides to jump out while staked or anchored. 

A more important note is if you are a weak swimmer or out of shape and aren’t confident you can save your kid in the maritime environment; you should consider sticking to shore… it’s not worth the risk. Just use sound judgment and abide by your state’s watercraft laws and you will be fine.

Trolling motor… go buy one. You need two adults in the skiff if you want to push pole because either your toddler is trying to get up on the poling platform with you or they are going overboard to swim with the fish. The trolling motor gives you the ability to be almost equally as stealthy in shallow water and allows you to teach and supervise your kid while maneuvering the boat in shallow water. A power pole also makes fishing with toddlers a lot easier since you can stake your boat with the push of a button while maintaining attention on your kids. 

Patience and positive reinforcement has to be the most important tool you could use on the skiff and that is why I’m handing the reins over to the subject matter expert: my wife. Patience certainly isn’t an easy thing to come by, especially when your child is having the inevitable breakdown.

We play a lot of ‘I Spy’.  We also talk in whisper voices like everything is a special secret. We see who can find the first starfish or giant hermit crab in the water while dad looks for the fish. When the fit does start up, and boy will it ever, just remember, kids, are not receptive when they are crying. Wait for them to stop crying before even trying to solve the problem.

My go-to is “as soon as you’re done crying I will be happy to help you ‘xyz’”.  It probably won’t work the first time, but they eventually figure it out. Also, remember you change far more behavior by praising the good than punishing the bad. This can range from phrases such as, “I really liked the way you waited for your dad to help you with the lid of the bait well. You are very patient.” To “Good job keeping the rod tip out of the water.” Or “thank you for being a good listener”. It’s all about noticing and celebrating the little victories. Bottom line is: it has resulted in more fish and great times than anything else I can think of.

I hope this perspective gives parents and future parents some useful info and cuts down on the fear of taking your kiddos out on the ocean. Be a responsible mentor for the future generation and enjoy your time with them on the water. I can’t think of any other better place to be able to pass information to receptive minds. There is a lot of history, culture, and lessons to be learned on the water. Teach them what it means to be an angler and a custodian of our waters and nature. Teach them to pick up trash and always leave a place better than when you arrived.

Learn to be patient and accept there will be broken rods, fleeing fish, screaming, crying, mental break downs by both you and your child…the list goes on.  Ultimately, you’re building and investing in a life long fishing buddy and ensuring the next generation is taking care of our environment and natural resources the way it’s supposed to be done. 

Article and photos from Scott Brown and his wife Lindsay Brown. Follow along with the family adventures on Instagram at @push_it_good_inshore or https://pushitgoodinshore.com/.

https://theflylords.com/2019/02/14/10-tips-for-fishing-with-your-kids/

https://theflylords.com/2019/05/06/why-my-kids-think-fly-fishing-is-all-sunshine-rainbows-and-unicorns/

https://theflylords.com/2018/10/11/the-tiny-angler/

Payara “Vampire Fish” – Everything You’d Want to Know and Tips for Catching

Patrick Perry
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Payara “Vampire Fish” – Everything You’d Want to Know and Tips for Catching

Presented by Scientific Anglers

The Payara, Hydrolycus scomberoides, or “Vampire fish” is a species of dogtooth tetra. The predatory fish is found in the Amazon Basin in tropical South America. Payara are hands down, one of the most incredible fish I have ever experienced on a fly, they look badass and getting the chance to come close to these fanged monsters was nothing slight from unforgettable.

Here are some tips I found that can help you increase your chances of landing one for yourself:

Tip #1 Proper Gear: Payara live in gnarly, fast, deep rapids so you will be fishing deep majority of the time. 400 to 500 grain sink tips or full sinking lines will help with keeping your fly down deep. You’ll want to pair that with 10wt to 12wt rods. Make sure you have a wire bite guard or tippet. You can fish 50lb mono or fluoro and 50-pound wire. 3 to 3.5 ft leader/tippet will work and test your knots!DSC09019.JPGWe used the Scientific Anglers ESOX SPECIAL premium wire leader.

