Guest Article: "Sails On The Fly" by Tom Gorman

Editor's note: Recently we were fortunate to make the acquaintance of editor, writer, and world traveling fly fisherman, Tom Gorman. Tom graciously agreed to give our readers an inside look at one of his recent trips.

Tom Gorman is a long-term Hong Kong resident who hails from the U.S. Midwest. A business editor by trade , he is an avid fly fisherman and fly tier who has fished many parts of the world in salt as well as fresh waters . He recently made a trip to Guatemala to pursue his first sailfish on the fly.


Tom Gorman on Mongolia’s Delger Moron River

There’s something about sailfish that has made me want to catch and release one on a fly for some time . I’m not sure exactly what it is , although there are few creatures in the sea which can compare with the sailfish in terms of sheer beauty and grace , and obviously they’re a very challenging target on the fly.

So , awhile back – longer than I’d really care to admit – I acquired a 12 wt. outfit , suitable lines , and began to accumulate knowledge on the pursuit of sailfish on the fly . I also began tying flies for that purpose. My approach for the next couple of years when planning fishing trips to waters where sails are present was to bring the sailfish gear in hopes the opportunity would arise . I made a number of trips to promising waters in Mexico , but found a lot of the local skippers , or pangeros , don’t think of fly rods as serious tools for catching their big fish , nor are they really interested in fly fishing . Also , apart from the pangeros , not all of my fishing buddies are dedicated fly fishos ; so there are inevitable trade-offs when deciding on conventional versus fly.

So , you often begin the trip fishing with conventional tackle , and – guess what – you stick with it . Welcome back to "the dark side. " If there were a mileage plus program for 12 wts. , my rod would be flying in the front of the bus . It’s been all over the globe . To be sure , I’ve caught lots of other species with it , including snapper (pargo) , roosterfish , jacks , etc. – but in my heart of hearts it has remained an unrequited sailfish outfit.

What I know for certain now is that , if you really want to catch a sail (or a marlin) on the fly , you have to have a skipper and crew experienced in doing that (and enthusiastic about it ) , plus fishing grounds with abundant sails on or near the surface , and you’re better off committing in advance to the fly , rather than a mixed fly and conventional approach , because the two approaches are not really complementary.

I chose Guatemala as my dedicated sail-on-the-fly destination , and Sailfish Bay Lodge in Iztapa looked like a good combination of abundant sails located within a fairly short run from the marina , fly-savvy skippers and crew , and a professionally run operation which had received good written reviews from numerous folks . It proved to be an excellent choice .
Sailfish Bay Lodge (http://www.sailfishbay.com/) is American-owned and managed , and located on an island just a 5-minute boat ride from shore . It’s less than a 2-hour drive from Guatemala City on good , paved highways . It can accommodate up to about 20 guests in air-conditioned comfort , with a pool and Jacuzzi by the side of a black sand beach . From the open-air restaurant , which serves excellent food , the view over the lagoon take in three volcanic peaks in the distance , two of which are active .

I fished from Sailfish Bay’s 34 foot Blackfin , Maverick , skippered by Captain Rolando , with Noe and Ronald as crew and deckie . We left the marina at 7:30 a.m. , and had teaser lines in the water by 8:00 . Even at this hour , the tropical heat was rising fast . This is SPF 75-plus country , with long sleeve fishing shirts recommended . The lobsters here are plentiful and delicious , as long as you’re not one of them .

Seas that morning , as is common in the area , were nearly flat calm. We headed due south , in the general direction of El Salvador . The spread consisted of three hookless teasers on the starboard side , with two deployed off the outrigger and controlled from reels mounted next to the skipper on the bridge , and a longer line straight back from a rod in the gunnel rod holder . An additional hookless teaser was run from the port side , also from the gunnel rod holder. A couple of heavy-duty spinning rods were rigged and ready with hookless pitch baits on ice in the cooler . Teasers were a mix of ballyhoo , mullet , and belly strips from dorado or bonito ; some behind hookless jet-type trolling lures and some not .

The casting corner of the boat for me as a right-handed fly caster (ie I crank with my left hand and cast with my right) was the port stern . To avoid snagging the backcast , the port outrigger is not deployed.

Port stern corner with bucket holding about 20 feet of fly line , fly rod resting on the deck at the ready , and fly resting on the gunnel ready for the angler to begin the casting sequence.




The fly which caught my first sail : a 10-inch Flashy Profile Fly in green , gold and black , with a pink and purple Cam Sigler offshore popper head , fished on an S.A. Bluewater Express line , on a Sage Xi2 12 wt. rod with an Abel Super 12 reel.

Barely an hour from the marina , Rolando shouted "Vela ! Vela !" – "sail" in Spanish . The skipper and crew sprung into action , retrieving teasers to bring the fish into fly casting range , while preparing to cast a fresh pitch bait to add to the appeal if needs be . But this first fish swooped in and out of the spread very quickly , offering no casting opportunities . A window shopper .

