For our major saltwater trip this year, we decided to head back to one of our all-time favorite family/fishing vacations : St. George Island. The summer time in SGI and Apalachicola is known for the migratory tarpon run, and we were hoping to get in on the mix. With massive storms in the area, and with fishing being tough thus far in the summer, the expectations were not set for huge numbers of fish, but we did hope to have a chance to hook into a big tarpon or two.
The tarpon played hard to get. Having fished three days for them, we did not get any eats, or hookups until the last day. To be honest, we probably only had two legitimate shots during our fishing periods. But on the last day, in the last hour (this seems to be a trend from the year), we were able to make it happen.
Deciding to call it quits on tarpon, we took the 9-weight fly rods out and decided to go pound on redfish and ladyfish on a gulf side of the island. Upon arriving at a boiling school of fish, we caught mackerel, ladyfish, and trout cast after cast. All of a sudden I looked to my left, and saw a huge shape in the water…a massive tarpon. I threw a perfect cast one foot in front of the fish, stripped the gold flash bunny I was fishing twice quick, and BOOM. Fish on. Finally.
The tarpon took off way into the gulf, and we fought the fish for roughly 30-minutes. Only using a 9-weight, we knew we weren’t going to be able to get this 150 pound fish into the boat, but we were able to enjoy the fight and get a leader touch to count the fish as caught. Unfortunately did not have many photo opps, but my best friend Jackson was able to get some solid footage of a jump.
Although these fish can be beyond difficult, and it doesn’t always end in a picture perfect moment, this trip was a blast, and teaches the lesson as to always being prepared for the unexpected.
And that’s a wrap. Another year of fly fishing, growing, and experiencing this sweet life in the books. Not only was this a big year in regards to fishing, but 2017 was possibly the best year of my life so far and I have much to be grateful for.
For the last trip of 2017, my family and I went back down to our home away from home when it comes to being on the beach and fishing: St. George Island, FL. The winter can be a difficult time to fish here due to the wind and colder weather, and in the past we have found it to be very hit or miss. This year not only did we have a plethora of rain and overcast skies present, but we also had to deal with the first major cold front of the winter. Although this made the fishing challenging during the week, we still made it happen, especially on the last day of giving it a go.
Winter in Florida is an ideal time to catch large speckled-trout on the flats. Not only will these fish school up in deep troughs by oyster bars, but large “gator” trout will go out on their own and begin to hunt the flats like redfish. Throughout the week, speckled trout were our most consistent option. With a variety of clouser minows and baitfish patterns in the fly box, we landed several trout in the 23-28 inch slot, and this provided constant action throughout the week.
Joe Petrow – Speckled TroutJoe Petrow – Speckled Trout
As for the redfish, we found that not many were pushed in on the flats. Whether this was due to the cold front or the poorly timed tides, we were not seeing the number of fish we are accustomed to. Thus, on our last day of fishing, we decided to get in the flats boat and venture to the back country marsh to see if these fish were trying to find warmer areas to lay up in the sun. With a warm day presenting itself, bait was moving everywhere, and we were beginning to see redfish show up. Throwing a larger sized natural-colored slider, we boated about ten redfish and the fish were extremely eager to eat. Fast strips, fish coming on top of flies, as always it was an exhilarating sight to behold! One redfish in particular noticed the fly as soon as it hit the water and the take was as if it was hitting a topwater.
However, the highlight of the trip consisted of catching a species that has been on my fly fishing bucket list for quite some time: black drum. After catching a great number of redfish, we were pulling down a flat and noticed a big, broom tail flapping out of the water. Having seen black drum multiple times in these back marshes we knew it was a black drum and got into position. After a throw right in front of the fish’s head, we immediately saw the fish react and go tail up even more so. After a few slow strips, the fish turned 180 degrees, flared its gills, and the fly line went tight. Fish on!
Using only 12-pound test, I had to be extremely cautious with this fish in that it dogged like no other and is known for having large, sharp scales. After turning the fish and grabbing it boat side, we got a couple of great pictures and a quick weigh on the scale – 35 pounds. A true beast, especially for my first black drum on the fly ever!
Joe Petrow – Black Drum
After a couple of minutes of gathering the excitement and looking through the photos, we looked up ahead and saw another massive tail out of the water. Another large, black drum feeding on a shallow oyster bar. After a beautiful 60-foot throw to the fish, the fish seemed disinterested and started to slowly move away. We pulled up closer and closer until finally I basically hit the fish on the top of the head with my fly; this got his attention. He fully tailed on the fly and ate it immediately. After another 15-minute we got this fish in, weighing 34 pounds. Unreal. We just caught two 30+ pounders on the fly in less than half a hour.
