New Zealand Day Farlows, Pall Mall 2nd September, 2010

On Thursday the 2nd of September we are pleased to be hosting a New Zealand fly fishing day at Farlows, Pall Mall, London. This day is being supported by Tourism New Zealand, Poronui Station and Fly Odyssey and will be showcasing the finest brown trout fishery in the world.

New Zealand has long been regarded as the finest trout fishery in the world with its unlimited rivers, streams and lakes producing wild brown and rainbow trout that grow to large proportions. The country is filled with a vast richness of cultural and natural beauty and makes the perfect holiday destination for both the fly fisherman and non fisher.

In shop one of New Zealands premier fly fishing guides Ian Cole the principal fly fishing guide and FFF instructor at Wanaka fly fishing will be available to discuss tactics, flies and tackle for fly fishing in New Zealand. Ian's undoubtedly one of the best-qualified and experienced guides on the South island. He will be doing some fly tying demonstrations on how to tie the prime summer dryfly: the Cicada.

There will also be literature from Poronui Station and Owen River lodge, Tourism NZ and staff from Fly Odyssey available to discuss all aspects of travel around New Zealand.

Iceland trout fishing: Minnivallaekur River

Our recent trip to the Minnivallalaekur river in Iceland in July was a great success. Typically for Iceland the weather conditions change rapidly but we had our fair share of light winds providing excellent conditions for some prolific midge hatches ensuring rising fish were found in abundance. While the majority of fish landed were between 1-3lb several exceeding 5lb came to the net.

Paul (Maxie) Maxwell sums up his trip nicely below:

Hi Mat
Just thought i would send you a few words to express my thanks for a fantastic holiday. Right from the start you made me feel relaxed and at ease. The accommodation and the food were superb and all set in a wonderful lodge right beside the river. As for the fishing, it was Brilliant! I have never experienced anything like it before. With your guiding Mat I had the biggest fish of a lifetime and just when i thought it could not get any better you guided me onto a biger fish. Thank you once again Mat for fantastic holiday and I have no reservation at all in recommending Fly Odyssey to anyone looking for a fly fishing holiday. I am now looking forward to my next trip with Fly Odyssey. Cheers Maxie

FOr information of fly fishing the Minnivallalaekur river or further details on our 2011 hosted trip to this river please email us or call +44 1621743711.

Some pics from the trip below courtesy of Jody Burton and Toby Coe:



Paul Procter's 5lb 6 oz midge feeder



Maxie's 5lber in the net.



Jody with a hard fighting brown trout



Big Sky


scenery

CLA Gamefair 2010

We will be back to the gamefair this year at Rageley Hall between the 23rg-25th July. We have some interesting guys along on the stand helping out.

Ian Cole one of New Zealand's finest fishing guide will be there with us to talk about fly fishing in New Zealand. So for those who are planning a trip to New Zealand in the future please drop by and ask Ian all about the NZ experience.

Jeff Kean from Palm Valley Outfitters in the US will also be on the stand. Jeff has extensive experience in Mexico and works closely with Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca lodges. He is exploring some of the most remote fisheries in the Caribbean and will be on hand to discuss the exploratory options for Bonefish, Permit, Snook and tarpon fishing of the remotest parts of the Yucatan Peninsula. Jeff also runs red fishing and hunting operations in Texas.

We look forward to weeing you there and if you have any questions about fly fishing travel throughout the world please drop by for a chat.

Mathew McHugh
Director

Varzina River Salmon fishing

We have just had a group from the UK fishing enjoying the spring fishing on the Varzina River on the Northern Kola peninsula for atlantic salmon. While the fishing was tough by the rivers high standards with a total of 58 fish for the week one of our clients managed a personal best salmon of 28lbs. There were another 2 fish over the magical 30lb mark landed by others in the camp. It appears most of the rivers on the North Kola are slightly down this year on numbers. The water on the Varzina was still quite cold so the fishing over the next few weeks should improve still. Another group of ours heads over on Friday so we look forward to more big fish stories upon their return.






Kevin's personal best salmon above.

For interest in fishing the Varzina river in 2011 please call us on +44 1621743711 or email us.

Greys Point Inn Bonefishing-Acklins Island

Paul loves his bonefishing and having travelled to Mexico and Christmas island in search on bones he decide to head to one of the homes of bonefishing-The Bahamas. We narrowed down his location for him to Greys Point Inn. Paul brought his brother Scott along on his first ever bonefishing trip and the results were impressive. Scott managed plenty of bones along with some big sharks on fly (pics to follow shortly).