At this point , I regretted not speaking Spanish . The crew spoke enough English for us to communicate about the basics of the fishing routine , but it’s always interesting to talk in more depth wherever your fishing travels take you . My Chinese language skills were a bit out of place here . Seconds later , the sail was back in the spread . This time my eyes were better attuned – good polarized shades are absolutely essential – and I got an earlier look at the fish as he followed the teaser in .

And then , the moment of truth . With the sail about 15-20 feet back from the stern and eagerly focused on the teaser , the crew yanks the teaser out of the water , and the fly caster gets that all-important one shot at dropping the fly to the outside of and behind the sailfish , and then giving it one or two vigorous "pops" to get the now-excited sail’s attention .

Dropping the fly in this way increases the odds of a hookset opportunity with the fishing swimming away from the boat rather than towards it – offering a much better chance of a hook-up .

The sail inhaled my flashy green omelette-sized offering , and I set the hook with a slow , deliberate lean in the opposite direction from the one the fish was swimming in .
He was on ! I know many saltwater fly fishing purists poo-poo anti-reverse reels , but I like my knuckles in one piece ; and I was glad for the protection the Abel Super 12 offered them .
Fortunately as his blazing initial run continued , I recalled one piece of advice from Billy Pate in his fly fishing for sailfish video , which is to try to avoid letting the fish get too deep , keeping your rod nearly parallel with the water’s surface during the fight . This enhances your leverage , better enabling you to turn the fish’s head in your direction , and lessening the duration of the battle and the negative impact on the fish’s health . Pate calls it "doin’ the down and dirty on him." Whatever . It works .

About 20 minutes later , my first sailfish on the fly was on board for a quick photo opp before being released to the deep blue Pacific .


Crew , angler and first sail on the fly.

Leading UK Jewelers Say “No” to Dirty Gold

Leading UK Jewelers Say “No” to Dirty Gold from Alaska Mine
Pledge Support for World’s Greatest Wild Salmon Fishery

London, England—Six prestigious UK jewelry retailers and designers representing 260 stores today pledged their support for Bristol Bay, Alaska, by announcing that they will not buy gold from Anglo American’s proposed “Pebble” mine, a massive open-pit operation being considered in the bay’s headwaters. The Bristol Bay watershed supports the world’s most productive wild sockeye salmon fishery, which is critical to the state’s economy and to the livelihoods of many Alaska Native communities. The UK is the largest consumer of Bristol Bay canned sockeye salmon.

UK jewelers Goldsmiths, Beaverbrooks, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland, Fifi Bijoux and April Doubleday took this step at the invitation of local Alaskans who seek to protect wild salmon, clean water and their traditional ways of life from the damaging effects of industrial metal mines.

"We at Beaverbrooks support the protection of Alaska's Bristol Bay watershed from large scale mining,” said Mark Adelstone, managing director of Beaverbrooks the Jewellers. “We need to be mindful and respectful of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery and the communities that depend on it. We feel that the precious metals that we sell need to be mined responsibly and in environmentally friendly ways and if this means looking to other places to source gold, then so be it."

In pledging not to source gold mined at Pebble, the UK jewelers join eight U.S. retailers who endorsed the pledge last year, including Tiffany & Co. (which has seven stores in the UK), Helzberg Diamonds, and Ben Bridge Jeweler. The threat to the Bristol Bay fishery has generated an unusual and diverse array of allies, including Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, over 140 sportfishing businesses, the Alaska Intertribal Council (a consortium of 231 Alaska Tribes), and numerous conservation groups.

“The support demonstrated by these respected UK jewelers is greatly appreciated and will help us to protect the wild salmon fishery that has sustained our economy and people for generations,” said Thomas Tilden, board member of the Choggiung Native Corporation.

The proposed Pebble gold-copper mine is a project of UK-based Anglo American, one of the world’s largest mining companies, and Northern Dynasty Minerals of Canada. The mine is projected to generate an estimated 9 billion tons of waste, much of it containing acids and toxic metals to be stored on site in what is now pristine Alaska wilderness.

“Sustainable development is surely a necessary value which is core to any 21st century business,” said Vivien Johnston of Fifi Bijoux. “I am surprised that Anglo American would pursue a programme in Bristol Bay which is clearly not in the best interests of the long term sustainability of the local community or the conservation of important ecosystems. I would ask them to revise their strategy and review their CSR standards to ensure that any new mining site need not compromise their vision of environmental integrity and community consultation.”

Alaska Native communities’ way of life, and Alaska’s largest private sector employer – the fishing industry – are heavily dependent on the continued health of Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay’s commercial fishery generates $320 million a year and 12,500 jobs. Bristol Bay residents harvest and consume an average of 315 pounds (143 kilograms) of fish per person per year, making the salmon a primary source of food. Unlike many of the world’s wild salmon populations, which are in serious decline, the pristine rivers and undeveloped landscape of the Bristol Bay watershed continue to support a sustainable world-class salmon fishery that supplies healthy seafood to consumers around the world. A third of the world’s commercial sockeye salmon are harvested there, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

These UK and U.S. retailers who have signed on to the Bristol Bay protection pledge have also endorsed the “Golden Rules” of the No Dirty Gold consumer campaign spearheaded by EARTHWORKS, which has called on mining companies to meet environmental and social standards. So far, some 55 retailers worldwide have endorsed the Golden Rules. A complete list can be found on the No Dirty Gold website. More than 100,000 consumers in over 100 countries have also signed the No Dirty Gold pledge, urging mining companies to provide alternatives to “dirty” gold.

