I’m lucky that I now have the ability to go to my local River I run and now that Anglian water has opened up to Grafham and Rutland reservoirs, I look forward to several more trips there in the near future.
BUT
There is some about stalking fish on the flats thats that has really got under my skin!!! The urge and dreaming to go back is beginning to take over haha.
As I sit hear in my office with my Sam McDonald grand slam piece infront of me (which you’ll find a picture of in a previous blog post) has got me thinking about how lucky I’ve been and what fantastic flats fishing I’ve had.
What are the best flats species ?
The first goal is the ever sporting bonefish, the day I tire of one running many yards of backing off my reel, will be the day I give up on life !!!!!!!
Then there is the illusive Permit which I have been lucky enough to encounter and catch 8 Permit with many more frustrating refusals !! My the first and biggest was 33lb along with a couple of nice twenties .
Then what can you say about Tarpon, other than God made them specifically for the fly fisherman, I’ve not had a 100lber, but I have been lucky enough to fish the reef between the Isle of Youth and Cayo Largo in Cuba many times and had fish to 80 ish. Fishing along this reef at dusk is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had fishing, prime time is when you horizontally hold 3 fingers between the setting sun and the horizon !!! This fishing is only possible when you fish from a live aboard and can run back to the boat and a Mojito in just a few minutes. See my blog post of a 360 video of a run back to Avalon 1.
In this area the Tarpon also come on to the flats and a couple of years back fishing with Mat Mchugh owner of Fly Odyssey I had the chance of a life time and caught and landed a huge Tarpon at about 70lbs ish, fishing in just inches of water.
What next ? only time will tell but where’s theres a will theres away !!!
My good friend Johnny Hey has caught Rooster fish from the beach in Mexico which I feel a calling for ????
A shallow water Cuban Bone fishing in the Zapata Reserve
Still in the Zapata reserve fishing from the Georgiana and 18lber while wading, casting to tailing fish a rod length away in glassy calm water at nearly dusk
A Cayo Largo, Cuba 20lber off the back of a ray ( excuse the cap hair haha) Part of a slam!
Beautiful marking on this 15lber
Another Cay Largo 20lber
An Isle of youth evening reef Tarpon
As for 2022 I want to get back salmon fishing, starting with the river Dee in March and hopefully the River Moy from April onwards. I intend to fish Rutland more and have several more stretches for improvement on the River Rib.
Let’s hope international travel will be allowed more easily as well in 2022!!!
Tight lines for 2022!