CELEBRATING 8 YEARS AS THE VOICE OF SALTWATER FLY FISHING
FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
ill Time Machine - AndyicM o Fernandez - Ch Learning from Sharks Peter McLeod For the love of GTs vid Cannon Two-Armed Jacks - Da
Males Jungle Tarpon - Jesse
51 JAN/FEB 2021
- James P. Spica Handicapping Ourselves don Fawcett Oceanic Trigger - Bran
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Whether the light and translucence have created a bit of photographic magic, the fish’s food has altered its coloring, or this redfish was simply born with a lot of blue in its tail, you have to agree it’s a beauty. Photo by Clarke Ohrstrom
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A photo from the early days of the Silver Kings television show. At the end of a long day chasing the king, crack one open and enjoy the sunset. We thought everyone could use a break. Photo by Nicky Runnels
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Failing to connect with your targeted species can make for a frustrating day. For TFFM subscriber Clarke Ohrstrom, sheepshead are a favorite species— but he never actually targets them. Photo by Clarke Ohrstrom
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CONTENTS 24
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GEAR GUIDE - TFFM Staff Fly lines and leaders aren’t very sexy—not nearly as sexy as fly rods—but they’re arguably among the most important components of our gear. Let our January Gear Guide give you some food for thought on rigging for spring.
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JUNGLE TARPON - Jesse Males In the jungles of Costa Rica lie hidden coves devoid of angling pressure where giant tarpon come to feed on the abundant prey. Bring several 12-weights, some 6/0 flies, and hold on: Things are about to go ballistic.
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TWO-ARMED JACKS - David Cannon The jack crevalle is one of the most underrated opponents in the fly angler’s world. Captain David Mangum coaches a saltwater newbie who wishes to enter the ring with this middleweight gutter-fighter— armed with a Spey rod, no less.
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ON THE PLATE - Kelli Prescott It’s January, and most of us are facing short days and low temperatures. The perfect excuse to cozy up to the fire and whip up a pan of decadent crab mac and cheese or a big old pot of Texas chili.
SALTY STRIPPER - Nick Davis Learn how to tie up a Salty Stripper. We should clarify that it’s a fly. FEATURED POEM - “TAILING” by Henry Hughes
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FOR THE LOVE OF GTs - Peter McLeod TFFM ’s Travel Editor, Peter McLeod, is the authority on fly fishing for giant trevally: He literally wrote the book on it. In this feature he confesses how he fell in love. Cover your ears, Elisabeth!
OCEANIC TRIGGER - Brandon Fawcett The permit is quick to judge, but the ocean triggerfish takes a long, thoughtful gander at your offering before committing. Stupidity or intelligence? You decide.
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BROTH BACK - James P. Spica Jr. Chicken soup for the soul … for drinkers … sort of.
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TIME MACHINE - Andy Mill The title may sound like H. G. Wells, but the reality isn’t that far removed. The nationwide quarantine and travel bans created by the global pandemic allow Andy Mill to share with his son what the Florida tarpon fishery was like “back in the day.” Jump into Andy’s time machine.
LEARNING FROM SHARKS - Chico Fernandez With few exceptions—a cartwheeling mako, for example— sharks get little respect in the fly angler’s world. As a fly fishing author, innovator, and charter member of the IGFA, Chico Fernandez needs no introduction. Pull up a stool and let one of the greats tell you what he’s learned by fishing for sharks. THE UNDERTOW - HANDICAPPING OURSELVES James Spica elaborates on a sentiment that many of us share: Shut up and fish!
