Jako Lucas: An Interview with a Living Legend

By the Editorial Staff

The person we met at the IFTD show was a friendly, down-to-earth, and witty person – someone anyone would love to spend a full day in a boat with fly fishing for… whatever.

Legends come in many forms, but they always involve a bit of mystery. That’s why we’ve sat down and had a chat with Jako; about his dreams and aspirations, about his life as a guide, about how it all started, and where it’s likely to end…

As with the majority of us, I started at a very early age conventional fishing with my father and grandfather. I have very early memories from around the age of 4 fishing little pools between the rocks, while my dad was fishing in the ocean. It was love at first bit. I spent every moment I could fishing and even did it competitively for a while.

I always loved to watch fishing shows on TV, happened to watch a few fly fishing shows, and was intrigued. My parents bought me a beginner fly fishing kit and I then started fishing for trout and our local yellowfish. This was around my final year of primary school and from the first time I caught a fish on fly, I wanted to catch everything on fly. I love everything about it, the challenges and the hunt.

The biggest thing that fascinates me about fly fishing are the possibilities: They’re truly endless. We are only limited by our own dedication and pursuit. There are so many examples of accomplishments, especially with some of the true legends and pioneers of the sport.

A few great, relatively recent examples are probably milkfish and bumphead parrotfish. They were deemed uncatchable for the longest time until hard work and dedication from a few local guides paid off. I remember how proud I was of landing some of the first bumphead parrotfish ever landed on fly. I believe it was number 3 and 4 in the same session with a client from Scotland, Ronnie at Providence Atoll. As mentioned before the challenge and the hunt is what it is all about.

I also believe that fly fishing is one of the best ways to connect with nature; your surroundings and the whole process of catching a fish on fly, but also being able to let the fish go back home.

Fly Fishing takes us to some amazing places, even if it is just your secret spot in your backyard. My father and grandfather taught me a lot from the conventional side, conditions, reading water, but I definitely needed to refine my approach with fly fishing. At the end of the day, I always tell my clients, “The day you decided to catch fish on the fly, is the day you increase the challenge of catching fish, but it is totally worth it”. It always amazes me that we can tie an imitation with natural and synthetic material that will look so realistic that it can fool a fish into thinking it’s getting a free meal.

Although social media might have made guiding look like a very glamorous job, it definitely is not. There is a lot more than just taking clients fishing, that most people will never understand until they do it. Pre-season prep, getting the lodge ready, working on boats, cleaning, guide meetings, strategy… The list goes on. Not only that, but you spend a lot of time away from home and civilization. The extreme heat and/or cold weather also takes its toll on most guides over time.

I believe that the reason why so many South African guides have excelled in this profession, is our pure stubbornness, ability to work really hard for very little and pride in a hard day’s work. We are also pretty competitive people and I think that helps.

Although these locations around the world are a team effort, it is always good to have that drive. Unfortunately, we are also pretty hard people to guide, because we don’t have a strong culture of guiding and want to DIY everything, haha! But things are changing slowly.

It is probably the South African in me and everything I learned from my parents that gave me the drive to always want to accomplish what I set my mind to. In the final year of my Bachelor Degree in Marketing, I met Keith Rose- Innes by pure accident. When I saw him, he did look like a long-term guide that just finished up a season somewhere off the grind. He had just finished a season in Russia and was working on his Seychelles program.

I asked a million questions and asked him what I should do. I followed every step, finished my degree, went to London, worked at a Fly Shop called Farlows, met as many industry professionals as I could, learned everything I could and one year later called him up about a job. Luckily enough, I got a position to guide in Cosmoledo. I had done some guiding before that, but this was the big league and I had to put on my big boy pants. The rest is history. I could not believe that I was going to make a living doing what I love!

I believe that guiding is probably one of the most rewarding jobs that you could do in this world. Being able to make someone’s dream come true, catching a fish of a lifetime and sharing that magic moment of excitement, I mean, how much better does that get?

Not only are we able to make a living doing what we are most passionate about, but our office is also damn amazing. I would much rather have a tough day on the water than in an office.

