"Wherever your anticipation begins—whether it’s the moment you book or the moment you arrive—drink it in. And when it’s time, be present. "
Angling
Cover Photo Courtesy of Untamed
themeet
HANK INGRAM JR.
Joining Frontiers in 1999 as the Bahamas expert, Hank has worked his way up the ranks over 25 years and is now the Director of Sporting Travel for the company. Introduced to fly fishing on Chautauqua Lake, NY at the age of 12, Hank followed his passion to Idaho and then onto four continents, countless countries and oceans and counting over 45 years. An avid fly fisher and gravel cyclist, Hank not only enjoys international travel but also locally re-discovering PA and the United States, wandering thousands of miles of gravel road, fly rod or bike in hand, his teardrop camper in tow, in search of abundant hatches and abandoned wildnerness.
TARQUIN MILLINGTON-DRAKE
With over 30 years of destination knowledge and expertise in international sporting travel, Tarquin Millington-Drake has built a distinguished career advising high-profile clients from the UK and abroad. He brings more than a decade of hands-on experience operating remote sporting properties in Russia, Seychelles, Iceland, New Zealand, Alaska, and the Bahamas to name a few. Since opening the Frontiers UK office in 1993, Tarquin has guided its growth into a respected institution in the sporting travel world. Having personally travelled to and vetted countless Frontiers destinations, he continues to lead day-to-day operations as Managing Director of Frontiers International, UK.
MIKE FITZGERALD
As son of the Frontiers founders, Mike Fitzgerald, Jr. was brought up in the outdoor travel business. With 40+ years of extensive international fly fishing and wing-shooting field experience, he has an intimate knowledge of all of our sporting venues. Today as President, he is still quite involved with sales. Mike loves to travel with his fly rods, shotguns, and cameras. He is also passionate about conservation, having held Board positions with American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Outside the office you will find Mike playing the bass in two bands, working with his bird dogs or sneaking off to Montana to ski.
AUTHORS
JEFF VERMILLION
Jeff Vermillion began his career in the fishing business managing peacock camps in Venezuela and Brazil in the early 1990’s. In 1995, just after finishing a summer guiding season on the Ponoi River in Russia, Jeff and his two brothers started Sweetwater Travel Company. Today, Sweetwater, together with their partners, owns and operates close to a dozen lodges around the world. The best known include their taimen operations in Mongolia, steelhead lodges on the Bulkley and Sustut Rivers in British Columbia and Mangrove Cay Club in Bahamas. The Vermillions and Fitzgeralds have been close partners and friends in the fishing business for the last thirty years.
KATHY SCHULZ
With over 40 years in the travel industry, Kathy Schulz expertly designs custom photographic and fishing safaris across Africa. As manager of Frontiers’ Africa Department, she crafts journeys through the continent’s vast savannahs, deserts, and wildlife-rich waterholes.
Her deep passion for Africa and adventurous spirit have taken her to every corner of the continent. She’s climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekked for gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Congo, sailed a dhow off Zanzibar, cage-dived with great white sharks in South Africa, flown in an open-sided helicopter over the Okavango Delta, and slid down Namibia’s roaring dunes—just to name a few.
JONATHAN KILEY
Jonathan Kiley is a professional fly tyer and the owner of Fly Skinz LLC. With a lifelong passion for fly tying, he has spent the past 12 years inventing and manufacturing materials for the fly tying industry. His products are available through his online store, www.flyskinz.com, and are also distributed nationwide by Hareline Dubbin. Jonathan considers himself a student of nature, drawing inspiration from its beauty to create flies that emulate the movement found in aquatic environments. He is deeply passionate about the physics and science behind fly tying and enjoys sharing his knowledge with fellow anglers. For him, fly fishing is a spiritual experience that provides both inspiration and therapeutic relief.
POINT OF
IMPACT
MENTORS, MUD PUDDLES, AND A LIFELONG PASSION
BY HANK INGRAM JR.
Simply defined, the “point of impact” refers to the exact location where a force, object, or projectile strikes or collides with another object or surface, the moment when one path meets something that changes its trajectory indefinitely. For me, that moment came on December 25, 1979, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
It starts like this: My father was a coal lawyer who also championed private property rights in western Pennsylvania. He was deeply involved in one of the most controversial river access litigations in state history—“those who know, know.” Almost comedically, when he passed in September 2023, the local Pittsburgh paper ran an article sub-titled, “Henry M. Ingram Sr. Wouldn’t Know a Roll Cast from a Rolodex.” Nothing could have been more accurate. But what he did know was that he had a son who lived to be on the water, who cherished all things “fishing,” and who just wanted time with his dad. That realization began the journey to my own point of impact. Fast forward to early
December 1979. At a loss for a Christmas gift, my father called a good friend—and my soon-to-be mentor—Tom Potter. A local fly-fishing legend, Tom said, “Get the boy a fly rod.” And that’s exactly what my father did.
With Tom’s help (or “Mr. Potter” to me, until his passing in March 2023), my father gave me a gift that would unknowingly define my life: an 8.5-foot Fenwick FF858 fly rod, paired with a Pflueger Medalist reel and fly line. Even now, at 58, I can picture the brown triangular plastic rod tube propped against the fireplace at 5321 Wilkins Avenue, the reel box tucked just above my stocking. Likely the most impactful gift I’ve ever received, but not, in itself, the true point of impact. That came just hours later.
The next morning, December 26, 1979, seeing my excitement, my father loaded me with rod in hand into his black Buick convertible. My dad was a ragtop guy. He drove me to a small cul-de-sac in Sewickley to meet Mr. Potter. Western Pennsylvania
Photos Courtesy of Nick Swingle, Hank Ingram Jr., and Barry Beck
in late December delivered a classic day: drenching mist, six inches of muddy snow, chocolate milk-colored slush, and maybe 30 degrees with 100% humidity. The Ohio River was frozen solid, so Mr. Potter chose a relatively clear puddle in the cul-de-sac for my first casting lesson. The rod came out of the tube (thankfully not broken from the previous night’s excitement), the reel was mounted, and ankle-deep in slush, I drew back for my first cast—and WHAM. Point of impact. The moment that would shape over 30 years of my professional life, and much of the overall 45 years since, was set into motion. I was a fly fisher.
My father, not being an angler, had handed off my fishing education to Mr. Potter. Thankfully, both he and my grandparents had homes on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York, where I spent my summers working summer jobs and fishing some of the best smallmouth waterI could find in the East.
Mr. Potter lived across the lake. Every weekend, even in the thickest morning fog, my grandmother would roll me out of bed and down the dock on Prendergast Point, where I’d listen for the buzz of his outboard approaching through the haze. Fog or no fog, Tom always found our dock—this was well before GPS. We’d fish the north side of the lake, working weed lines and gravel flats with poppers and crayfish patterns until the day’s boaters woke up and roughed up our water. Mr. Potter was patient and generous. I’d like think he knew early on that “the force was strong with this one”.
Hank Fishing Idaho, 1994
From there, things unraveled—in the best way. Fishing saltwater and bass ponds in Florida. Trout fishing through Allegheny College. Moving to Ketchum, Idaho after graduation to be a ski and trout bum.
And finally, my introduction to Frontiers Travel in 1999, where I was interviewed, naturally, on a back porch overlooking a pond by our founders, Mike and Susie Fitzgerald. They would become welcome additions to my small circle of mentors. Forty-five years and five continents later, I still have miles to go, and I cherish every cast.
But this is just one man’s story. In the pages ahead, you’ll find others—tales, opinions, and moments that reflect many different definitions of point of impact, as told by Frontiers staff and a few welcome guest authors. I hope you enjoy each one. And more importantly, I hope they encourage you to reflect on your own defining experiences. Past, present, and future.
We’d love to hear your stories, too.
Hank Ingram Jr.
Director of Sporting Travel, Frontiers
ANTICIPATION AND
EXPECTATION
WHAT TIME ON THE WATER TEACHES YOU
BY TARQUIN MILLINGTON-DRAKE
Anticipation is one of the best parts of any trip. For some, the excitement begins the moment the phone is put down or the email is sent confirming one’s intention to travel. From then on, it’s tunnel vision— watching weather patterns months in advance, scanning fishing reports, following every whisper on social media.
For the true enthusiasts (and we know who we are) the arrival of our pre-trip packet is a signal. The tying vise comes out, the gear room gets cleaned, and nights by the fire become casting rehearsals of the mind. I suspect some clients book early simply to enjoy those long winter evenings of mental angling. I admire it. And frankly, I love it because I just love enthusiasm.
Of course, it puts pressure on us too. Our pre-trips had better be accurate and thorough, we deliver them at our own peril. There’s real joy in watching clients gear up emotionally for a trip. They get more value for money than anyone, in part because they stretch the experience out over months of delightful anticipation. And let’s be honest:
Tarquin and his daughter Maddie each with a payara.
there’s perhaps no better excuse to loosen the purse strings and indulge in a bit of retail therapy.