Joe Petrow – Black Drum
I couldn’t have asked for a better fishing day to take in the New Year. A week of fly fishing and spending time with my family always makes me realize how thankful I should be for this life that surrounds me, and I cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store.
As always, tight lines and best wishes for the New Year.
The first of September. Yellow sneaking into the trees, a cool morning breeze trying to break free like a running back between the tackles. As for fly fishing, September can be one of the best months out there, it that it is a transition period. Predators are out and about due to the cooler water, and know that work needs to be done before winter comes in full form. For the beginning of this fall, we decided to return up to the North Woods in search of one of the most challenging freshwater fish on the plant: musky. Pure, full-strain musky.
The last time we traveled to the North Woods in Wisconsin, we did a five-day fishing excursion. However, with work now more than a reality, we were only able to break away for three-days using the Labor Day weekend to our advantage. Upon arrival, the rivers were in great condition, and the weather for the most part appeared as if it was going to be cooperative. With a plethora of 12-18 inch flies in the boat, and 10-weights rigged up, we headed out to search for these elusive fish (day one being on a lake).
With clear conditions and very little wind, day one consisted of dark and natural patterns. Black, purple, tan, and off-white flies (Buffords, Hangtimes) fluttering through the water as if they were asking to get killed. I swear that just watching the flies swim when musky fishing is a sight to behold in itself. After a couple of nice follows to the boat, we arrived along a stretch of some wood cover that looked more than fishy. A throw tight to a shelf and WOOSH! A musky storms over and inhales the fly. After a chaotic fight, we had the musky in the boat and the weekend had truly began.
Joe Petrow – Musky
With one fish in the boat on the first day (we also had three more eats/strikes, unfortunately just weren’t able to stick), we decided to do river floats on days two and three. In my opinion this is probably the most fun way to fly-fish more muskies in my opinion: dark water, fast riffles, structure everywhere. You never know which pocket or stretch could potentially hold a fish of a lifetime.
As for day two, the weather was cooler and there was rain upon us. However, prior experiences of fishing in the rain for musky have been positive, so to be honest I was glad to put on the raincoat! Clouds and the rain also provide opportunities to throw some bigger and flashier flies, especially in the tea-stained waters of northern Wisconsin. After about a hour of casting and casting, we arrived to a faster stretch of river with a good amount of cut bank. I was throwing about a 14-inch creamsicle fly (orange and white), and had a gut feeling that something special was about to happen. After slinging this big ol’ creamsicle into a pocket right along the bank, I stripped twice, paused, then another strip…all of a sudden the fly disappeared, and a gold flash like no other erupts the water. Big musky on. Being in the fast moving water, this musky had plenty of spunk and kept dodging the bow of the boat methodically. After a couple of jumps and one flop out of the net boat side, we finally got the fish in the net and celebrated like no other. After a couple of pictures, we released this beauty (below) back into the dark underworld it came from, and a huge sigh of relief occurred. It’s not every day you get to see (let alone) catch a fish like that on a fly. What a sweet life this really is.
Joe Petrow – Musky
As for the rest of the day (and ALL of day three), the muskies did what they usually do. Stayed hidden and made us seem crazy to be out there blind-casting massive flies into the dark water. However, this is part of what makes fly fishing for these fish an unforgettable experience. There are no guarantees, and more often than not you are going to get humbled. They also reward you for remaining focused and attentive; they will finally decided to cooperate the minute you lose focus or don’t watch the fly come all the way in. As for us, we find that when we begin to have some doubt, it’s a good idea to tie on a bass popper and catch some smallmouth to keep the brain wired! Although putting in the time and energy is only way to have a chance of catching a musky on the fly, seeing big smallmouth crash a frog or gurgler provides a well needed spark (below).
Joe Petrow – Smallmouth Bass
I still am chasing a 45″+ monster, but I know that with diligence and with effort, any opportunity with these fish is possible. I’m itching to get back up to the North Woods as soon as possible, and who knows…maybe we have one more long weekend in us before winter comes in full force!
Yes, you read that title correctly. Big, toothy, ferocious beasts terrorizing prey opportunistically. Although they are hard to find and are beyond intelligent, these predators can be sought after on a fly. Tiger muskies provide a challenge like no other, and being able to catch them in a Rocky Mountain state is a sight to behold.