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Letter from the Managing Editor January 2021 THIS ISSUE MARKS THE END OF MY SECOND YEAR as Managing Editor of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine, and as I flip through the pages of the issues I took part in putting together, it is not without sadness that I tell you it’s time for me to step away. WHEN JOE BALLARINI OFFERED ME the position, when I was little more than a contributor who had helped to proofread a couple of issues, I wasn’t looking for a job. At the time, I was working as a clinical instructor for two colleges, working per diem in correctional healthcare, and enrolled in a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program. There wasn’t a lot of free time. The main reason I accepted was because it allowed me to indulge a longtime fantasy. Back in the early 1990s, Art Sheck and I briefly discussed my becoming the editor of another magazine, Saltwater Fly Fishing, which Abenaki Publishers had recently acquired. The job would have required me to move to Vermont. My father was elderly then and needed someone around, and the conversation never moved forward. It was an opportunity never explored, and I always wondered whether I might have had some aptitude for the job. After all, words were my first love: My first degree was in English; healthcare was something I got into for a steady paycheck. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, I happened to be standing there when an editorial vacancy suddenly opened at TFFM. Joe asked whether I would be willing to step in and assume more responsibility with the magazine. Despite everything else going on in my life, this time I said yes. WORKING ON A FLY FISHING MAGAZINE is perhaps less glamorous than many might imagine. Let’s just say it isn’t all company fishing trips and catered lunches. Still, working on a magazine allows you to work with words. You get to be creative and try new things. You get to reinvent the magazine—and yourself—with each issue. And Joe’s the kind of boss who doesn’t care if you take a drink at your desk as
long as you make all of your deadlines. That’s a good thing, because the way the magazine business is, sometimes you can use the drink. BUILDING A MAGAZINE is a fair amount of work, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t loved every minute of it— even the difficult times and the drudgery (there’s a fair amount of that in the magazine business as well). But now that I’ve passed my certification boards and have been offered a position in a practice, I need to focus on that—for a while, at least. JOE HAS GRACIOUSLY OFFERED to leave the door open so that I might return someday in some capacity. I’m not saying no to that—even if it’s only to write an occasional dull technical piece (I might have one or two left in me). OVER THE LAST TWELVE ISSUES I’d like to think I’ve seen a couple of good ideas come to fruition and pulled a couple of rabbits out of the hat. My ego would like to think that this is now a magazine that can hold its head up in the presence of any fly fishing magazine that’s ever been published. Most important to me, I’d like to think I’m leaving the magazine better than I found it. With the additions of Andy and Nicky Mill and Chico Fernandez to the editorial staff, as well as the design talents of Scott Morrison, the regular contributors as well as the many talented contributors the magazine has attracted over the last two years— not to mention, Joe is the hardest-working guy I’ve ever met—I know I’m leaving it in good hands. I’m looking forward to watching the magazine continue to grow and evolve. OVER THE YEARS I’ve learned that it’s not always a good idea to try to live your fantasies. But in this case, it was. My thanks to Joe for inviting me to play in his literary sandbox, and my thanks to all of you for reading. Sincerely, George Roberts, Managing Editor
Grand Slam slate carving by Leroy. Ambergris Caye, Belize. 18 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
ALASKA Mossy’s Fly Shop 750 W. Diamond Blvd, Suite 114 Anchorage, AK 99515 907-770-2666 mossysflyshop.com CALIFORNIA Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing Store 2700 W. Orangethorpe Ave Fullerton, CA 92833 714-525-1827 bobmarriottsflyfishingstore. com COLORADO Front Range Anglers 2344 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-494-1375 frontrangeanglers.com