Tip #2 Do Not Trout Set!!! You are stripping your fly through the deep, strong water so when you feel that line go tight, strip set as hard as you can. Payara have big strong mouths filled with big fanged teeth, which can make the strip set difficult to get them hooked, especially since at times, they will follow your fly all the way to the boat or shore and strike the fly close, so always be ready for a take at any moment.

Tip #3 Minimal Casting: No long casts are needed really, just cast into the rapids and mend your line to help your fly sink. After your fly hits the water, feed about 40 to 60 feet of line out and wait for your line to straighten or go tight and your fly has sunk a bit, then begin to strip. Try the slower water right next to the rapids. You can also cast upstream and then work your fly across the current. Try the swirls in water by casting and letting your fly sink a few seconds and stripping it back.

Tip #4 Proper Retrieve: You can strip with one hand, going from slow to fast, or what I liked best is the double hand strip. Payara are chasing swimming fish in fast water so the fast stripping worked the best for me. But always try slow and then increase the speed of your strip.

Tip #5 Be Prepared for a Battle: These fish fight just as hard as they look, so when you do hook into one be prepared for a fight. They will be into your backing in seconds and use the fast, strong rapids to their advantage and because of this don’t set your drag too hard initially, you risk breaking them off (or getting your rod pulled out of your hands) and there is no stopping them in that fast water, just increase the drag while fighting and enjoy the cartwheel show they put on!

Tip #6 Fly Selection! The bigger, flashier the better! In order to trigger a strike from a Payara, the fish needs to see that fly so the silhouette and flash appeal is necessary. I tied from 8-12 inch flies in red/white with some flash and also yellow/black/orange and pink/blue/yellow. It seemed all of these color combos worked, so just a matter of catching their attention.

Tip #7 Fish from a Boat: You may also drift in the boat, that is also a good way to fish for them just check out how secure you feel in those rapids while standing up.

Article from Kayla Lockhart and photos from Jesse Packwood of Team Flylords on their recent adventure down to Columbia.

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Costa Behind the Guides: David Mangum

Collin Terchanik
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Costa Behind the Guides: David Mangum

Meet Captain David Mangum, the owner, and operator of Shallow Water Expeditions. The operation is located on the Florida Panhandle, where Dave has been targeting the region’s powerful tarpon and massive reds for the past 40 years with clients. We are excited to add David to our ongoing blog series “Behind the Guides” presented by Costa Sunglasses.

Flylords: Tell us who David Mangum is.

David Mangum: I’m David Mangum, born and raised in Florida and a native to the panhandle of Florida – Lower Alabama, Redneck Riviera. I live up here in Santa Rosa Beach where I have been fishing for tarpon and have for twenty-some-odd years. Most of our tarpon fishing goes on down the way, just over near Apalachicola. I’ll be moving down there before too long, hopefully. I’m very cynical and sarcastic, so it should be able to show through in some of my answers.

Flylords: How many days do you spend on the water per year?

David Mangum: I want to say around 220-240 days a year on the water, depending on hurricanes and just how crappy the weather is. The majority of that is tarpon fishing. Pretty much four months every year, tarpon fishing. That’s what I live and breathe for, I love it. Those are the best days of my year. Also, some of the hardest days of my year, but tarpon fishing is why I’m a guide, I’ve sculpted my life around those fish.

Flylords: What do you look forward to the most about tarpon season?

David Mangum: You know, the beginning of it’s really awesome, and by the end of tarpon season, you’re actually like, what else is going on? But in the beginning, I’m super fired up. It’s still like a little way out, but it’s all I’m thinking about. Having this weather warm-up and that feeling of seeing the first one.

The cool thing about tarpon is it’s always changing. There are spots that the tarpon live and you fish them in. They change here and there, but you know they’ll swim over those spots on parts of the tide, there are all sorts of other aspects of the fish that are always changing. It’s a puzzle and if it were exactly the same every day, it would bore the shit out of you. You have to keep engaged…

Flylords: What’s it like juggling guide life and dad life?