As much as I love helping clients have a great day on the water, unfortunately this does not always go to plan, no matter how hard a guide works. Not only are we dealing with an unpredictable animal, but conditions and weather can also have a huge impact. I think the important thing for all clients to know is that we are to make sure that they always have the best opportunity possible for that dream fish.

Unfortunately, the expectations within a client’s ability can be high sometimes. I know that I am guilty of it, but with films and social media, we can sometimes make it look easier than it actually is.

The reality is that we don’t always catch fish. I have been on many trips that we will not catch for quite some time. But with determination and hard work, it will happen at some stage. There are also a few key things that will help clients maximize their opportunities. Firstly is the ability to cast a pretty good line. I will always prefer accuracy over distance. A 40ft cast accurately can get it done most of the time.

I believe that it is also very important to do one’s best guiding a client within a client’s ability. Meaning, a guide should always try and position the clients in the best possible position for them to make the shot. I have seen it so many times that the guide gets frustrated when the client cannot make a 60-foot cast in the wind or whatever the situation may be.

Yes, we would always love the clients to practice their casting, but sometimes they just don’t have enough time with their business or work schedule. Some of these exotic trips are very expensive and require hard work to pay for them. So, if you can get past the frustration of the client struggling, rather try and help them become a better angler. Casting, positioning, managing their expectations. If you can get back to the dock at the end of a day with tough fishing, better fishermen and smiling clients, then you have done everything you could.

Some of the best guides I have worked with, did not always have the best fishing resume. Someone that has an open mind, good personality, willing to learn, passionate and works their ass off, those are the people that will go a long way.

At the end of the day a guide has to wear many hats. Not only are you a fishing guide, but a friend, psychologist, entertainer, teacher, mechanic… Any guide can look like a rockstar when the fishing is on fire, but those that can work under the pressure of bad conditions and fishing are the ones that can take it to the next level.

It is also important to be able to work a camera. Capturing these moments for your clients is a massive bonus. Like I also mentioned before, it is your objective to get your clients into fish, no one cares about how good you are as a fly fisherman when you are guiding them, it is all about your ability to get them into fish.

I spent several years guiding the Seychelles without picking up a fly rod, as hard as it was, I believe it also helped me to be a better guide. It helped me guide clients with their ability and not my ability.

It would be hard for me to not say, the Seychelles. I started guiding the Seychelles in 2006 and knew from the very first moment that this was one of the most unique and special locations in the world.

It is impossible to deny that the Seychelles is probably the number one dream trip for any saltwater fly fisherman. The Seychelles is just so pristine and offers unbelievable wading and amazing fly fishing opportunities for an incredible number of different species. Anything from huge numbers of bonefish, milkfish, triggerfish, bumphead parrotfish, permit and dozens of other reef and flats species. And several different types of trevally including the gangster of the flats; the Giant Trevally. These trips are very expensive and a long way to travel, but definitely worth it, “that once in a lifetime trip”.

Is there a certain destination or species that you’re itching to fish? As with most fishermen, my bucket list is still growing. I have been so fortunate to travel to so many amazing locations, but that has just been the driving force for me to see even more.

From an adventure perspective, I would probably have to say the Chingo river, fishing for Goliath Tigerfish. Francios Botha and Ed Ghaui have put in some serious hard work to make this a possibility. Fishing in a pristine river in Africa for the biggest species of Tigerfish and not even to mention the other species, that sounds pretty damn sweet.

Top 10 Location 1. Seychelles 2. Tanzania 3. Bolivia 4. Kamchatka 5. Mongolia 6. Australia (Wessel Island) 7. Mexico 8. Texas 9. Costa Rica 10. Brazil (Amazon)

Other Places I love 1. Cuba 2. Norway 3. Bahamas 4. Louisiana 5. Gabon 6. Belize 7. Lesotho 8. Florida 9. Montana 10. Sudan

Bucket List 1. Alaska 2. Canada 3. Kendjam 4. Rio Marie 5. New Zealand 6. Patagonia/Chile 7. Chingo 8. Trout fishing around the US 9. Papua New Guinea 10. Nicaragua 11. Iceland 12. Greenland

It has been absolutely amazing to guide at some of the most amazing locations in the world. Unfortunately, it is very hard to have a “normal life” guiding at these places. I have been very fortunate to have a supportive wife and she has even worked at some of these places with me. But at some point you will have to make a decision. I am not saying it is impossible to do this forever, but it will be a pretty hard lifestyle to maintain, especially if you want to have your own family, wife and kids one day.

