Tarpon Time again

Last spring I traveled to the Yucatan in search of the "Silver Prince"... baby tarpon. The Yucatan has become known for large populations of baby tarpon. Ascension Bay, on the west coast of the Yucatan, is well known as a tarpon fishery, as well as other flats species. But it is also home to many lodges, pangas, tourists, and pressured fish. So to avoid the crowds I went east.
My friend Marco Ruz invited me to experience fishing with him and his guides on the Mayan Yucatan. The stop was Tarpon Cay Lodge. The flats and mangroves guarding the lodge would prove to be as great as Marco claimed. One phrase describes it best... "Tarpon Catching".

I enjoyed the fishing and experience Marco provides so much that I'm going back in 2009. I have selected dates after their winter weather cycle and during the best tides for catching tarpon. Since baby tarpon live deep in the mangroves and feed on the flats, it is important to be on the water during the low tide. Tarpon will be forced from the safety of the mangroves, where we will be waiting, ready to intercept.

A total of 5 anglers will travel with Marco and myself from Cancun, to Tarpon Cay Lodge for six days of fishing for baby tarpon and migratory fish up to 100 pounds. I would like you to be one of them. This is the best baby tarpon experience on the flats. Jose Wejebe (The Spanish Fly) totes Tarpon Cay as the largest population of baby tarpon he has ever seen.

Dates: July 12th - 19th, 2009
General Itinerary:
July 12: Arrival day (Cancun)
July 13-18: Fishing days at Tarpon Cay Lodge

July 19: Departure day (Cancun)

Rate: $3,295/angler (double occupancy room / boat-guide) 

Includes: Transportation, meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, lodging, and guides.
Not included: Airfare, tackle, flies, leaders, alcohol, and gratuities.

Airfare from Portland to Cancun ranges in price from $350 to $500.
 

There are 2 spots left. If you would like more information about this trip, please email me at Damien@deschutesflyfish.com

Let's go catch some Tarpon!

Damien

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Mid Summer swing

The staff at Fly and Field Outfitters is in the heat of our busiest time of year, and in the HEAT! It is HOT in Central Oregon. Yesterday the mercury didn't stop climbing until it reached 103 degrees! This heat wave will slow the fishing during midday. So find some shade and relax. The best fishing times will be from sunrise until about noon, and then from 7 pm until dark. The best fishing is during the final hour of the evening.

On the Lower Deschutes, the caddis are hatching full bore. Last week I witnessed one of the thickest caddis migrations ever. At 1 pm, thousands of caddis swarmed their way up river.

Our guides have been reporting good fishing on all of the waters in the area. The Upper Deschutes between Little Lava lake and Crane prairie has been fishing well for smaller brook trout and rainbows. Many happy anglers have been returning to our shop, stoked on their first fly fishing experience.

The Lakes are fishing well too. The highlights are East Lake and Crane Prairie. Choronimid fishing on Crane has been producing some big "Crane Bows". A few in the 24-26 inch range were caught last week. The Callibeatis hatch on East Lake is happening from 10 am to 2pm, or so. Don't neglect the spinner fall earlier in the morning. Wind drifting a nymph is nearly guarantees catching fish.

We have had some very fun trips on the Lower Deschutes this summer. During our past 5 over night trips, we have been very lucky, as no other groups launched with us. We only shared the river with a few folks rafting for 3 days! Our guests have been enjoying the solitude and the great fishing.

Check out these smiles.

Green Drake Spinner Fall?

What's the best dry fly fishing experience you've had? A blanket caddis hatch? How about a PMD hatch during a drizzly afternoon in July? Or a Green Drake hatch? Big gaudy hoppers or stone flies? All of these experiences can build to epic proportions, and until recently I thought I had seen the best of the best. Last week I landed my boat onto one of my favorite rocks. My clients unloaded and began throwing their oversized size hair and hackle stone fly imitation into a pod of exceptionally aggressive Redsides. One drift, two drifts.... ten perfect drifts through meat of the best water without a take, left both my client and I feeling rejected. Determined to catch at least one of these fish, and not to let my guest down, I focused on the surface of the water to see what the trout where consuming. I spotted caddis, PMDs, and of course stoneflies, but none of them where being eaten. Then I saw one... I first thought it was an adult Green Drake, but it was just after 10 am, and the drakes hadn't been hatching until 3 pm. Then I spotted another one, and another one. There was something distinct about them, their wings where transpearant... SPINNERS!

Once the code was unlocked, the fish fell to imitations. A big, size 12, purple haze was the fly of choice. It proved itself worthy landing 8 fish in no more than 30 minutes.

I will never forget those 30 minutes and will always be on the look out for them again.