David Mangum: Yeah, that’s tough. Not just guiding, but I spend a lot of time away doing photo work and video work as well. When I am home, I try to really be home and be available for my wife and daughter. Especially my daughter. My wife’s a grown-up, she doesn’t need me. But my daughter especially, she’s 10 and the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my life. She trumps everything else ever in my life. She’s awesome, so it’s a tough one to juggle and any guide will tell you that.

You’re on the water, you’re dealing with the clients and entertaining them when you are off the water. That’s probably the hardest part of the job, being a guide and juggling the family life and guide life part of it.

Flylords: When did you start photo and video work?

David Mangum: The work started a long time ago. I really got into photos and videos because I like to create stuff. I also paint and do some stuff artistically. Video and photo work is the same way. It’s kind of a creative outlet. And I’ve used that to promote myself as a fishing guide and my guide service here locally.

I merged into professional photography and videography as well. There was a pretty crazy thing where the cameras became video cameras 10-15 years ago, whatever it was now. When we were guiding and fishing all the time, professionals eventually approached us for our content. So, that merged into shooting some content for outdoor brands. I really enjoy doing that too. It’s just a different thing, a different outlet, to keep engaged and keep my brain active.

Flylords: What’s one of your favorite projects?

David Mangum: I guess my favorite project that I’ve worked on is with my good friend Andy Anderson. It’s a collab funded by Yeti and Orvis, and it’s called “Andy.” Just on him and his photography career. He’s one of the most amazing photographers out there, in my mind.

Flylords: What was it like being in 120 Days and working with the Felt Soul Media crew on that project?

David Mangum: Yeah, 120 Days, Felt Soul, those guys are friends of mine, and we’ve been planning on a project for a few years before 120 days. It just didn’t line up, they got tangled up with the Patagonia DamNation project, so it kind of got put on the back burner. An opportunity came up with Yeti, and we jumped on that. I mean I was just as excited to hang out with those guys and do some shooting with them as I was to create that project.

It’s a little weird having a project about yourself happen. I mean, I guess from the outside, I probably look like the guy that wants to be highlighted, but I don’t. I don’t really care about it, but it does help our guide service, and there are several other careers and guides that get fed by that vehicle that is our guide service, which I’m really proud of. Helping those families and my buddies. Our guide service is a big family.

Flylords: What is one tip you can give to an aspiring saltwater fishing guide?

David Mangum: So the main thing I’d tell you is if you want respect from your guides that have already been guiding for many years is, do your best to find your own niche. Not just in sports, but the way you do things, and if you try hard to kind of do your own game and create your own game, you’ll be respected because that’s a rarity within the guide world these days. Whether it’s how you fish or where you fish or whatnot, it’s really hard to do these days because it’s just a crowded planet altogether. So if you do that, I think right off the bat you’ll get respect even from people that have been in the game for a long time.

Flylords: What is the most common mistake you see anglers make during tournament season?

David Mangum: Pretty simple. They don’t lead the fish.


When it comes to tarpon fishing, I’d say that the biggest mistake or the hardest thing for folks that don’t see it a lot, see the fish moving through the water, is seeing the angles. How much to lead, how much to cross, those kinds of things. How fast the fish is moving. The most common mistake.

Flylords: Tell us a little bit about the DRAGON TAIL FLY and how you came up with the fly.

David Mangum: Yeah, super simple. I was at Michael’s craft store. My daughter loves going there. She’s always begging me to take her, so we were there looking at the toy section. I saw it, and I had seen it before, I remember it from being a kid. It was called a Squirmle. It’s this long piece of material, has a piece of monofilament tied to its nose, and it has little googly eyes on it. I bought a couple thinking I’m gonna lash this to a hook and see what it does in the water. Sure enough, lash it to a hook, put it in the water and it’s just incredible. It’s synthetic, so it moves in the water relatively well for its size. It’s not an easy thing to cast, but for its size this thing is incredible in the water and really cool.

Flylords: Tell us a little bit about why you like chasing redfish.