ORVIS Sandestin 625 Grand Boulevard Ste 101 Sandestin, FL 32550 850-650-2174 Orvis.com The Angling Company 333 Simonton St Key West, FL 33040 305-292-6306 anglingcompany.com GEORGIA Cohutta Fishing Company 39 S. Public Square Cartersville, GA 30120 770-606-1100 cohuttafishingco.com
NORTH CAROLINA Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd D5 Cornelius, NC 28031 704-896-3660 carolinaflyfishing.com OBX on the Fly 107 Sir Walter Raleigh St Manteo, NC 27954 obxonthefly.com RHODE ISLAND The Saltwater Edge 1037 Aquidneck Ave Middletown, RI 02842 866-793-6733 saltwateredge.com
CONNECTICUT
ORVIS Atlanta Buckhead Square 3255 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305 404-841-0093 Orvis.com
The Compleat Angler 541 Boston Post Road Darien, CT 06820 203-655-9400 compleatangleronline.com
The Fish Hawk 764 Miami Cir NE #126 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-237-3473 thefishhawk.com
FLORIDA
LOUISIANA
ORVIS Charleston 535 King St, Charleston, SC 29403 (854) 999-4985 Orvis.com
239 Flies 3431 Bonita Beach Rd SW Unit #205 Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (239) 908-3513 239flies.com
Marsh & Bayou Outfitters 2600 Florida St Suite 3 Mandeville, LA 70448 985-869-7335 marshandbayououtfitters.com
Southern Drawl Outfitters 1533 Fording Island Rd Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-705-6010 southerndrawloutfitters.com
ORVIS Baton Rouge Perkins Rowe, Bldg. H 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. 140 Baton Rouge LA 70810 225-757-7286 Orvis.com
TEXAS
Forgotten Coast Fly Company 123 Commerce Street Apalachicola, FL 32320 850-653-1024 forgottencoastflycompany. com Florida Keys Outfitters 81219 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL 33036 305-664-5432 floridakeysoutfitters.com Mangrove Outfitters 4111 Tamiami Trail E Naples, FL 34112 239-793-3370 mangroveoutfitters.com Ole Florida Fly Shop 6353 N. Federal Hwy Boca Raton, FL 33487 561-995-1929 olefloridaflyshop.com Orlando Outfitters 2814 Corrine Dr Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-8220 orlandooutfitters.com ORVIS Ocean Reef 1 Fishing Village Drive Key Largo FL 33037 305-367-2227 Orvis.com
MARYLAND Alltackle 2062 Somerville Rd Annapolis, MD 21401 888-810-7283 alltackle.com MASSACHUSETTS The Bear’s Den 34 Robert W. Boyden Rd Taunton, MA 02780 508-977-0700 bearsden.com MONTANA Frontier Anglers 680 N. Montana St Dillion, MT 59725 406-683-5276 frontieranglers.com
SOUTH CAROLINA Bay Street Outfitters 825 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902 843-524-5250 baystreetoutfitters.com
Bayou City Angler 3641 Westheimer Rd Suite A Houston, TX 77027 832-831-3104 bayoucityangler.com
Sportsman’s Finest 12434 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78738 512-263-1888 sportsmansfinest.com Swan Point Landing 1723 Cherry Street Suite 4 Rockport, TX 78382 361-729-7926 swanpointlandingflyshop.net Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. 1933 E. Levee St Dallas, TX 75207 888-824-5420 tailwatersflyfishing.com UTAH Fishwest 47 West 10600 South Sandy, UT 84070 fishwest.com 801-617-1225 WASHINGTON Peninsula Outfitters 19740 7th Ave NE, Suite 110 Poulsbo, WA 98370 360-394-1599 peninsulaoutfitters.com The Avid Angler 17171 Bothell Way NE #A272 Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 206-362-4030 avidangler.com WYOMING Lander Fly Shop 305 Main Street Lander, WY 82520 307-438-3439 landerflyshop.com Retail Chains:
Gordy & Sons Outfitters 22 Waugh Drive Houston, TX 77007 713-333-3474 gordyandsons.com
Barnes & Noble—630 retail locations in the USA
ORVIS Austin 10000 Research Blvd - B04B Austin TX 78759 512-795-8004 Orvis.com
Bass Pro Shops—95 locations in the USA
ORVIS Houston 5727 Westheimer - Suite A Houston TX 77057 713-783-2111 Orvis.com
NEW YORK
ORVIS Plano Preston Towne Crossing 2412 Preston Road Suite 200 Plano, TX 75093 972-596-7529 Orvis.com
River Bay Outfitters 980 Church St Baldwin, NY 11510 516-415-7748 riverbayoutfitters.com
ORVIS San Antonio 7427 San Pedro Ave. Suite 104 San Antonio, TX 78216 210-812-3017 Orvis.com
R E T A I L E R S
Books-A-Million—260 stores in 32 states
C A R R Y T A I L
Dick’s Sporting Goods (select locations)—over 700 stores in the USA Field & Stream Stores—35 locations in the USA CANADA Drift Outfitters & Fly Shop 199 Queen St. East Toronto Ontario M5A-1S2 647-347-7370 Driftoutfitters.com Retail Chains: Indigo Books—over 200 stores under various banners
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On Monday, October 5th, 2020, South
Josie was an intimidating figure
wanted his bragging rights daily.
