W H AT ’ S I N M Y B A G
THE TRAVELLING MAN A G L A N C E AT J E T - S E T T I N G P H O T O G R A P H E R A N D F I L M M A K E R S I K AY ’ S PA S S P O R T – S TA M P S F O R C O L O M B I A , M E X I C O , I TA LY, SLOVENIA, SEYCHELLES, MARSHALL ISL ANDS – MAKES FOR ENVIOUS R E A D I N G , E S P E C I A L LY W H E N Y O U C O N S I D E R T H E S P E C I E S H E H A S F I L M E D A N D F I S H E D F O R W H I L E W O R K I N G W I T H F LY F I S H I N G N AT I O N . S O , W H E N S I D E S C R I B E S H I S R E M A R K A B L E T R A J E C T O R Y I N F LY F I S H I N G A S “ F R O M T H E C A P E F L AT S T O T H E S A N D F L AT S ” I T M A K E S C O M P L E T E S E N S E . H E C H AT S T O T H E M I S S I O N A B O U T T H E G E A R H E S W E A R S B Y A N D A F E W H A R D - E A R N E D T R AV E L R U L E S , T I P S , A N D TA C T I C S . Photos. Simon Kay archive
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ver the last couple of years, especially since joining the Fly Fishing Nation (FFN) media team, I’ve been travelling a hell of a lot. This means a mix of fishing and filming, photographing and trying to pack accordingly, with most trips requiring more than one flight. Through the lens of social media, this may look like an amazing rollercoaster of fish pics and crazy destinations… and it is. I’ve just had one of the best years of my life, seeing places that, a few years ago, I had never even had on my bucket list. But, this has also meant being tossed in the deep end. A lot of work goes into keeping the engine turning. I have learnt masses from the team, in terms of media in the fly fishing world and, more importantly, in terms of the fishing itself. If I look back a year, it feels like looking at one of those teen photos of yourself where, at the time, you thought you were the coolest guy on the planet and knew all you needed to know already. Oh, what a cute, I, 35-year-old man I was back then. I have a rule: I’m either fishing or capturing fishing content. I make a clear distinction. If the aim is to capture footage for even just an hour, the rod stays far away for that hour. This may mean for a whole trip, such as when I shot the floating crab permit film in Mexico, I didn’t pick up a rod for 18 of the 20 days I was there. It’s quite simple: You need both hands to do either of the two well. If the aim is to capture images or footage, I focus on clicking. If the aim is to fish, I focus on flicking.
TACKLE I have been fishing FFN “team gear” for most work trips. This is fishing gear (rods, reels, lines, flies, etc.) that stays with the person on the team who is most likely to be needing it for an upcoming trip/project. Most of these projects have been expeditions for bigger fish and all in warmer climates. There is a lot of stuff in the kitty. These are some of my favourites: Epic Bandit 10-weight glass paired with a Shilton SR10. I first fished this combo in Colombia for peacocks and payara and the extra weight of glass versus graphite was well worth the confidence knowing that when these creatures tried to pull a dirty under the boat, I could just fight back without having to worry about the rod popping. On that trip I used Rio Jungle lines and Hatch Mono leaders for the peacocks, with fluoro and wire for the payara. These never let me down in any way. I have fished this rod and reel combo a few times since then and just love it. Fresh, salt, it does it all. Sage R8 9-weight Salt. I fished this rod in Xcalak, Mexico for permit. The right amount of fast in all the right places. Perhaps it’s my casting style, but the way this thing casts is just dreamy. Favourite rod of the year. I am yet to put it to the test fighting a big perm. 2024 goals…
“IF THE AIM IS TO CAPTURE IMAGES OR FOOTAGE, I FOCUS ON CLICKING. IF THE AIM IS TO FISH, I FOCUS ON FLICKING.” 86
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