David Mangum: It’s the only thing to chase this time of year for my profession. I would rather chase tarpon 365, but that’s the only game in town so, yeah I like chasing redfish. It’s challenging, it’s hunting. All of this game, saltwater fly fishing is hunting, and that’s why I like it. You know I always say that we are still cavemen. That part of our brain’s still up there and that desire to hunt is just within us. That’s why folks like to fish or play sports or whatnot. It’s all just left-over pieces of the caveman, I believe in their brain. I’m definitely a caveman. I wanna hunt.

Flylords: How were you able to get those insane shots for the Bulls on Top video, especially when you’re guiding 220 days out of the year?

David Mangum: I obtained that footage while I was guiding and just changed my style a little bit. Let’s say you see the fish, I would have my camera set up ready to rock, and I would prep a little bit. I’d move my boat to give my caster the right shot. Then start rolling and tell him to shoot. All my clients were totally down with that.

In today’s social media, everybody loves having a video clip or a photo, so clients are really cool about it. It’s just a way of me not being too crazy excited before I see the fish. All right, I’m going to take a second, get my camera rolling, find them in the viewfinder, press record and just get the bite.  But here’s the one thing about that… So many people want to get the cool bite or whatever, but they’re just too chummed up to catch the fish. You’ve got to not want to catch the fish or not give a shit about catching the fish if you want the shot, you’ve got to be able to put the rod down.

Flylords: What are your favorite pair of shades for your fishery and why?

David Mangum: I’m definitely I’m a huge fan of the Costa Del Mar glasses. Spectacular clarity, 580 lenses is what I use, and the Blackfin is my frame. Kind of wraps around and keeps it really dark. I like to make a little cave with my sun mask, my glasses, and my hat. I want it to be as dark around my eyes as possible. Helps me see out there. The Green Mirror Copper are my favorite lenses.

Flylords: How do you react if somebody burns you or cuts you off on the flat?

David Mangum: I’m not going to freak out and wig out or whatever, but I am going to go and let them know that what happened was unacceptable, it was bullshit, in hopes of them not doing it the next time. I always address it. Always.

Flylords: Tell us a little bit about Shallow Water Expeditions.

David Mangum: Jack Foley is the newest guide at Shallow Water, but he’s been here for almost five years now. He is getting really good, really fast. He’s a young kid from my neighborhood that I just saw had that… crazy about fishing and being on the water. He was on the water more than he wasn’t, so we started talking and here he is.

I’ve had the company for many years. A group of us, I think there are nine of us now. Some of them are bay fishing guides that have bay boats and they’ll take mom, dad, and the kids fishing, but every single one of the guides is very familiar with fly fishing and can fly fish well.

We’re based out here on the panhandle and fish between Destin and Panama City and we are the largest guide service in this area. We’re pretty serious about it.

Flylords: What your biggest tarpon you’ve ever landed?

David Mangum: The biggest tarpon I’ve ever landed in my career happened last summer. It was 215 lbs, 80 & 3/4” long by 45” girth.

Flylords: How long did it take to land that?

David Mangum: It took about 25 minutes. The fish jumped itself out. Kind of the perfect storm happened, you know. The fly got in the top of the mouth, kind of down inside the mouth, and the fish just freaked out. He had it in hand in 25 minutes, which is amazing. I’ve hooked another few fish that size and one of them I fought for 4.5 hours and never showed any signs, but it didn’t jump very much. She jumped herself out and we grabbed her. It’s my career fish. I just wanted one super confirmed 200-pounder in my career, now I wanna catch the albino tarpon and I’ll be happy. I’ll die a happy man.

Flylords: Has anyone ever caught one (Albino Tarpon)?

David Mangum: I don’t know how many there are, but there is only a few I believe. People have caught several. There’s piebald, which means it’s kind of a mix between albino and normal coloration and then there’s the albino, I have some cool videos of it.

Be sure to check out David and Shallow Water Expeditions on Instagram and online https://www.shallowwaterexpeditions.com/.