“The Pebble mine would imperil one of the world’s most pristine and productive ecosystems,” said Bonnie Gestring of international mining reform group EARTHWORKS. “We applaud the jewelry retailers for signing on to the Bristol Bay protection pledge, and demonstrating their commitment to responsible sourcing.”

Flyfish Cuba: Any day now?

Could an island 90 miles off our coast become a major destination for US fly fishers? The thought of virgin bonefish flats and good cigars has crossed my mind before this article by Tom Stienstra of SFGate.com about an expected loosening of travel restrictions to Cuba. The fishing sounds pretty good.

Cuba is where Rice became the first angler to catch-and-release the Grand Slam of Caribbean Flyfishing twice in three days. He landed a bonefish, the fastest of all fish in the world; the tarpon, the most acrobatic; and the permit, the most elusive. Some, like Hemingway, instead prefer deep sea fishing for sailfish, wahoo and other big game. There are also rumors of giant largemouth bass in lakes.

Int'l Fly Fishing with Tim Weston: India's Masheer

FlyfishMagazine.com's international correspondent, Tim Weston brings us news from India as he takes his fly rod and stalks the elusive Masheer.

India is one of the most unlikely places I have ever been fly fishing, it is perceived as being hot, arid and polluted. But the area to the North of Delhi on the border between India and Nepal is a paradise of clear rivers and giant Mahseer.

Landing in New Delhi I felt a real excitement; I was going fishing to the Himalayan foothills to follow in the footsteps of the great British Rajas of old. Having read the book ‘Circumventing the Mahseer; and other Sporting in India and Burmah’ by A. MacDonald I felt that I was ready to tackle this elusive fish. We know that the old British rulers of India would take months off to fish for Mahseer during the late 1800’s and up until the mid 1940’s when there was little time for pleasure and the British Empire was starting to come to an end. Since then Mahseer fishing has been in decline with the locals dynamiting certain stretches of river for food.

After two days of traveling across the stunning Indian countryside we finally had our first glimpse of the River Saryu. The river was very different from what I was expecting in that I could have been standing on the banks of any small Atlantic salmon river in the northern hemisphere. The river was gin clear, meandering around bends before coming to fast rapids followed by classic looking pools. That combined with the looming Himalayan Mountains as a back drop made this a real visual feast, I could not wait to start fishing.

The guides were waiting for our arrival in sturdy inflatable rafts and we were handed tackle before embarking on our journey to the first of our two camps. We fished from the boats as we floated down the river and it wasn't long before my rod was almost snatched from my hands as a result of a frighteningly aggressive take and just as quickly the fish was off. Fortunately we didn't have to wait long before a Mahseer was landed, my companion managed to land an 11 lb fish on only her third cast and what a fight it gave her. Mahseer tend to fight very doggedly on the bottom rather then jumping and flailing around on the surface. A struggle with a Mahseer is a long endurance test of you, the fish and your tackle.

After catching five more Mahseer, we reached our first camp which was positioned on a beach on the banks of the river overlooking a nice pool. The tented accommodation consisted of modern sleeping tents that are very comfortable complete with bed, table and chair. The dining room is a covered area on the beach. This is essentially an eco camp with no running water or electricity which all seemed to add to the ambiance of our surroundings but did not interfere with the good food and cold drinks that were readily supplied by our host.

We found fly fishing for these wonderful fish a challenge but this is one challenge that is definitely worth taking up. The principle is similar to salmon fishing, you cast down and across but the fact that caught us out, before our guide put us right, is that when fly fishing for Mahseer you need to concentrate on the fast white water and not the enticing looking pools where you would expect to find them. However, Mahseer are as canny as permit in the fact that they will refuse to take your fly more often then not but when they do you quickly understand why they are called the "tiger of the river". The rod bends and the reel screams but the fish is rarely seen until it is ready to come to the net. There is a massive sense of achievement when one manages to hook and land a golden Mahseer on the fly; it is only a very small and lucky group of anglers that can claim to have achieved this feat.

The fishing is not the only amazing experience you can expect whilst in the Himalayas, it holds so much more. There is a wealth of culture in the hills and the people are the most hospitable I have ever come across. Plentiful wildlife can be seen everywhere in the hills and along the river banks and you could probably identify a species that you have not seen or heard of every day of your visit. Combined with amazing photographic opportunities this trip would be perfect trip for a non fishing guest as well.

India is a remarkable place with remarkable people and scenery, the fish are a challenge to catch especially on the fly but I would recommend this as a trip for the real adventure fishermen.

Read more of Tim's reports from around the globe in the International section of FlyfishMagazine.com.