First things first, my experience with tiger muskies in Utah has been unreal. This was a fish species that had been on my bucket list to catch for years, and to be completely honest, I had not done much to educate myself with the species. Having fished for full-strain musky up in Wisconsin, I knew that these fish are the epitome of an aquatic predator, but I had not learned necessarily where and when to fish for tigers specifically. Let alone in a transplant environment (i.e. stocked reservoirs).
Joe Petrow – Tiger Musky
Although I am going to keep my locations personal and somewhat of a secret, I have found that the bigger the water body, the better. Tiger muskies are known to feast on a variety of fish species, and I have found that the most consistent locations to fish are those with a multitude of prey, and a variety of structure. This is because it allows fly fishermen to have a variety of options when it comes to fly choice. So whether the bait is bass, perch, suckers, catfish, or even ducks (scary right?), bigger water bodies provide more food. And then matching the hatch becomes more important than ever! As for structure, tigers love rocks, wood, weeds, and drop offs. Larger water bodies usually will have one of these four options, and if you can get a combination in one spot, get ready to see some fish follow.
Another aspect of fly fishing for tiger muskie revolves around the eat. These fish are infamously known for chasing a lure or fly all the way up to a boat, and as for me, I have had these fish eat a fly literally two feet away from me. Mind you, I also am solely wading…not in a boat. The adrenaline rush is something that is unforgettable, and the key here is to make sure to keep the fly in the water as long as possible. I have even had a fish physically jump out of the water to eat my fly when I am pulling it out to recast! Reading the body language of the fish is also critical, in that based on the level of aggression, the fly needs to be sped up, slowed down, or change in depth when a fish is chasing. Below is a picture of my personal best tiger – 38 inches on the dot. I watched it follow the fly all the way in before it ate less than five feet away from me.
Joe Petrow with a huge Tiger MuskyJoe Petrow with a huge Tiger Musky
Keep in mind that muskies are known as the fish of 10,000 casts for a reason. They are difficult to find, and are very picky when it comes to their eating behavior. Although possible to catch on a fly, more often than not a proper “skunk” may occur, but don’t let this dissuade you. Keep at it, maintain the faith, and when doubt begins to sink in, change your fly and keep the brain engaged! These fish know when attention is not being paid, and will make you pay for it the hard way (see what I did there?!).
As always, tight lines, and I will continue to provide updates with my tiger encounters here in Utah.
Man, where is the time going?! Summer’s almost here, the snow in Utah is starting to melt, mother nature is a beautiful thing. To escape some of the cold this winter and early spring, I decided to plan two fishing trips to chase my favorite fish that swims on this planet : Redfish. Although there are many species that are near and dear to me, my love for saltwater fly fishing began with Redfish, and it was time to revisit my roots.
For Christmas, my family and I decided to visit Apalachicola, Florida to relax for the vacation and fish the water that I grew up fishing. Over the past couple of years, the water clarity and conditions in Northwest Florida have been terrific and have allowed great sight fishing opportunities for these fish. Although we only did a day or so of guided fishing on this trip, the wade fishing turned out to be the highlight of the trip, and had a handful of great sessions consisting of both blind-casting and sight fishing to tailing fish.
Due to the water conditions, the primary fly patterns consisted of natural colors and crustacean imitations. Whether these were crabs, shrimp, or glass minnows, it was interesting to catch redfish on some patterns that were somewhat non-traditional to our usual fly box. These also led to the occasional catch of a speckled trout in that these are their primary food sources as well (a surprise visit from a flounder was also a first for me).
Although the winter can be hit or miss when it comes to redfishing specifically, the overall outcome was extremely positive, and some very healthy fish were the result. There is a reason as to why this is my favorite place on earth.
Redfish
But hang on a second…we are just getting started! After revisiting my old stomping grounds during the New Year, there was another red fishery that I bumped to the top of the priority list to get back to. That’s right, the redfish capital of the world. Louisiana.
Now the funny one with Louisiana is that although it seems as if I have fished the area multiple times, the truth is I had only been there twice previously. We have had two trips in the past also get cancelled (due to weather, and also one bad incident with a case of frost bite…not my proudest moment. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger though am I right?!). So, with one of my best buddies from college, we thought “why the heck not” and shot down to the bayou here at the end of April for a weekend that would turn out to be one for the memory books.
