Barry and Cathy Beck Blog

I'm not sure summer has arrived here at Kulik Lodge in Katmai. There are still many patches of snow on the hills around camp, the water is uncomfortably cold in the river, it's been dreary and rainy - up until today. The sun came out today, wind died, and fishing was pleasant, except for a few biting bugs. The Kulik is giving up some nice rainbows, but the hit so far as been the fresh chum fishing.




It's wild and furious on The Branch. We're fishing 9 weight Sage ONEs & TCX's with RIO intermediate lines and having a lot of fun. These fish run line, explode, and fight as well as any tarpon of the same size. It's a fun week.

 




There is still time to get in on some of the best hopper fishing you'll ever see. We've still got a few openings in our annual trip to Kingfisher Lodge, August 18-25 and August 25-Sept. 1. You won't find a river more dependable than the Bighorn for good water conditions, predictable and consistent summer fishing.

7 nights/6 days fishing. Includes transfers to/from Billings and MT fishing license. Check out the details and give us a call! Don't miss out. These are incredible weeks on the Bighorn!

 

 

This is a beautiful video clip with Jerry Siem, chief rod designer at Sage. You'll enjoy the videography even if you're not looking for a new rod!

But while you're there, check out the Circa,  Sage's new slower action fly rod. Click the image to jump to the video.

We're doing a quick turnaround from Mexico to Russia this week. I have just finished a saltwater article for the RIO blog that will be posted soon. The RIO blog is an interesting place to read short stories written by chosen anglers from across the country about all kinds of fishing experiences and tips from local to exotic. Thought you might want to take a look.

We're getting closer to launching our new integrated web site. The new site will be much easier to navigate and we're excited about it. More to come on that!

This was the end result but we were off on a rough start. We're at Boca Paila, Mexico, this week and I was fishing with Sara, one of our guests.  She has traveled with us to many salt and fresh destinations, but at home she is a trout fisherman. So, while our guide was telling her what she did wrong to miss the first bonefish, I thought it might make an interesting blog.



As soon as the fish took the fly she raised her rod tip as she would for trout back in Ohio and I heard our Mexican guide say, "She trout it." Old habits die hard as she can attest. She knew she had to strip set but in the heat of the moment she lifted the rod tip. A strip set is made by keeping the rod tip low and pulling the line back with your hand instead of using the rod tip.



A strip set does two things. First it hooks the fish, but secondly if you miss the fish the fly has not been pulled away and you'll often get a second chance because the fish will continue to look for the fly. If you lift the tip the fly comes out of the water and the fish is gone. Strip setting also works very well for streamer fishing in freshwater for the same reason. Once the fish is hooked, then you can raise the tip to fight the fish.

 

We've had a wonderful week here at Boca Paila. We've caught tarpon, snook, permit, bonefish and a handful of other fish. The week started out wet but the clouds and rain cleared out, blue skies appeared and we've had a great week and look forward to returning next year.

Back home we're getting ready to launch a new web site. You'll hear from us soon about that. It will be much easier to navigate and operate for both you and us. I'll be posting more photos there very soon!

 

Frontiers has been working in South America for well over 3 decades developing longstanding relationships with ground operators, guides, hotel properties and expedition motor yachts.

Join Mike Fitzgerald, Jr., and Kristene Matelan on this exceptional Frontiers excursion. Start out in Peru with Lima, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and Cusco. Then fly out to the Galapagos and enjoy 6 days on the 135' Galapagos Grand Odyssey and take in unique species of animal and birdlife, as well as a variety of plants and vegetation.


Arranged with Abercrombie & Kent. Accommodations are the finest available and are owned/managed by Orient Express and Starwood. July 23 - August 6, 2012. $11,979 per person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




Please click through on the link below for complete information & itinerary and then call Frontiers 800-245-1950 with any questions or to confirm!

<http://www.frontiersej.com/documents/pageDocuments/IncasIguanas_

Dorado fishing in Bolivia is one of the most exciting trips you'll ever take. The entire trip is an adventure; traveling through the airports, the country, the camps, and most of all the fish. There is nothing like Dorado for reel-screaming action. We still have a few openings in the second week, Sept. 14-25, 2012 (door-to-door). 8 nights, 6.5 days fishing. $7,600 per person. More information & itinerary. Call us today!

