Not According To Plan...

By now, you are all familiar with my plan to get my roommate addicted to fly fishing. It worked brilliantly and he is out and in it as much as he can. The variable in the equation was his girlfriend, who after living with, and experiencing my weekly fishing habits, did not want her man falling into the fly fishing abyss. I started everything off slow, and it took half a year before Derek actually went fishing with me. By then, she had warmed up to the idea. What followed was the unexpected part. Rather than putting up resistance, she embraced the new hobby and was begging to come along for the ride. We eventually caved.

So it was, on a Saturday morning, we awoke early and made our way to the local stream. We took the scenic route to show her the surroundings and to check out the creek. It was a muddy mess. Little did we know but thunderstorms dumped a lot of rain overnight and suddenly my new plan to get the g/f into fishing was looking like a problem. I even told them not to expect much.

Derek and I made our way to a spot we knew held fish. I rigged Jess up and instructed her on a catapult cast that uses the surface of the water rushing downstream to simply lift and shoot the line upstream. From there I talked about drag, fly presentation, and how to mend to get a good drift. After that was settled, we talked about where a fish would lie in this section and soon thereafter, she hooked into her first fish on fly. A stream chub. She subsequently caught her first two trout, a brown and bow. As Derek watched, he too eventually found some fish, and the day began. 

As everyone says, teaching a woman to fly fish is actually pretty easy. For one, they are better listeners and pay attention to minor details. She also put her "lack of ego" aside and wasn't afraid to ask questions when she struggled on her own. Overall it was a good day on the water for the conditions we found, especially considering it was her first time. In the future, look for these two to take over the fly fishing industry, travel to exotic locales, and take millions of pictures that monopolize fly fishing magazines. 

The Fly Fishing Nation

This River Is Wild was started in 2008 as a way for the three of us to chronicle our days on the water, store the history of our fish tales, and share them with anyone who cared to read along.  Since then, we’ve caught more than our fair share and have been thrilled that we’ve grown a small following of readers who see life and fly fishing in the same ways that we do. Hopefully, we’ve strengthened our readers’ appreciation for being a part of the game.  In the future, we aim to continue to do what we’ve always tried to do: tell ripping yarns of fish seen, cast to, hooked, lost or landed in some of the most gorgeous spots on Earth.  

After a chance encounter on the water in late 2009, an instant friendship was forged with some like-minded individuals.  And today, we could not be more pumped to announce that that friendship has grown into a partnership with Fly Fishing Nation. FFN is a worldwide syndicate of fly anglers who share a passion bordering on madness.  Mainly representing Europe and South America, we’re proud to bring some American flavor to their ranks and to say that we are looking forward to representing the Nation would be an understatement.

Our thanks goes out to Stephan Gian Dombaj, the founder of the Nation and an insanely talented fly fisherman, as well as members Stefan and Alex Haider, who we first met that day in 2009. Joining forces will open quite a few doors for us.  We could not be more excited to see where they lead.  We hope those who’ve been with us since the beginning will continue to come along for the ride.

-Matt, Mark, and Adam.

All Images By Stephan G. Dombaj (C) Fly Fishing Nation

Check out the nation @ www.flyfishingnation.de

The Syndicate

A First.

We have always taken immense satisfaction in making unfamiliar waters produce through nothing but research, time and trial and error. The frustrated, fishless hours, days or however long it takes make the first honest fish from that water a real accomplishment. Our modus operandi has been DIY since we first put fly to water.

So, it was with a little trepidation that I accepted a very cool birthday gift from my girlfriend: a half-day guided bonefishing trip on a nearby island. This was back in November, but Stace could foresee an as yet unplanned fishing trip that would take place the following August, and deferred her spot on the boat to my brother. She knew he and Adam would be coming down in August for an adventure even if we hadn't discussed any particulars.

When the long-awaited day finally arrived, we approached the dock and I, for one, was pretty damn nervous. I was more worried about hooking the guide in the face with an errant cast than not catching any fish.

Our guide said that another group was going out today and they were going to be filming a TV show. He said that there was a friendly wager between the head guide on the boat with the film crew and our guide over which boat would land the most fish.