I envy the ‘tackle junkies’ too. All that excitement and those opportunities to buy more gear and add to the vast fly supply. What fun! I, on the other hand, take a pragmatic approach. I tie the knots I do because they are easy to undo quickly, and therefore, I can get another fly on faster! The knot gurus I have met are horrified by my explanation. When it comes to tackle, I focus on what I really need and try and leave the rest behind.
I am, however, loyal to my equipment. I knew Stanley Bogdan well and have used
his reels for over 30 years in some cases. Now, some are getting a bit old and rattling, and they have taken the odd fall, so they have been retired. Some, like my bigger salmon reels, roll on and continue to be a pleasure. Keith Rose-Innes is a good friend from when we worked together on the Ponoi in the glory days. Keith owns Shilton reels, and they are now my choice of reels for the salt and fresh. They are true battleships, now in some cool colours!
Here’s where I must admit something. The excitement, for me, has changed. Maybe it’s age. Maybe realism. Maybe thirty-two years at the helm of Frontiers UK has made me more pragmatic than poetic. But I used to be that way. I remember vividly
A red grouse amongst heather in bloom which is typical for the start of the grouse shooting season.
The weather will be what the weather will be—and we’ll go regardless.
those pre-dawn wake-ups, like the time in Iceland I misread my watch and got up at 2:00 a.m., convinced it was time to fish. With full confidence and the unwavering light of an Arctic summer, I knocked on every door, rallying the team to breakfast. It wasn’t until a very quiet dining room, and some bleary-eyed glances at the clock, that we all realised the truth. To this day, I’m teased about it.
But time on the water teaches you. The weather will be what the weather will be— and we’ll go regardless. In today’s world of shifting patterns and climate change, we’ve all had to become a bit more fatalistic. Prime season isn’t always prime anymore. Low season can surprise you. Rigidity serves no one.
My trips start when I first step into whatever I am about to do. An Alta riverboat with
its weathered boards and carved names. Stepping into a grouse butt in the north of England is another with its stone walls with heather growing through the cracks and over it, offering you a soft place to lay your guns while you consider your safety and prepare for the grouse to arrive. Stepping into a carved out wooden canoe in the Amazon or Bolivian jungle with a stranger as the boat driver with whom you are going to trust yourself and your gear, as the water laps one inch from the gunnel of the boat. Or a Seychelles flats boat idling and a GT lurking just around the bend.
That first step into a place, into a moment, is when anticipation becomes something more. From that point, I settle in. The boat becomes mine. The water, mine. I take in the guides, the gear, and the place. I become grounded in the now.
This is a ’sunken’ grouse butt, best explained as almost a hide from which to shoot driven grouse.
But let us not confuse delicious anticipation with expectation or targets. The one is gloriously comforting and relaxing, the other induces anxiety and stress. I have seen it so many times and every time, it is such a mistake.
A client arrives at Ponoi or Alphonse , or perhaps a fine driven shoot in Yorkshire or Spain , with a number in mind. They hit it—and feel pleased. But often, they fall short, and what should have been a celebration becomes a quiet frustration. Despair snatched from joy. Success recast as failure. It needn’t be that way.
Set goals, yes. Improve your casting before you go or put in the shooting practice. But don’t come armed with a rigid tally sheet. These are wild places. If they were predictable, we likely wouldn’t be so drawn to them.
We’re often asked: “What can I expect in terms of fish or birds?” It’s a fair question. But if estimates become expectations, and expectations become targets, and when weather or water or sheer randomness doesn’t cooperate, the entire experience gets coloured by that one unmet number. When we travel, we step into something greater than ourselves. We touch nature. We meet extraordinary people who love these places as deeply as we do. No moment is ever exactly repeated. No river is the same height. No grouse flies the same line. No cast is the same as the one before. That’s what makes it magic.
So wherever your anticipation begins, whether it’s the moment you book or the moment you arrive, drink it in. And when it’s time, be present. Look up. Take a breath. Smile. Because none of it, none of it, can ever be quite the same again.
Contact Tarquin, Our UK Managing Director
Photos Courtesy of Tarquin Millington-Drake
clients
Frontiers
John chills in the waters of Providence Atoll, Seychelles while Arthur is very happy with his big ‘cuda’ in the same location.
OF MICE
AND Monsters
ALASKA TO THE AMAZON
BY TOM GILLILAND
There are moments that stay with you—not just because of the fish, but because of what they take with them when they leave. You come home with a little less certainty, a little more reverence. Two very different corners of the world— Alaska and the Amazon—but both left their mark on me.
Alaska gave me a rainbow trout that launched like a missile through alder shade. The Amazon gave me a 23-pound peacock bass so suddenly, I forgot how to speak. Both happened in places far from comfort, and both reminded me why we go venture. Why we cast. Why we keep looking.
Rainbows, Dolly Varden, grayling, king, chum, sockeye, pink, & coho salmon are all found at Reel Action Lodge.
Rainbows in the Refuge [Reel Action Alaska, Togiak Refuge]
I’d been anticipating our day in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge from the moment we booked Reel Action Alaska. This four-million-acre preserve, home to the Kanektok River, is renowned for its mousing potential—for rainbows, dollies, and grayling, all of which will attack a skated mouse with reckless abandon. Sometimes, they strike before you’ve even stripped once.
The experience lived up to the hype. The mouse fishing was outstanding, and the streamer bite just as strong, each take memorable in its own way. As a selfadmitted trout junkie, the Togiak is a special place. Braided, clear-running water filled with aggressive native fish. Salmon, too, as catching a King there is not uncommon.
Once inside the Togiak, motors go quiet and you drift-fish the length of it before powering back up downstream. While
mousing, we hugged alder-lined banks, drifting swiftly and casting fast. Takes can happen the instant your fly hits the water. You become singularly focused: cast tight, strip once, load up the next. The closer to the structure, the better.
At one point, I made what felt like the perfect cast, tight and true, but the mouse hung momentarily from a low branch, just inches off the surface of the water. I gave a quick upstream mend to try to shake it loose, and just then, a fat rainbow rocketed out of the water and smoked the mouse midair. Our guide saw the whole thing. We burst out laughing like two kids, caught up in the pure magic of the moment. Later,
after a quick lunch, we explored a small, crystal-clear tributary on foot. Spotting some grayling, I grabbed a 3 wt. and tied on a dry. A few chunky fish later, I switched to a small fry pattern. One submerged root ball stood out, I swung the streamer past it once. Nothing. As the fly reached the bottom of the swing, a 20-inch rainbow shot from cover and chased it 15 feet before absolutely smashing it.
The whole thing unfolded in slow motion. Wait for it… wait… and then the strike. The battle was on. That trout delivered one of those moments of a lifetime for me.
My adrenaline still spikes every time I think of Alaska.
Rod : 7/8 wt. rod for most Salmon, 6 wt. for rainbows/dollies, 3 wt. for grayling
Line : Floating, weight-forward lines for mousing and streamer
Tippet: 3X or 4X for trout
Flies : Mouse and streamer fishing for rainbows, dry flies for grayling
Contact Tom Gillilan d, Our Alaska Expert
My first trip to this now-legendary Untamed Angling destination was in 2016, just a year after it launched. Its debut season was a sensation. The first videos lit a fire under big-fish hunters everywhere, and I was no exception. I’d fished Brazil before and had good days (plenty of numbers, violent takes, epic fights) but I’d never come close to landing a 20-pound peacock bass. That milestone had lingered on my wish list for years. And this trip felt like my shot. Despite high water on arrival, I stayed optimistic. I knew Rio Marié gave me my best chance to break the 20-pound barrier. I came armed with a stout 10 wt. and a whole lot of hope. The first few days were slow. Solid fish, but nothing close to that magic number. Then, one afternoon, everything changed.
We were fishing a small lagoon, with a rocky island of vegetation at the mouth. Stripping an 8-inch Puglisi fly quickly back to the boat, I was just about to recast when I saw it. A huge fish charging my fly. I had almost no line out. It was just eight feet from the boat. I froze. Before I could react, the fish stopped behind the fly and opened its bucket-sized mouth. No smash. Just a calm, deliberate eat.
The second I leaned in, the fish exploded. After several blistering runs to the backing, we got him to the net. I was speechless holding that fish. The guide was equally ecstatic. It was the real deal, 23 pounds of jungle fury. If the day had ended there, I’d have gone home happy. But luckily for me, it didn’t.
Ten minutes later, I landed another at 21 pounds. Unbelievable. By that afternoon, I
Some fish you forget before the fly dries. Others stay with you—not just for their size or ferocity, but because of the way they caught you off guard.
caught six fish between 15 and 23 pounds. Three over 20. All from the back of the boat. My fishing partner, dumbfounded and frustrated, kept asking, “What the hell are you doing that I’m not doing?” I had no answer. I was in the zone. The sun, moon, and stars aligned and the fishing gods showed up.
It was, without question, the best single day of my angling life. And arguably the most glorious accomplishment of my fishing career.
The Lasting Hit
Some fish you forget before the fly dries. Others stay with you—not just for their size or ferocity, but because of the way they caught you off guard. A perfect cast,
a reckless eat, a moment that pulls you entirely into the present. And once you’ve felt it, you measure everything else against it going forward.