Joe PetrowJoe Petrow
Upon arrival of Louisiana, a couple of things were evident. Although it was indeed warm and no strong weather fronts were on the horizon, the water was definitely dirty (chocolate-milk like as we say), and that sun was not going to be a guarantee. However, when you are in a place like Louisiana with hundreds of miles of marsh all around you, you can use the weather to your advantage with the right guide and mindset.
Luckily for us, fish were tailing and crawling all day along the banks of the marsh, and as long as the fly was right on their nose, the fish were eager to eat. This was a somewhat new experience for me in that I’m used to leading fish by a foot or two in traditional saltwater settings; being able to buggy whip big flies right in front of the face of huge redfish was an adrenaline rush at its finest. Although many fish were spooked due to this technique, it was a necessity to get fish to eat, or else they would not see the fly.
Joe PetrowJoe Petrow
Although several large fish were caught during a couple of days of fishing, the biggest red of the trip was a 40/41 inches that was caught on a home-tied black and purple slider. This was the second biggest redfish of my life, and was one of the coolest eats and fights I have ever had. Back out of the water, moving slowly along the bank, the cast was a little too ahead of the fish so I had to wait on the strip, but it found the fly, chased it in, and hit right at the boat. After a 15-minute fight the fish was to the boat and the trip was off to an incredible start.
Joe Petrow – 40 Inch Redfish
I can’t wait for the summer to begin and for more trips to come. I have made it a News Years resolution to stay on top of this sight, in that the passion keeps me going, and I can’t think of a better way to chronicle the adventures that keep me going. Tight lines.
Man, it has been more than a few months hasn’t it?! Where has the time gone? I guess the working world is indeed a reality, but this has not kept me off the water. To those of you who follow the website and look forward to updates on trips, I apologize for the lack of activity lately, but have been waiting for the right opportunity to do my first post from my fly fishing experiences here in the great state of Utah.
Joe Petrow
Four months ago I moved to Utah for work not knowing much of what to expect. To be completely honest, all I knew was that “it was similar enough to Colorado,” and that I was excited to be in a city with countless fly fishing opportunities around. With this being said, the realities of my fishing experiences here have far surpassed my initial expectations, and once the clock hits 5:00 and emails are closed, it’s time to hit the water.
The biggest perk of fly fishing in Utah thus far has been the variety of species and ways to catch fish. Within a one hour drive of Salt Lake City, I have been able to catch all four main species of trout (Brown, Rainbow, Brook, and Cutthroat) on pretty much every technique known to man. Over the past few months, dry fly fishing has been probably 80% of what I have been doing, and the results are exceptional. In addition to this, I find myself throwing mouse patterns consistently as well, having caught all four species of trout now on home-tied mouse patterns. It is a sight to behold when you can sight fish a big trout sitting under a log and watch it rush out to crush a mouse pattern! Nature’s cruelty in work!
In addition to this, the water bodies in which I have been fly fishing are all so unique, and have perks to every situation. I have spent the majority of my time fishing high mountain creeks/narrow rivers, in that I find they are in remote places with spectacular views. Dry fly fishing is best here, and the native Brook and Bonneville Cutthroat trout tend to be aggressive and opportunistic. However, both the Provo and Weber river have produced some huge brown trout. I have already exceeded the 20″ inch mark twice while in Utah, with the biggest trout pushing 24″ inches, and another being a solid 22″ inches (see below).
Joe PetrowJoe Petrow
Although I was unable to tap into the Tiger Musky fishery here in Utah, I look forward to exploring this opportunity once spring rolls around, and am still on the hunt to find the best carp spots as well. I know that this post is relatively generic, but it has been WAY too long, and it was time to provide an update on what has been going on.
With snow now on the ground, I am hoping that it may be the time of year to go for the “studs” in the slow pools and spend full days throwing streamers for one or two beastly fish. Regardless of the season, the fly fishing has been exceptional thus far, and I’m excited to see what is ahead with the rivers, lakes, and streams around me.
As always, tight lines, and we will make sure to be more consistent with the posts. Specific stories to come!
Well, it’s that time of year. 90 degree days, darkness arriving past 9:00PM, parents trying to figure out what to do with their hectic kids; summer is here. As any avid fly fisherman would agree, each season presents it’s own perks and challenges, but there is always one season that fly fisherman will favor indefinitely. For me, this season is summer by far.
