INTERNATIONAL FLY FISHING SPECIALISTS
FLY FISHING BUCKET LIST
The Aardvark McLeod team’s ‘once in a lifetime’ angling destinations
Between us, we have a combined 135 years’ worth of fishing around the world. This snapshot of our ‘once in a lifetime’ destinations is not a definitive list, more a glance at some of our most memorable experiences. We would be delighted to chat to you about anything included here and any of the many other destinations we visit in pursuit of our angling passions.
ICELAND
Properly thrilling fishing
Iceland’s stunning rivers offer easy travel and great variety for both salmon and trout fishing. With gin clear waters it’s often possible to see fish in the river, see their behaviour towards the fly, and frequently the moment it commits to taking it.
If I couldn’t fish anywhere else, I’d head to Laxa I Kjos for fabulous sight fishing for Atlantic salmon and big sea trout. Peter McLeod
The Kaldakvisl, in Iceland’s Highlands, where you fish for trout in a beautiful, wonderland environment. As well as the chance to catch a truly huge fish, the river holds a good population of Arctic char which are great fun to cast at. Alex Jardine
MONGOLIA
A life changing trip
If you are looking for a fly fishing adventure in an extraordinary destination then you should add Mongolia to the list. No crowds, great guides, colourful festivals, and the chance to unwind with some big fun and big fish.
Visit Mongolia and you can’t help but wonder how it might have felt to ride across the steppe as part of a rampaging horde. With its mix of breathtaking vast plains, clear rivers, mountain ranges and ancient taimen, stepping into Mongolia feels like stepping out of time with our hectic world. Charlotte Chilcott
Mongolia is more than a fishing trip; the rolling steppe, journey to the river and the cultural experiences make it unique. Fishing for giant taimen, hungry lenok trout and grayling just adds to the experience. Alex Jardine
ARGENTINA
A mecca for sea trout anglers
There’s no destination in the world that equals the consistency of the Rio Grande and Rio Gallegos. Move away from Tierra del Fuego and there’s plenty more for the angler to enjoy with golden dorado and huge wild rainbow trout.
Head to Argentinian Patagonia, and over the border into Chile, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by an incredible diversity of water. There’s a great sense that the next cast could be the one you remember forever. Olly Thompson
Chasing huge rainbow trout on Jurassic Lake is an other-worldly experience. The sheer scale of the fish, the vast and remote landscape combine to create something quite extraordinary. Peter McLeod.
NEW ZEALAND
Unbeatable sight fishing for trout
New Zealand’s crystal-clear waters and spectacular dry fly opportunities make it an incredible trout fishing destination. Its rivers consistently provide giant brown trout and rainbows that are akin to steelhead on America’s west coast. Add in the stunning landscapes and plethora of non-fishing activities and the long journey to the other side of the world is more than worthwhile.
Three to four weeks will allow you to fish and see the best of New Zealand without feeling rushed. It’s not Yorkshire but it could very well be God’s Own Country.
Few countries match New Zealand in terms of the size of fish and the stunning scenery of the rivers in which they live. Alex Jardine
Charlotte Chilcott
BOLIVIA A proper jungle adventure
Few places capture the jungle fishing experience quite like Tsimane with its clear waters, luscious rainforest and big golden dorado. A helicopter flyout is a rare treat. Charlotte Chilcott
Bolivia’s pristine rivers offer an absolute jungle fishing experience for dorado and pacu. With first class lodges and a deep respect for the indigenous culture this is wild fishing at its finest.
Deep in the jungle I found untouched, crystal-clear streams home to some of the best golden dorado fishing I have ever experienced. Olly Thompson
NORWAY
Land of the giant salmon
To go salmon fishing in Norway is to give yourself the chance of landing the fish of a lifetime. You won’t find the same numbers as elsewhere in the world’s great salmon fisheries but you’ve a very good chance of catching one more than 20, 30 or even 40lb.
Every salmon angler should make at least one trip to search for a truly huge fish. Oldero, on Norway’s Lakselv River, is home to several private pools with an incredible record for salmon in excess of 30lb. Alex Jardine
TANZANIA
Where monsters still dwell
The tigers of Tanzania are deservedly at the top of the list of quintessential African gamefish. Alistair Routledge
The Mnyera and Rhudji rivers, tucked away in the rift valley folds of southern Tanzania, are visited by very few. Verdant vegetation and sparkling birdlife characterise the river valleys while the waters hold Hydrocynus Tanzaniae, the largest of Tanzania’s five endemic tigerfish. These fearsome predators can grow upwards of 25lb and present an adrenaline fuelled challenge to fly fishermen.
Adventurous anglers in search of trophy fish should head to southern Tanzania for Africa’s biggest toothy tigers. It’s not a luxury trip, but an honest African experience not replicated anywhere else, even on this vast continent. Charlotte Chilcott
ALASKA
One of the world’s last true wildernesses
Alaska has hundreds of fishing lodges within its rugged borders. With huge rainbow trout, prolific salmon runs and enough water to fish several lifetimes over, little compares to the sheer variety you’ll find here.