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Nylon vs. Fluorocarbon – A Guide to Choosing the Right Tippet and Leader Material

Matteo Moretti
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Nylon vs. Fluorocarbon – A Guide to Choosing the Right Tippet and Leader Material

Ah, the classic debate, which is better Nylon or Fluorocarbon? While much of this is up to debate based on opinions, here is a more scientific breakdown of the difference between monofilament and fluorocarbon that will help you understand each material’s strengths and weaknesses.

What is Monofilament (Mono)?

As its name implies, monofilament fishing line is a single strand of material extruded from nylon. Depending on the brand, different varieties of nylon are often blended together to produce varying degrees of stretch, strength, abrasion resistance, density and other attributes.

Handling:

Due to its flexible, supple nature, mono is easy to work with, which makes it especially more manageable to cast than stiffer lines.

Stretch:

Most mono stretches more easily than fluorocarbon which can be advantageous when fighting a fish. A downside of stretch is that more stretch means less sensitivity.

Sink Rate/Density:

Mono is generally a larger diameter which is directly linked to a slower sink rate. The slow sink rate, coupled with its near-neutral buoyancy, makes mono a great choice for dry fly fishing or suspended subsurface presentations.

Strength:

Mono has a lower tensile strength than fluorocarbon which means that it has a thicker diameter at a given break strength. Additionally, mono is permeable to water and slowly absorbs water throughout the day, causing it to weaken. Over the long term, mono is also susceptible to conditions like U.V. rays, rain and humidity, and extreme temperatures.

Visibility:

While many companies create monofilament with different tints and colors to make it more invisible to the fish, most monofilament, especially in brighter conditions, tends to make fish visually aware of its presence.*

Knotability:

Due to its great handling, mono has superior knotability compared to fluorocarbon. For this reason, mono is also the preferred choice for big game fishing because it allows big diameter lines to seat better to avoid knot slippage or breakage.

Price:

Monofilament is one of the most affordable of all line choices and is relatively inexpensive in comparison to fluorocarbon. You can pick up some of your own, here. 

Best Applications:

Dry fly fishing, wet fly fishing, emerger fishing, fishing that requires large diameters.

What is Fluorocarbon (Fluoro)?

Fluorocarbon is a family of synthetics and compounds including fluorine, chlorine, and carbon that is extruded into a single strand similar to monofilament. However, because fluorocarbon’s molecules are more tightly packed, the line is denser and has better tensile strength than mono.

Handling:

Harder, less supple, and thus more difficult to handle than mono. Fluoro is more prone to line memory.

Stretch:

Due to its tightly packed molecules, while fluoro has less stretch, it transmits more energy than mono which gives you much more sensitivity. The lack of stretch allows better telegraphing of information from the end of the line to your rod tip, such as subtle bites or being able to feel your fly ticking along the bottom.

Sink Rate/Density:

Fluorocarbon is tightly packed and therefore much more dense than mono. This density allows it to sink much faster, even at smaller diameters.

Strength:

In short, fluoro is a much heartier material that results in higher abrasion resistance that is useful in situations such as tight line nymphing or fishing heavy cover. Unlike mono, fluoro does not absorb water throughout the day and is extremely resistant to the various conditions mentioned before which makes it a much more reliable line for constant, all-day use.

Visibility:

The light refractive index of fluoro is very similar to that of freshwater, which means that it is much less visible in water than mono. Additionally, the high tensile strength allows you to use smaller diameters with high strength and still maintain low visibility.

Knot-ability:

Fluoro’s stiffness does not lend itself well to knots. Particularly with larger diameters, knots do not seat well which often causes slippage or breakage.

Price:

One of the greatest downsides to Fluoro by far is its price. Often you will see 30yd spools of tippet going for almost $30 dollars, but sometimes its benefits outweigh its high price point. Pick up some of your own, here.

Best Applications:

Nymphing, fishing around heavy cover, anything where you need the extra sink factor and abrasion resistance.

So, there you have it. Each line has its own advantages and disadvantages and hopefully, this breakdown will help you buy the right line type. Be cognizant though, there are many variations even within line types depending on the manufacturer.

The article was written by Matteo Moretti.

*Based on results from this scientific paper.

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