In Alaska, it was clarity, casting tight in cold current, watching a trout launch through the water. In the Amazon, it was the scale, a fish too big to believe until it was in hand. And in both cases, the scenarios unfolded in ways that I could have never expected, even with my anticipation and hope of similar fishing successes for those trips.
I didn’t leave either place the same. That’s what travel can do. That’s what fishing sometimes does. It hits you, and shifts the axis just a little...
QUICK AMAZON GUIDE
Rio Marié , Brazil
Season : Late Aug–Early Dec
Species : Giant peacock bass, arowana, wolf fish, and many more jungle species
Fishing Style : Skiff-based sight casting in lagoons + tributaries
Lodge : Luxury liveaboard mothership
Access : U.S. -> Manaus -> private charter -> land at the mothership
Gear:
Rod : 9–10 wt to match the heavy-duty setup needed for peacock bass
Line: Tropical floating and intermediate lines
Leader : 40–60 lb fluorocarbon
Flies : Large baitfish, EP/Puglisi style, sizes 4/0–6/0
Contact Tom Gilliland, Our Brazil Expert
Photos Courtesy of Nick Swingle & Tom Gilliland, Rio Marie & Agua Boa
SILVER KINGS
THE WILD DAYS OF TARPON FISHING IN PUERTO RICO AND
BY MIKE FITZGERALD
SALSA MUSIC
Some birthdays call for candles and cake. Mine called for chrome and chaos.
I turned 60 this past winter and decided to mark the occasion with two days at No Name Lodge, a rising star in the flats world on Puerto Rico’s south coast, before boarding a small ship out of San Juan with my wife, Kristene, and a few close friends and clients. I wanted something different. Something fun.
Tarpon have held me in their grip for years. I love flats fishing (bones, snook, even moody permit) but tarpon are the ones that haunt me. The take! The explosion! The fight!
...It’s rare these days to find a tarpon fishery that feels untouched...
It’s rare these days to find a tarpon fishery that feels untouched. But just two hours from the mainland, with salsa music drifting off the beach and centuries-old fortresses standing watch, Puerto Rico delivered all of that, and one encounter I’ll never forget.
The most memorable tarpon of the trip (and one of the greats of my lifetime) came not from the skiff, but on foot.
We’d spotted a beautiful pocket of clear water near an island, protected by a shallow reef with currents pouring in from
different angles through a narrow channel. It looked fishy in the way only some places do, like the water itself was holding its breath.
Jake, my guide, and I said it at the same time: “There have to be fish in there.”
But there was no way to reach it by boat. Between the reef and fast-moving water, we’d blow every fish out just trying to line up a cast. Jake grinned and said, “Let’s get him on foot.” We motored around to the far side of the island and hiked our way
Why Puerto Rico for Tarpon?
Easy to access and remarkably unpressured, Puerto Rico has quietly emerged as one of the most rewarding tarpon fisheries in the Caribbean. With healthy numbers of fish in the 20–70+ pound range and the chance to explore lagoons, reefs, and island cuts, it’s a trip that delivers challenge and variety all without needing a passport.
Program Highlights:
Homebase: No Name Lodge operates in Boquerón (SW coast) and Salinas (south coast, just 2 hours from San Juan)
Ideal fish size: 20–70+ pounds—exciting to fight, but manageable for most anglers
Unpressured fishery: Low competition, few boats, and willing fish
Wade fishing options : Target triggers, parrotfish, and permit on reef flats
Culture meets casting: Think ancient Spanish forts, beachside salsa, and tarpon
Contact Joe Koziara, Our Puerto Rico Expert
in, the reef sharp underfoot, the wind just right. Sure enough, there he was. A single tarpon, just cruising through.
Before I could second-guess the cast or think about what would happen if I hooked this fish, the fly was in the air. It landed cleanly, and he ate without hesitation.
One minute I’m ankle-deep in paradise, dreaming of a cold mojito. The next, a 25-pound chrome torpedo launches from the water. With line screaming through my fingers, I stumble backward, trying to stay upright, hollering something between a battle cry and a prayer, while Jake’s already shouting like we just won the World Series.
...With
line screaming through my fingers, I stumble backward, trying to stay upright, hollering something between a battle cry and a prayer...
Puerto Rico gave me all of it: the bite, the brawl, and a birthday I'll never forget
We danced around trees, snags, and the reef, trading high fives between dodges and line tangles, until we finally brought the fish to hand, and then released him. It wasn’t the biggest tarpon of the trip. But the chaos, comedy, and pure joy combined for one soggy, unforgettable fight on foot. And a moment Jake, Kristene, and I won’t soon forget.
There’s something about tarpon that just gets under your skin. Long after the cast, the jump, the release. Puerto Rico gave me all of it: the bite, the brawl, and a birthday I’ll never forget.
Mike & Kristene enjoying Puerto Rico
Photos Courtesy of Nick Swingle & Kristene Fitzgerald
Can you catch steelhead on a single hander? ..... Isn’t that too late for dries? .... How heavy a tip do I need to throw?.... I’m not a great caster, do you think steelhead are right for me?
There’s no fish—except possibly permit—that has been so oversold to the angling community as being complicated. The truth is, steelhead aren’t sophisticated or challenging. Very simply, angling success hinges unimaginably on abundance. And these days, sadly, abundance depends on the angling community and regulatory agencies taking care of steelhead. We’ve failed on both fronts.
In British Columbia, we are blessed with wild fish, intact habitat, and fewer people. Provincially, the management has been solid. Unfortunately, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans—the regulatory entity federally tasked with managing salmon, and by default, steelhead—is a disaster for fish. Steelhead are a nuisance to salmon harvest, and no amount of public outcry or begging will convince them that either wild salmon or steelhead have any value except dead. The reality is, they are currently managing for the marine extinction of salmonids on both coasts and doing a commendable job at that.
South of the border it’s worse: dams, hatchery fish, habitat degradation and an administration with a total disregard for wild places have our wild salmon and steelhead on a one-way sled ride to extirpation.
STEELHEAD
FOR MORTALS
A GUIDE TO GETTING OVER YOURSELF
BY JEFF VERMILLION
But it’s not all bad news. Thankfully, steelhead are resilient and recover quickly if allowed. On the Dean River and Skeena tributaries, runs are still relatively intact. That is not to say we are at historical abundance by any stretch, but we do have enough fish that the fisheries are reliably good, and pertinent to this piece, perfect for anglers of any ability.
After close to thirty years in the steelhead business, on years of high returns in British Columbia, I’ve seen fish do things a Jeditrained Northwest steelhead guru would never believe: a steelhead boiling on a dry fly on the Sustut in gin clear water a dozen times before we realized that what we were presenting was more a tangled ball of mono being chased by a dry fly; giant fish lined up in a glassy pool selectively free rising for one species of mayfly; fish caught on dry lines with a foot of leader; a steelhead that barfed up an ousel after eating a dry fly; fish caught on big, medium or microscopic flies stripped, popped, twitched, dead drifted or even stripped downstream. One thing is for certain: on years of abundance, technique doesn’t particularly matter.
On poor years, I’ve seen anglers go to low water flies, long leaders, light tippets, rubber-tipped wading staffs, and perfect mends with lines overengineered to sink exactly 3.14159 inches per second—perfect pi—over fishless pools. Incredibly, none of that mattered. That is, until someone in camp actually caught a fish that had miraculously made it through countless miles of Alaskan and Canadian gill nets and seines. Then came one macho steelheader brag lecture at drink time—about fly, tip
One thing is for certain: on years of abundance, technique doesn’t particularly matter.
density, fly speed, or God knows what else it was—and the next morning the entire camp went full sheep mode. Every angler had the same setup, headed to the river, certain it was just a matter of technique, not a lack of conservation activism, that kept them from that desired tug.
Eventually disbelief set in again and steelheading became the mystery it has become in states like Washington, Oregon, or Southern BC where there are virtually no fish left. Apparently, steelhead become harder to catch and more technical when there are fewer of them. Wow. Noodle on that genius. Enter the gurus. Armed with tip wallets and scales to determine lines and sink rate—let the preaching begin.
Gotta do this, gotta use that. In my view, the great Northwest guides are successful in a period without fish due primarily to their spending so much time on the water they know where to find the last survivors. And now with all that in mind, it’s time to demystify steelhead.
The Cast
It’s not the cast that matters. Summer run steelhead are huge fans of sitting inside the main current tongue. Except on the travel, they like walking pace water. Of course, there are exceptions due to structure or a less defined current tongue. For the most part, steelhead are a fish that favor short casters, or at the very least, they favor those of us that finish their drifts to the end of the swing.
Full disclosure: I’m not that guy. There are two important things for any angler throwing any amount of line: don’t overcast, and always fish it through until your fly comes to a dead stop. Then move at exactly the rate your guide suggests (there’s a reason for that, usually based on the productivity of a run) and just cover the water you can—well.
Getting Down
Bear in mind sink rate measured in inches per second is less critical than the evangelists let on. What matters is you are getting a clean swing. Not only is it more enjoyable, but it’s more effective. In normal conditions, steelhead are willing to move a good distance to eat something
that interests them. What they will not do is tip up like a bonefish and eat a fly dragging beneath them… because that is what happens when you get too deep. I have literally watched flies swinging through a pool filled with fish in a tail and seen the fly come through underneath the fish. They didn’t twitch a fin.