With access mostly by float plane you’ll experience rivers far from the beaten track. The flora and fauna eking out an existence in this harsh landscape only adds to the overall experience. Charlotte Chilcott Alaska is my ‘go to’ for anglers wanting to target a variety of freshwater species. Alex Jardine
BHUTAN
Spectacular fishing in enchanting surroundings
Home to magnificent cultural sites, Himalayan mountain scenery and remote valleys, Bhutan has only recently opened its doors to foreign visitors. It’s also home to golden and chocolate mahseer – unrivalled among river fish for incredible power and tendency to take an angler deep into the backing.
Probably one of the least visited countries in the world, access to the mysteries of Bhutan has been strictly regulated. Its hidden valleys have many secrets of their own, along with the stunning mahseer that make these remote mountain rivers home. Charlotte Chilcott
BRAZIL Pristine jungle rivers
Brazil’s incredible Amazonian rivers are a true bucket list frontier, where jungle waters hold explosive dorado, hardfighting peacock bass and giant arapaima. It’s wild, remote fishing at its most thrilling.
The Amazon and her tributaries offer unending opportunities for intrepid anglers searching for something different. It’s an enriching experience in a land that has changed little and a haven for extraordinary flora and fauna. Olly Thompson
My absolute ‘go to’ is Providence Atoll. The saltwater fishing for giant trevally, triggerfish, bonefish, milkfish, bumphead parrotfish and sailfish is staggering. Peter McLeod
Cosmoledo tops my list for plenty of GTs, big bones, permit and triggers. Olly Thompson
SEYCHELLES
Exceptional salt water flats fishing
Fly fishing in the Seychelles is widely regarded as one of the finest saltwater experiences in the world. Its remote atolls, crystal-clear flats, and thriving populations of giant trevally, bonefish, and permit create the perfect setting for both sight fishing and unforgettable tropical adventure. It’s also a great choice for a fishing and family holiday combination.
Stay on Alphonse Island for access to one of the best bonefisheries in the world. Combine that with a wonderfully comfortable lodge and you have an unbeatable destination. Perfect for anglers and non-anglers, paradise for children, incredible scuba diving and snorkelling. Charlotte Chilcott.
VENEZUELA
Superb skinny water bonefishing
Los Roques is right up there with the world’s best saltwater flats fisheries. Famous for its bonefish, there are plenty of other saltwater game fish to target.
Bonefishing on pancake flats doesn’t get better than on Los Roques.
Parrotfish, bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook are all there to tempt you. On the island paradise of Los Roques itself the lush forests are full of stunning flora and fauna. Charlotte Chilcott
ST BRANDON’S, MAURITIUS
This remote speck in the Indian Ocean is one of the finest bone fisheries on the planet. Miles of hard flats to search for huge bonefish, various trevally species and more.
An extraordinary environment, home some of the largest bonefish on the flats in the world.
A wading anglers’ paradise
Everything about St Brandon’s is big. The flats are big, the bonefish are big, the GTs, although not numerous, are enormous. The boat crossing is not for the faint hearted but the rewards are great. Charlotte Chilcott
Peter McLeod
BELIZE
Permit alley
Belize is the permit capital of the world, its cays and atolls providing a perfect habitat in which to hunt this enigmatic fish. Don’t stop there though as it’s also home to plenty of bonefish, snook and tarpon.
Permit are a bucket list fish and the flats in southern
Belize, with a range of wading and skiff-based fishing, offer a fabulous chance to tick them off. Alex Jardine
Fishing for permit is a test of patience—long hours watching the flats and a heart stopping moment when everything comes together for a single shot. Belize is as great spot to try your luck. Olly Thompson
Gabon
Two extraordinary, wild fisheries
From the wild offshore waters of Port-Gentil to the untouched estuaries of Sette Cama, Gabon offers one of Africa’s last truly wild angling frontiers — where giant tarpon, hard-fighting cubera snapper, and explosive surface strikes create the kind of fishing stories anglers chase for a lifetime.
Wild, remote, and utterly exhilarating — Gabon delivers an unforgettable mix of explosive fly fishing, incredible wildlife, and true African adventure . Charlotte Chilcott
UK and Europe
Rich and varied fly fishing
While we are fortunate to fish across the world, the rivers closer to home provide some stunning fishing. Trout fishing on the UK’s chalkstreams or exploring the mountain rivers in the Spanish Pyrenees or Italian Alps is a rare delight. Ideal for a day trip or a few days to mix and match fishing with food, art and culture.
Fly fishing on the River Test needs little introduction. Each beat has its own unique charm and there’s something for everyone, whether the trout aficionado or those looking for a great day by the river with a large lunch! Peter McLeod
Spain’s Elsa River and its tributaries were a crucible, a dojo, a sanctum of higher learning. Alistair Routledge