With the “real world” now upon me and work beginning soon, my dad and I decided that we had to have one last “hoorah” fishing trip before moving began and before scheduling became a pain in the you know what. However, we did not want an ordinary fly fishing trip. We wanted an adventure, a new target species, and a new location all in one giant bread basket. Thus, we decided to travel to Hayward, Wisconsin and fly fish for arguably the most voracious, predatory, and simply mean freshwater fish: the muskellunge (musky).
After a non-stop flight from Denver to Minneapolis, we drove three hours into the Wisconsin wilderness in hopes of having a week for the ages. We would be fishing with the famous Musky Country Outfitters, led by musky “legend” Brad Bohen and his number one guide Weston Thier. With expectations on our end being relatively uncertain, this week would turn out to be one of the best fly fishing experiences we have ever had, and some big, beautiful, toothy fish were landed.
We fished two rivers for the week: several parts of both the Chippewa and Flambeau rivers. As for the fly fishing itself, hundreds upon hundreds of casts were taken everyday, and with every cast came the hope that a giant musky would be following our 8-12 inch flies towards the boat. With six total fish landed between my dad and I for the week, we were extremely successful and immediately became hooked to the anticipation that fly fishing for musky offers.
Day one of fishing for the week turned out to be the most productive, in that we managed to land three muskies, including a monster that will be classified as a fish of a lifetime to me. Appreciate, every day of fishing throughout the week also consisted of several smallmouth bass and the occasional pike or walleye, but we are here to talk musky! After a couple hours into our day, I managed to catch a juvenile musky that got the “monkey off our back” and got our hopes up. What amazed me immediately was how a small 20 inch musky was eager to eat a 10 inch fly. Although this fish was a shining moment for the week, it was roughly an hour later that a true monster would be landed, and I would learn in a 20 second period what fly fishing for musky is really about. After throwing a massive baitfish pattern at the end of some faster moving whitewater, I watched my fly as I stripped it all the way to the boat. With about five feet remaining between the boat and the fly, I saw a massive creature flare it’s gills and inhale the fly…my heart immediately raced, and we had a monster musky on. After an insane minute of this fish jumping across the river, dodging the net, and snapping it’s teeth as we removed the fly, I was able to hold a fish of a lifetime and truly say that I had caught the musky fever. After taking a picture with our 40 inch beast, we continued casting away, and my dad was able to land his first musky on the fly as well. Not only did he land his first musky, but he also managed to catch this fish on a massive topwater fly, AND on Father’s Day. What a Father’s Day it was.
Joe Petrow – 40/41 inch Musky
After being truly spoiled on our first day of fly fishing for musky, we learned on day two and day three why these fish are so difficult to catch, and why this fish has been historically referred to as the fish of 10,000 casts. Although we were able to catch many smallmouth and a decent number of pike, the muskies were alluding us, and some mental insanity began. However, as Brad Bohen told us the first night we arrived, the method to the madness is to truly believe that the next cast will have a fish, and to keep hopes up always. And boy, would he turn out to be right.
As for days 4 and 5 of fishing, we were able to get three more muskies to the boat, along with a follow from a massive fish that chased my dad’s fly all the way to the boat. We consistently noticed that the majority of our fish took the fly right at the boat, and we both began to realize that in this dark, stained water, you never know what could be lurking feet from your fly. As for the fight itself, picture a minute of raw insanity in which everything that can go wrong will, in that these fish sincerely do have an attitude and will do everything in their power to assert their dominance. On day 4, I was able to land a solid 32 inch fish, and my dad and I were EACH able to stick into 37/38 inch beasts on the last day of fishing. With the famous “River Pig” patterns that Brad and Weston tie up daily, we had finally found a reliable pattern, and ended our trip on the highest note possible.
Joe Petrow – 32 inch MuskyJoe Petrow – 37 inch Musky
Although we both were bummed when our week of fishing came to an end, we knew that we would be returning back to Wisconsin soon to take on Part 2 with this amazing fish. To spend the week of Father’s Day on the water with my Dad was a memory that I will never forget, and I am truly beyond blessed to have a best friend that takes me fishing as much as he does. Below is a picture of two, new musky addicts, who fortunately took the time between hundreds of casts to get a picture worth a thousand words.
The time has come. Four years of college completed. Countless hours of studying, laughing hysterically with friends, and late nights exploring Fort Worth coming to an end. I don’t exactly know where my time as a college student went, but all I can for sure say is that as any chapter comes to an end, another page opens, providing new opportunities to be taken advantage of. As for me, with a diploma in hand, I found myself being fortunate enough to receive a fly fishing trip as my graduation present.