When it comes to enticing a grab, whether it is a tarpon, bones, salmon or steelhead, the closer the fly is to that window in front of their face the more likely they are to eat it. But go too deep and it’s game over. You snag flies up, waste time trying to free them, flog the bucket every time you snag up, and just generally fish terribly, missing strikes etc.
Dry Flies
Dry flies? Yeah, they work, more often than most folks care to admit. Unless the river is blown out, temps are plummeting, or water is on the rise (in which case, why aren’t you still in bed?), they’re as effective as anything else for summer runs. The important thing is don’t let the naysayers talk you into a tip wallet with so many different currencies you can’t possibly figure out what to do. After all, isn’t boiling and playing with a steelhead the reason you’re there? Dries are an incredible way to locate fish.
Sure, a wet fly gets a more reliable grab, but steelhead most often come back—so there’s no reason you can’t use a follow up fly when that fish won’t eat a dry. Standing on the bank watching people fish on gin-
clear waters like the Sustut, you learn a lot. With a wet fly you don’t usually see the follow, and you frequently move through fish. A dry fly boil puts the brakes on an angler and when that happens around steelhead, more fish are caught. I’m not saying dry flies are more effective than a wet. They ain’t. But it’s close enough to make it well worth your while. Particularly if you get to play chess with a great fish. And who cares if you land it? You aren’t getting a trophy mount, and this isn’t the Steelhead Olympics. It’s vacation in a beautiful wild place for a fish that has disappeared from most watersheds. Honor them by having fun, not trying to prove you’re the top rod. Seems basic, but it eludes many anglers, even after decades of fishing.
The Grab
Holy hell. I’ve never seen such hoopla for such a basic event—the pluck, pull, suction, nip—whatever. Use your instincts and set when it feels right. I’ve seen so many anglers having their fly get mauled in slow water while they wait for the weight or the line to pull out to set or hook the fish. I’ve watched a steelhead on the Sustut eat an angler’s fly in a slow pool, yelled “strike!” multiple times and watched the fish chewing on it as he wandered back toward his lie with an angler not even twitching or making a move.
What’s up, bud?
He never had it. I never felt the weight.
Really? Because that steelhead was just chewing on it for nearly five seconds; he swam the fly over to show his pals and another fish took a sample bite.
The point is don’t get intimidated or flustered in the game. Some guides (not fossil or rock hunters like myself) tend to overcomplicate the bite and the set. They stand on your shoulder, and it almost seems as if their intent is to put you in a limbo zone where you are late, early, or never on the fish. And every bump is a missed fish, one that they found later to report back at camp accompanied by chest thumping. Ignore all that. Be confident. Set or raise the rod sharply when it feels right to you. In slower water, keep better tension on the fly and do less mending so you feel the fish take. It isn’t more complicated than that.
Flies
Weight density probably matters most, size or color less so. My go-to fly for anglers is a slightly weighted girdle bug. Its long white rubber legs allow me to see it from the bank when guiding. Two side bonuses: it’s cheap and a simple tie. And no matter the water speed, that fly seems to end up
being three feet down the entire drift. With a longish leader (five to seven feet) on a dry line, it seems to always be in the zone. Did I mention it was cheap and didn’t take half an ostrich ass to tie?
Kindness
If you’re being guided, you’re likely with someone who knows exactly where the fish are. By that I mean, EXACTLY. Remember, we live there. Just as important as everything else (and probably more so): be kind to others in your boat. Don’t get greedy or poopy pants when you aren’t catching fish. And for the love of angling, remember, it’s just fishing. Nothing will put a damper on your catch rate like being a dink or braggart.
In a guide boat the squeaky wheel rarely gets the grease. We’re largely independent souls who really don’t care if you’re a rock star or a billionaire. We do care if you’re a jerk. Probably the biggest clue as to whether you are on the guide’s “not
fun list” is whether he’s standing behind you. Guides like to stand near the bucket. They love watching flies come through juicy water and fish get caught. Clue in. If they are never near you, it’s very possibly because you ask eight thousand questions, don’t listen, like to lecture, forget to tip, are a greedy angler and/or mistreat or don’t appreciate the fish you catch. Fear not. It’s never too late to stop being a dink.
Expectations
In BC, we are blessed with reasonable returns on most years. Last year was a stellar return with terrible water conditions. The prior two years were well below average—but in every year I can remember we had some incredible fishing or some fish that made the season. To be clear, steelheading isn’t for everyone. But, it can be right for any fly fisherman, particularly one with the right attitude and appreciation for the magnificence of these fish. And in BC, with all its beauty always around you, that should be enough.
So what’s the secret to steelheading? There isn’t one. And anyone trying to sell you a system, a theory, or a pocket-sized PhD on sink tips probably just needs a hug. The fish aren’t mystical. They’re not gods. They’re just ghosts in the current—beautiful, powerful, and increasingly rare.
Fish hard, fish humbly. Swing your fly with intent through the finish, and when the grab comes, trust your gut. Celebrate every boil, miss, hookup, and heartbreak like the gift it is. If you walk off the river without a fish but with a little more awe for the place, and the species, and the moment—you’re doing it right. And consider getting involved on the conservation front to make a difference.
Steelhead are for mortals. But they make gods out of the grateful.
Jeff Vermillion and his brothers are owners of Sweetwater Travel with steelhead operations on the Sustut and Bulkley River.
Photos Courtesy of Domenic Arrota
EXPERIENCE
EXPLORING SINGITA'S SOUTHERN AFRICAN LODGES
BY KATHY SCHULZ
THe
WILD IN STYLE
Somewhere in the distance of the African bush, a lion let out a low rumble. A sound you feel more in your chest than in your ears.
I was sitting on the deck of Singita Pamushana Lodge, watching the orange glow of the Malilangwe Dam as dusk settled in. There was no rush. Just the scent of wild basil and aromatic acacia, the gentle ripple of water, and a quiet certainty that I was exactly where I was meant to be. In that moment, I was reminded of something that can’t be discovered in a brochure: Africa changes you.
You don’t come to Africa just to see wildlife. You come to feel small again - in the best possible way. You come to remember that wonder still exists.
Kathy and friends at a surprise Bush Breakfast
I’ve been in the travel industry for nearly four decades, and I’ve helped clients explore nearly every corner of the earth. But Africa—Africa is different. From the moment you step off the plane, it’s a full sensory immersion: the warmth of the air, the distant birdsong, the unmistakable energy of the people. You breathe more deeply. You notice more. You let go.
This past spring, I returned to Zimbabwe and South Africa to visit a number of Singita properties – some of the finest safari lodges in the world. Luxurious, yes, but also deeply grounded in place, people, and conservation. These are the kinds of locations where one night you’re sipping wine beneath a blanket of stars, and the next, you’re tracking a pangolin while the distant cry of a hyena – or perhaps a jackal - echoes across the savannah. A safari for the senses – and the soul!
offers a multitude of activities including fishing, wellness treatments, world class wine tastings, and even tennis.
Singita
Singita’s Southern Africa Circuit: Where Wilderness Meets Wonder
A curated, ultra-luxury safari journey that combines Singita’s exceptional lodges in Zimbabwe and South Africa. This seamless circuit offers immersive experiences across diverse ecosystems – with convenient charter flights connecting each destination for effortless travel.
Singita Malilangwe – Zimbabwe
Tucked away in southeastern Zimbabwe, Singita Malilangwe is a remote and conservation-driven safari destination set within the 115,000-acre Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. Established in 1994 by the Malilangwe Trust—following the largest philanthropic conservation donation in Zimbabwe’s history—the reserve was created to protect one of Africa’s most diverse ecosystems. Today, it spans 38 unique habitats and supports thriving wildlife populations, including reintroduced black and white rhinos, sable and roan antelopes, wild dogs, elephants,
lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, and more than 400 species of birds.
Pamushana Lodge sits high on a sandstone ridge in the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, and the lodge itself feels like a celebration of Zimbabwean heritage—thick-walled buildings inspired by Great Zimbabwe, thatched roofs, bold textiles, and incredible artwork. Each of the eight luxury suites and one private villa has its own plunge pool and sweeping views. From up there, you feel like the only person on earth.
Singita Malilangwe House is an extraordinary, exclusive-use villa featuring five luxurious suites and expansive, interconnected living areas - including an interactive kitchen. With a private chef, butler, dedicated host, game drive vehicles, and an expert Field Guide, every detail is tailored to your desires. Guests have the freedom to shape each day exactly as they wish, from safari adventures to moments of tranquil indulgence.
Singita Malilangwe
Singita Pamushana Lodge – Relax Poolside
But what struck me even more than the beauty was the sense of peace. We explored ancient rock art sites, cruised the dam at sunset, listened to bird calls I couldn’t identify, and learned firsthand about the community and wildlife initiatives. This region is home to ancient baobab trees, rugged landscapes where black rhino still roam, and some of the best guiding I’ve ever experienced. It’s not just a safari—it’s truly a spiritual reset.