I have always wanted my own skiff and my own outfitting business. When my wife and I moved to the US, I was able to chase this pursuit and extend my guiding career. It took me a couple of years, but I fell in love with the Texas Coast. Believe me, there is a lot more to this fishery than meets the eye. I also love the challenge of a new fishery and continuing the learning process. It is a big fishery to learn and very hard to navigate. Unfortunately, I can not elaborate too much, because of access and pressure on some of these fisheries on the coast, but I can assure you I am here for a reason.

Redfish are amazing and just such an honest fish. Look, they can be tricky, but for the most part they just need to see the fly. Such a good fish for a client to hone their skills. Then there is also another bad ass fish that frequents these waters; the Jack. I am currently working on a film to showcase these amazing and underrated fish.

So many people are obsessed about Giant Trevally. They are amazing fish, but definitely a long way to travel for US folks to get a chance to fish for them. Jacks are family of the Giant Trevally, you can catch them on the US coast line and they are just as awesome as a Giant Trevally. Granted they don’t get as big, but they do everything a GT does, but people still overlook them and call them trash fish. I think as humans we can easily overlook something that is easily attainable and forget how privileged we are with everything we have.

Look, I am by no means a scientist, but it does seem to me that global warming is a reality. It just seems like the season, water temperature, and weather is changing a little every year. I have seen unseasonal high water temperatures, winds, and even air temperature changes in some of the locations I guided at. This will always be a controversial subject, but we have to just educate ourselves and be aware.

The other big concern is trash. You will not believe the amount of trash that gets washed up in the Seychelles. I even picked up a cast net the other day that someone just threw in the mangroves, was not able to get it out and left it there. We can do better as humans. Try and minimize your rubbish/waste and just clean up after yourself. You can also go a bit further and pick up any trash you see. Unfortunately, there will always be people that will not want to do better, but we can do everything we can from a personal capacity.

This first and most important thing is to truly love fly fishing and have a true passion to build a career in the industry. Forget about social media!!! That should be a secondary bonus addition. So many people now try to build a career in fly fishing through social media.

I have had conversations with several of my good friends and some of the best people in the industry. All of them work their ass off and are currently well-respected in the industry, they all say the same. Work first, earn respect and then have fun (social media) later. Also remember the people that have paved the way for those getting into the sport. I have so many mentors that have helped me.

Be humble and always willing to learn. Once you think you know it all, you are back to square one.

The truth about the fishing industry is that it is a forever hustle and you have to work at it 24/7. Having additional skills like photography is a huge bonus. Guiding is becoming more and more popular so the lodges are looking for a bit of experience. The best thing that helped me was by working in a fly fishing shop. You learn a lot and get to know the right people. Even if you have to be an intern at a fly fishing Shop over the weekends. It would be good to work on a resume or CV. Even if it does not show a ton of experience, just point out your passion and your personal fishing experience.

Never stop working at it! For example, if you want to guide in the Seychelles, you will also need a Captain’s license and STCW. Most people always get despondent when they hear this. I had to do my coast guard license to be able to guide out here in the USA. So, I had to take a week out, but was working on 10 other things while I did it.

For some reason there is also this rumor being spread that the fly fishing industry is not open to newcomers. The majority - or pretty much everyone I know - are always willing to help. Sometimes people are busy and it might take some time, but we are always willing to help someone in the right direction. I have also tried to help countless people that did not end up following my help and advice.

Feel free to reach out to me. You can send me your resume and I am happy to have a look and send out to some of the lodges I know. The most important part is to just stay hungry and do whatever you need to make it happen. That is what I did.

It is amazing the information you can get via the Internet now, so just keep educating yourself and try to get out on the water as much as possible. I learned things the hard way, but always just stayed passionate and asked questions, learning along the way.