Our guide asked us how far we could cast, and I just looked at Mark. He said probably 60 or 70ft accurately. I said probably a lot less than that. We hopped onto the skiff and blasted across the clear waters, heading East.

I was up first on the front of the boat. The first thing our guide asked me to do was cast at a lone mangrove to see what my abilities were. Somehow, I was on target and he seemed pleased.

Within minutes, our guide was pointing me towards the largest schools of bonefish that I've ever seen. He had me strip quickly through 4 or 5ft of water. This brought the bones up to the surface as they chased down my tiny mink strip pattern. In about 10 minutes I was hooked up with the first bonefish of the morning and the pressure was off.

Sadly, a few minutes after that, the fish came 'unbuttoned.' I let Mark up on the front while I retied and Mark was into a nice fish within two casts. The fish ran once and was brought close to the boat. On its second run, Mark was almost spooled. His arm aching, the fish was netted and Mark had landed his first bonefish besides the one he pulled in by hand the day before. The fish was a pig of a bonefish.

First fish of the day.

I hopped back up on the bow and had some ridiculous shots at massive schools of fish with no takes. I had a permit dance around my fly and take some good, long looks at it before swimming off. A giant school of bones cruised within range and I plopped my fly in the center of the front of the pack. They scattered, but the rear of the pack kept advancing. When they were on top of the fly, one strip resulted in an instant hookup.

Sadly, again, slack in the line resulted in the belly catching on some coral and snapping my leader. I was getting pretty pissed off at my inability to seal the deal when Mark took the bow and hooked up with a good fish in one cast.

When this fish was netted, our guide seemed very impressed. He passed the thick fish to Mark for a picture as he radioed the head guide at the lodge, who was out with the film crew.

This is what an 11 pounder looks like, or so said our guide.

The head guide told us to wait with the fish for him and the film crew. When they motored alongside, they said they were filming a TV show for the VERSUS channel that will air in September and October. The head guide took Mark's fish and held it up for the camera. The host measured the fish at 27" to the fork while he and the head guide discussed the fishing opportunities on the flats. Mark and I sat on the boat, relegated to the background, while our fish took center stage.

The VERSUS crew examines and films Mark's fish.

As the half day expired, I couldn't make it happen with a third fish. We had landed two and missed two, as well as had an exciting glance from a permit. The day's tally ended up being 2 bones to 1, our boat was victorious.

The Loop Army.

Legend tells of a chance encounter in Russia between two groups of fly fishermen. Two Americans run into a special forces unit on a helicopter ride over the Kola Peninsula. The unit, armed to the teeth, not with military weapons but with cutting edge and bad ass fly fishing gear, jokingly referred to themselves as the "Loop Army". The name stuck and since then, the Swedish Fly Fishing Company: Loop has been gathering a North American army of followers, including this writer. As I released my baby tarpon in a small mangrove channel, the last thing on my mind was a chance encounter with some Generals of the Loop Army.

As the baby tarpon returned back to the emerald green water, I surveyed my leader for abrasions and quickly retied on a fresh toad. I began surveying the water for a fresh cruiser when a large SUV stopped on the bridge to my left. Normally, I couldn't care less about observers. I was hounded all week by cruise ship tourists asking me if I caught anything, or how the fishing was. These observers were not your typical tourists. The first thing I noticed was the large pontoon boat strapped to the top of the SUV. Mind you, we are in the Caribbean, not on a flowing river. These were fly fishermen, no doubt. Serious fly fishermen to be hauling a pontoon boat around the world to be used on saltwater flats and in the ocean surf. The second thing I laid eyes on was the hat of the man in the driver side window. I own that hat. The Loop logo of the anthracite hat was unmistakable. They drove off the bridge, parked the SUV, and three men came out to the bridge.