Singita Kruger National Park – South Africa
Singita’s private concessions in the southeastern reaches of the Kruger National Park, on South Africa’s border with Mozambique, grant access to some of the best wildlife viewing in the region, often with fewer vehicles and guests than the main Kruger. This means more private, undisturbed game drives and opportunities to see rare species.
The first time I saw Singita Lebombo , it took my breath away. The sophisticated and contemporary suites are overlooking the N’wanetsi River, all glass and air and light. It feels like you’re in a modern treehouse— with a panoramic clear view of the bush. Every detail is designed to draw you closer to nature: open-plan living, wide wooden decks, an expansive lap pool, and stargazing perches that invite you to linger. At Lebombo, modern architecture meets ancient rhythms – offering a luxurious yet grounded sense of place.
Singita Lebombo also offers a unique culinary experience, highlighted by immersive cooking classes at the Singita Community Culinary School. Guests can join demonstrations and hands-on sessions led by expert chefs, learning to prepare traditional South African dishes or selections from the lodge’s refined tapas menu. I had the chance to make Umngqhosho – a comforting dish of samp and beans, and a favorite of Nelson
Mandela. It was a meaningful, memorable way to connect with local culture through food.
A short distance away, Singita Sweni offers a different kind of intimacy. Tucked into the banks of the Sweni River, with just seven suites nestled among the trees, it’s quieter and feels more cocooned. The soundtrack shifts; the low grunts of hippos in the water, the rustle of leaves, and the distinctive call of the Fiery-necked Nightjar.
On still nights, one can lie in bed listening to the soft flap of an elephant’s ears just beyond your deck. Two tons of power and presence —silent but unmistakable, passing like a shadow just beyond your bed.
The private 33,000-acre concession here is a haven of biodiversity, home to four distinct ecological zones – a remarkable concentration I’ve rarely encountered in a single location. It’s a place that rewards stillness, where the more you slow down, the more the bush reveals itself.
Singita Sabi Sand – South Africa
The Sabi Sand Reserve borders Kruger National Park but is privately ownedand legendary for its remarkable leopard sightings. Here, you feel part of something larger: Singita’s long-standing conservation efforts have restored water to oncedry tributaries and helped revitalize the surrounding ecosystem. Every stay plays a direct role in supporting this vital, ongoing work.
Singita Ebony Lodge is the brand’s founding lodge (1993), and was recently refashioned to provide airy, cohesive spaces that bring the bush visibly inside. 12 suites – including river, bush, family suites, and a luxury villa – with indoor/outdoor showers, doublesided fireplaces, and private plunge pools overlooking the Sand River. The central lodge includes a new wine cellar and the interactive Conservation Room, plus a bar-deli, spa, fitness center, boutique, and library with thoughtful renovation that weaves together classic adobe structures, canvas, timber, and glass.
Singita Sweni - River
Singita Sweni - Suite Interior
Singita Boulders Lodge mimics the flow of riverside boulders – organic, grounded architecture that blends its rocky environment with 12 luxurious suites featuring glass walls, private decks contoured to the Sand River, and heated plunge pools for a whisper-quiet immersion in nature.
If I had to choose one property to bring a family—or a group of close friends— it would be Singita Castleton . Once the private home of the Bailes family, founders of Singita, Castleton now operates as an exclusive-use lodge accommodating up to 12 guests in a main house and six cottages. It’s got all the comforts of a sophisticated, private safari lodge with the charm of a countryside farmhouse and boasts a staff and setting that rival any five-star retreat. There’s a pool overlooking a busy waterhole, a boma, tennis and bocce courts, a wine cellar, and your own chef and guide. One
morning, we enjoyed yoga along with sound therapy on the tranquil lawn while impala and zebra grazed nearby. Another evening, we watched a leopard at sunset from our private safari vehicle. The exclusivity of Castleton doesn’t feel isolating—it feels deeply personal and uniquely special.
What unites these sanctuaries is more than luxury—it’s Singita’s commitment to leaving the land better than they found it. Lowimpact design, community empowerment, and visionary conservation efforts are seamlessly interwoven with every guest experience.
Singita’s Southern Africa Circuit left its mark—not just on a map, but on the soul. It’s the kind of journey you carry with you long after your boots are clean and the dust has settled.
Singita Boulders Lodge - Sundowners
Singita Castleton – Fireside Storytelling
Our guide, Tyme, explaining ancient Rock Art
Planning the Safari That’s Right for You:
Africa isn’t one place. It’s a mosaic of ecosystems, cultures, and experiences. No two trips are the same—and that’s the beauty of it. Whether you’re drawn to the migration in Kenya, gorilla trekking in Rwanda, or the quiet elegance of the Okavango Delta, the best safaris aren’t booked en masse—they’re created individually.
Here are a few questions to help you start thinking:
Q: What draws me to Africa—wildlife, culture, scenery, or all of it?
This is the first—and most important— question. Are you dreaming of lions on the move at dawn? Curious about tribal traditions and village life? Or do you want to sip wine overlooking the Cape coastline after hiking a mountain trail?
Africa can deliver all of these things—but not always in the same place or at the same time. A traveler who prioritizes wildlife might be steered toward Kenya’s migration season or Botswana’s Okavango Delta, while someone drawn to culture might find more connection in Tanzania’s Maasai villages or the historic neighborhoods of Cape Town. The more clarity you have, the more intentional—and rewarding—your itinerary will be.
Q:Do I want to travel solo, as a couple, or with a group or family?
Who you travel with – or choose not to –shapes every detail of your safari. A solo traveler may thrive with the camaraderie of a small-group departure, or they might seek the quiet introspection of a private tented camp with tailored game drives and time for reflection. Families, on the other hand, often benefit from exclusive-use lodges like Singita Castleton, where children are
WHY We love SINGITA
For more than two decades, we’ve trusted Singita to deliver safari experiences that are as meaningful as they are luxurious. These lodges are defined by their privacy, beauty, and sense of place—where every detail is intentional, and the wilderness remains front and center.
We highly recommend Singita for its exceptional guiding, award-winning design, thoughtful service, and immersive connection to Africa’s landscapes, wildlife, and culture. It’s luxury, redefined—with purpose at its core.
to the sounds of Singita on Spotify
warmly welcomed, the schedule bends to your preferences, and everyone can relax into the adventure – together.
For multigenerational groups, private safari homes offer the best of both worlds: shared meals, spacious communal areas, and the joy of being together—without sacrificing the spirit of adventure. Understanding your travel dynamic allows us to recommend the right properties, pace, and even flight options to ensure every generation feels considered and cared for.
Q: What level of comfort or exclusivity am I seeking?
This question defines how you experience the bush. Do you want a private guide and vehicle, with total flexibility on when and where you go? Do you prefer the camaraderie of shared sundowners and communal meals filled with stories and laughter?
Luxury in Africa ranges from beautifully appointed tents to world-class private lodges. At Singita, for example, guests can
dine privately on their own deck, enjoy spa treatments in the wild, or even have an impromptu lunch appear in the middle of the bush—no other guests in sight. I’ve had guests charter planes, book out entire lodges, and not cross paths with another traveler for days. Others find joy in shared experiences. Both are valid—it all depends on what feels right to you.
Q: What level of physicality suits me best?
Safari doesn’t have to mean roughing it— but some experiences are more active than others. Whether you’re climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, tracking rhinos on foot, or simply stepping in and out of a game drive vehicle multiple times a day, physical ability plays a key role in shaping what’s possible – and what’s comfortable. Knowing your preferences and mobility helps us to design a journey that’s adventurous, accessible, and deeply rewarding.
Many camps can accommodate mobility needs or special requirements, but early planning is essential. On the other end of the spectrum, those craving adrenaline
Listen
to get inspired
Contact Kathy Schulz, Ou r Africa Expert
can opt for high-energy experiences like helicopter fly-ins, multi-day canoe safaris, or even shark cage diving off South Africa’s rugged coast. Understanding your comfort level and appetite for adventure helps us fine-tune your itinerary to match your energy, interests, and pace – perfectly.
Q. When can I travel—and what wildlife events coincide with that time?
Africa is always magical—but it’s not always the same. Timing influences everything: weather patterns, wildlife behavior, water levels, even the kind of photographs you’ll bring home.
Dreaming of baby elephants wading through the Okavango Delta? Hoping to witness the thundering herds of the Great Migration in the Serengeti? These moments might only happen in certain places—and the best opportunities might only be tied to certain times of the year.
If your travel dates are flexible, we’ll guide you to where the action is likely to be. While nothing in the wild can ever be guaranteed, our track record has been tested over time – and we know how to stack the odds in your favor. If your dates are fixed, we’ll steer you toward destinations that shine in that particular season. We’ve been there when the grass was tall and the wildlife more elusive—and we’ve been there when it felt like every creature in the bush was waiting just for us. Timing makes all the difference, and we’re here to help you get it right.