With it being late May, a celebratory occasion, and summer nearly upon us, the move was clear: time to chase tarpon. My family and I headed to the Forgotten Coast of Florida to fish with our good friend and guide Travis Huckeba, and what a week it would turn out to be.
With rain and heavy wind holding us back at the beginning of our trip, we found ourselves seeing very few fish, and having difficulty getting into the groove and pattern of things. Although we did jump a fish here and there, the tarpon were acting bothered and not yet in their migratory mindset. However, as goes any fly fishing narrative, we kept our heads up, feet down, and stayed persistent to land one of the most respected fish in the world.
On day three, the tarpon really started to pick up. With two eats, and more than a dozen fish seen, we knew that the days to come had the potential to be legendary. As for day four, insanity was about to begin, and we were ready to go.
With the day starting early as does every other day of tarpon fishing, we decided to play the patience game. Anchored on a flat that we had been seeing tarpon consistently cruising the day prior, we knew our time and shots would come. After breaking off a big fish early in the day, we re-tied on our trusty black poon fly, and within the next half hour we had another shot. A nice 70-80 pound tarpon in front of the boat. Cast, strip, set, let’s go. After a half hour battle (and rearranging the pieces on our 12 weight rod after they came apart mid fight) we had landed the silver king himself, and were able to get some amazing pictures by jumping in the water. Although the water was 5-6 foot deep, I couldn’t help but jump in with this stud of a fish, checking off my goal of catching a big Florida tarpon in one of my favorite places in the world.
Joe Petrow – TarponJoe Petrow – Tarpon
After celebrating our catch and taking some time to chug gatorade from the previous fight, we got our 12 weight ready once again and soon locked into a beast of a fish that I will never forget. We saw a pod of three fish coming with this monster being on the far right, and after a few quick and fast strips, the fish ate and immediately took off to a deep channel. Although the fish did jump a few times at the beginning of the fight, this tarpon was all about dogging it out and knew exactly where the deepest sections of the bay were. After a long, arduous hour and twenty-five minute fight, we had the gargantuan (120-130 pound) female tarpon boat side and began preparing to land the fish. Although we had been fighting the fish for over a hour, this fish still had tons of energy from the deep, oxygenated water in which we were fighting it in. With some concern for the health of the fish after such a long battle, we decided to lock down the drag fully to get a face grab on this fish. After putting on the gloves and grabbing the bottom of the leader by the fly as the fish was on its side, the behemoth took off once more, breaking the line with this final run. Although we were not able to get a quick picture with this once in a lifetime fish, knowing that she returned to the depths with full health and energy is what remains most important (especially since we had multiple leader grabs to officialize our catch long before this fish took off). Some pictures of the fight and fish are below, I apologize for not having more but all of our focus was on the intense fight.
120-130 pound Tarpon Boat-sideJoe Petrow and Travis HuckebaJoe Petrow and Travis Huckeba
In addition to the tarpon fishing, we made sure to get our redfish fix in as well during the week. Although we did not catch the numbers of redfish that we have been spoiled with in the past, we were able to get on a decent number of redfish that kept the 8-weights peeling the entire week. Countless numbers of ladyfish, sharks (including hooking into a 150 pound bull shark that nearly spooled our reel), and other species kept the week busy and plentiful.
Joe Petrow
Tarpon and fly fishing aside, this week was one for the memory books in that I got to spend time with my best friends and the people who have supported me all throughout my college career. Having my parents, best friend, and girlfriend all getting to experience a week of a lifetime is something that words cannot explain, but all I can say is that I am beyond blessed and grateful to have these people in my life. Love this life, love the tarpon, and cheers to new adventures ahead.
In a world filled with over 30,000 species of fish, it may be hard to believe that some fish can in fact make a fly angler’s hands shake when seen, or make a heart beat excessively when a tail slowly peaks out of the water. Although I find both adrenaline and excitement when I spot a fish that I am targeting, this past week in Ambergris Caye, Belize was a trip for the ages. Not only is any fishing trip with my dad my favorite way to spend time in this world, but catching a fish of my dreams made it even sweeter: permit. This week consisted of four full days of fishing in Ambergris Caye, Belize, with the target species being permit. With March known for school of migrating permit entering the flats, and with a week off for my final spring break of my college career, this trip seemed too good to be true. However, as the week went on, we soon learned that catching permit would be a reality for the week.