Andros lost a beloved member of its
because of his large stature, but his
Josie always expected accurate casts
tight-knit community, Captain Joseph
reputation as a guide was even more
and good technique from his clients.
“Josie” Sands.
intimidating. He was the guide you
He took every missed opportunity
both wanted—and didn’t want—to
personally. He was often short. One
I had the honor of catching my first
fish with. On the skiff he was all busi-
day while pushing through a creek
big bonefish while being guided by
ness, and that often meant tough
on the west side, Josie said, “Throw
Captain Josie during my first visit
love.
one of those long, pretty casts to the
to Andros. Over the years, Josie put many fly anglers on big bonefish.
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mangroves at 11 o’clock.” Assuming Josie and I did not get along initially.
he must’ve been talking to my buddy
He was a gruff veteran guide who
Matt, I just sat there.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH “JOSIE” SANDS (AUGUST 7, 1958 - OCTOBER 5, 2020)
Photo: David Madison
“You don’t hear me?” Josie barked.
“Let’s go find another fish.”
actual name was The New Ocean View Wholesale & Retail Bar, but
“Throw a cast to the mangroves!” If you ask those who’ve visited
everyone knew it as the Little Creek
If Josie Sands ever gave you a compli-
Andros, most will tell you that their
Bar. I recently heard a story about
ment you knew it was real. The entire
fondest memories of Josie were
Josie opening the bar on Super Bowl
time I was casting I was thinking
from the time they spent with him
Sunday to let some travelers watch
about that: I felt as if I had arrived.
at his bar. Across from the Andros
the game—an exceedingly rare thing,
Meanwhile, the fly disappeared
South launch point on Little Creek
for most guides in Andros take Sun-
somewhere into the mangroves.
was a tiny bar with a pool table and
day as a day of rest.
Josie dismounted the platform like
a limited selection of libations, which
an olympic gymnast and simply said,
Josie owned and operated. The bar’s
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Time Machine by Andy Mill its dise closed. COVID-19 had draped On March 27, 2020, a fly fishing para ps ida Keys were shut down. Boat ram dark cloak over the world. The Flor were vacant. The poisoned air left and golf courses closed. Streets we g. Was this the end? Was life as people shivering, sneezing, and dyin ught so then. Some still do. knew it over for good? Some tho er ground, in fact: 8,900 feet, to my I fled to higher ground—much high Colorado, far away from the madding home a thousand feet above Aspen, day of my arrival. The toxic air was crowd. The ski areas had closed the omnipresent. ston tting down, so my flight from Hou The country was in the process shu in ed a single private plane was park to Aspen had four people on it. Not mally of year when the airport would nor Aspen, which is unusual at a time I se, tions. On my ride up to my hou see wall-to-wall Gulfstreams and Cita e absolutely everywhere. From my hom realized that pandemic panic was g glin s and see the skiers like ants wig I can look across at the four ski area s. ween the green pines and aspen tree their way down the white trails bet Today the slopes were devoid of life.
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JUNGLE TARPON MAYHEM by Jesse Males
Barra del Colorado, Costa Rica, likely boasts the largest congregation of adult tarpon on the planet. In its heyday some 40-odd years ago, this jungle tarpon fishery played host to the likes of Lefty Kreh, Peter Gorinsky, and many more angling luminaries. Guiding in Costa Rica today—and following in these legends’ footsteps—I’m often struck by the fact that some of
the areas I fish barely resemble their descriptions in old articles and stories. And yet, despite the destructive effects of farming operations and illegal netting on the local snook populations, the waters of Barra del Colorado are undoubtedly still teeming with tarpon. Perhaps the fishery has outlasted environmental threats precisely
because of its location along the northern border of Costa Rica near Nicaragua, an area unreachable by car and accessible only by boat. Nevertheless, because the country has focused primarily on offshore fishing on the central and south Pacific coasts, few conservation efforts have centered on the area around Barra del Colorado. Costa Rican law prohibits gill netting and TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 39
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