Owner of Patagonia Clothing Company, Yvon Chouinard, must not sleep at night. He is constantly thinking of ingenious, down-to-earth practical ways for all of us from large mega corporations right down to individual citizens to consciously and actively live more environmentally sustainable lives. And he's not afraid to raise the bar with the major players. Read the amazing story about his new partnership with Walmart and other retail behemoths. It will knock your socks off!

 

This is cool video - a look at the ocean world underwater.I hope you'll take a minute to view it.  Our God is an Awesome God!

Guiding clients, Stephen Lee and his friend Gage show one of the fish from their day of guiding here on Fishing Creek this past weekend with guide, Tom Harris. We had great weather for the season opener. Lots of nice fish were caught. Grannom Caddis & Hendricksons   were the go-to flies. Details on guiding can be found on our web site.

The fly fishing community has lost a very dear friend. You may remember Jose from the popular Outdoor Channel television show Spanish Fly. He touched many lives and will be missed by everyone who came in contact with him. Our condolences to his family. Miami Herald.

John Gubbins new book, Profound River, is the first full length portrait of the life of Dame Juliana Berners, the first person to write a book about sport fishing and fly fishing. She was also the first woman to publish in English. Her books on field sports were England's best sellers for almost 200 years."In time her name fell into oblivion," says John Gubbins. This is the first book ever to tell the story of her life. Remarkable research by the author.

Available at Amazon.

 

 

Two spots (or one single) just popped up in our Boca Paila departure, June 3-10, 2012. This trip has been sold out for months. Click through for details. These spots won't last long. Boca Paila is always a popular trip and a fun destination. Hope you can join us.

At Home on Fishing Creek

We've got some days available for guiding here on Fishing Creek and we expect it to be a great early season with the warm weather we've had so far. Our season opens April 14, so the rest of April and all of May should be very good. Read all about it and then call us to set-up a day (or 2)!

Just got a look at a story in Garden & Gun about Ted Juracsik, owner of Tibor Reel Company and inventor of the classic Billy Pate Fly Reels. A fisherman, a gentleman, a wiz in the machine shop, and a very good friend. Congratulations to Ted and everyone at Tibor.

Cathy Beck's New Super Beetle




This realistic-looking black foam beetle sports silicone legs and a high-viz wing making it easy to find on the water. Like the super bugger, this pattern belongs in your fly box. It's a great search pattern and is literally unsinkable. We've fished it from Patagonia to New Zealand, the Bighorn and back home again with great success.

Sizes: 8-10-12  $2.00 each

Super Beetle Selection: 4 of each size. Boxed. 1 doz. $21.95.

This item is not yet in our "store". Please call us toll free at 877-278-5638 or email to order. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pretty cool clip on observing a trout feeding on insects completely unaware that he's being watched. See it here on YouTube.

 

 

Thinking about a new pocket camera? Take a look at the new Nikon Coolpix AW100.  We used it for video in New Zealand recently and it's incredible.

The new AW100 is waterproof (up to 33 feet), shockproof (up to 5 feet) and freeze proof (to 14 degrees F.). 5x Zoom Nikkor ED glass, 16.0 mp CMOS sensor for low light and fast action. Full HD1080 movies, GPA, electronic compass, 3" monitor, action control for gloved hands. Check it out at Nikon and then call Jody at Roberts Camera today. 800-726-5544. The AW100 sells for $350. The rush lasts a minute, the picture lasts a lifetime.

 

Just received word here in New Zealand from Matt Libby, Libby Camps, Maine, that our photo essay "In Thoreau's Woods" is in the March/April Issue of Gray's Sporting Journal. Matt and his family have been in Thoreau's woods for 5 generations running Libby Camps, a fly-fishing, hunting, and family vacation camp. Wonderful people and a superbly-run operation in a beautiful part of the world. Look for a copy at your newstand.

This is our fourth day at ORL on the South Island, NZ. We're had the nicest weather ever in New Zealand and some incredible fish. The new Sage ONEs are making a big hit here as it is the perfect rod, when loaded with a Rio Grand line, for turning over big bushy dries and heavy nymphs on long leaders, sometimes 18' long.