As for the first day of fishing, we discovered that heavy winds would be our major obstacle for the week. Although the weather was in the low 80s and the sky was scattered with both sunshine and cloud cover, the winds were relentless and averaged 15-20 knots daily. After spotting a couple of large permit on the move and making some good casts that led to refusal, we realized that spending the first day chasing bonefish would prepare us for the week ahead. Having fished for bonefish significantly in Belize in the past (three previous trips), we soon found ourselves in the backcountry searching for pods of hungry bonefish cruising the shoreline. Although the wind made casting difficult into the wind, we were able to land six bonefish throughout the day on small “Christmas Island” shrimp patterns and light-weighted “Bonefish Cookie Crabs.” Not only do bonefish put up one of the best fights relative to their size, they truly are a fish that amazes anglers with their beauty and sense of serenity when landed.
Joe Petrow – Bonefish
Day two of fishing would turn out to be one of the best days on the water that I have ever experienced in my entire life. The day started early at 7:30 and we began searching for schooling permit in deeper channels between sections of flats. Although the occasional permit was seen, these fish were extremely spooky due to the sunlight, and decided to move to another flat and wade fish in hopes of being able to not spook the fish. Upon arriving at our new flat, I noticed a massive shape in the water about 40 feet from where we stopped the boat. Huge barracuda. I decided to grab my 9 weight Orvis Recon that was recently purchased for my dad’s birthday present, and tied on a massive baitfish pattern that I had created for fly fishing for tiger musky and pike back in Colorado. Our guide instructed me to tease the fish on the first couple of casts and pull the fly away so that the barracuda would be looking to eat rather than getting spooked. After teasing the big fish and finally noticing anger on his end, I casted, stripped fast, and whack…fish on. We landed the barracuda after a 15 minute fight, and this would be the fish to get the skunk off our backs for the rest of the day.
Joe Petrow – Barracuda
The rest of the afternoon would become the highlight of the trip. After eating a brief lunch and drinking orange Fanta and Belikin beer on the boat, we began idling towards a section of flat in which our guide said permit will sometimes school up in. Upon arrival, we noticed a massive section of nervous water on the flat, along with one other boat frantically casting off of the bow unsuccessfully roughly half a mile down the flat. We decided to anchor the boat, and see if the section of nervous water came our way. And sure enough, at 21 years of age, I would soon be landing my first permit. The nervous water turned out to be a school of roughly 100-150 permit, who were quickly moving down the flat, and I let out a cast roughly ten feet in front of the school of fish and let the fly sink. One strip…two strips…line goes tight…permit on! After roughly a five minute fight, I had a beautiful, truly flawless permit in my hands, and after a couple of pictures to capture the moment, more casting ensued on this massive school of permit that we managed not to spook completely due to fighting our first permit in the opposite direction. Madness continued to occur with this school of fish, in that we were able to land two more within the next couple of hours, and also lost one. At about 3:00 the school of permit began to slowly disappear, and we decided that this school of fish had blessed us enough for the day. Time to go catch some bonefish, and then head back in. But hold on…not so fast.
Joe Petrow – PermitJoe Petrow – PermitJoe Petrow – Permit
As we were heading back to shore, our guide ran up to the front of the boat, put on his sunglasses, and yelled “PERMIT! PERMIT! Stop the boat! Someone grab a rod!” Like a young boy who had just been told “first one to the finish line wins,” I grabbed our only rod with a shrimp pattern that was equipped with a ten pound bonefish leader (the other two rods were currently equipped with a tarpon fly and barracuda wire) and jumped into the water. Our guide pointed straight ahead and I saw a school of about 20 large permit hauling butt directly our way. I stripped out line faster than I ever have before, and began sprinting in the water to the right in order to set up the cast. Run, run, run. Go, go, go! Cast, cast, cast…land it. My cast had landed about ten feet from the front of the school, and as soon as I began stripping line in I had three nice permit competing over the fly. They kept missing and missing, until finally all of my fly line was in, except for roughly five feet of leader off the tip of my rod. I felt a significant take, and a bigger permit (roughly ten pounds) was on for about a second, then pop. Good ol’ fashioned line break. Regardless, the rush was one of the most amazing fly fishing experiences I have ever had, and it taught me to never been on a boat in search of permit without at least one rod ready to go with the right line (16 and 20 pound tippet were the move for the week, and any saltwater fish hitting a fly five feet from the tip of the rod is going to break 10 pound tippet like it’s nothing.)