Photos Courtesy of Kathy Schulz , Singita, and Tarquin Millington-Drake
Kathy on an exciting Game Drive
EXTEND YOUR TRIP: MORE AFRICA AWAITS
Add further dimension to your journey with a custom-crafted extension
Cape Town & the Winelands – Urban culture, coastal hikes, and world-class cuisine
Victoria Falls – Just a short hop from many safari circuits
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda or Uganda – A life-changing encounter
Mozambique Coast – Combine your safari with a beach escape
Tigerfishing - Add a couple days of fishing in Zambia or Tanzania to your trip
Contact Kathy Schulz, Ou r Africa Expert
Let Us Help You Get There:
People often ask me why I return to Africa so often. The answer is simple: I haven’t seen it all, and I don’t want to rush it. I want to savor it.
Africa teaches you to slow down. To listen. To look more closely. It’s not just about what you see. It’s how it makes you feel: free, grounded, alive. A safari isn’t just another trip— it’s a lifelong memory in the making. Whether you’ve dreamed of it for years or are just beginning to consider it, we’d be honored to help you craft something extraordinary.
At Frontiers, we’ve planned safaris across nearly a dozen African countries. We don’t own any camps or lodges, which means our recommendations are based entirely on what’s best for you. And we’ve walked the walk: my team and I have been there, eaten the food, met the guides, watched the sunrise over the savannah, and felt the heartbeat of the wild.
The hardest part? Deciding how soon you want to go.
The easiest? Let us design the safari of a lifetime for you.
Whip Finish
REFLECTIONS ON THE WATER: CARP FLY
BY JONATHAN KILEY
As a child, I cherished every moment spent fishing with my father. Whether it was spin casting on quiet lakes or the delicate rhythm of fly fishing in running streams. Those early memories anchored a love for the water that carried into my teenage years, when I began casting lines with friends and spent more time trading stories than catching fish.
But life moved fast. Right out of high school, I joined the military and was swept into a world of relentless training, deployments, and duty. In that whirlwind, my rods gathered dust and fishing faded into the background. It wasn’t until I found myself stationed on the remote island of Diego Garcia in the heart of the British Indian Ocean Territory that something shifted.
There, surrounded by untouched beauty and teeming waters, I rediscovered my passion—only this time, it ran deeper. The flats were alive with bonefish, permit, triggerfish, and barracuda—species I’d mostly only read about before. Fishing became more than a hobby; it became an obsession, a lifeline, a way to feel grounded in a faraway place.
The isolation of the island offered a rare gift: time. I poured it into perfecting my craft, creating my own lures and tying
intricate flies. Every catch on something I had built by hand sparked a new sense of accomplishment and wonder. It wasn’t just about the fish, it was about the art, the pursuit, and the connection to nature.
That year changed everything. I emerged not only a better fisherman, but someone more centered, more present. Since then, I’ve never looked back, except to treasure the memories made on quiet waters, with friends, family, and a fishing line connecting it all.
Every catch on something I had built by hand sparked a new sense of accomplishment and wonder..
Kiley's Dragonfly Nymph Carp Fly
By now, most of you are either living that summer vacation dream, just back from it, or counting down the days ‘til you hit the water again. And in that slow, sweaty lull of summer, where the days blur together and you’re wondering what to chase next, I’ve got a challenge for you.
If you’re anywhere near a lake, pond, or stream with carp in it… it’s time to stop ignoring them and step up. Yeah, I said it: carp. The so-called ‘trash fish’ everyone loves to hate. Mudmunchers, right? But here’s the truth, those ugly suckers might just give you the most insane, frustrating, adrenaline-pumping fun you’ve ever had with a fly rod.
Most anglers turn up their noses. But let’s be honest, how many of them have actually hooked into a tailing carp and lived to brag about it? Carp don’t hand out easy wins. You’ve gotta earn it.
They’re spooky. They’re picky. They’ll test your cast, your presentation, and your nerves. And when everything else is sulking in the summer heat, carp are out there. Tailing, cruising, flashing their backs in the shallows like they own the water.
They eat what every other fish eats… just with attitude. You want to sharpen your skills? You want a challenge that humbles you and hypes you all at once? Then ask yourself:
Do you actually have what it takes to fool a carp on the fly?
I’ve got a few tried-and-true patterns in my fly box, but one fly, one, is my ultimate carp weapon. Lucky for you… I’m about to spill the recipe. Let’s see if you can handle it...
Photos Courtesy of Nick Swingle & Jonathan Kiley
Materials
#2 Hook
Olive Thread
Veevus 6/0
Small to Medium Eyes
Olive Rabbit Zonker
Fly Skinz Olive Damzel Tail (Large)
Olive Silicone Legs - Watermelon
Fly Skinz Exo Dubbing in Duck Weed
Fly Skinz Exo Dubbing in Hot Craw
Clear Seal of choice
Step 1: Start With a Hook That Means Business
I tie my dragonfly nymphs on a 60° jig hook from Ahrex — and yeah, they cost a bit more, but they’re built like tanks. Trust me, I’ve seen one of these flies land a giant trevally on Christmas Island. Not kidding. Size? #2 is the sweet spot. If you’re gonna do it, do it right.
Step 2: Lay the Foundation
Lock that hook in tight, then lay down a clean olive thread base using Veevus 6/0. This is where all the magic’s gonna stack up, so give those materials something solid to grip.
1 2
Step 3: Choose Your Weight… Wisely
Here’s the deal: what weight do you use for dumbbell eyes?
Answer: all of them.
Carp moods change daily. Sometimes they want a gentle “plop,” sometimes a serious bloop. So tie a few with beadchain, brass, and lead — small to medium. Just match the vibe. Tie those bad boys on the underside of the shank, right below the bend, so the fly rides point-up like a champ.
Step 5: Add the Bunny
Cut a 1/4” strip of olive rabbit zonker, skin side facing the damzel tail, and tie it in tight. Then glue the two together with a drop of super glue. Just a drop! You want it to stick, not turn into a crusty mess.
Step 4: Tail Time
Now, grab a Fly Skinz Olive Damzel Tail — I go for the largest size in the pack (you get three sizes, which is super handy). Tie it in just before the bend in the hook. Size it based on the size of your local carp… because not all mud beasts are built the same.
Step 6: Legs for Days (Or Just One Set)
Now for a little kick — tie in one set of olive silicone legs off the back. I use Fly Skinz Watermelon legs with gold fleck. Subtle flash. Big impact.
Step 7: Build the Body
Time to make this thing look alive. Grab some Fly Skinz Exo Dubbing in Duck Weed, throw it in a dubbing loop, twist, wrap, and build that body right up to the dumbbell eyes.
Here’s a hot tip: carp love a little contrast. So I always add a hot orange collar right behind the eyes. For that, I use Exo Dubbing in Hot Craw. It’s like a neon sign in the mud. Brush it out — fluff is life. This gives your fly a killer profile when carp are nose-down in the muck.
Final Touch: Lock It All In
Finish off the head, whip finish, and seal it up with whatever clear adhesive your heart desires — UV resin, Hard-as-Hull, Sally Hansen… your call.
the meet
MIKE FITZGERALD
President & Co-Owner; Destination Specialist for European Wingshooting, General Sporting, and Elegant Journeys
MOLLIE FITZGERALD
Co-Owner & Director of Elegant Journeys; Destination Specialist for Atlantic Salmon and Elegant Journeys
KRISTENE FITZGERALD
Destination Specialist for South Pacific, Europe, and Elegant Journeys
TOM GILLILAND
Destination Specialist for Alaska, South America, and Big Game Hunting
RODDY HALL
Destination Specialist UK for General Sporting
BEN HOFFMAN
Destination Specialist for Patagonia, Iceland, Cuba, and Mexico
HANK INGRAM
Director of Sporting Travel; Destination Specialist for All General Sporting, Elegant Journeys, and Skiing Programs
ELAINE WISSOLIK
Destination Specialist for South America Wingshooting & Fishing, and Elegant Journeys
theteam
JOE KOZIARA
Destination Specialist for American West Fishing, Offshore Angling
JOE LINSCOTT
Destination Specialist for Bahamas, Belize, US Saltwater and US Wingshooting
NICK SWINGLE
Director of Marketing
BRIAN ANTONETTI
Marketing Specialist
TARQUIN MILLINGTON-DRAKE
Managing Director UK; Destination Specialist for General Sporting
Destination Specialist for South American & European Wingshooting
CALLAN REYHER
Marketing Specialist
ETHAN BRISTOL
Freshwater trout
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Fly F ishing Slovenia
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Luxury Rocky Mountain guest ranch located in the heart of southern Wyoming
Centrally located an hour from Bozeman near Twin Bridges in southwestern Montana
Magnificent fishing on Montana's prolific Bighorn River!
The best luxury dude ranch experience in Big Sky, southwestern Montana
New luxury accommodations on the Madison with decades of lodge experience
An intimate, upscale, all-inclusive lodge right on the edge of the Madison River
Legendary fishing on one of Montana's blue ribbon rivers, the mighty Madison
All inclusive luxury fishing lodge in Yellowstone country
Wonderful accomodations on one of the West's best dry-fly fisheries!