As they came and rested on the rails of the bridge, I recognized two of the guys. I guess Facebook networking was about to pay off. Matt and I exited the water and became the annoying tourists about to ask some stupid questions. I was hesitant at first due to my beginning years as a young fly fisherman looking for answers. I usually was disregarded, laughed at, or ignored. As we approached, I realized that my instincts were correct. It was the Loop Pro Team, evidenced by their emblazoned logo's on their fly fishing shirts. Soon, Matt and I were shooting the shit with Stefan and Alex Haider of Austrian Outdoor Sports and their friend, also named Alex. We talked about our successes, local hot spots, and the terrible conditions with the constant storms and rain. We exchanged numbers and off they went, looking for "the fish".

Matt and I packed up and headed back to his place to plan our New Years Eve festivities. As they planned and made phone calls inside the house, I was out fishing the front yard. Later, I packed it in and set up shop on the sea wall looking for tail or any sign of movement. Then, another chance encounter happened as the SUV and pontoon boat came down the road and I found myself once again talking to the Loop guys. They parked and came up to meet my sister and Stacy and we discussed their success on a local flat landing two bonefish and a shark. We invited them over for a afternoon BBQ and some drinks and they obliged.

That night at my brother's place was an epic New Years Eve. A variety of food and drink was enjoyed by all. It was awesome to talk about fly fishing and conservation efforts in America and in Europe and how unregulated our waterways are in the U.S. compared to overseas. We talked about the Pebble Mine and the grave danger Salmonids face in a lot of our waterways on both coasts as well as in the Great Lakes. We talked about the state of the Caribbean islands and how development and overfishing effects fish populations. We also compared pictures and videos from the past week and their previous excursions to Venezuela catching tarpon and bonefish.

We also discussed Loop tackle and the growing status of the Loop Army. Loop has always been on the front lines of innovation in the industry starting with the large arbor reels and now once again with composite cork and their new x-grip. While other companies remain stagnant they produce innovative new products that cater towards passionate anglers, especially young anglers that are the future of the sport. The new rods and reels and especially the clothing coming out in 2010 meets the needs of form, function, and style. Two new lower priced rod series in the Xact and Evotec (Once Epic) and a transformation of their wading jackets with a new 4-way stretch fabric similar to that found on Patagonia's SST. The guy's were pumped to talk about this stuff and it sounded like a new fleet of destroyers will be coming out soon. I received my first Loop rod two years ago and have since bought two more. They perform flawlessly and I am constantly surprised at how well they fish and cast. Check them out the next time you buy a rod.

New Loop 2010 gear here & here.

Stefan and Alex Working a Flat in the Distance.

Lexi's First Time Out in Saltwater.

After our BBQ, we headed to a bar and restaurant situated along the water where you can see tarpon and jack weaving in and out of the lights alongside dinner tables. We met up with two local fly fisherman, a father and son duo that also knew the Loop guys and for New Years Eve the only fly fishermen on the 12 mile island celebrated New Years together. It was an old crowd but fun nevertheless. My sister tangoed with an old fella that looked and danced like a zombie. It was hilarious.

Matt, Lexi, & I Celebrating New Years.

Myself, Alex Haider, Alex, Stefan Haider, & Matt.

The Crew Formed a New Years Train.

On the final day of the trip, I worked a local flat, hoping for one last chance at a bonefish. I was later joined by Stefan, Alex, and Alex and we worked our way down the flat. I spotted one large bonefish that came straight at me but he easily spooked. I resigned to blind casting with a small shrimp pattern working the ledge along the flat. I was rewarded with a long distance hookup and run. The fish ran hard twice and I was ecstatic thinking I was on my first bonefish. It turned out to be a good sized Blue Runner. My dying "waterproof" camera (a victim of the salt) took its last image ever as I released the snapper. We all went out to a local bar for some appetizers and more drinks before saying our goodbyes. I was heading back to the freezing cold of the Northeast while the Loop Guys and my brother and sister remained on the island.

Stefan Haider Working a Small Corridor.

I Wonder Why They Call It a Blue Runner.

Goodbyes.

It was awesome to run into a group of professional fly fisherman and have the chance to fish and hang out with them for several days. It's amazing how a sport such as fly fishing can unite anglers from around the globe and how we can all share the same passion towards fishing and conservation. It was also cool to pick the brains of two guys that are directly involved in the development process of one of my favorite companies.