Last week we had some techinical difficulties here and were not able to send out our blog.  Cathy had emailed us from Mexico with some great photos and I hated to waste them.  The Becks are home now, Opening Day here was a success, and we're busy scheduling guiding and casting.  I still wanted to get this blog out so I hope you won't mind that it's a few days late....  Enjoy!

 

We're sitting on the porch at Grand Slam Lodge in Mexico talking about thefishing we've had so far this week. Saltwater fishing is so different from trout fishing in so many ways. We can all remember some nasty wind on trout rivers,but nothing like nasty wind in saltwater. Another thing, the fish are always moving so your cast has to be quick and accurate, real quick. There is often no time for false casts...pick it up and get it back in there, especially for baby
tarpon and snook. Being able to see the fish is so important, otherwise you're guessing and the fly will almost always land in the wrong place. This past week we've had just about everything Mother Nature can throw at us, but that said, there have been some memorable fish caught and great stories to tell. Walt got his first and second permit and his first Grand Slam, Sara landed her first tarpon of the year (and fell off the boat, but that's another story). It's been fun to get out of the cold northeast weather for a few days and immerse ourselves in warm weather, sunshine, saltwater, tarpon, bonefish, snook and permit. Now we go home to the start of trout fishing in Pennsylvania.

 

2 Rooms Open in Holbox, Mexico

We only have two rooms left at Isla Holbox, Mexico. Enjoy early morning boat rides for baby tarpon and snook, and big migratory tarpon if wind permits. Fish until early afternoon and then chill out on the breezy verandah, enjoy the beach, take a siesta, swim with the whale sharks, or just relax in the shade. We've got a great schedule, it's a fun island with lots to do, and the perfect get-away for non fishing partners. Get the details and come along with us. Easy in/out. July 6-13. Click here for more information

Over Lining Rods

 

There is a lot of talk these days about whether or not to over line your fly rod. Field & Stream's Fly Talk this month features an article by Kirk Deeter with interesting comments. We often over line our fast Sage rods in windy situations when using big, heavy flies, and particularly with lines like the RIO Outbound Short, but I can't ever remember over lining lighter trout rods. Seems like Everything in moderation is the general consensus. It's an interesting read. Enjoy.

We heard from Cathy and they've had a great couple of days fishing for baby tarpon from Campeche. Early days, leave the dock at dawn and fish until 1-2:00. Chill for the afternoon and into town for dinner. Campeche is a wonderful colonial town with lots going on downtown in the evenings and many choices for good restaurants. Great weather and baby tarpon galore, there will be more trips to Campeche on their schedule! 8 & 9 weight rods, 7-25 pound tarpon. Lots of fun. They are at Grand Slam in the Yucatan now and we'll have a report for you next week.

She also sent some photos which I'd love to share with you.  What a beautiful place!  

As you all know, we love Mexico. For 2015, we have two departures with 3 lodges. Our first trip is April 6-13 which includes 2 days of fishing for baby tarpon from Campeche followed by 4 days of bone/permit/baby tarpon fishing in Ascension Bay from Grand Slam Lodge. A super combination starting in the very pretty colonial town of Campeche and finishing at the new popular Grand Slam Lodge. 8 nights/6 days fishing, one transfer day. $4650 per person, dbl. occup/shared boat. Read More.

  

Our second departure is to one of our favorites, Holbox Island, for big and baby tarpon - and you know how much we love this destination. We've been talking about it for years: The fishing program, baby tarpon 10-50 pounds, big tarpon if you choose, lovely beach front accommodations, the village, walks into town to dine each night, sundowners and incredible sunsets and sunrises. In addition to the baby tarpon, you might find snook, cobia & jacks and other species. Holbox is also the best buy in the business for non-angling guests ($100 a day), and we couldn't find a more gracious, fun manager and host than Luciano Govi. 7 night/6 days. $3,300 range, dbl. occur/shared boat. Read More.

    Join us at Boca Paila, Mexico, June 2-9. It's perfect timing for permit and snook, and the bones are here all the time. This is truly the Grand Slam capital of the world. We've hosted more than 25 trips to Boca Paila and it remains the best place for anglers in pursuit of permit as well as a perfect destination for new saltwater anglers. Something for everybody. In addition, the beautiful beach, white sand, tropical setting make it an excellent choice for non-fishing companions or anglers who want to enjoy both the fishing and the R&R. Boca Paila is one of the great buys in saltwater lodges.

 

  2 Rooms left. 7 nights/6 days. June 2-9, 2013. $3,100 pp dbl. occupancy, shared boat/guide. $1,575 non angler. $5,325 single/private boat. See the Details.Hope to see you there!

 

I don't know how many years the Gonzalez family has owned and operated Boca Paila fishing lodge on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, but if I had to guess I'd say close to 50. Generations of saltwater anglers have caught their first bonefish, or permit, or tarpon, or all three for a Grand Slam at this wonderful destination. We have enjoyed hosting more than 25 trips to Boca Paila and hope for many more, but the word on the street is that the lodge has received an inviting offer to sell. If it goes through ans we understand that it's being entertained, it sounds like it might be made a private property. Many of us cut our saltwater teeth at Boca Paila, I know Barry and I did, and we will be sad to see it goes - if it goes. It still remains to be seen.