Freshwater trout
Missou ri Cliffs Lodge A new luxury lodge overlooking the renowned Missouri River
Nort h Fork Crossing Lodge
Offering the Blackfoot, Missouri, Clark Fork, Smith River floats, and more
The Ranc h at Rock Creek All-inclusive, five-star luxury guest ranch located in Philipsburg, Montana
Sage Lodge
Smit h River Montana Float Tri p
Welcome to paradise! Nature's playground awaits you in southwestern Montana
An immersive float trip to fish the trout-filled waters of the Smith River
Soar ing Eagle Lodge Premier riverfront lodge on the San Juan River in northern New Mexico
S outh Fork Lodge
Sout h Holston River Lodge
Tay lor River Lodge
Riverfront luxury on the famous South Fork of the Snake River
Best sulphur hatch in America, the south's premier fly fishing destination
Riverfront lodge and cabins on trophy Taylor River near Crested Butte, CO
Three Fo rks Ranch Lodge & Spa A premier fishing, hunting and guest ranch 40 miles from Steamboat Springs, CO
Thr ee Rivers Ranch Premier eastern Idaho location gives this lodge unmatched fishing diversity
M eadow s on Rock Creek Luxury family-friendly lodge in the scenic Rock Creek Valley in Montana
The White River Inn
An all-inclusive trout fishing experience on the famed White River tailwater
Freshwater trout/ Anadromous
ALASKA
Alaska Rainbow Adventures
A laska Trophy Adventures
Alaska West
An iak River Lodge
B ear Trail Lodge
Br istol Bay Lodge
Chrome Chasers
Fish & Forage
Cop per River Lodge
Cr ooke d Creek Retreat and Outfitter s
Encha nted Lake Lodge
Goodn ews River Lodge
Grosvenor Lodge
Hoodoo Lodge
In tr icate Bay Lodge & Outpost
Ke nai River Recon
Kulik Lodge
The Lodg e at Whale Pass
Mission Lodge
Providing first-class float trip options on the finest rivers in Alaska
Remote 160 private acres within Katmai National Park on the fish-rich Alagnak River
Fish the famed Kanektok River from this relaxed riverside camp
Extraordinary diversity - all 5 salmon types, trout, and everything in between
The Naknek River is the number one rainbow trout river in Alaska
Fly-out fishing in Wood-Tikchik State Park, Bristol Bay, and southwest Alaska
Unique small venue salmon fishing and forageing in SE Alaska - family friendly
A top rainbow trout fishery feeding Lake Illiamna, Alaska
Luxury all-inclusive multi species fishing and adventure lodge in Kasilof, Alaska
Waterfront on Enchanted Lake, Katmai National Park, southwest Alaska
They don't call it "Goodnews" River for nothing! Front-page worthy locale
Located in Katmai National Park between Grosvenor Lake and Colville Lake
Located on the extreme northwest tip of the Alaska peninsula near Nelson Lagoon
Fly-out to the best rivers of the Katmai from this newly built luxury lodge
Fly or spin fish the Kenai & Kasilof Rivers. No experience needed!
Katmai National Park, southwest Alaska, between Kulik and Nonvaniuk Lakes
Prince of Wales Island, southeast Alaska; serious fishing meets serious adventure!
Multi-species luxury fly-out lodge in Bristol Bay, perfect for groups or singles
Freshwater trout/ Anadromous
Ra pids Camp Lodge
Reel Acti on Alaska Lodge
Luxury fly-out lodge with single rooms on the Naknek River
Lies within the Togiak Wildlife Refuge, famous for mousing for huge rainbows
Royal Coachman Lodge This fly-out lodge sits on Nyukuk River, offering 24-hour fishing
R oyal Wolf Lodge
Talaheim Lodge
Katmai National Park, Rainbow Trout focused fly out Lodge
Small water heli-fishing that's great for small groups and completely remote
Tikchi k Narrows Lodge Amazing peninsula lodge with every imaginable species and daily fly-out fishing
Tog iak River Lodge
ARGENTINA
Be lla Sofia Lodge
ICELAND
Blanda
Deildara
The Kjarra
Myrarkvisl
The Sog
Vatnsdalsa
Vididalsa
An all-inclusive salmon and trout fishing experience on the remote Togiak River
Sea-run brown trout & spring creek fishing all on one famous Argentine estancia
A unique river that offers multiple species and some big salmon
Scenic, remote and private, a fantastic river to experience.
Classic, iconic salmon river in the west, but physically demanding
Northern Icelands small river that offers big suprises
Classic double-handed rod fishing in a beautiful setting
Excellent char fishing with a very good chance of catching salmon
Very beautiful with bigger salmon and great run of arctic char
Freshwater ANADROMOUS
ALASKA
Chrome Chasers
Steelhead
Alaska St eelhead Company
ARGENTINA
Kau Tapen
Villa Maria
CANADA
Skeena Spey Riverside Wilde rness and Lodge
Ste elhead Valhalla
Tr out Creek Lodge
ICELAND
Deplar Farm
East Ranga
Grimsa
Hafralonsa
Hofsa
April and May sight fishing for wild steelhead in southeast AK
Heli fishing the Kenai Peninsula for wild fall steelhead
The first and absolutely foremost lodge on the Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego
Sea-run brown trout on the exclusive lower Rio Grande/Tierra del Fuego
Catch mint bright huge kings and steelhead with top guides from a superb lodge
Exclusive access to steelhead runs on the renowned Sustut and Skeena Rivers
Bulkley and Skeena River steelhead fishing from a river front private property
Perhaps Iceland's most exclusive property with summer and winter activities
Located on the South Coast if you want the most reliable fishing, this is it!
One of Iceland's top rivers, easy physically, situated in the west
A beautiful, remote river with bigger fish
A scenic and iconic salmon river in the northeast with bigger fish
Freshwater ANADROMOUS
ICELAND
Langa
Laxa A Asum
Laxa In Kjos
Mio
Nordura
Sela
The Thvera
NORWAY
The Malselv
Boen Gard
UNITED STATES
Covered Br idge Outfitters and Lodge
Very pretty, classic Icelandic salmon river in the west
Wonderful, classic two-rod private river in the north-west
Scenic, classic, and convenient river in west Iceland
Two-rod gem with private lodge in east Iceland
One of the great rivers that typifies Icelandic salmon fishing
One of Iceland's best and most challenging salmon rivers
One of Iceland's best salmon rivers, finest lodges and physically easy
Good private salmon beats on a very pretty northern Norway River
Southern Norway salmon fishing on a historic estate
Steelhead focused full-service fishing/hunting lodge on Conneaut Creek, Ohio
Freshwater JUNGLE
AFRICA
Chiawa Camp
Tiger Fish
Roya l Zambezi Lodge
Ngomb e Zambezi River Lodge
ARGENTINA
Delta Lodge
Gold en Dorado River Cruiser
Karand á
Pira Lodge
Suinda Lodge
BOLIVIA
Tsima ne - Agua Negra Lodge
Tsiman e - Pluma Lodge
Located in the lower Zambezi National Park on Zambia’s southern border
Probably the biggest tiger fish on fly…
Fishing for tiger fish and game viewing on the lower Zambezi River
An adventurous tiger fishing escape on the banks of the Zambezi River
Unspoiled golden dorado fishing and eco-lodge under the Buenos Aries skyline
Luxury golden dorado fly-fishing mothership on the lower Paraná River, Argentina
Subtropical golden dorado fishery also ideal for combined cast and blast
Stalking golden dorado on the fly in the vast Ibera Marsh, Corrientes, Argentina
Dorado, pira pita, and pacu on the upper Paraná River, in Corrientes, Argentina
National park and indigenous territory Bolivia; fly fishing for golden dorado
Three unique golden dorado rivers from one premier eight-guest lodge
Tsimane - Secure Lodge Fly fish for golden dorado in the jungles of Bolivia
Tsimane - Heli-Fishing
Heli-fishing for golden dorado deep in the Bolivian Amazon
Freshwater JUNGLE
BRAZIL
Agua Boa
Kendjam
Pirarucu
Rive r Plate Anglers
Rio Marie
Xingu Lodge
MONGOLIA
M ongolia Fishing
SOUTH AFRICA
Protected, clear-water and fly fish only. Peacock bass in Roraima, Brazil
Clearwater jungle fly fishing in the exclusive Mekragnoti territory
Go big in the Brazilian Amazonarapaima on the fly!
Peacock bass fishing in remote Amazon rivers via innovative shallow water tech
Outstanding liveaboard program for trophy size peacock bass in Brazil
Payara and multi-species fishing in unbelievably clear water
Aggressive taimen on top-water and subsurface flies in north-central Mongolia
South Afri can Yellow Fish Hunt the powerful yellow fish on the stunning Orange River .
Pongol a Tiger Fishing
Fly-fishing for tigers in the prolific Lake Jozini
saltwater flats
BAHAMAS
Abaco Lodge
Andros South
Bairs Lodge
Delphi Club
H20 Bonefishing
Kamalame Cay
Ma ngrove Cay Club
A true fishermen's lodge - waterfront digs with all the comforts of home
Legendary fishing lodge and home to some of the finest bonefishing in the world
Located on south Andros between Deep and Little Creek; beachfront comfort
Perfect destination on Abaco Island for fishermen, couples, or families
Trophy bones and easy access make H20 popular with anglers of all levels
An oasis of laidback hospitality and extraordinary bonefishing
Located on the Middle Bight on eastern Andros Island - an industry benchmark
Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge South Andros Island, Bahamas; bonefishing at its best with no pretense!