In short was was overjoyed with his trip and has vowed to return again in 2011. Heres a few pictures of their journey.



Grey Point Inn in the background. Bonefish flats on your doorstep. You can fish even upon returning from your day on the water.



Solid bones with fish up to 8lb were landed.



Perfect conditions for bonefishing.



The quarry. A fine specimen of a bonefish.

For more information on a range of fly fishing options through the Bahamas including Acklins, Abaco, Andros, Grand Bahama, Exuma and the remote southern islands Contact us or call +44 (0) 1621743711.

Sportfish Casa Blanca, Mexico Group trip 2010

Allan Shephard of SPortfish UK recently led a group of intrepid anglers to Casa Blanca lodge in Mexico. Casa Blanca is famed for its permit fishing and Ascenscion Bay didn't let them down. 4 permit were landed for the week with several more fish lost. The diversity of the fishing in Ascension Bay was displayed by a total number of 21 species landed ranging from shark to big jack crevalle. Some photos and thoughts from the guys on the trip are below:











If you are interested in fishing Casa Blanca lodge in 2010/11 we have some excellent fall deals including a group trip over the thanksgiving holiday period and a range of Autumn specials. Please give us a call on +44 (0) 1621743711 or email us.

Casa Blanca lodge, Mexico: First permit!!

PERMIT WITH A STING IN THE TAIL

Tim Render tells the tale of week’s fishing in Mexico [with Farlows’ Sean Clarke] [arranged though Fly Odyssey].

After a while every flats fisherman’s thoughts turn to permit. You’ve caught bonefish, you’ve caught tarpon, you’ve seen permit, maybe even cast to one. And catching that elusive first permit looms ever larger in your thoughts.

So it was for me. And a trip to Casa Blanca Lodge on Mexico’s Ascension Bay last March gave me the chance to try in one of the world’s best permit locations.

The first day showed the extent of the fishery in Ascension Bay. Large areas of flats, channels and mangroves, with lots of the deep sand flats so loved by permit. And we saw good numbers of fish, both singles and small schools. We had perhaps 10 decent shots at permit that first day – and yes, most were ignored by the fish. But three times we had that heart stopping moment as a fish darts for the fly and chases after it – only to shy away at the last moment. Disappointing, but confidence building – the fish were there and interested in our flys.

Day two brought more permit chasing. I had a good shot at a group of 6 or 8 fish, fly in front of them, several darted towards it – this was it. They chased the little crab pattern through three strips – the line just had to go tight – and then veered off .... Would I ever get a better chance.

Fortunately, yes. Ten minutes more polling along the flat and that school returned. First cast muffed. Second cast, just short. Third cast, 6 feet in front of the school. Again the reaction from the fish, and this time the line did go tight. Set the hook, clear the line, let the fish run .... I don’t think I’ve ever played a fish with so much care, keeping the pressure on, but not too much (did I get those knots right?), side strain to stop the fish trying to go round the boat. Soon it was there by the boat and then mine. OK, not huge - well actually pretty small – but my first permit.




Reward came that evening – with the lodge ritual for a first permit. The tequila stinger. A shot of tequila, but surmounted with a pickled scorpion (reassuringly (?) with stinger and venom removed) – you had to eat the scorpion and wash it down with the shot! Well, I couldn’t let the American lodge guests think a Limey was a wuss, could I? Treat the scorpion like an oyster – eyes closed, into the mouth, crush and swallow in one motion. Still the tequila was very good. And the bragging rights from my first permit were worth it ...



The rest of the week was more permit hunting –although unfortunately some cloudy and pretty windy weather made it harder to spot them. Still we had plenty more shots and some follows. But the rest of the fishing remained good – plenty of bonefish tailing in the mangroves. Jumping baby tarpon in the river mouths and wrestling snook out of snags.

All in all in good week’s fishing at a top rate lodge. Good food, air conditioned beach front accommodation, top end flats boats and excellent (English speaking) guides. Offering the full range of flats fishing for anglers of all experience, from novice to expert - you can spend your time catching lots of bonefish or obsess on permit or target an enjoyable mix of all the main flats species.

Just remember that the permit at Casa Blanca can come with a sting in their tail!


For more information about fly fishing in Mexico out of Casa Blanca, Playa Blanca or Punta Herrero please visit the Fly Odyssey website or email us.