Days three and four decided to call in mother nature for even more backup, and the wind continued to howl intensely. We ran across one spooked school of permit on day three, and lost one fish due to an awkward take. Although we did search the entire day for more permit (perhaps hoping to find the same large school we encountered on day two) we did not see any more permit for the remaining two days. But that is how fly fishing for permit goes: some days all of the stars lineup and provide you with an opportunity or two, and on other days you can flat out see nothing. Some days will even consist of everything seeming perfect, but then the fish will continuously refuse you for absolutely no apparent reason. The amount of respect that I developed for these fish this week is immense, and their beauty, intelligence, and ability to appear when most unexpected is something to highly appreciate and admire. However, as fly fishing in Belize seems to go most of the time, we were able to still land some great bonefish for our remaining two days and countless memories were made during every cast.
Joe Petrow – BonefishJoe Petrow – Bonefish
Although I have been blessed and fortunate enough to have had countless days on the water with a fly rod in hand and my dad by my side, this week will forever be one of the most memorable to me. Not only is catching a fish as highly respectable and impressive as a permit a moment that I will forever cherish, but being able to do it on my last spring break in college with my best friend is something that words cannot express. Fly fishing continues to amaze me with the emotional motivation it provides me with, and I will definitely be chasing more permit in future trips throughout my life with the man who has helped shape me into who I am today.
This life is sweet, God is good, and every day continues to bring new hope and adventure. Tight lines and best wishes to all.
Fort Worth, Texas. Late January. Cold as you know what…
The carp aren’t rising, the largemouth aren’t shallow, it looks like a pretty dismal time of year for the avid urban fly fisherman. I found myself in this predicament all throughout January, causing me to search for limbs to climb out to and hope that there may be an adventure around the corner that could give me my fly fishing “fix” during these cold months.
When considering what species really thrive in the colder months based on the fly fishing I have done in the past, I began thinking about trout, redfish, snook, and even tarpon in certain parts of the world. However, being in landlocked Texas, I soon began to think about one species in particular: striped bass (stripers). Striped bass are a species of gamefish in which are predominantly sought after in the North Eastern United States, and can grow to massive sizes (40+ pounds) in the saltwater. In the mid to late 1900s, it was accidentally discovered that stripers could in fact breed, grow, and thrive in freshwater environments, allowing an opportunity for landlocked states with reservoirs deep enough to maintain cold water temperatures. Stripers find themselves happiest and willing to eat with water between 50-55 F, but need a slot from 40-60 for optimal survival. After some research, I found a “secret” location in which has been terrific for striper fishing. This Texas spot is not one that is easily accessible, and not many people know about it (unlike other popular striper locations throughout the state). I usually am more than willing to share information about locations, but this one is too special to risk.
Joe Petrow with a large Texas striperJoe Petrow with a Texas striperJoe Petrow with a Texas striper
The best part about fly fishing for stripers (to me) is being able to throw big, flashy streamers during the middle of winter. A little bit of news here in that I am now tying my own flies (will post about this later, but am currently approaching my 100th fly made mark). Throwing only my flies to these stripers has not only proved to be extremely successful, but has made the overall experience of catching these fish even more enjoyable. I can’t wait to keep testing out flies of my own.
As for the last couple of trips, chartreuse and white colored bait fish patterns have been absolute nails. Whether these are clouser minnows, or even bunny patterns that I have been making, this color is terrific in both clear and dirty water it seems like. However, I have also found success with black and red saltwater flies that I use for redfish and even sharks to be successful. These stripers will sit in the deep pools at the ends of fast currents, and will hit these flies aggressively when the time is right. Stripers are known to actively eat and swim throughout a water column and constantly move throughout the day, so being able to fish multiple spots and find fish in nearly all of them has been unbelievable. The fish have ranged anywhere from 5-15 pounds, and the fight on a 6 weight rod is a spectacle of its own. These fish will dog you into the deepest section of the river, and it has made withstanding the wind and cold well worth it for January. I am confident that fish ranging between 15-25 due indeed live in this river system, but it will take some dedication to larger flies and deeper water to find out.
Joe Petrow with a Texas striperJoe Petrow with a Texas striper
The striper has been a fish that can now be checked off of the “species bucket list,” and I’m hoping that the continuation of these trips will be as successful in February. My next outing will consist of trying to find the larger fish, making me bring out the saltwater flies and heavier tippet. Once March hits, I will be on my way to Louisiana to fish for monster redfish, providing a transition into spring that couldn’t be any more ideal.
Tight lines,
Joe
Just a guy and his fly rod taking the road less traveled.
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