North Ri ding Point Club World-class bonefishing and customized service on Grand Bahama Island since 1994
Stel la Maris Resort
Soul Fly Lodge
BELIZE
Bel ize River Lodge
A relaxing venue for anglers, leisure travelers, and family vacationers
Consciously crafted flats fishing adventures in the Berry Islands
Accommodating anglers on the banks of Olde Belize River for over 55 years!
Blu e Horizon Lodge A completely renovated lodge located in one of the worlds finest permit waters
C opal Tree Lodge
El Pescador Resort
Lo ng Caye Outpost
Turne ffe Flats Lodge
BRAZIL
Sil ver King Tarpon
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
Agritourism chic: the essence and spirit of Copal Tree Lodge in southern Belize
Forbes has voted El Pescador one of the “Top Ten Eco-Resorts in the World!”
Enjoy flats fishing or just relaxing on your own private tropical island!
Be pampered in paradise- a fly fishing, scuba diving, and eco-adventure resort
Easy travel for great fishing for adolescent tarpon
Christm as Island Lodge Flats fishing at its finest, in a remote saltwater angler’s paradise
Ikari House
Excellent service and a diversified fishing program close to the lodge
CUBA
Za pata Mothership
DUBAI
Du bai Fly Fishing
MAURITIUS
St. Brandon's Atoll
MEXICO
Asce nsion Bay Lodge
Casa Blanca
Fin Chasers
G rand Slam Lodge
Mayazul Lodge
Palometa Club
Playa Blanca
Xflats
OMAN
Arabian Fly
PUERTO RICO
No Name Lodge
SEYCHELLES
Alphons e Island Resort
Asto ve Island Lodge
Exclusive grand slam fishing inside Zapata National Park in Cuba
Great short stop or short stay, city fly fishing...
Look no further, double-digit bonefish, trevally, and permit on this exotic atoll
Great location in Punta Allen and the famed Ascension bay fishery
The Casa Blanca experience: top-notch fishing, accommodations, cuisine, service
Great flats program north of Cancun at Isla Blanca in Mar Caribe biosphere
Near the village of Punta Allen - great fishing and modern accommodations
A boutique oceanfront lodge in the heart of Mexico's Permit Alley
Northern Ascension Bay’s premier fishing lodge
30 minutes south of Sister Lodge, Casa Blanca, on Punta Pajaros, Mexico
Experience Xcalak, Mexico and Chetumal Bay –fly fishing for bonefish and permit
A permit fisherman's dream
World-class tarpon fishing & tailing permit with domestic conveniences
If you check one destination off your bucket list, it should be Alphonse
Perfect for adventure-seeking anglers; wild, remote, fabulous fly fishing
Cosmoledo Atoll
Farquhar Atoll
P rovidence Atoll
Providence - Motor Yacht Quo Vadis
UNITED STATES
Bahia Honda
Perfect, once in a lifetime adventure; remote, legendary fishery
One of the most exotic saltwater fly fishing destinations in the world
Species lover’s nirvana + rested waters for 5 years = fish on!
A true fly fishing wilderness experience
Sight-fish for tarpon in the florida keys, with an all-inclusive, lodge-based experience
Elev en ExperienceLouisiana Tailing redfish and black drum on the pristine southern Louisiana Bayou
Wood land Plantation
Sight-fish for tailing reds while taking a step back into history in New Orleans
saltwater BLUEWATER
COSTA RICA
Croco dile Bay Resort
Zancudo Lodge
COLOMBIA
Black Sands
GUATEMALA
Paci fic Fins Resort
Year-round offshore and inshore fishing off the Osa Peninsula in Golfo Dulce
Great fishing combined with high-end accommodations and eco-touring
The perfect destination for Yellowfin, Sailfish, Roosterfish, Tarpon, Snook
The sailfishing capital of the world also has consistently calm waters
MEXICO
Baja Peninsula
PANAMA
Pesca Panama
Tr opic Star Lodge
Mexican treasured sportsfishing paradise: modelo, margaritas, and marlin mayhem!
Saltwater species diversity and remote liveaboard solitude
Renowned lodge on Pinas Bay, Panama, with fabulous offshore and inshore fishing
AFRICA
Bird Hunters Africa
UNITED STATES
C heyenne Ridge
Signature Lodge
Flying B Ranch
Highl and Hills Ranch
Rio Pi edra Plantation
WINGSHOOTING UPLAND WINGSHOOTING
ARGENTINA
Cordoba Lodge
El Monte Lodge
L a Dormida Lodge
L a Torcaza Lodge
Pica Zuro
Sant iago del Estero
Tuku Lodge
Tucuman Lodge
BOLIVIA
Bolivian Adventures Dove and Pigeon Shooting
Seriously challenging shooting combined with great hospitality
South Dakota pheasant hunting at its finest
Unlimited wingshooting in scenic and historic Lawyer Canyon, Idaho
World-class wingshooting for pheasant, chukar, quail, and Hungarian partridge
Traditional bobwhite quail hunting in the heart of Georgia's wingshooting belt
DOVES & PIGEONS
Fiscally minded, volume dove shooting in Las Penas, Cordoba province
Located in the province of San Luis, Argentina doves and pigeons
Offers year-round dove shooting at a small venue in Cordoba province, Argentina
Decoyed pigeons easily combined with volume Cordoba dove shooting
The first lodge ever established in Cordoba, high volume dove shooting in a luxury estancia
New high volume dove shooting lodge in quiet rural area north of Cordoba
Extraordinary volume pigeon and dove shooting in scenic Salta Province
Year round dove lodge ideal for small groups up to 12 with short drive times!
Dove and Pigeon at two luxury resort lodges in Bolivia
WINGSHOOTING MIXED BAG
ARGENTINA
Los Crestones Lodge
River Pla te Wingshooting
- 5 Feather Program
River Pla te Wingshooting
- Entre Rio s
URUGUAY
Caremelo Lodge
Esta ncia La Bellaca
San Juan Lodge
Uruguay Lodge
UNITED STATES
P heasant Bonanza
Skyfall Reserve
Mixed bag shooting less than 2 hours from the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mixed-bag hunt from 2 classic estancias in La Pampa and Buenos Aires Provinces
Argentina's best duck and dove combos located only 3 hours from Buenos Aires
Dove Shooting in wine country
Uruguayan coastal decoyed pigeons, perdiz over pointers, and mixed bag shooting
Mixed bag: volume dove, perdiz over setters, and decoyed ducks - Flores, Uruguay
Mixed bag: perdiz over dogs, doves, and puddle ducks - Young, Uruguay
World class upland, waterfowl, turkey, and deer hunting in Tekamah, Nebraska
Premier Texas destination for waterfowl, whitetails, hogs, and world-class shooting
WINGSHOOTING
DRIVEN
SPAIN
Ventosilla
La Nava
La Flamenca
Los Melonares
Shooting at the home of driven partridge shooting in Spain
One of Spain's best shoots in every regard
The perfect option to shoot and stay in Madrid
A beautiful family estate with fine shooting
FRANCE
Chat eau De Villette Fine driven shooting in Burgundy
DENMARK
Denmark
UNITED KINGDOM
Grouse Shooting
Main Season
Early Season
Classic estate shoots for mallards and driven pheasants pioneered by Frontiers
Most agree that driven grouse is the pinnacle of driven game shooting
The heart of the pheasant shooting season
Driven grouse, partridge, pheasants, and duckthe season gets underway
WATERFOWL WINGSHOOTING
ARGENTINA
Esta ncia Santa Rita
Lo s Picazos Lodge
Jacana Lodge
UNITED STATES
Skyfall Reserve
Migratory ducks over decoys from dry blinds & more with Patagonia Outfitters
Exclusive duck hunting experience just 90 minutes from Buenos Aires
Decoyed ducks and 5-star accommodation in famous Lincoln, Buenos Aires province
Premier Texas Destinaton for waterfowl and world-class shooting.
BIG GAME HUNTING
AFRICA
Umdende Hunting Safaris A family-run south Africa operation with plenty of activities
ARGENTINA
AK Hunts
Red Stag Tupungato
Rincon de Luna
NEW ZEALAND
Poronui
UNITED KINGDOM
Stalking (Deer Shooting)
UNITED STATES
Th ree Forks Ranch
Skyfall Reserve
Free range stag; Lake District of Patagonia, Rio Negro province, Argentina
Red deer in Argentina's wine country. Hunt in the shadows of Mt. Tupungato
Trophy stag and exotic species in the Calamuchitas Valley; southwest of Cordoba
Fine red stag, sika deer and luxury accommodations "Down Under"
Traditional hunting areas covering the 6 main species and others
Trophy elk, mule deer, and pronghorn; highend, game-rich, fair-chase hunts
Premier Texas Destinaton for whitetail, hogs, and world-class shooting.
