Sweaty Waders » Destination Unknown

This Is Fly #24 Bam!

Sweetwater — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:53:20 +0000

Check out the latest issue of This Is Fly to see Sweetwater Fly Shop’s very own Mary A break rods while banging up Roosters in the Sea Of Cortez. Bam!

Monster Dorado

Superfly — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:28:45 +0000

Our partner Santiago Seeber of Nervous Waters was kind enough to share a picture of his father Fernando Garcia with a monster Dorado. Nice fish Fernando, way to out do your son!

Palmyra Atoll

Tomdarga — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:36:44 +0000

When the Nature Conservancy Called to invite a group of our favorite fishermen and us to spend a week on the Palmyra Atoll in the South Pacific, I jumped at the opportunity. I had followed the Palmyra story for many years, and I had pulled pretty much every string I could to get down there for what appeared to be the world’s best bonefishing and trevally fishing in probably the most pristine part of the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, the trip was scheduled to occur on the due date for the arrival of our twins which complicated my ability to commit. Fortunately, the twins came two weeks early (all healthy), and my wife in a moment of soon to be regretted understanding, gave me the hall pass to spend the week in Palmyra.

The night before we flew to Palmyra, I took my wife and the twins to see Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Butte, Montana. They both gave exceptional speeches and got me all fired up to spend the week in the South Pacific with some very good Democrats. Flying to Palmyra requires a four hour flight in a turbo prop over the ocean. When we arrived, we were all pretty excited to start exploring before our guests arrived the next day. We hit the flats running and managed to catch a weeks worth of bonefish in 3 hours.

Our guests arrived the next day, and over the course of the next few days, we caught some remarkable fish. The highlights included an 80 pound Trevally on a popper, 4 bonefish over 10 pounds, and several Tuna to keep us ankle deep in what has become an increasingly guilty pleasure, Sashimi.

I don’t know if I will ever get back to Palmyra, as the expense of getting there is truly astronomical. I will be forever thankful that, at least, I managed to get there one time. It was, after fishing the Ponoi the first time in 1992, one of the highlights of my guiding career.

Argentina

Sweetwater — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:07:49 +0000

Over the years I’ve spent countless hours at lodge dining tables, guide shacks and taverns hearing a life’s worth of stories about fishing in Argentina. Well finally I got the opportunity to wet a line in the fabled waters of the Rio Grande. What an experience just the wind alone is worth the trip. I was amazed at how consistent the wind can be. Sure I’ve been blown around the Yellowstone plenty but wow 50mph hour winds for an hour straight. A guy can damn near get used to it.

I also got to experience Dorado fishing at Pira lodge. Loved it!!!! What an awesome game fish, I think that they jump more than rainbows. And what a setting I saw more birds in the first two hundred yards away from the marina than I’ll see in a whole season in the Amazon. Thanks the Nervous-H20 for letting me fish your lodges, top shelf!!!!

By the way Paul Jones put a dead fish in my bag and somehow it ended up in his shoe.

Kalik, Kalik, Kalik…

goffish — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:35:41 +0000

I recently traveled to Acklins Island in the Bahamas with my buddies Eric and Scott to visit our friend Bob Berquist’s Salina Point Bonefishing Lodge. We spent close to two weeks wandering the flats around Acklins without seeing another group of fly fishermen or fishing the same flat twice. The flats around Acklins are best suited to wade fishing around the numerous small creeks which provided some great shots at tailing fish.

We also spent a couple of days on the blue water fishing for Tuna, Dorado, Marlin, Wahoo and Cudas. This was a nice break from the flats and I was lucky enough to land a 100+ lb White Marlin. We had a great trip and all hope to return next year.

Brazilatory 08′

Superfly — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:59:55 +0000

On Febuary 28th I left Livingston to meet up with Jeff Vermillion and Captain John Donnell in Miami to head down to Manaus to conduct an exploratory in the headwaters of the Branco and the Negro. Although many of our fishing days were in previously fished water, we were able to spend at least three days in virgin territory. Time well spent too I might add.

Not only were we able to see the desired water conditions and fish quality to make it a successful trip it was also a great experience to fish with John Donnell. John and Jeff Vermillion have fished together a lot in the keys in recent years and Jeff opted to invite him on this peacock mission. It was great to see a dude with so many years of guiding and fishing experience still have such incredible passion for the sport, the environs and the people we encountered on our trip. Keep the faith John!

I had to give him my lunch money.