We are hosting our annual trip to Boca Paila June 2-9, timed for clear water, good weather, low wind, bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook. If we're lucky, we might get them all! Go here for details.

We hope this is not our last trip to Boca Paila, but if you've been thinking about a first saltwater fly fishing trip, this would be a good one. If you've been to Boca Paila before you know the old-world charm and the fishing possibilities that has made this lodge famous in the fly fishing business. Whether a first trip or a return, you may want to do it this year, and we'd love to have you join us in June. Contact us or Bob Artzberger at Frontiers.

 While we're on the subject of Mexico, we still have rooms available at Holbox Island Fly Fishing Lodge, July 13-19. Yes, I know it's hot, but historically it's not any hotter in Mexico in July than it is in Pennsylvania - and we don't have any tarpon swimming around waiting for us to throw a Black Death to them. We've always stayed away from July, but the experts there tell us that if we're serious about big tarpon, that's when we need to be there. Calm seas, plenty of fish, exciting fishing. We're all for it. Fishing runs from about 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. followed by our siesta, a swim, cocktails and dinner. Whether you're after baby or big tarpon, what's not to like about this? It's a great trip. Check out the details and join us!

And, getting away from Mexico for a minute, we have one room/boat left at Deep Water Cay, April 21-26. 5 night/4 day fishing. Take a short break and get out of town for a few days. Check it out.

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!

 

We've got a busy year ahead of us. Here is our schedule of Hosted Trips for 2012:

• Jan 15-21 -- Delphi Club, Abaco Bahamas (bonefish)


• Feb 1-18 -- South Island, New Zealand (trout)


• Mar 18-Apr.1 -- Patagonia, Argentina (trout)


• May 19-26 -- Belize River Lodge, Belize (tarpon, etc.)


• June 3-10 -- Boca Paila, Mexico (tarpon, bones, permit)


• June 10-17 -- Isla Holbox, Mexico (tarpon)


• June 23-30 -- Ponoi River, Russia (Atlantic Salmon)


• July 14-21 -- Kulik Lodge, Alaska (trout/salmon)


• Aug 18-25 & 25-Sept. 1 -- Bighorn River, MT (trout)


• Sept. 12-20 & 16-24 -- Tsimane Lodge, Bolivia (dorado)


• Oct. 27-Nov. 3 -- Agua Boa, Brazil (peacock bass)


• Nov. 26-Dec. 3 -- Tres Valles, Argentina (trout)

Detailed information and prices are available on our web site for most of these trips. If you're interested in a destination that is not yet posted, please contact us. We hope to see you in 2012.

As I write this we are in Cancun waiting to fly home. We've just spent a week at Isla Holbox, Mexico, for tarpon of all sizes. Isla Holbox is a lovely island, great lodge, great fishing. One of the most appealing aspects of Holbox is the fishing for baby tarpon (ranging from about 7 to 30 pounds) in the lagoons and rivers the crisscross the island. And during the migratory tarpon season there are big tarpon on the flats outside the island.

We use Sage Xi3 rods, 9 weights for the baby tarpon and 12 weights for the big tarpon. Any good size tarpon from about 15 pounds up is going to put up an impressive fight, and will jump with all his might again and again. It's explosive, fast moving action and you have to be ready to let him run while still keeping tension, get the line off the deck and out through the guides without any snafus. Having good gloves, stripping fingers, and/or tape will save your hands from line cuts. The line comes off the deck with such speed and friction that it's impossible to hang onto it without some protection on your fingers. And, if there is any sand on the line it will cut your hands as well.

We would sit at breakfast sharing stripping fingers and tape. Most of us prefer the stripping fingers as the tape sometimes loosens and it often starts to lift and then you've got an edge that the line can hang up on. When I do use tape, I find the best is the tape used in equine barns to wrap the hoofs of show horses. It comes in about 5" rolls and often costs less than $5 a roll. I cut it into about inch-wide strips and wrap my fingers. The tape is sticky and holds pretty well, but the stripping fingers are still best. My favorite gloves are Dr. Shade gloves with Polyurethane palms. The PU on the palms helps me get a better grip on the rod with wet hands and it wears better than nylon palms. They also help when working with fish. I find these gloves combined with stripping fingers are the ideal solution.

I use gloves and stripping fingers (finger guards) for peacock bass and chum salmon as well. When I'm wading and fishing for bonefish I use them because of the sand and shell grit that comes up with the line when the fish runs. The gloves also offer protection from sunburn. I get my stripping fingers from Sea Level Fly fishing, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When that fish takes off, you want to be ready to get things under control immediately. You can't do that if the line is burning cuts into your hands. Protect them from line cuts and you'll enjoy your fishing even more.

 

Come along for a fun week. Holbox Island Fly Fishing Lodge is a spacious, modern, comfortable lodge on the water. Boats leave from the beach in front. Walk into town for dinner each night at Italian, Mexican, Argentine restaurants.  June 5-12, 2011.  Timed for the migratory tarpon but lots of baby tarpon too. Lots of fun fishing and relaxation. Check out details on our web site under Hosted Trips. Hope you can join us.

http://www.facebook.com/BeckPhotographyJust wanted to let everyone know that we posted a few photos from Isla Holbox, Mexico. We're having a beautiful week of weather. The big tarpon are being shy, but we're having fun with the baby tarpon. Maybe tomorrow will be our day with the big boys!